Supporters new update

May 1, 2010

Dear all of my loving supporters,

Life in this beautiful country of South Africa had been incredible! Up to this point it’s been a path I’d never imagined. Even still, I’m here and I’ve extended this journey to finish after the FIFA World Cup. So with 3 months left, I’m here to update you on the experience thus far and the ministries I’ll be participating in to finish with.

I really want to apologize for not enough updates on my blog and any great photos because it’s not quite the bush here, yet the time to get internet access and uploads on top of safe places to take camera’s have not been easy. Therefore I’m doing what I can.

As most of you know I have been working on this ABSTAIN2010 campaign, which is basically an awareness and prevention of HIV, human trafficking and increase in the sex industry for the time of the world cup. The aim was to focus our attention on those coming to this country and show them what is actually happening behind the scenes. This was placed upon my heart for my outreach in my DTS (discipleship training school), so unlike other 3 month outreach programs for YWAM DTS students, I pretty much created my own with support from the eldership/leaders on my base. With a very unique case, I had meetings, unique team members, and different ways of trying to get a message created and distributed in the past 3 months. I learned more than I ever could and having God stretch me in ways I’d never imagined I can say he’s prepared me for things in the future I’m certain. I can’t say I’m let down by what’s come out of this process, however we are in the late stages of getting a brochure printed by a few NGOs and volunteers to distribute to the hotels and hostels downtown during the months of the World Cup here. We had however, planned on videos, radio commercials (which still may get produces), marches, and so much more, in the end of this process, I at least have some amazing new friends and connections. If even a brochure gets to one man who learns something about human trafficking, then that’s one more person who can help prevent the growth of using victims.

So, we’re still pushing that brochure and cleaning up website to match the information with the knowledge and details of the Safe House which is trying to fundraise to be purchased. Safe houses are for the victims who are rescued from the human trafficking and need much rehabilitation to be returned back into life, even back into their own country they were robbed from. The brochure distribution along with Justice Acts flyers isn’t an issue with getting them into the hostels and hotels since we contacted them already, it’s just getting them printed to then take trips with a few teams to go from hotel to hostel downtown. Justice Acts have even offered to send some of the brochures with them to their other FIFA host cities to be distributed. Even the World Cup network ministry of The Ultimate Goal has offered to put our information on their website for other ministries/teams to download and distribute. Please pray it can all come through.

In extending my ‘outreach’ and time until after the world cup to see this project (among others) to be delivered, I’m also finally involving myself with other ministries. I’ve made such great contacts and people who can be linked together for a more successful World Cup time, I’m trying to mend those people/organizations together. For instance, there’s this incredible organization called Samaritans Feet, who distribute shoes to children in need. There’s more to it than just handing out shoes, it’s actually incredible to have this ministry of foot washing and hearing from the children some of their desires and dreams. Interestingly enough, the shoes are also a health contributor. There is a story of how a woman who volunteered in Kenya found a large amount of children who had HIV. The reason was merely because the poor mothers had children who were bare foot, and they had used infected needles to pick the worms out of their children’s feet that contracted worms in the wet mud. So, this ministry has over 30,000 shoes to distribute in the next month and I’m linking our YWAM girl who’s heading that up with those different academies and ministries in need. On top of this, there’s training to go with this process so that an able body of volunteers can help this process happen easily, and I am also beginning to take charge of teams coming through our base in YWAM. Not only am I helping the different teams such as 2 DTS teams on outreach from New Castle in Australia to go to different places to serve (sports and music specifics), they will be getting the proper training to help deliver these shoes. So much happening it’s unreal!

So I am sort of the sports coordinator  Go figure! Yes my knee hasn’t needed surgery, so I’m slowly getting back into running and trying to play in pick up games and now when I can, this poor Fishoek women’s team. It’s possibly some of the worst soccer I’ve ever been a part of, however I see such a way to minister to these women/girls from townships who are very skillful, but need direction and a bit of love I believe. I can’t stay obviously the whole season since I’m leaving August 1st, but I will try and take part as much as I can.

That takes me to the soccer. Yes Fishoek, which is a town about an hour’s walk away, but my great friends have been giving me lifts to trainings and games so far. However the organization (more than frustrated with all of South Africa and the non-organization) has almost made me want to quit. From the little boys (there’s no girls soccer basically under the age of 14), all the way to the men’s team, I’ve seen teams never show, practices where 500 boys show up and they stand in lines of 15 deep because there’s only say 5 soccer balls per team. Our women’s team finally had a match last Friday, after trying 4 weeks in a row to get an opponent to show up. We had exactly 11, and we won 12-0. Makes my team sound amazing eh? Well it was the first time I’d ever met half my team or seen the rest even run before. That’s how poor we are. The B team work hard and have potential. Their coach has asked me to come when I can to do a few sessions with the girls at his school and even the younger ages. I will make as much as I can on Fridays. There’s also a soccer ministry on Monday’s in a township where we just play with the local boys/men who are unemployed (since most townships have about 95% unemployment).

I’m also volunteered myself as well as a few who have been helping me with the ABSTAIN2010 project to put time towards our YWAM Jubilee celebration here in South Africa, May 24-25th. Yes it’s the 50th anniversary of YWAM, so it’s a huge event called The Flame Goes Forward. Here in Cape Town, our base is hosting the event, (which is in all the countries YWAM is a part of) for all of Africa celebration. Loren and Darling Cunningham are coming here to speak and be a part of the massive celebration. On top of that there will be anywhere from 500-700 others joining. I am in charge of the structure of events on the days of as well as the decorating committee. Yikes! I know too much, but I’m trying to make it all happen. It’s nice to use different strengths and different people to work with.

