Cape Town Baptist Seminary - Elsies River Mission Team 2016

These guys and gals are headed on mission next week. They came to my home for missions-training. We did sessions on:

- personalities and working styles

- entering community as pilgrims and learners

- ministry strengths and weaknesses 

- team expectations 

It was so nice to see these local South Africans ready to serve a local community. They're preparing themselves individually and as a team so that the spirit can use them! 

Pray with me for:

- Meagan D, as she lead this team to Elsies River (just outside of Cape Town)

- for team-work and cooperation amongst the team

- for God to use the gifts present in the community to come alongside the team's gifts & abilities

- comfort zones to be invaded and new ministry experiences to happen

- for each individual missionary to learn something about people, God, themselves

- for God to be glorified in his pilgrims!

highlights from the last few months

In a flash of photos, here's what's been going on the last few months ... 

Supporting Meagan's Seminary as they are presented and prayed for in a local church!

PASSION CAME TO TOWN!
Louie Giglio & Chris Tomlin & the gang led Cape Town in a worship night.

Investing in some really awesome girls. These are just a few that are part of GROW!

Easter was tasty! I made a 3-layer coconut cake.
My family had some sort of coconut dessert each Easter, and the tradition continues.
I got to share this cake with my neighbors, Meagan's family, and some of my GROW girls & their families!
Baking is love.

Mia & Chelsey on a Easter Sunday afternoon trip to Muiz Beach.
Spend the night party ensued afterward!

Easter Monday (also known as Family Day here in South Africa) is a public holiday.
We went on a 5k trek in Sea Point, stopping at 3 playgrounds along the way!

Outdoor markets are huge here.
Had a small road trip with some friends to Franschoek and reveled in the glorious Autumn air!

Franschoek, South Africa

Friends with coffee. There's no greater thing.

Easter Break was fabulous and gave me 2 weeks of rest and special ministry times sprinkled in the break. I'm finding a much better balance in responsibilities, commitments, ministry stuff ... missions life details! I feel life is more together and I can breathe a bit in the handful of focus areas in ministry.



Pray for ...
- the local churches and pastors I'm working with in and out of Capricorn. I'm trying to strengthen discipleship strategies and mentoring concepts, walking alongside them and their youth/young adults. This is a slow process, but I'm building great relationships with churches in my community and continuing to build trust.
- community development and creativity training through the Butterfly Art Project. This has been a HUGE ministry opportunity. Using art as a medium for relationship.
- Capricorn Primary School - for the principal, staff, teachers ... it's a hard job to work in a South Africa community-governement-school
- my Visa to come through - I'm having some delays and pray God's favor and provision upon this mission. I know this seems to be the never-ending story, but please persistently pray for this for me and ministry. It's crucial.
- my GROW girls - the upcoming retreat planning, the weekly mentoring sessions, the families that are being supported
- Meagan, my South African sister - as she's still waiting on an internship opportunity (July-Dec) and future full-time job (post seminary)

Celebrating Art In Life: Drawing Beautiful South Africa

Our class mantra. At the beginning and end of each class, we read this little poem.
It reminds us that we're artists, we're full of good characteristics, and we're to create in all of life!

My Butterfly Art Project after school art class just finished Term One! The past 8 weeks, we studied SHAPE. We used lots of mediums too: clay, pencil, watercolors, oil pastels! We even had a guest videographer who documented one of our clay lessons!

Group Work - Clay Mandala. "How To" Video created during this lesson!

Clay Mandala - Art in Life Class, Feb 2016

Check out our "How To" YouTube video:

Butterfly Art Project : How To Make a Clay Mandala

Group Mandala project - each student got a 1/4 page with a quarter of a circle drawn.
Each artist filled in their quarter, applying the lessons of shape, color and pattern we'd learned!
We'll then put all the pieces together to make an awesome collaborative piece.

This class did so well that they earned an OUTING! 

We got out of Capricorn, drove in a mini-bus taxi, had a picnic (hotdogs and juice boxes), and spent time drawing nature in the famous Kirstenbosch Gardens! Not only was this a great art opportunity, but it was a bonding experience for our class. 

Here are a few photos of our Beautiful, South African Outing:

Here's what I'm learning on mission these days:

- Give your skills - no matter what they are. Art is a medium for ministry! After all, Christ is Creator, and we mirror His creativity.

- Be present. The more I'm around these students, the more I learn about their homes, their needs, their dreams. Just show up and learn!

- Care. Go above and beyond. Arranging a simple outing can mean the world to students AND parents. Show you care in creative ways. 

