the cape town bit

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. It’s also the most complicated. Its history is so complex, and its people so diverse that getting your head and heart round it is an extremely difficult task but once you start, it’s hard to let it go.  A few years ago when I was in Cape Town, God reminded me that the beauty that is  displayed in the landscape of the city was not constrained to the physical but that each person who lives there bears His image and there is nothing more beautiful than that.  I believe He invited me on a journey to pursue this beauty, to find Jesus in every eye I look into and to love.  I’m not done with this journey yet…

So, I’m moving to Cape Town…again.

This page is dedicated to some basic information about my travels, what I’m doing and where.  I will do my best to update as necessary but for now, here’s the plan.

I am preparing to return to Cape Town end of January-February, the police checks have been sent off, my visa stuff is being gathered and I want to book a flight real soon! Very exciting.

what exactly will I be doing?

Good question.  Towards the end of my latest stay in Cape Town, I spent some time with the Warehouse community, a wonderful group of people who love God and want to love their neighbours with everything that they’ve got.

The Warehouse was set up by a parish of churches in the Southern suburbs of Cape Town; this is their base but their work stretches far across the Western Cape and often into the rest of South Africa.  Their vision is to serve the church in its response to poverty and injustice.  The outworking of this looks different with each programme that they run but the heart is the same.

If you would like to find out more about The Warehouse or donate to their work, visit their website or contact me:

http://www.warehouse.org.za

The programme I am joining with is Fusion.  Currently they work in Manenberg, a very broken community where gangsterism, drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence dominate.  But, motivated by their hope in Jesus they know that there is more, there is better for the young people they work with.  They pray, they walk, they meet and they befriend young guys and girls between the ages of 16-24 who are at “high-risk” of causing damage to themselves and others, and usually already are.  Fusion provides community for these young people who have been rejected and abandoned by society and a refuge where they will be loved, forgiven and hopefully shown that they have a loving Father who wants to be with them.

the other stuff.

This is the bit that I don’t really like doing, but the reality is that in order to be part of Fusion, I need people who will back me financially.   It doesn’t have to be epic, but if you would like to support me monthly, or with a one-off gift, that would be fantastic.  I am connected to a trust who can add Gift Aid onto your donations if you are a UK taxpayer so please please get in touch if you’re up for this!  Drop me a wee email: clarem_me@hotmail.com

For those of you who are not in a position to financially commit, fear not, it really isn’t the only way!  I need friends, I need emails and skype chats and I need prayer.  Please join with me.

Clare xx