Lastly I’d like to say that I’ve been praying to know my next steps in the future. I will be coming home in August, however I’m praying about coming back to South Africa in the future or not. Like I said there’s absolutely nothing for the girls here and soccer. As I’ve been culturating myself here, researching, going into townships, visiting academies/ministries, speaking with leaders, young girls, teams, etc., there’s SUCH a need for a ‘tool’ as an outlet for girls. It’s truly fascinating for SAfricans to hear about a girl who plays soccer. It’s unique and girls here really don’t participate in many sports. Soccer should be the main thing they get to play since the boys have many opportunities and academies; however there’s no structure in place yet for the girls. Now I see why the women’s league struggles because there’s not even a building block of development. With Ambassador In Sport (who by the way is going to be doing a tour during the world cup in playing and doing HIV prevention ministry to women and children I may be a part of along with our ABSTAIN2010 campaign), and many other already intact academies, I’m seeing who’s doing what, how there’s a place to partner with and hopefully start a girls-only league.

Mario, this fellow from Greater Commission United academy, he’s an X gangster turned Christian and doing this amazing thing within his community to rise up criminals and the poor to be a part of his holistic soccer programs which include feeding, educating, ministering, etc., (if you would like to sponsor a player he’s in desperate need, just email me about it and I can forward you the information) he said there’s without a doubt endless girls who would come out to play if there was a league. Mario struggles for coaches for himself, let alone if he had those boys coaching girls in a township, he said was completely unrealistic. I agreed and said yes, you must have girls coaching girls. There’s this ownership girls must take to show the importance of bonding, role models and much more. So the few women/girls who play/coach/teach can be trained enough to hand a girls team of say 7, and perhaps they could even get paid which is more incentive and job opportunity on top of it. I have so many ideas and speaking with sponsors, other NGO’s even my friend from the government who would love to help build this up properly, and structured to make sure it’s successful. I have agreed it’s more than needed and could be powerful! Soccer is the tool that IS HIV/AIDS prevention, trafficking prevention, hopelessness prevention, and so much more! There’s endless funding to be given for such purposes. The question for me is, do I want to and have the patience to come back and run this. It would take a commitment of at least a year or two. What I do know is this; if I come back, I will be getting paid for what I do, have a vehicle, internet access and a cell phone with airtime. Those few things that jobs can cover have been what has made my experience harder than it needed to be.

I may or may not be the one who champions this idea of a girls-only soccer league to be the beginning pilot for the rest of the country, however I will do what I can with the research and contacts I have met for the one who can and will. There’s been another great girl who must have been my twin at birth named Amy. She’s come through the ministry of Living Hope who is out here in my area I’m working with for the holiday camps during the world cup, etc. Amy plays with me on the Fishoek team and plays with the men sometimes as well. She’s a nut about soccer and God. She’s coming back for sure in January with AIS. We’re speaking and praying but so much in God’s hands.
In conclusion, I at least wanted to update you on what is happening and going to happen. The World Cup is going to be a crazy time here in South Africa and I can already see my time being taken over with helping here and there. If you can and would please keep me, the base, the teams coming and who want to come, the kids/families/tourists we will reach, transportation, funding, the Jubilee, health, and God’ hand in everything we do here! That would be such a blessing. Finances haven’t been much of an issue so far and that’s from the bottom of my heart so grateful for everything! I can’t believe I’ve been here able to serve with the backing of wonderful hearts across the world! Finances have been spent on my housing, food, traveling, cell phone, medical bills (been sick a few times and have had to see the doctor for my knee), insurance, visa, visa extension and my extended plane ticket. There are little things here and there obviously that also come up. No I don’t have world cup tickets, and have been offered some in Joberg if I could get up there to see the New Zealand team. There’s just too much cost involved, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy my time here with the communities I’ve been in relationship with already.

For the remaining 3 months, I still need to raise funds of around R12,000. I calculated my rent/utilities R1,500, food R1,200, internet/phone, R400, and extras (train travel, toiletries, hair cut, etc.) R1000. So about R4,000 a month with 3 months of May, June and July left I need around R12,000. This equates to around $1,700 for 3 months longer here in South Africa. God always supplies and never fails so I must have faith. I could possibly live on more or less so I am trying to not stress about this. Please keep me in your prayers. There are also so many other YWAMers around me who struggle for schools, accommodation, even a day’s train ticket. Please keep them in your prayers to continue in the steps God has called them.

If you would like to financially support me you can do so by directly transferring into my savings account through Bank of America
Savings account # 485002294947
Or you can send a check for a tax write off to:
Rainier Community Church of God
321 W C St.
PO Box 849
Rainier OR, 97048 (503)556-5661
Be sure to put a note that it’s for Noel Cameron

www.noelcameron.blogspot.com

If you could or would like to contact me in any way please do so at
noel_cameron@hotmail.com

Look so forward to coming home and visiting everyone. Your prayers, support, financial support, and even a few hello’s always make my day here! Thank you again! Thank you especially to the church for being so faithful to me. I hope I can continue to update you and share the things God is doing on this side of the globe!

Blessings,

Noel Cameron