Newsletter August 2024
Discovering God’s Love and Justice: August Lessons at Children’s Ministry
In August, our Children’s Ministry continued exploring the Hope4Kids program with exciting new topics. The kids discovered that God is the Creator of all things and declared, “It is good!” A highlight of this lesson was a Creation Scavenger Hunt, where the children searched for over 12 amazing creations in their environment. Some treasures crawled or flew away, but the fun was endless!
They also learned about the amazing character of God—how He is loving but also just and must address our sins. The good news? God sent Jesus to take our place, so we can be forgiven when we repent. To help the kids understand this, we shared a story about a just king who punished a thief during a famine. When the king discovered the thief was his mother, he took the punishment himself, showing that justice and love can work hand in hand.
In another lesson, during arts and crafts, the Supersterre children made crowns decorated with “jewels” while discussing the godliness of Jesus. Just like these crowns, Jesus is our King, guiding us to live with love and faith. The kids learned that Jesus came to Earth as a human to teach us how to live with compassion and faith. He experienced hunger, joy, sadness, and more—just like us—and worked alongside His earthly father. Through His life and teachings, Jesus revealed God’s divine nature and character. And because He was sinless, He could die on the cross to save us from our sins.
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Pre-school Transportation Adventures!
This month, we kicked off our learning journey by exploring different types of transport!
Land Transport: We discovered how cars, buses, taxis, and trains help us travel from place to place on land.
Sea Travel: For those adventurous enough to sail the seas, boats and ships are the way to go!
Air Travel: And if you want to soar through the skies, an airplane is your best bet!
We got creative and made our own transport models using clay, straws, and cooldrink caps for wheels.
With another theme they have been exploring the theme of “My Land”. We had so much fun teaching them about our national animals and the diverse types of music that represent our culture. During free play, the children got creative by building our national flag using cooldrink caps, carefully placing each cap according to its colour. It’s been a beautiful journey of learning and discovery, and we’re so proud of how engaged and excited they’ve been!
Our Grade RR children had great fun this month with a visit from the fire department! They learned how important and brave the work of firefighters are and were excited to hear more about the profession of a firefighter. A big thank you to our heroes for this special experience!
In the monthly parents meeting we discussed how Children mirror the actions of their parents. We talked how essential it is to be a positive and healthy role model. As parents, we must look within ourselves—and sometimes in the mirror—to recognize that a child’s self-esteem and values start with their bond to their primary caregiver. Our aim for this session: Let’s nurture that connection to build confident and happy kids!
Avodah’s Own Olympic Spirit: Celebrating Talent, Teamwork, and Triumph
We had an incredible time at our own Avodah Special Olympics! Inspired by the events happening in France, we created our very own Olympic games. Our opening ceremony was a joyous occasion, filled with singing, dancing, and a beautiful flag procession. During our first craft session, we made symbolic Olympic torches, reminding us that we are the Light of the world, shining bright and inspiring others.
Over the course of three weeks, our members competed in a variety of special fine and gross motor activities, showcasing their talents and determination. Fine motor games included wool-spaghetti eating, frog jumping with small plastic objects, bouncing ping-pong balls into egg trays, rolling balls into hanging cups, and bean bag target throwing. Their gross motor skills were put to the test in rugby ball passing, soccer goal scoring, netball hoop throwing, and ring tossing. The members loved the excitement of the competition.
We also took the opportunity to teach good sportsmanship, celebrating each time a member mastered a new skill. It was heartwarming to see the way they cared for and supported one another throughout the games. This truly was an Olympic season to celebrate!
Praying to seek God’s face
At our WOW (Women of Worth) morning for all our volunteers, we focused on PRAYER. It is important for us to align ourselves with where the Lord wants us to be. We want to continue to follow His guidance and love!
We are thankful to Langkloof Roses for hosting our Prayer Workshop at their venue.
Selma van Rooyen, one of our board members and our prayer leader, brought a powerful message before we divided into groups to pray specifically for our different programs. It is important to us to hear the Lord’s guidance on the work we do and the way forward.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn form their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 – 16
Celebrating Women’s Month
AVODAH – We had a wonderful Women’s Day celebration with the amazing women of our intellectually disabled group! Rose Jonck and Melani from Oakhill Church in Wellington graced us with their presence and shared a beautiful message about how special each of our female members are, reminding them that the Lord has made them unique and that they are called to shine.
To add a touch of glamour to the day, our ladies had their nails done in pretty pink and enjoyed having their hands covered with sparkly spray. The smiles and excitement were truly contagious!
We also had Rose’s husband, Vivien Jonck, Pastor of Oakhill Church, speak to the men in our group about the importance of celebrating women and treating them with respect. It was a meaningful conversation that highlighted the value of kindness and appreciation. A woman who fears the LORD is to be praised! Proverbs 31
COMMUNITY RECOGNITION – Octotel Fibre is an organization who is active in the community where we serve and supports the work we do.
They presented the 2024 OCTOTEL WOMEN’S RECOGNITION AWARD to Salomé Langmann, the operational manager of Ma’s-vir-Wellington . It was awarded to an extraordinary person/organization that has dedicated itself to serving, empowering, and uplifting those in need within the Wellington community. From nurturing young minds and supporting vulnerable families to championing the rights of women and people with disabilities. We feel honoured to celebrate our leader!
Our Pre-school Staff
Our dedicated teachers are hard at work using Amazing Brainz tablets to evaluate our students’ progress. This cutting-edge technology helps us stay on top of each child’s needs, ensuring they receive the extra support and guidance they deserve. Together, we’re committed to helping every student thrive!
Meet one of our ECD teachers:
Meet Kaylynne Liebenberg, the vibrant and caring teacher of our Red Class! With 10 little ones in her care, Kaylynne brings energy and joy to her classroom each day. She loves working with her students and enjoys the camaraderie of her colleagues. Outside the classroom, Kaylynne is all about fun—she adores singing, dancing, and making her family and friends laugh. Her favourite foods include burgers, pizza, and cool drinks, and when it comes to colours, black and pink are her go-to shades. Her faith is a guiding light, with Isaiah 60:22 holding a special place in her heart: “At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”
Networking Between Organizations
Networking between organizations strengthens community bonds and helps amplify their missions. We were blessed to have the staff from Huis Andrew Murray, the children’s home in Wellington, visit our organization to join hands and encourage our team. We shared our different stories and missions in the community with one another. We had some coffee together and build relationship. It’s truly inspiring to share Jesus’ heart for our community together.
The African Leadership Institute for Community Transformation (ALICT) has returned to Le Bac for another year of impactful training. By equipping innovative practitioners from across the globe, ALICT empowers emerging Christian leaders to bring the Spirit, principles, and work of the Kingdom of God into the sectors they are called to influence.
Each year, they highlight Ma’s vir Wellington as a model organization, using our experience to guide them as they build their own NGOs back home. As part of their visit, they engage with our various outreach programs, learning firsthand how we serve our beneficiaries. Our management team offers valuable insights on establishing and sustaining organizations, drawing on nearly 18 years of experience in this journey.
“For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9
