September 2023

Auction 2023

As we have been recovering from jet lag, we have also been feverishly inputting the last of the auction items for this year's online auction. The auction will run from 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 14, to 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 21. We'll have the usual gift cards, cakes, puzzles, housewares, but also items from Africa, and other fun and unique items. This year we also had access to an amazing sale on Christmas crafts and other items from Michaels, so now is the time to plan to spend some quality time with friends and family. We will send out more information and instructions prior to the auction so please watch for that, and also put the auction dates on your schedule. Get your Christmas shopping done early since there are plenty of options for gifts. Buy for yourself or for others and support a good cause at the same time!

Mission Trip Report

How can we sum up the mission trip in a paragraph or two? Let's just say it was a blessing. Although there were challenges (as we expected) with load shedding (power cuts) and lack of water in the toilets, the people we met and places we went more than made up for it! We had 19 team members from the U.S., along with 13 local people, including trainers and admin helpers, plus coordinators from six countries - Swaziland (north and south coordinators), Mozambique, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. The picture above is of the team with some of the local people in front of the Harrismith church, which Prevention Time funded through your contributions. The bus company substituted a 48 seater for the 32 seater we paid for, so we often had additional local Peer Educators with us! We worked in four areas - Johannesburg, Harrismith, Tugela Ferry, and Durban. We worked mostly in schools but also in churches with men's and women's groups, and kids' clubs. We are going through pictures and will send out a slideshow separately within the next couple days. Be watching for it!

Tugela Ferry Training Center Becomes KZN R4L Hub

Tugela Ferry has embraced the R4L program and it is becoming the hub for training and other events in the northeastern part of the country. Excluding Guateng (Johannesburg), KZN (KwaZulu Natal) province has the largest population. This second training center, which has been made available by a local resident of Tugela Ferry, will also provide storage for Bibles and books. Pastor Emmanuel painted the outside of the building and the inside has also been cleaned up. (The mission team had lunch with local Peer Educators here.) Local authorities - including the mayor of Tugela Ferry - have taken note of the work that is being done at the center, such as the event in the article below. They appreciate the positive impact the program is having on the community.

Career Guidance Workshops in Tugela Ferry

Thandy reports: "Peer educators are offering career guidance on weekends and that has drawn the attention of the Department of Education. Please pray that all our efforts can lead to some form of funding for our local PE’s. An event was set up in the new Tugela Ferry training center in September, with 37 local students accepted to various universities."

Computers Received

Thandy says, "As the Reach4Life program expands, we are seeing the hand of the Lord as He provides things that are needed that we couldn't afford to buy ourselves. For example, the Johannesburg office has received a donation of 20 computers! These tools are drawing even more young people who are coming to receive help applying for scholarships, learn job skills, look for jobs, or do homework research. Even more schools want the program now that they can see how we go beyond caring for kids spiritually. We also have a supply of doctrinally sound books, which our Peer Educators and Pastors are able to access and read."

"You Can't Fix People Without God"

A R4L training was done in Bloemfontein at the request of some professional social workers. Mr. Mohasela (standing at right) says, “I have been a social worker for 11 years; I tell you the kind of challenges the people in our communities face are getting worse and scary. The level of abuse happening in homes is just heart breaking. When attending these cases, it came to us that we need something stronger to push back this darkness we see in society. Reach4Life was introduced to us by teachers locally who told us about a program that is changing lives and bringing hope. Really after receiving this training, I can see why. This program is the solution to our broken society. We are recommending it to all institutions that work with people, you can’t fix people without God.”

Reach4Life at Tugela Ferry College

When one Peer Educator got an opportunity to study at the Tugela Ferry college, she shared with them how she taught the R4L program in schools and how it had helped many young people. She was then asked to present it before the college board, and they approved allowing a group on campus. Two hours, three times a week, have been given to Peer Educators to teach the Bible. (See group above.) Sunday services are starting also (see below).

Cell Groups and Sunday Services for College Believers

Nonkanyiso (blue and white dress) shares, “I can not keep quiet about the impact of the R4L program that I have seen since I became Peer educator 2 years ago. The Program has taken over the College. Even in our dorms we are running cell groups using R4L. We have been given permission to start a R4L Sunday church service for those who are giving their lives to Christ. Our Coordinator, Mduduzi is going to be running those services 8am to 10am. Jesus is King and our College can see that.”

