Focus on being Female

February 4th was the date of our first program at the Lutheran community center in Ntshongweni, South Africa. My ministry partners and I planned a Saturday of fun for the young women of the township with the title:

FOCUS ON BEING FEMALE

"YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN.  YOU HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE, 

SO GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY." 

I CORINTHIANS 6:20

Registration table for the participants to sign in and get a name tag. In the basket are the door prizes.

We were ready with an area to play games, chairs for the Bible study and (in the picture below) the table to decorate sugar cookies.

UNO!  This is a wonderful game, easy and everyone catches on quickly.

My ministry partners: (Left to Right) Me, Ginger, Katelyn, Shara, Julia.

Katelyn begin the morning playing UNO with the first arrivals.

Julia & Shara man the registration table.

 More arrive...

Every lady also had her picture taken. Here is my good friend Hlengiwe Mzobe. 

 Playing UNO or on the playground.

Nomthandazo Thwala with her decorated cookie.

Gathered around the food table; typical for woman of all cultures.

 This was a huge thrill for everyone.

Enjoying the fellowship.

 Happy women.

Katelyn being her silly self.

Time to be serious to teach what the Holy Scripture has to say about being female.

Everyone bent over to draw on their paper a picture of how they see themselves to be contrasted with a later picture of how God see them.

 Loving her tea!

After the first Bible study of how and why God created us to be feminine everyone enjoyed a pedicure.

 

And a manicure

 The event began at 9am but women arrived throughout the day.

 The event was for 12 year old and up.

 The people here often don't own camera and just love having their pictures taken.  They were asked to return later in the week for their picture which we mounted to a piece of paper with the theme Bible verse.

"YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN. YOU HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE, 

SO GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY." 

I CORINTHIANS 6:20

 Ayanda Mahlasela, one of our favorites.

 The team plus Louisa.

 What am I explaining now?

 The women are always braiding each others hair.

Time for the second Bible study of the day.  The topic ... sex and God's view of our bodies.

Let us pray...

Cindy Duma and I. We shared a Bible throughout the day.  She attends a private school and has excellent English.

Julia's turn to lead the discussion on HIV/AIDS.

Julia asks everyone to list what they know about this dreaded disease.

Shara recording their answers.

Two teams to make the discussion more fun - candy for the winner.

Flowers.  Pretty pink and white flowers.  Fun being female.

Whenever the gate is open children arrive knowing something special is going on.  These little girls were too young for the Bible Studies but we allowed them to stay for cookies.

Ginger, always helpful.

Making their list of what they know about HIV/AIDS

Writing down the answers.

Julia listens closely. Everyone in Africa knows the medical facts about HIV/AIDS but our focus was what does GOD have to say about sex and our bodies.

Role playing. One huge problem is peer pressure.  Girls are bullied and made fun of if they are a virgin or don't have a boyfriend.

The day ended with door-prizes.

Jewelry...

A purse...

Another purse.

The day was blessed by God and the women left feeling loved, pampered and knowing the Biblical reasons of what He expects from us, His daughters, and why He created us to be female.