Blog

About a month ago, Erika was invited to go on Impact Radio, a Christian radio station here in Pretoria that is broadcast from Hatfield Church. It was during the morning segment, and two other community service organizations like ours were invited, too.

Erika was the last of the three to go on the air. We went into the studio, and the DJ asked her what her organization does. Then he asked what their current needs are, among which Erika listed a vehicle for the centre and also used computers.

After that, the DJ made a special announcement. He said that Impact Radio was going to donate R20,000 to BEAM! What a blessing. We were so grateful to Impact for their generosity. We’ve been able to use the money to set up a new sports and life skills programme for the children of the Nellmapius community in which they learn things like hygiene and agricultural skills.

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to Jan and Beulah Stander, who have agreed to become involved at BEAM Africa, implementing and overseeing the ABET training. ABET, or Adult Basic Education Training, is accelerated basic English and numeracy training for adults.

Jan used to be an English teacher in an Afrikaans boys’ high school in Pretoria for many years. After that he was deputy principal at a private school in Pretoria as well. He has written a book called Tenses for the Earth, which outlines a strategy for teachers to help children master the different verb tenses of English. You can find more information about this project at www.englishtenses4me.co.za.

Beulah has been a friend of the centre over many years and has at different intervals facilitated computer training, as well as other things.

Jan and Beulah got married five years ago and are caring for four children. They have decided to set apart themselves and their whole family to assist at BEAM Africa for a time. For now, Jan has done the facilitator training with our training partner, Media Works, and Beulah is using her skills to sort through various IT situations that we have.

As we continue to trust God together, we are sure that He will develop our relationship and their involvement.

Dear Friends

We have decided to do a special "Letter of Gratitude" to the Honour and Glory of our Lord and Saviour - JESUS!

We also want to thank you for being vehicles through which He has worked in our lives and in the lives of those whom we serve!

We have so much news, I do not know where to begin...

1. We have really kicked off with speed this year. We have expanded and changed our Life Skills Programme. In 2 of the 4 classes which we have already had, 15 people gave their hearts to Jesus during January and February!

2. Our computers were stolen on more than one occasion during the last part of 2009. In the meanwhile we had to transport our students to another training venue (Thank you to Marius from the Skills College) every morning and fetch them in the afternoon. In this time the “bakkie” (pickup) broke down several times… We kept on doing what we had to, trusting the Lord and finally during last week I got an e-mail with prices of small Laptops which I could not ignore - so we were able to purchase 8! They are so cute and do their job so well!

George and John setting up the new lap tops	We are back home again!

We have also adopted a new Computer Training curriculum.

3. Another wonderful miracle is the fact that our new Webpage is being built and should be operational not far from now. We are so excited about the outlay...

4. BEAM Africa USA is in the process of being registered as a 501(c)3 Company.... We should have a word about that within 4 weeks from now. Please pray for us that it will be accepted and all will go smoothly. The wonderful thing is that those sowing into this Ministry in the USA will then be able to claim from their Income Tax...

5. Those who have visited us, will remember Anna - a very robust teenage girl at the Ministry. Well last year she asked me on three occasions if she could go on a camp... I did not know how that would be possible, but said that I would try my best to find out. I believe JESUS heard her request. An opportunity came our way to send all the Grade 7 - Grade 11 children on a 4 day camp during this coming holiday. The only obstacle in our way was finances. Then on Friday came the Colorado gift (of the past 3 months) of all those that have been contributing to the "Sponsor a child" programme. So now we are so excited and can start working to tell the children about it!!! (THANK YOU JESUS)

6. We have started a Net Ball team – The pictures speak for themselves!

	Asanda, our cook has taken responsibility!

What a wonderful blessing Asanda has been since she has started with us 4 months ago! (Asanda was one of the girls who came for training last year and gave her heart to Jesus during Life Skills classes!)

7. BEAM Africa has exhibited on a local Missions Fest which originated in Canada. Ministries from all over Africa come to this event every second year! It was such a blessed time to be able to share with likeminded people. Jackie Pullinger from Hong Kong was the main speaker. She had such a healing message for Africa! We would love to share the DVD!

8. Louis is very busy at BEAM House! We have had our fair share of challenges, from walls that crashed to a complete dysfunctional electrical system!

9. Prayer Matters:

We would like to ask your continued prayer for our safety and security at the Centre in Nellmapius. Training, Spiritual as well as Technical has become the key to assist people to become free from manipulation under the sangomas (witch doctors). We had another burglary on Tuesday night 2 days after the new lap tops arrived. They just tore/cut open our roof and broke down where they wanted to enter. It also seems that they were using children / youth to gain access to very small areas.

Pray also for our personal safety as a family please. The children have been ill for the past 3 weeks

Please pray for the children who are going on the camp. Our desire is to introduce them to the One who can give all a Hope and a Future...

The registration of BEAM USA and guidance for the future of BEAM as a whole.

Please pray for the finances which should finish BEAM House to be on time and not delayed in some way.

10. Marketing issues and job creation: Together with our friend from the Skills College we are busy with research for products which could be exported to all our friends. I will place photos when we are ready with proper prices as well as samples. All previous products can still be ordered. Please let us know well ahead of time so that the groups can take back orders to try and cut cost.

Jewelery Bag with little insets R 70/$10	Beaded Salad Spoons R140/$18	Beaded Honey Spoon R45/$7

THANK YOU to all students and parents who contributed to the Charity Drive.....

We had VIP's assisting us in loading everything into our vehicle! It will be distributed along with the "Crocs" donation on the 6th of July 2009 when we have a special day for our children in Nellmapius.

Members of the SLC, Mr Andries van Renssen (Principal - Abbotts) and in the front to the right, are Aobakwe Pheto(Director - BEAM Africa Network) and Emission Letlalo (Administrator).

So much has happened in the past month. We have experienced the absolute blessing of the group which was lead by Andrew Hayes and his parents. New friendships were formed and old ones grew deeper.

We acquired an ABET (Adult Basic Education and Training) computerised programme. I was trained to facilitate and assess... I believe that we should be up and running by August. We are so excited because we really believe that this is one of the ways in which we should make a difference in our area.

Our application to become an accredited learning centre should be with the relevant Authorities before the end of this week. To be able to do things in excellence, is what we are striving for.

If you have read our letter of 12 April 2009, you would have seen that we have made an offer to purchase a property next to us. This transaction has been finalised - not a moment too soon!

The 1 year STINT group from CAMPUS has had a drive at the University of Pretoria to give blankets and food to our centre. We would like to thank them and the other students as well as staff from CAMPUS for their efforts!

Finally, our children are doing well in their computer classes in the afternoon. We should be able to start a second group soon..... and the 2 boys who have burned so severely have been admitted into hospital. The first operations have been done. Special prayer is need for the younger one as his first operation has not been successful....

Thank you so much for being a part of this Ministry! Please send me an e-mail. Just click on the "contact us" link at the top of this page!

We have just heard that a shoe manufacturer in the US is going to sponsor our children with shoes for this winter... WE ARE SO THANKFUL!

To those who kept the request going on our behalf - Thank you so much!

We do however have other needs for our children - please open our Sponsorship page for more information...