Our Kids

We are reluctant to share a lot of things about the kids over the blog. If any one is wanting to learn more about what we are doing with them, and how they are progressing, please drop us an email, phone, or send a letter.

We would love people to become more engaged with praying for them as they grow to understand more about God.



This video was shared publicly at the DALE school break up last year and is on their facebook site, so I felt we could share this with you.
  
                
https://www.facebook.com/SPCC.DALE.WARATAH/videos/737387573305254/


Some of our kids are on the video, and Trevon gives his testimony there. This was a big thing for him as he struggles to verbalize very much about different things, and to do this in front of a video camera was huge.  Hope you enjoy.

Three of the kids here have given their hearts to the Lord, and another 2 are wanting to follow God's way, but have not stepped over the final hurdle of commitment. Another is not showing much in the way of wanting to follow God or to trust him.  They all need your prayers.

Please do not think for one moment that we live in a house of perfection.  NO NO NO! It is noisy, very noisy!  We are crowed into a very small house,
ex-housing commission, so not a lot of room. Our bathroom has the shower and toilet in one room. You can imagine the knocking on doors during peak hour.. (before and after school) with 9 people living in the house.

Hair brushes get lost all the time; deodorant goes missing; clothes being worn by another person without permission ( mainly socks because their own are not washed); washing machine is always full or working,  clothes line always full.

Sounds bad!  Not really. They do work together well, and we have very few arguments. They are a real credit to themselves.

AFL takes up a lot of our time. Trevon and Nelita are looking at this for a career option. They are brother and sister. Both have a natural talent for the game.

Glenys grew up in an AFL mad home, and decided when she had her own family, it would not involve AFL. She dodged the bullet with her own children, and now is taking kids to and fro from games and training!!!!

Trevon

Trevon is now 16. He is really wanting to serve God. He is also interested in writing his own songs.
He is playing in the U17s and coaching the U9s AFL

Nelita is 14. Very active and like all the others, into every sport they can participate in.

Nickarita

Nickarita is 13. She is in the same class as Nelita in school. This is her first time in playing an organized sport. Her ambition is to be a hair dresser or beautician.

Estella

 Estella is 11. She is also a very talented sports person. Here she is playing U14's as they were short that day. Normally she plays U11's

Jayz

Jayz is 18. He was elected school captain for this year. He is playing in the seniors and at this stage, leading goal kicker for the team.

Estelle

Estelle is 20 and studying to get her year 12 certificate. She is the only one who does not play AFL, but has joined a Karate class. She is loving this. Estelle is a committed Christian young lady, and has a strong influence on the other kids in the house.



Please pray for these kids as they struggle living here in NSW. They miss their family, they are struggling with language here, school is often hard.

They are blossoming and we trust they will be strong Christians when they go home to their communities and will have a strong influence there for God.

We believe this is a very important part of our ministry and a real privilege to be involved in such a rewarding work






 

Prison Life!

We have adjusted to 'Prison Life' without out too many hassles! Glenys finds enjoyment in telling people that Dennis is in jail when they inquire where he is.

Saying good bye is now a regular occurrence, as well as saying, 'Welcome home'.
Dennis often feels guilty leaving us at home and Glenys holding the fort while he is working in Tamworth. This is his calling, so we all work according to what he does.

His work has been quite varied in the people he deals with and the types of problems he encounters.

Some people have been incarcerated because of a silly mistake, and others have been in and out numerous times.

There was one week  Dennis came home emotionally drained. It was a week of heartbreak for some of the inmates. He said there were a few just crying on his shoulder, so heart broken at the way their lives have turned out.

That week, he needed family time and 'normality' just to recenter his emotions and refresh his batteries.

When these times happen, he understands the importance of family support, pastoral support, and prayer support. Working there 5 days a week would be very taxing emotionally and spiritually.

While Dennis does a few chapel services each week, he finds that often men will call him over to the fence during exercise time and men will talk to him through the wire about issues in their lives.

Inmates are able to ask for a 'one on one' visit with Dennis. He finds these men are really serious about how to sort out the issues they are facing.

Another thing he has found really useful is sharing videos of Christian testimonies. He chooses these testimonies on a variety of topics.  They share how God has transformed their lives from despair to victory.

The men relate to this and opens up a lot of opportunities to talk.

We cannot share stories of how God is working in individual lives, as this is not allowed in his job. Dennis can only share general issues with any one as he is in a job that requires confidentiality.

What he can tell us is that these men need God so much. Some are really seeking. Some have come to know the Lord. Some use the chapel time just for a free cup of coffee and biscuit.

Please pray for these people. Some of the staff at the jail also come and share with Dennis. It is such a privilege to have a small part in the seed planting process of God's kingdom.

Dennis meets with a pastor on a regular basis to share and unload about his work. This is a requirement of the job.