Climbing the tower at the transmitter site. (It looks like I'm up high, but I really wasn't.)

TWR Swaziland offices in Manzini.

(L-R: Sibusiso, Ryan, me, Jarrod, and Chris)

At the Melrose Arch fan park; just to give you an idea of the crowds and the big screen.

View of Soweto from Vilakazi Street, where Mandela lived for a while.

At the Hector Pieterson memorial in Soweto.

Highlights from the Past Few Weeks

God is faithful. He is able. He is doing so much, even when we don't see it or feel it. That's how I feel about this summer (winter) in Jo-burg. Although I don't understand what is happening at this point, I am praying for clarity to take from this what He wills.

At TWR, I have been getting to know employees more and more and am blessed by their friendships. People come by my "office" to talk, speak words of encouragement, and to pray with me. They have showed me around different areas of Johannesburg and taken me in as "one of them." That has meant so much.

Work-wise, I have been doing much of the same: writing proposals and researching. I was able to visit a charity organisation and talk with them about funding one of our projects, then come back and write a proposal specifically for them. It is exciting knowing that a proposal I wrote could be used to raise funding for a project that will improve people's physical lives and spiritual lives as well. While I could spend time explaining everything I have been doing to you, I think it's better to focus on the few significant things that have happened.

For one, Winfred and I visited St. Frances Care Centre in Boksburg, a place of hope and healing for people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. St. Frances is a nice facility that is well-organised and structured. Many of the South African orphanages, foster homes, and care centres I have visited previously are old, worn down, and run by very few people. The atmosphere is depressing at times. At St. Frances, however, the buildings are newer, there are decorations on the walls, the medical facilities are well-done, and everything is organised. The service so many people - currently, they service over 5,000 people - over 1,000 people receive ARV's (anti-retrovirals) and 140 of those are children. They provide a hospice for those at the terminal stages and counseling for those at all levels. Winfred and I came on behalf of TWR to bring a selection of our Christian programming for the leaders to sample. After they have listened to the programming and approved it, TWR will install speakers into the facilities for patients to listen to. The programming covers anything from HIV/AIDS to Through the Bible instruction to Children's programming. I look forward to hearing how all of this comes together.

During our tour of the centre, my favorite areas were for the children. The first building we visited was for children from ages 3 to 7. Many of them are AIDS orphans, but all of them come from unhealthy family situations, leading them to reside at St. Frances until they are provided with a better situation. During the week, they receive basic schooling and counseling. On the weekends, these children go home with a loving and healthy "foster" family so that they can experience what a healthy home looks like. Later on we visited the babies and toddlers building, where we were greeted by dozens of sweet little ones who smiled, screamed, and ran at us the minute we walked through the door. They wanted us to pick them all up - they tugged at our pant-legs, reached their hands up, and some even cried. Winfred and I couldn't help it; we picked some of them up and just held them. You could tell they were so happy just to be held. The little girl I was holding, although she was small, spoke excellent English (as they are taught in English by the workers). She pointed to parts of my face and asked me, "What's this? What's this?" The nurse worker informed us that 16 of those toddlers were HIV+, only 5 were not. How much I wished that we could stay longer! These children are precious; I thank God that they are in a nice, warm, place where they are loved.

Apart from work, I have been keeping busy as well. Sounds just like me, right? =) Last weekend, a group of us took a trip through Sandton, Soweto, and a fan park at Melrose Arch. We rode the Gautrain ("how-train"), the new above-ground metro in Jo-burg, into Sandton and looked around Nelson Mandela square and the mall at Sandton. Then we rode a taxi into the city center, hopped on another taxi into Soweto, and met up with some friends there who toured us through the area. We saw a lot of historical places: Walter Sisulu square, Nelson Mandela's home, the Hector Pieterson memorial, and the church where Mandela and others met to discuss politics and plan. It was a wonderful experience. We even ate at an authentic African restaurant where we ate meat, pap, chakalaka, and acha. Then in the evening, we went to Melrose Arch and watched the Germany vs. Uruguay game at the Fan Park. There were tons of people and excitement as everyone was rooting for Germany. We were so thrilled when Germany won the match for 3rd place in the World Cup!

Also took a trip to Swaziland with five other people from the Jo-burg office. We visited the TWR office in Manzini, met the staff and toured the transmitter site. It was amazing to see the giant transmitters and learn about how they work and how far they broadcast. Some of the antennas broadcast all the way from Swaziland to unreached areas of the world! I pray that God uses His Word to bear fruit in the lives of people who have never heard. Swaziland is a beautiful country full of rolling mountains covered with African villages. The people are friendly and the food is excellent. There is great need, however; of the small country's population of 1 million, over 1/3 are living with HIV/AIDS. One tenth of the population are orphans, and over half were orphaned from AIDS. Statistics say that over 3/4 of the population is "Christian," but the people need to become empowered to live out God's commands and live. Please pray for the country of Swaziland - for the church leaders and members, for Truth, for salvation, and for AIDS to be stopped.

