Saturday Live Youth in progress!

Friends,

This past Saturday was our OFFICIAL LAUNCH for Saturday Live Youth!

As with anything that is new, there were a few bumps in the road, but all in all, we deemed the afternoon a success.

Saturday Live began with serving lunch to all of the youth. We are really trusting the Lord for funds to do this each and every week. YMS was also so fortunate to have an awesome youth band from one of our local churches, The Barn Fellowship, come out to Refilwe to put on the praise and worship. We were so grateful to them and they did an amazing job to really get the youth excited for worship.

After Saturday's program, it was apparent that these youth are hungry for God's Word and really do want to grow. We asked them to write down ideas that they have for Saturdays, names that they would like to call our Saturday club, topics they would like to discuss as well as prayer requests they have. At times these youth are a bit shy to open up, but writing things down proved to be powerful. After doing Beat the Drum during the holiday program, these youth are hungry to know more about healthy relationships. I was pleasantly surprised!

Here are a few things they would like your prayers in:
-School work/studies
-Joy
-Wisdom
-Health
-Receiving and experiencing the Holy Spirit
-That Saturday Live would grow in numbers and commitment

In addition, the team would also love to have your prayers. Our leadership team is struggling a bit as far as commitment goes. We really want to see each one step up and take their role seriously as they lead these youth. Our team is still learning, but we want to see them progress in their relationship with the Lord as well as with YMS.

Thanks for loving these youth with your prayers and support!!!
With Love,
The YMS Team

YMS Youth

If you read our last blog, then you know that we are starting up YMS (Youth Mission Solutions) youth group this Saturday. It is a lot of work and energy starting from scratch, but we are very excited about it. We have learned a lot from the past weeks in our holiday program which will help us create a successful youth program.
The structure of our youth will be very similar to our holiday program, but adding a few elements. One exciting thing we will be doing is feeding the community each week. We will serve polony on rolls and juice to all of those that come to attend the youth. This is also a great way to reach out to those in our surrounding communities and motivate them to come.

YMS is currently busy writing our proposal to make YMS an official program underneath the Refilwe umbrella. Eventually, the goal is to be fully funded by outside donors (YMS does not currently have a budget). This is exceptionally difficult when starting from the ground up, but we are trusting the Lord that he will bring the funding.

We are well aware that sometimes it is easier for people to get involved when they know exactly what their money is going towards. If there is any interest from your side, we have put together a list of things we need donated/funded. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

General Youth Group Needs:
• Funding for Running costs i.e. office space, internet, phones, etc.
• Money for food each Saturday youth group (R200 per week)
• Colour Printer (R1000)
• Urn for tea and coffee
• 50 Mugs (R10 each)
• Youth worker curriculums and helpful books
• Drama books
• Christian books

It is an unfortunate reality that the youth of this generation grow up in families that are unstable or broken. YMS sees young people hurt from abuse, neglect or need on a regular basis. It is a value of YMS to see these young people rise above their situations and backgrounds. One of the ways YMS has been able to do this is through the YMS youth house.

The youth house, which is within the Refilwe premises, is home to YMS youth leaders and students. This house serves as a safe place to stay for those who have fallen subject to an inhibited upbringing. We have seen the potential in these vulnerable students from the community and would like to train them as YMS leaders to serve their community.

There are currently 3 guys staying in the house and when it is completely finished, the youth house will be home to 12 leaders/students. The house is not in the best shape at the current moment and needs a lot of work. Here are a number of things that we also need donated or funded.

