Unsettling Times in Finetown

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” – Isaiah 52:7

We hope you are well and finding God’s peace through Jesus Christ in these days that seem to be flying by!

I realized it has been a while since I wrote about Finetown and my service there to the home-based caregivers, Mama Florina and her children. At the end of 2023, Pastor Wessie, who started the compassion ministry in Finetown 30+ years ago, was passing out Christmas parcels to those in need. He saw three young girls walking along the road and decided to stop and give them each a Christmas parcel. At that moment, he was held up at gunpoint by a group of guys who stole his wallet and all of his valuables. Crime has been escalating in Finetown, and living there is becoming more dangerous; people have been held up, carjacked, and even killed.

In March this year, Pastor Wessie advised me not to go into Finetown anymore, saying it wasn’t even safe to park inside Mama Florina’s gated property. I continued to pray and asked others to pray with me about how to move forward and continue to be able to support Mama and the caregivers. Pastor Wessie lives in Ennerdale, about 10 kilometers from Finetown, and he offered his church hall for me to meet with them. So for now, that is what I have been doing, even though it takes them 40 minutes to walk there!

A new development happened just last week. Pastor Wessie introduced me to a whole new group of 20 caregivers in Ennerdale! I was so surprised to find this group of ladies who are working out of a clinic and doing home-based care in the community. They are open to me coming to meet with them on Friday mornings, so I will be finding out what their needs are and how we can help. Although my ministry in Finetown has had to take on a different form, it seems that this could be a new opportunity.

It has been nearly 14 years from the time I began working with the home-based caregivers in Finetown, and I am sad not to be able to go into that community anymore, but thankfully, I have found ways to stay connected as well as minister to them. A short-term team from Texas provided them with new tennis shoes, which was a huge blessing. Every two months, I take food, produce, and supplies to Mama Florina and the caregivers from the financial gifts that many of you have given. These gifts have been used to help them with micro-loans to get their small business endeavors up and running. I also continue Discovery Bible Studies with them in hopes that those groups will multiply and transform their families and the community.