When a field worker goes silent ...

When a field worker goes silent via social media or their blog, there’s usually one of three things going on …

1. things are hard and challenges are overwhelming (and we feel no one will want to hear about the series of down days)

2. the internet is messed up (because this isn’t America)

3. there’s so much good stuff going on, there’s not time to document it all

Thankfully, my lack of reporting has been because of the latter! There’s so much going on, I feel as busy as an American, and I’m needing a breather. 

Let me tell you what happened just yesterday …

I’ve been mentoring a girl from the community. We had another session yesterday over coffee. She said to me, “I just want to know my purpose. I have no idea why I’m on this earth.” And there flew open the door for me to tell her about my purpose in Christ, my ‘non-religious’ views - describing church as a place filled with grace and love, not rules and judgment. I told her God sent Jesus because He knew we could never work our way to perfection, but our belief in Jesus gives us access to a relationship with our Creator God. 

And she said to me, “I’ve never heard that before. I thought to know God I must be at church all the time and pray a certain number of prayers. That’s good news!” I smiled inside because, yes, that’s THE GOOD NEWS! This precious gal is not ‘churched.’ She’s not filled with a family tradition of cultural church attendance and religion. She’s fresh into the seeking realm and really wants to make her own decisions about faith. 

My community is far from evangelized. There are so many beliefs and works-based-religions that are holding people back from freedom in Christ. Evangelism is happening through mentoring and relationship.

……………………

I have a long Easter break coming up soon, so I’ll document some more God-stories and catch you up. God is doing amazing things and opening doors for deep ministry. This is a true answer to prayer. Please continue to pray for favor and time to do what God is calling me to do - nothing more, nothing less. 

brief update in photo

Let me catch you up just a bit ... 

Here are few highlights from the past few weeks in photo.
This is one of those posts that won't be too spiritual, but a glimpse of real-life in South Africa.

Afterschool tutoring is going great.
There are LOTS of reasons I keep doing this ministry but this little one is on the top.
She's behind in traditional schooling but finding success in creative ways. We bake, we chat, we do exercise. She's learning to deal with educational challenges and life disasters in a new way. Supporting this family has been part of my call and ministry since 2010. God is truly getting me deeper and deeper into this family's life through the ministry of presence!

Art is a huge part of my ministry these days.
This is just one of the creative pieces that I've done with groups this month.
It's called "Expression Pizza" - each individual group member gets a slice and has to illustrate their journey from the application to attend my course until the moment they arrive into the classroom. They then explain to the group who they are, tell their story and explain why they're in our art class. Art is the medium to get to know each other, and I'm having a ball!

Gherkin turned 3!
It's summer here, so I made her a doggie ice cream dessert!
That's also Meagan's attempt at making her a party hat! She hated it, can you tell?

Happy Birthday Gherkin. You bring great joy!

And can someone send me winter? I HATE the heat. 

Melanie Dill

Creating Connections

Lots of creativity and community development happening in Cape Town! These are a few photos of workshops I've been co-leading to develop Community Art Facilitators and creative teams.

Art has been my link to deeper relationships in Capricorn and all around Cape Town. Looking forward to seeing what God will do with these connections!

Sozo Foundation - team building through creative interaction
www.thesozofoundation.org.za

Newlands group - telling your story - group bonding

Facilitator from an Arts Academy learning about creative facilitation

Newlands Community Art Facilitators - Clay Mandala

Capricorn - team building - telling your story through art

Group clay competitions

Capricorn Community Art Facilitators - Clay Mandala in progress

Melanie Dill

@trulymeldill

www.melaniedill.com

The beginning of 2016

My little community here in South Africa is in full swing. After a long Dec break, adults are back to work, kids began school today, and there's a nice vibe on the streets.

This was my view today. Children laughing, playing, ready for class. These past few days, I've been in project planning meetings, did home visits, organized school supplies, and got back into the routine of ministry life. Whew!

This year, please pray for:

-  My girls mentoring and discipleship ministry - "Grow"
- Favor of the community and deep relationships that lead to Christ
- The Butterfly Art Project at Capricorn Primary School (which I serve as a community outreach) - art classes, staff development, art therapy
- Entry and opportunity to teach Bible Studies and Community Development in new places and with new groups
- Church support - helping churches with training in girls ministry, youth, Sunday School, missions
- God to move and transform hearts in Capricorn!


Ill keep you posted.

Melanie Dill

Thank you USA!

