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IZIKO LOBOMI
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IMIZAMO YETHU
FROM THE CHAIRPERSON'S DESK
May 2010
Dear Friends & Supporters of Iziko Lobomi,
If you sit on the stoep (front porch for our friends overseas!) of Iziko Lobomi you get a touch of the rhythm that Africa moves to. Strides are purposeful but never hurried. People still see the merit in greeting all those faces that they know and each person is thus acknowledged as having a sense of worth. The sounds, if you close your eyes, are very much every township of Africa, music blaring from the shabeens and taxis hooting as they pass you by, but it is what is met with the eyes that both gladdens and saddens the heart at the same time. So much has been achieved over the years in Imizamo Yethu but there still remain much to be done. Yet we choose to count our blessings.
We have indeed been blessed this year at Iziko Lobomi to enjoy the services of three individuals - all from the same family! Shirley runs the shop, completely independent to the Centre, situated in what used to be the Mosaic Trust workshop which sells the arts and crafts of people from within the community. Tulani offers dressmaking and design classes in our sewing room and Tebo runs 4 computer training classes per day (booked to capacity!) for both students and adults.
Our soup kitchen, despite lack of funds still operates from Monday to Fridays and all our care room facilities are all full. It is a privilege to see the providing hand of God each month as we seldom have more than a month or two's operational costs in our bank at any given time. Iziko Lobomi (Centre of Life) certainly lives up to its name. When you watch the Jikeleza children's dance group, who practice here three times a week, scurry out of the hall at the end of their dance session to make way for the next community meeting or choir practice you realise that the Centre holds as much value to the inhabitants of the community as it does to us. Later this week we will be welcoming into the warmth of our care rooms three new elderly patients as others return to their homes. These new folk, apart from illness and age have something else in common, the shacks which they live in are leaking and are poor contestants to our fierce winter winds and rains. As they grow stronger at Iziko Lobomi, hopefully their homes will be repaired by the time their respite at the Centre is complete.
It is a standing joke amongst the staff at Iziko Lobomi to count the number of tourists who visit the sewing room to make sure the same number comes out! We have four gaping holes in the floor and we fear one day someone is going to disappear down one. We are so grateful that God does not tire of listening to His children's pleas, for ours remains fairly consistent - "Lord please can you fix our finances and the floor at the same time". Of course if we had a fundraiser it perhaps might be easier, if that can be fixed then God will do that too.
A sincere word of thanks to all of you who are walking this road of service with us. The knowledge of your prayers and interest is what provides the strength and encouragement needed for this work. Also, be assured of our continuous prayers to all of you and please drop us a line or e-mail to let us know how you are keeping and if there is something we can do for you. Be assured of our continuous prayers to you all.
In closing I would like to share the following scripture with you, which the Lord highlighted to one of our committee members a little while ago. It is the apostle John’s response and praise to Christian believers who were helping other Christians (whom they did not know) who were travelling from town to town to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ: ‘Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church … We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth’ (3 John 5-8). Your loyal support makes you a ‘fellow worker’ of this ministry, regardless of where you are in this world. Thank you!
Silver and gold we do not have, but what we do have we give you:
May The Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make His face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
and give you peace!
Yours, in faith,
Lesley McCall
HBCCA Chairperson
Any donation will be much appreciated and funds can be deposited into the following bank account:
Banking Details:
Account Name: Hout Bay Christian Community Association
Bank: Standard Bank of South Africa
Branch: Sea Point Branch Code 024-109
Current Acc. no: 071 103 627
SWIFT Code: SBZAZAJJ
Branch Postal Address: PO Box 983, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
Branch Physical Address: 220 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa
A note to our overseas supporters:
The easiest way to make a donation is simply to write out a cheque and post it to the HBCCA in South Africa. We will deposit your cheque on receipt and the bank will take care of the rest.
Our postal address is:
Hout Bay Christian Community Association
PO Box 26279, Hout Bay 7872 Cape Town, South Africa
OVERSEAS EFTs
Electronic fund transfers from overseas banks are expensive and often very cumbersome. However, the choice is yours. If asked by your bank for an IBAN Code – no code is unfortunately available from us. Donors are advised to request SWIFT-code transfers which can only be done at your physical bank and take between 2 - 4 working days.
No Internet transfers possible from bank accounts outside the Republic of SA.
SA Internet banking enquiries: +27 11 299 4701
IF YOU NEED FURTHER HELP or INFORMATION:
Please do not hesitate to contact Hennie Jacobs (HBCCA Treasurer) at +27 21 790 6951 (during the day) or send an e-mail to: hwjacobs@mweb.co.za
HOUT BAY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Hout Bay, Cape Town
South Africa