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DECEMBER
2003
SHEPHERD'S KEEP
PROPERTY
The building
continues to grow, and sadly we have to watch it stop for the month of
December, when all builders take their yearly leave, but we stand in
awe every time we stand on the site—what a mighty God we serve!
We look forward to
the completion of it in February 2004!
Side view of the
two floors
View of the ramp
connecting the two floors
We pray God's
richest blessings on all our faithful supporters this Christmastime,
and remember, rejoicing is an expression of faith that opens the door
for God to work His wonders in our lives!
Let us rejoice
together this season at the wonder of our Savour Jesus Christ, who
lived, and died for us and rose again on the third day, to give us life
eternal, if we should only believe!
Please pray for
Colin and Cheryl who will be fund raising this December, and for our
office staff, who are in dire need of a rest, that they have a blessed
time of rest.
Thank you and God
bless you all
Cheryl
NOVEMBER
2003
SHEPHERD'S KEEP
PROPERTY
With awe and
admiration for our God, we humbly bow our knees before Him and thank
Him for the beautiful new building being erected
for the abandoned babies of Durban and surrounding
areas in South Africa.
The top
floor is now under construction and is at window height, and
the builders tell us the roof will be on by Christmas time!
Top floor under
construction
We have an incredible
crew of folk working on the building, who whistle and sing
while they work in the baking hot sun of Natal—they all know what the
building is for, and their hearts are really in their work. We thank
God for each of their part in Shepherd's Keep.
We have chosen the
roof colour and exterior wall paint, and interior paint as well.
This is a vision
that God gave us 6 years ago, an L-shaped building,
and the ramps and no stairs
were part of the vision too, with lots of air and space and
light!
A sea-view
emerged from behind the trees that were cut down, so we have instructed
the architect to incorporate the view at every opportunity.
The chapel
is under construction and will have a huge lit up cross in
the front of it, as a beacon to those who are looking for us
at night, who bring in a baby.
The chapel will be a
place of praise and worship and a place of sanctuary and prayer for our
staff.
We are very thankful
for support from folk, and know that with out this, Shepherd's Keep
would not be! Thank you from us all and God bless you.
SUPPORT GROUP
Our support group is going well and we will be celebrating Christmas
time with a function—we all have a wonderfully happy time, each time we
meet, with lots of fun and laughter.
HANDS OF MERCY
Hands of Mercy is still sending out parcels
of infection control supplies to the outlying areas of Natal,
and we have had feedback from grateful folk who have ministered to
dying patients and have really been able to help them with supplies—we
pray this ministry will continue and expand, as we have a chance to
spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for all that
is needed for a large project such as this, and for stamina for staff,
healing for the sick.
Until next time
Sincerest thanks and blessings to all our friends
Cheryl Pratley
SEPTEMBER
2003
SHEPHERD'S KEEP PROPERTY
The awesomeness of the project under the
Hand of God---it's amazing.
We look out of our
bedroom window, and there it is-mounds of red sand moving, being
flattened, trenches dug, cement poured and right now, bricks laid—the
business of it all reminds us that GOD IS IN CONTROL!
Looking over the
site with Durban harbour in the distance
There is a strange
peace as the workers work and one testified that this project means
more to him than any other he has worked on, because of what it is
going to be, it seems as though God has HIS people here too—working
diligently with an urgency in their spirits, knowing this is for the
lost, abandoned and dying babes, without hope, if they are not saved
and given life and looked after—they all have a special part in
Shepherd's Keep.
Looking at the
lower basement foundations
The earth is
making way for Shepherd Keep's new building!
We are trusting God,
as we go along for all the funds we need by the 18th Feb 2004 (finish
date)
Colin and Cheryl
will be out fundraising in various parts of the country—we ask for your
special prayers in this regard and for traveling mercies. Thank you
Thank you to all who
have been so involved in the past 5 years—God is good, he keeps us in
touch, and we are so grateful to all—to all our babies out there—thank
you for your photos and mail—we love you! We will never forget you and
will remember you as God's little miracles!!
Sincerely
Colin, Cheryl and Michelle
JULY 2003
It is with much
excitement that we are actually seeing God in action fulfilling our
vision—it is almost as if He is running with it, so fast, that we have
to stand back—remember, unless God build the house, we build in vain !
SHEPHERD'S KEEP PROPERTY
The trees have been felled
as the property was secured on the 1st June, and the huge space for our
building is now open and ready for the earthworks to start on
the 14th July.
The builders move on
site on that date and away we go, with our beautiful building for the
abandoned and HIV/AIDS babies we have prayed for and believed God would
do for them—it is so amazing!