I had a lovely visit to the USA over Christmas. Now that I'm back in South Africa for another round of intentional community development, I'm reflecting on some things that have become my missionary life …

1. USA life is foreign to me now.

The pace, the food, the choices, the constant conversation … these things are overwhelming when coming back for a visit. In South Africa, things run slower, the choices are fewer and simpler, and I'm not as scheduled. When I try to keep up with American life and ways, I can't keep up!

2. The USA is for refreshing, not resting.

People are always getting on to me about the schedule I keep in America. But let me reverse it … you guys are the ones asking for time-spent, so it's not my fault! I'm trying to see you all! And I want to! My time in the USA is never restful, but it's purposefully refreshing. I get to fill up my relational-tank, make memories, catch up on conversations I've missed over the year gone, do fun things, and then have the encouragement to go back and endure the lonely days and harsh environment. THANK YOU to all who filled that encouragement tank!

3. I will always disappoint.

And to point 2, I add …

I feel I'm constantly disappointing people when I'm in the US. There's never enough time, there aren't enough days; I can't do it all. I try my hardest to visit those that want to catch up, but it's never enough. And to those I wasn't able to see AT ALL this visit, FORGIVE ME; I'll visit again in a year or so. Again, I always disappoint.

4. Your food is killer!

No seriously. I physically feel awful.

It took me being fully removed from American culture to understand that how we eat in America is NOT good. Maybe it's the mega-stores with "bulk savings," the boxed pre-prepared meals, or the allure of social eating in restaurants. I thought I knew how to cook until I had to learn to cook from SCRATCH in South Africa. In America, I was used to cooking with ingredients that aren't natural – things that could sit in a pantry or frig for a month. Here in South Africa, you use whatever's available fresh (and beware things spoil quickly) and learn to be creative! Want pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner … you better learn to puree a real pumpkin, not open a can! It's been a culinary mission for sure!

While the treat of American food was great for a month, my body took a toll. I tried to have self-control, but when you're being hosted, you're just thankful for the food provided and the company with it! Can't complain!

5. I need you to remember me!

Remember me throughout your year. When your family gathers and shares milestones, send a picture! When you feel lonely and have no one to share your challenging day with, email me. When you hear an amazing sermon, read a verse that's inspiring, or have a prompt in your spirit to contact a missionary, reach out! I don't need you to find 2 hours to type a 5 page update about what I've missed and what you want to share. Sometimes just knowing I'm not forgotten over the waters and through the miles is what encourages me most.

I need to hear from you guys. Your prayers are so important. Your communication is valued. Your support is what keeps this mission going.

Thank you to all who shared their homes, food, finances, and lives with me during my visit to America. I appreciate you caring about missions and me! I'm back on the mission field, trying to get over jetlag and ready for another year of watching God show up and be God!

I'll keep you posted. You do the same!

..........................

Melanie Dill

www.melaniedill.com

www.meldill.blogspot.com

Graduating a class

Had to say goodbye to my grade 7 art students today. Our school year concludes this month and grade 8 begins high school.

My new ministry at the local primary school has been such an exciting adventure and opportunity to love and serve hundreds in Capricorn community that I never knew before.

Praying these children finish high school, get a job they love and can provide for their families while leading our community in positive transformation! These our the next leaders of Capricorn!

Melanie Dill

Update in Photos

These are my streets just before the morning chaos beings!

School Holiday open studio. Large painting of the community road-map!

One of my best students - studying LINE and TEXTURE

Building creativity into the next generation!

One of my local colleagues teaching an art lesson

Fashion Design drawings

Fashion Design drawings

Conducting a team-building strategic planning session with the Butterfly Art Project

My make-shift art studio. Producing paintings for fundraising!

In action - doing a test-work for teaching art

Mentoring Outing - discipleship with these gals is so fun!

Investing in their education and spiritual development weekly for over 5 years now!
Can't wait to watch how God uses them for His glory.

Missions life in Capricorn and Cape Town continues to evolve and grow. I've been a part of some really neat ministry opportunities lately - counseling sessions, mentoring opportunities, community and staff development, supporting families in crisis, creative processing, training people from around the world in missions strategy, and building local relationships across cultural and religious divides. 

God has redeemed a lot of really hard years of investing in this difficult place. As I process and pray for the next season and next year, I'm excited about what's to come. God is faithful and continues to provide in ways I never imagined!

Continue to pray for South Africa and this mission. 

Pray specifically for open doors and favor in Capricorn.

Pray for the big vision God is putting together inside of me for strategic ministry in 2016

... more details to come!