Beam Africa

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress”
James 1:27, NLT

The is my favorite picture of the day! Most of the kids at Beam just want you to play with them a love them. These kids are teaching me so much about Joy! Please keep us in your prayers as we try to love everyone at Beam the way Jesus loves all of us everyday!

A couple days back our team spent our first day with Erika and the kids at Beam Africa. Erika welcomed the team with a big smile and hugs for all of us. She is a wonderful woman! I desire a heart as gentle and caring as the one God has given her. We arrived before the children got off school to discuss with Erika, the detail of our year with Beam. All nine of us had smiles on our faces when we talked about getting college students involved with the ministry! Her vision for the year is simple but big. I love that God gives us the freedom to dream big with him, it most certainly affects the way we live. I was exciting to hear Erika’s heart in having us here to serve with her. Our time with Erika came with some hard news as well.

Over the past two years Beam Africa has shared a piece of land in a township called Nellmapius with a small church in the community. When I visited in the summer of 2007 (winter of 2007 in South Africa) the church was meeting in a small tent on the land they shared with Beam. Where the tent once was now stands two small buildings. Over the last year the church has expanded and grown in number. After expanding, the church felt it was best to split from Beam and occupy the land only as the church. This was really bad news for Beam. This decision left them with one fifth of the land they once had available to them. It is difficult to see why this church made the decision they did, considering that it is putting these children last. It breaks my heart to see this taken away from these kids as well. The good news is that it is not final, there is still a chance that the church could change their mind. Please be praying for Beam Africa and the children there. We are waiting patiently to see how the Lord will provide the space to care for these kids well.

It is a blessing to share in this with all of you. Thank you for your love and support.

Amanda