God is so
faithful if we don't waiver in our faith and persevere only
believing that He is able—we give Him all the glory!
ADOPTIONS
In the meantime, adoption
agencies have been sought out and relationship building with
these folk has developed, which is so important, as there is so much
evil in the world and we make very sure of who our babies go to.
We take this
opportunity again, of saying thank you to all corporate and
private companies and individuals for ongoing donations—this
is what is making SHEPHERD'S KEEP possible.
Bless you all!
SUPPORT GROUP
Our HIV/AIDS support group is
doing well and we are praying that God would direct more folk
to us for counseling and help.
The
infection control supplies are reaching far and wide and are
in great demand, helping many to live more comfortably in their last
days.
We pay
tribute to the care workers out there who dedicate their
lives for others, and in most difficult circumstances—God bless you and
thank you!
We will keep you
updated on the progress of the building, and remember, all building
donations are most welcome at this time
Thank you all!
Cheryl
APRIL 2003
Greetings to all our
friends again.
We have had
a good start to the new year and are all once again fired up
to get the building started and a move on for the babies so desperately
needing homes.
Only tonight I had a
call from an irate policewoman who had been left with a wee babe of
only 3 weeks old, and nowhere to take it! Please pray with us that we
will soon be operational again and be able to help these tiny little
mites, so helpless and so defenseless to the woes of this world.
VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS
"A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS" presentation at the Playhouse on
the 11th April went very well, with Colin drumming a
thundering "Drums Triumphant," a recital of of 40
drums, a Power Point presentation of Shepherd's Keep's
lifesaving endeavours in the field of support for the
abandoned babies of South Africa.
SHEPHERD'S KEEP PROPERTY
Shepherd's Keep admin staff and management have to date been preparing
for the facility at the recently purchased property, that will
accommodate 60 babies from birth to six months old, ensuring homes in
families are sought and found in that time. We plan to start
the foundations very soon, as all red tape has been passed.
HANDS OF MERCY
HANDS OF MERCY, the extended ministry of Shepherd's Keep is running
smoothly from a room on the same property, occupied by thousands
of items of infection control supplies, which are packed into
boxes and taken into the rural areas of Kwa Zulu
Natal, to tend the AIDS sufferers, through care givers.
The packing is a happy time, and the radio plays softly in the
background, where the packers quietly reflect on the suffering of the
folk and what a warm bath with all that goes with it, and a hot cup of
soup can do to alleviate their pain.
SPONSORS
We especially thank our sponsors for the
funds which enable us to purchase these supplies. We take
this opportunity to thank each donor, sponsor, prayer warrior and
friend, for the ongoing support you have shown us during these months
of 2003. We are so grateful to each one of you. To God be the glory for
all that He does and for His hand on each step forward, knowing just
when to implement another stage and carry us through.
God bless you all
Management and
staff of SHEPHERD'S KEEP
JANUARY 2003
With much enthusiasm
and prayer, the management of Shepherd's Keep were given opportunities
of sending infection control supplies to
Kwamashu (a township outside of Durban, where the rate of HIV infection
is extremely high) and The Valley of a Thousand Hills (a rural area of
Kwa Zulu Natal that has no running water and no electricity)
Shepherd's Keep staff were a buzz with ordering loads and loads of
infection control supplies, packing them into the boxes
that were donated for the purpose, and delivering them to the said folk.
They are only given
to Registered Nurses, who take charge of
trained caregivers, who then in turn have a box per
patient.
The gospel
of Jesus Christ is shared with the patient, often dying,
and at the same time, he is given a bath, his pressure parts are gently
massaged and his sores and open wounds are dressed. All his other needs
are taken care of—a mouth wash, etc, and then he is fed by the care
giver. He is left clean and feeling much better.
This process is
covered by the care giver each day with
her patients—we can only commend them for their dedication and love for
their fellow man. They leave after praying and singing with their
patient.
After we saw the
desperate need for this care, it was decided by the management to fund
raise and build a couple of AIDS RETREATS
where the very sick and dying will have proper beds and hygienic care,
giving them dignity and confidence that all possible is being done for
them and their families.
A concert
is being planned with overseas artists and we will keep you updated.
God
is incredibly wonderful, how we give Him all glory and honour in how He
has brought us all through another year, and how His timing is so
perfect in all things.
We hope to start
building on the babies building soon, and we take this opportunity to
thank every donor—we are getting there!
God bless you all
From management and staff
Colin and Cheryl
Pratley — custodians of Shepherd's Keep
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