I have a little over two weeks left here, and I pray that the rest of my time is spent wisely and with discernment. There is so much to be done in Africa, and I just want to be used in some small way for God's kingdom. I pray that He leads me to know what I need to do, where I need to be, and what steps to take in order to get there.

At the Uche concert with TWR people.

Bruma market.

Kids at the community centre who acted out Dr. T Cell.

The volunteer tutor at one of the Open Schools projects. She is showing one of the teaching tools used with the children.

The "roof" (tarp) we put up for the children to have school under.

Time flies...

So much to say! I haven't written due to several reasons - but have finally sat down to write an update. Here's what's been happening on this end:

Was able to visit a nearby township through our partner programme, Open Schools. Open Schools utilizes local volunteers in townships to tutor children who aren't in school to a a third grade level so that they can get into school. The children listen to lessons provided by TWR, then work through a workbook with the volunteer "teacher." It's an excellent programme. We visited a woman's home who has so very little, yet she is tutoring over 75 children IN HER DIRT YARD. They meet in the afternoons and rotate between ages. The curriculum is faith-based and written specifically for children who need to be tutored. We went to help built a "roof" for her school area and basically to check in and see how she was doing. It was so heart-warming to meet this woman and see her dedication.

The township itself was so sad - people have made houses out of corrugated metal and scraps, there was no grass, and no toilets. We also were able to visit a children's home for orphans, neglected children, and children in dangerous situations. It was very good to go there, but again, very sad. These children have nothing, and not enough adults to take care of them. The centre was in great need of proper facilities and volunteers. I hung out with several girls for about 20 minutes while they played with my hair and held my hands and asked me all sorts of questions. When it was time to go, they were already sad - after only 20 minutes! One of the girls looked down sadly and said, "Please don't go." My heart was so sad...these children are in desperate need of parents who love them and will raise them according to the Bible. They also need someone to counsel them after the trauma they have been through. It is great that they have a simple shelter, but they need so much more than that.

My research on orphans has been shocking. There are over 14 million orphans in Africa, with an expected 10 million more within the next few years. These orphans are the result of AIDS, but also other sicknesses, poverty, and hunger. Let me get on a soap-box here for just a few sentences: the Church has GOT to do something about these precious children. It is not enough to come and speak to them about Jesus - they need a mother and a father who will show them Jesus. The Bible talks so much about caring for people in distress, especially orphans. James 1:27: Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." I myself am praying about how to help and I encourage you to do the same. Ok, now I'll step down off my soapbox...=)

Another place I've been able to visit is with another partner organization of TWR, Business Against AIDS. I went with the founder to a community centre to help with a presentation for children about HIV/AIDS. How it works is BAA teaches 5 children a drama called "Dr. T Cell" about AIDS where they act out different parts of the immune system and viruses. Then the children act out the drama in front of their peers - it's excellent. Seeing these children was special to me; many of them (again) are orphans or are bussed in from nearby townships. They are on holiday now so it's a great place for them to come for a meal (perhaps the only one they receive for the entire day) and some fun. With Dr. T Cell, they also are able to learn about HIV/AIDS.

At work, I have been doing a lot of things: research on Malaria, doing programme summaries, and brainstorming for possible new programmes. I've said it before, but it is SO true: I really enjoy my co-workers. Their love for the LORD is overflowing and unifying. Although there are people from all different denominations and socio-economic backgrounds, at TWR, everyone is seen the same. The ministry is run through a servant-leadership model, and it is wonderful.

Outside of work, I've been able to do some really fun things. I've watched so many soccer games (on TV or big screen, not live, although I'd like to see one live before it's over) and have gotten more and more into it. There is always a braai and a game to watch - food and fun! Now that RSA, USA, and Brazil are out, I'm pulling for the Netherlands. Go orange! I also went to the Bruma Market for some African crafts, attended a Live DVD recording of a popular artist here - Uche, and even went to a 4th of July braai today at a friend from work's house. I made an American flag cake, and everyone loved it.

On the sad side of things, one of our co-workers lost her seven year old daughter this week. She was in a bicycle accident and passed away Friday. Please keep the Heimann family in your prayers as they go through the loss.

Personally, I've been learning so much from God's word and in everyday circumstances. There have been several times where He has used His Word, song, and people to speak truth to me, and I am so grateful for those moments. I am continuing to seek Him for truth and direction. Please pray for me for wisdom during my last month here.

As music is very meaningful to me, I'll leave again with a song. This simple chorus has been in my head ever since I heard it two weeks ago. Whenever I sing it, it convicts me.

You won't relent until You have it all

My heart is Yours

You won't relent until You have it all

My heart is Yours

He is working on my life, even in hard circumstances, to bring to a place where I am completely His.

Arrie