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Dear Friends, Family and Greater Support Community,
We've found a few minutes to send you greetings and Christmas wishes. It's been hard: the myriad activities have piled upon each other, as they do this time of year, but in life-giving and fulfilling ways, so we're grateful for all we've been able to do. Especially, we are thankful for the visitors who have come to spend time with us. In November, we were blessed to have Dan's mom Bonnie and family friend Anet here for a couple weeks. They got to attend all of our various performances, Jacob’s dance recital, Kathryn’s Baroque Christmas concert, and Dan’s musical. It was great to have their loving support. Then we had Kathryn's sister Elizabeth and her family here for their first summer Christmas! We were so happy to have family to spend the holiday time with, and had a joyous Christmas day together even providing special acapella music singing Oh, Beautiful Star of Bethlehem for the packed out Christmas morning worship service at Somerset West United Church. Yes, apparently many people still go to church on Christmas day here in South Africa!
While they were here, we also enjoyed showing them around to see some of our favorite places, and wrapped up their visit with a trip together along the famed “Garden Route”, SA’s south-eastern highway which parallels the Indian Ocean. We stayed in a beautiful house on a private game farm, and spent time in the Tsitsikamma National Park kayaking on the Storms River and zip-lining in the forest canopy. Kathryn and the Browns also did a day safari in Addo Elephant Park. It was a trip we’ll all remember for a long time.
SADRA Work
As we were working at wrapping up the year, circumstances allowed the long-awaited Manenberg Community Leaders Conflict Training to happen. Unlike other communities where we've trained leaders, this workshop involved leaders in conflict with one another over issues stemming back many years. For them to agree to come together was just the beginning. A friend of Oscar’s from the area helped tremendously with the facilitation, and to make a long story short, a week of hard work resulted in hugs and pledges to work together differently. Youth shared their visions for peace, and mourning mothers shared their daily pain in a room now willing to listen. It was transforming for all of us involved, and a huge positive step to end the work year. We will have several follow-up events with this group in 2019, but it’s a tremendous cornerstone.
In our annual review, we summarised SADRA’s work: we’ve helped train 344 people, about half of which are youth, equally male and female, in conflict transformation – whether that be peer mediation, community leadership, or conflict within the church. We have worked in ten different geographical communities, and in six secondary schools. We’ve also intervened in local area conflicts and our election roundtables have been well attended and now picked up by a partnership with a European donor and the Electoral Commission.
Personal Activities
We also ended the year with a musical “bang” – Dan starred as Buffalo Bill in our local theatre’s production of “Annie Get Your Gun,” a rewarding and fun experience. Kathryn directed a local choir and orchestra in two sold-out performances of Baroque Christmas music featuring Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” including one as a fundraiser for SADRA. Even the boys joined in singing, and the audiences were very impressed. We continue to build these relationships, and hope to connect local folks to SADRA as part of our last year.
We now start our fourth and final year in South Africa. The boys begin Years 10 and 12, and are thinking about next steps in the US. They would love to attend the MCUSA Youth Convention this summer in Kansas City, so we’re hoping to find a way to make that work financially, especially as that could also facilitate their being able to visit some college campuses.
Kathryn finished 2018 at a conference in Stellenbosch on Reparation, Reconciliation and Historical Trauma and is wondering how to continue this work in the US when we come back. It seems the work we’ve been doing here could be helpful in many ways back home – if you have any ideas around this please be in touch.
Our life and work here continue to feel meaningful and busy. We are grateful for the holiday break and having family to share time with. It is always a joy to show off this beautiful place to loved ones! Thank you for your many prayers and generous gifts that uplift and sustain us, through the trials and the celebrations. May 2019 be a year of great happiness for you and yours.
Gratefully,
Dan & Kathryn |
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