After School Group

This after school club in Mamelodi township (Pretoria) was studying the R4L lesson on Self-Image. Every day after school this group meets and their Peer Educator, Busi, teaches them the Word.

Fox Picnic

Ten foxes (students teaching students) from different schools in Pretoria had a fun outing as a reward for the great job they have been doing as shown in their reports from June. Adult Peer Educator Dikgang (sitting on orange blanket) leads them through the lessons and helps them with any questions they might have during their teaching times.

Clothing Drive Ends October 31!

Our clothing drive will end on October 31. Our goal is always 20,000 pounds, and right now we have 19,945 pounds! Let's make a final push to clean out as many closets as possible! This drive brings in around $5,000 each year. As a reminder, we can take gently used: 

·   clothes

·   shoes

·   purses and belts

·   linens (tablecloths, towels, drapes, etc.)

·   blankets/sleeping bags

·   anything fabric-y 

Please do not include any stained, torn, or otherwise unusable items. Clothes can be dropped at 30020 2nd Ct. S., Federal Way, on the porch, where you will also find donation receipts in a plastic bag. The funds we raise will be used to support the R4L program. Please also let your family and friends know about the clothing drive, and let us know if you become aware of any opportunities to collect clothes, including estate clear-outs. We can pick up large amounts of clothes if needed. Contact us at 253-946-5953 (landline), 206-423-0306 (cell), or by email. Thanks for your support!

Lesotho Coordinator Appreciates Time with U.S. Team

Lesotho coordinator Malintle says, “I would like to thank God, Phakama and Prevention Time for inviting me to be part of the mission trip. I came from Lesotho to join the team in South Africa. We travelled everywhere with our PT family. We sang in the bus and learned so much from each other. Other Africa coordinators were invited as well. Reach4Life is a powerful program in Lesotho. God is at work and after seeing all the other locations and how they implement the program I am more fired up to go and expand our work in Lesotho. Seeing the church from the U.S. that support us was a blessing, without their giving this program will not be making the impact it’s making in Africa. Thank you for coming all this way and showing us the love of Christ in action.” (We enjoyed having her and the other coordinators and Peer Educators with us, too!)

"We Love the Program!"

Octavia Ntuko (far left), Cape Town, shares, “We are Foxes in our High school, we started in February this year. Being a born-again young person can be hard. You face rejection at home and at school by your peers. But when you have Christ, your life is whole. We attended a training early this year and we decided we will be Foxes. Each one of us has over 50 kids in our groups. Every break time and after school we meet and teach the word and lives are changing and better decisions are made each day. We thank you for all for the training, the manuals that help us to know how to teach and the Bibles that we give to our groups. We love the program!”

More Rehab Groups Requesting R4L

Multiple rehabs around Johannesburg are requesting the R4L program. They have heard from other rehabs that clients who have gone through the program are showing positive behavior change.

Swazi School

Representing R4L in schools this month is the Sifundzani Primary School in Swaziland (above). Thandy shares, "We bless the Lord for the consistency of our timetables in schools as well as more time given for Bible lessons. The impact of the program and dedication of our Peer Educators is being noticed everywhere and is earning the program extra time to teach in classes."

Testimonies!

"This Program Saved My Life"

Zakhele Mthombeni, Grade 10, JG Zuma High School, is shown here with Durban Coordinator Thomas. Zakhele says, “My life has changed since I started reading the R4L Bible. It has topics that are difficult to ask parents about. I was struggling because my friends were starting to do bad things, smoking and drinking and they were pushing me to join them. I almost gave in. But this Program saved my life. Our Peer educator taught us about bad pressure from friends, he also taught us about the cross how we are forgiven and loved by God. I left those friends and now I am doing well at school and have new friends from my R4L group.” (The mission team visited this high school.)

Mama Thembi Leads Daily R4L Groups

Mama Thembi, who lives in Zacharia Park in Johannesburg, gives her time to lead three different age groups at her yard. Above is her 15 -17 year old group. Kids come to her house and she teaches the word of God. Older adults who lead groups fill another role in that many kids don't have parents, grandparents, or other older adults who are around (some have died) or who show an interest in them. We thank her for her work!

The current Rand exchange rate is excellent at 19.35 Rand per dollar!

Thanks for your help!

Prevention Time thanks you for your interest in our organization. We are a 501(c)3 organization and all donations are tax-deductible. Prevention Time has no paid staff, so our administrative costs are minimal. To help support the ministry in sub-Saharan Africa, please click on the donate button below.