Room 1: Lounge
• Light need to fixed and bulbs replaced
• TV stand
• TV aerial
• Couches
• Curtains
• The floor needs to be tiled

Room 2: Kitchen
• Fridge
• Plumbing
• New basin
• Lights to be fixed and bulbs replaced (need an electrician)
• Stove
• Food cupboards
• Big pots and cutlery

Room 3: Dining Room
• Dining table and chairs
• Window replacement
• Curtains
• Light fixture

Room 4: Bathroom
• Showers need to be completely renovated
• Tiling
• Fix toilets
• Painting
• Plumbing
• Hand wash basin

Room 5: Small Bedroom
• 2 Bunk beds
• 4 Mattresses
• 4 sets up bed sheets and blankets
• Lights need to be fixed (need an electrician)
• Wardrobe

Room 6: Large Bedroom
• 4 Bunk beds
• 8 Mattresses
• 8 Sets of bed sheets and blankets

Room 7: Half Bathroom
• Hand wash basin

Everyday Needs:
• Food, i.e. Bread, milk, eggs, maize meal, rice, soup, canned foods, etc.
• Toiletries, i.e. soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.
• Cleaning supplies
• Money for books


Seeing the needs of YMS can be very overwhelming. The above are some things you can be praying for us for. It is our aim that those who are aligned with our vision and values and see the needs of African youth will come alongside us with something small. Please contact us directly if you are interested. We can be reached at yms@refilwe.org

In addition to these things, your prayer and support as we start this new youth is highly appreciated!!

God Bless you friends!
The YMS team

Dear Friends!
Thank you for your prayers for our holiday program. After four long, tiring, and amazing weeks, we are finished!

The first two weeks with our under 12 kids was a bit of a challenge. The kids were very receptive to the message of love, and by the second day, we had about 30 children attending. Unfortunately, by day 3 the kids appeared to come only when they felt like it or not at all. By the end of the two weeks, we were down to about 12 children. Since YMS specializes in teens, we are hoping to now outsource holiday programs for the smaller children from here on out. The two weeks were filled with singing classes, drama, and dance, and the children also did community service projects one day each week. We loved working with these children, but it definitely wiped us out!

The following two weeks with the older kids was not only fun, but educational and fulfilling. As mentioned previously, we did the Beat the Drum curriculum with them. The youth soaked up the information and truly felt challenged. These youth have rarely, if ever, been exposed to topics such as marriage, sex, and HIV in healthy and positive ways. In government schools, they push condoms and safe sex, so abstinence is a somewhat new concept. At the end of the program, many made commitments to abstain, but others are still skeptical and need a bit more encouragement. Please continue praying for these teens!

YMS was fortunate enough to have a group of volunteers from the US during this time. The first group was a group of six ladies who worked in the surrounding community in the morning, and came and helped with Beat the Drum in the afternoons. We were so appreciative for their input and positive influence on the youth! The second group came about a week after the girls arrived, and also helped with Beat the Drum for a few days.

Everyone who participated in the holiday program, young and old, put on a performance this past Friday. The kids loved it and everyone did excellent. The program was packed with lots of dancing, lots of singing, a summary of what they learned from the holiday program, two dramatic performances, and even a rap!
Our weekly youth group will be starting up July 24, so please be in prayer for that as we work out all the kinks in the meantime. Our biggest challenge has been with our leadership team. We are so grateful for those that God has given us, but we are always in need of more volunteers that are committed to African youth!

God bless you all, faithful readers!!

With love,
The YMS team

June Update

For the past few months, YMS has been busy, busy, busy!

There are currently three guys living in the youth house and it is slowly making progress as far as renovations go. The boys have been hard at work with working in the garden, painting, and other projects around the house.

As was mentioned previously, YMS has a new member of its family! Leah, Piet’s fiancé, came to join the YMS team last week on Friday, and here we are in full swing. The YMS team is growing and feels a bit more complete!

Here is a picture of our team: DeDe, Simon, Canny, Piet and Leah





The next four weeks will be devoted to a holiday program for the children of Refilwe as well as those in the surrounding communities. The first two weeks will be for children 6-12 (primary school), and the following two weeks will be for children 13 and up. The focus of the first two weeks will be love as it pertains to loving each other, serving, trusting, and being honest. The following weeks with the older kids will be a curriculum entitled Beat the Drum. This curriculum is based on a film with the same name, and it deals with sex, AIDS, true love, and abstinence. Both Piet and Leah have facilitated this program in the past and are excited to bring it to the Refilwe community.

The last thing YMS is trying to improve is the tutoring of children at Refilwe and those in the community that need extra help. It has been a bit slow going, but we are getting there. There are always lots of volunteers from Johannesburg who are excited and willing to help! What a blessing!

