All Times are His Season
All times are his season, the fruit of his hand.
His mercy lie waiting in the son of man....
Way back in the 80's, new to the Christian faith I was still
wondering, 'Lord What', 'Lord When' and 'Lord How', do you want me to spread
this amazing gift of salvation. Like any young believer I was anxious to get on
with this adventure and make my mark for Him on my new world of colour. But, as the years pass by we develop an understanding that is not
about the rush of youthful energy quite so much as it is about learning to wait
on Him to guide us into the next seasons of life. That HE must become more and I must become
less rings true in scripture and in all believer’s lives. Pouring our lives out as a fragrant offering
as Paul talked about, ready to go anywhere, any-time as a bond servant of the
most high God. Not rushed, but with a
'relaxed concern' as Frank Tillipaugh talked about in the mid 80's. I
believe that God has now brought us to a new door.
It has taken some time, but looking around we see it formally opening now.
For the past 25 + years I have been serving both formally
and informally in youth ministry. It has become apparent that it is now time to let it go as my primary
focus. We will continue to work with
young people encouraging both teens and leaders to know Christ and make Him
known, in fact we already have 70+ teens signed up to attend this year’s YMP
trip to Africa. My focus, however, will change, placing more of my energy in
creating humanitarian housing and community structures in the developing world
with local workers needing employment.
A New But Familiar Path
This year I set aside 'extra time' to see what this would
look like as a change of ministry paths.
Since April this year we have had the privilege of expanding 2
orphanages, building 2 schools and a church all with the modular shipping
container techniques we have developed.
(see the reports and pictures below) Truth is, it is working. Working well beyond what we had envisioned we
are affecting real change in some of the poorest townships using our innovative
construction techniques.
Starting in 2016 we will be entering a 'new season'. Still in the service of the Lord, but more
focused on the physical needs of people as a means of opening doors to address
the spiritual. Hebner Innovative
Solutions (HIS) has been created within the spectrum of Rainbow 90.7FM to
construct humanitarian and commercial structures for the poor. Low cost housing, schools, community
structures, orphanages and even football fields are all within the scope of
opportunity we are exploring. Mission
trips will continue in the spring and when groups are interested but we will
work to empower locals and the unemployed in SA to build hope within their own
culture. It is a new world for us. One for which we still covet your prayer and
continued support to make happen.
Gambia Report
The structure is the second hybrid that we have built. Using the structural integrity of the
containers to support the main roof, while using traditional sand brick for
exterior classrooms with a ring beam to keep costs down. The structure when completed with have 6 - 6m
x 6m classrooms and 2 smaller offices boasting just over 300m2 of space to kick
start this school next year.
Kya Sand Report
The informal settlement of Kya Sands has faced another large
fire sweeping through the township again in the past month. The makeshift corrugated steel and timber
sheds, mixed with paraffin heating systems to cook food are a lethal
combination to the lives of all those who live there.
In
April we built the first stage of the new ACE school. In August the second
mission team stayed in the building to build phase 2. Whether or not it
is used as a school is in the hands of the local charity as it deals with the
catastrophic local disaster. Please pray for wisdom as this group
splits it's time between emergency care of the township and moving forward with
an ACE school in the new year.
Unbuntu Report
Though started after the Kya Sand project, the Unbuntu project was completed to lock up before the second phase of Kya was completed. The church moved in the following weekend and continues to use the building throughout the week.
I have been informed that the outside of the structure is now painted properly and the finishing touches are being completed inside. Pray that this church too reaches out to the Kya Sand as they are in the same area effected by the fires.
Little Rose
The 2016 April trip will involve the completion of the Little Rose Orphanage. As a temporary measure we have constructed a 2 container dorm for the children that is situated on the slab where the larger 288m2 structure will eventually sit. Working with Fujitsu computers in South Africa, we are using their new computer lab as the first floor structural wall to carry the containers on the top floor. When finished the dorms should have capacity for 32 children, a 30m2 computer lab and a house parent suite. The lower negative space will be used as a 144m2 community youth after-school space. A facility much needed in the Kliptown area.
PUSH
The final project worked on this autumn was the PUSH youth extension. Using 4 shipping containers we have created a 2 story community space with 150m2 for teenagers with a balcony. Located close to Little Rose, the PUSH facility will be used for accommodations for the 70 plus team from the UK next March April.
Middle Park
And finally a little closer to home, Middle Park has had a facelift. Finishing the siding on the kitchen container and the new bathrooms have allowed the camp to blend into the surroundings. We are now moving forward to put mains electric power into the camp. This will allow the natural beauty of the place to be un-disturbed by the constant hum and the ever present expense of the generator. Please pray for the leadership team of the camp as we continue to work on expanding the number of students at camp every year after the change of direction of Young Life to their new Scotland facility.
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