We thank God for the progress of YMS. We thank you for your prayers and all the support you have given.

Continue to pray with us in the following ways:
-For the upcoming holiday program
-For the growth and unity of our team
-That lives will be changed because of what we are able to do

April Update

Hello friends!

I apologize for the silence in between updates. The last few months have been hectic around Refilwe, as always.

During the April school holidays, YMS held a holiday program which was a great success. This program was YMS’s first ever April holiday club. In the two weeks combined, we hosted 45 students. It was wonderful times of helping young people grow in their talents and in their knowledge of Christ.

The first week, April 5-9, was focused on the older youth from ages 13 and up. We did praise and worship each morning, fun activities and games, music lessons, as well as teachings. The four topics that we focused on were respect, love, honesty, and trust. In the afternoons, the youth were divided into their skill groups: guitar, keyboard, drums, bass, dancing, and singing.

The second week, April 12-16, focused on pre-teens. We invited the children from ages 5-12. The unique part of week two, was that many of the older kids from the first week were now involved in the planning, preparation, and teaching for the kids of the second week. The discussion for this week was much the same as the previous week, but altered to fit the ages of the kids. We would challenge the kids to practice the practical skills at home and give us feedback the very next day of what they learned.

During the holiday program, we had one volunteer from Holland named Tess. She helped teach singing as well as colouring and arts with the smaller kids.

At the end of the two weeks, all of the youth that attended the program put on a production for the parents. They sang, danced, and showed off the musical skills they had learned during the week. The kids even served tea and coffee to their parents!

All in all, the holiday program was effective and we are excited to do it all again next year!

The YMS boys soccer team is still as strong as ever. We are working on getting them officially entered into the league in order to advance their soccer career. Once the hype of the World Cup is over, things will be back to normal and we can continue with our matches. For the past couple of months, we have started up Friday night teachings with the boys. We discuss life and how to be a godly man. We are also focusing on building education within the soccer team and trying to find tutors for each boy.

YMS has recently gained a new staff member. Piet’s newly engaged fiancé, Leah, has recently moved from Port Elizabeth to Refilwe to develop the non-existent girl’s ministry. She will be providing all of the admin for YMS as well as building up the girls who up until this time, have had no females leaders to confide in.

The final big project within YMS is the youth house. As has previously been mentioned, YMS has been given a house within the Refilwe premises as a place for YMS leaders and students. It is a place of refuge for youth with unstable homes and upbringing. The house was a blessing, but needs a lot of physical work. God has sent a few groups of youth workers who will be sponsoring and collecting materials for the renovations of the youth house. There are currently two YMS leaders, and two students living in the house. The goal is to have 12 guys living in this house that will be a part of YMS. We are praying that God will send these students.

A few prayer requests from YMS:
- The leadership and Staff will grow in Christ
- Seriousness of purpose

- YMS will follow God’s leading and direction
- Girl’s ministry

Praise God for all HE ALONE is doing in and through YMS!

Thanks for your support!

Best Regards & God Bless

The YMS team

Welcome to YMS!

Hello friends!

We want to take this opportunity to thank you for joining the Youth Mission Solutions (YMS) blog!

Many of you are already members of our facebook group, and this blog is an opportunity to hear first hand some of the activities we are doing in YMS.

The YMS strategy plan is the foundation by which Refilwe aims to create an environment that generates opportunities for youth to have a safe and healthy journey into adulthood, and to equip them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and social connections to both make informed decisions about their own life and break the cycle of poverty so common to African youth.

The YMS strategy has two distinct, yet complimentary, intentions: the first focuses on healthy adolescent development using research-based method title the 40 Developmental Assests strategy; the second focuses on spiritual development of wholeness through teaching about Jesus Christ and His offer of salvation for every person.

The YMS staff will be using this space to interact with all of you - the youth of our surrounding city, our supporters, and dear friends. We would love for you to share your ideas and give input into our newly developed program.

We look forward to sharing our hearts with you!

Thank you for your passion to help break the cycle of poverty in our youth.

Best Regards and God Bless
The YMS team