From Cape to Kenya!

Ayanda Msebenzi has completed his 3 months of discipleship training and is now on his way to do 2 months of mission work in Kenya!

I was reminded by a friend recently, that it’s an amazing fulfillment of the great commission to see a young man who lives in a shack take to the slums of Kenya to spread the gospel.

Personally, for me it’s experiencing his dynamic change in just 3 months that blows me away. Before he left for Kenya, Ayanda joined us for our Monday morning prayer meeting. To hear the conviction with which he speaks and his command of the truth was just plain inspiring.

The other day I received an update that read, “Dear Parents” and I giggled. He and I laughed about it together over lunch, and then he later wrote me a text and called me mom. A touching sentiment for sure, but also an accurate account of how invested I feel in his future, and the future of others.

Upon his return Ayanda will start into the Media Village video production semester, and the directors there are already speaking with him about fulltime employment with them, which speaks to how hard he’s working.

The outreach cost was more than we planned, but it’s certainly not my place to halt what God has set before him, and so we step out in faith that God will meet these needs as He has met the others!

Jungle Room grabs cameras and takes to the streets (of Kuyasa)

Our 8 to 11 year-old art class is in full swing! We’re working through the ViewFinder Project curriculum – a wonderful initiative that teaches students that with the help of a camera they can make even “ugly” things beautiful.

It was insightful to get a glimpse into what they find to be ugly. When asked the question I heard answers like, “fights, stabbing, shouting, food in the road, police, vomit and Tsotsis (street thug)”. At the least it was a glimpse into what an 8-year-old might be exposed to in a township.

What a challenge and privilege it is to teach a young child about photography – and in another language! Each Friday I’m amazed with what they retain from the week prior, and I certainly love the tiny arms eager for hugs at the end of class.

First Kuyasa Photo Exhibition a Success

After six months of classes we have successfully graduated our first Kuyasa Level 1 photography class. The class was an initiative started by professional photographers Christine Meintjies and Lauren Kriedemann with the inspiration of The Viewfinder Project. Intern Ncumisa Siko, fresh off her time at the Media Village, was critical to the success of the project.

The students exhibited their work this past week, and the response was overwhelming. Many visitors that had never experienced Kuyasa came to participate in the day’s events. The demand was such that we actually began selling the photographs on behalf of the students, and it looks like a donor has stepped forward to create a book of their showcased photos. The theme for the exhibition was “Life In Kayamandi”.

Have a new or used digital camera that you'd like to donate? simply email lakatie_taylor@yahoo.com

Photo on the right was taken by student Cwenga Gwadiso

Another student is heading to the Media Village!

It is both incredibly rewarding and scary at the same time, but another student from the 2008 class is soon to pass his matric (graduate from high school) and his sights are set on the Media Village.

The Media Village is a YWAM program in the Cape Town area that focuses on different areas of the media, one of which is video production. And while we believe that one day the Kuyasa Film School will be pumping out incredible film talent, we’re not yet staffed and equipped to offer that kind of in depth training for our students.

So our very own Ayanda Msebenzi will start with his 6 months of discipleship training in January and will then transition into the school of video production at the end of June.

Ayanda has been a Hats & Glasses leader for several years as well as participating in the Film School. We are happy to support him in this effort, as this has been his focus for completing high school.

It’s a big commitment for me since it costs about $6000 for this 9 months of training/room and board. But I believe that God will provide and so we step forward in faith.

Breakthroughs

Thanks to many of you I am back in South Africa full time overseeing the visual arts department at the non-profit Kuyasa. We’ve successfully launched a new Level 1 film class of nine dedicated students. Thanks to the continued efforts of my former student Odwa, many of them are starting with a greater knowledge of cameras than the pilot program had in 2008.

After weeks of class work we recently evaluated their first short films, typically the movies that students look back at and laugh, and they are excited to hone their skills. When they sat down for their first personal interviews for the documentary I was truly inspired. We strive to create a very open environment of sharing and vulnerability and that was no different with this class. Students shared openly and honestly and I’m glad for the opportunity to truly know them through this process.

One of my favorite moments in this very busy week happened around the editing bay (sitting in front of our old mac laptop) with a student named Emmanuel. He was one of our first round of directors for their task 2 assignment, which includes their first crack at editing their films. It's a steep learning curve the first time, but to edit their own film is an invaluable lesson in directing as it helps you to think through how you would shoot things differently the next time. There are often shot opportunities missed and they always wish they had more coverage of each scene (shooting from different angles and more close-ups etc). It was so fun to sit down with Emmanuel - take his short film and just teach him one on one. He just soaked up the information, and at moments threw his hands in the air in amazement at how we were able to change and adjust his short to make it that much better. By the time we finished, he turned to me and said, "SisKatie, I'm so proud of myself, cause I've never done anything like this before. I didn't even know that I could do something like this."

It's one of those moments that makes all the work worth it.

It's one of those moments where my sacrifices, big and small fade to the background.

It's one of those moments that you can be proud of the dollars that you send in support of this project.

When passion meets opportunity there is no end to what we're capable of doing together. Thank you for believing in this project, in these students and in me. I'll never be the same.

My New Best Friend

This nine-year-old, Phlumehlo, is my new best friend. I remember him from years past as a real trouble-maker, but this year he’s anything but trouble. Phlumehlo comes to visit me at my office everyday in the afternoon. He starts by looking into the outside window to see if I’m in, and then comes tearing down the hallway and announces first that he needs a hug. Once he gets his hug, he promptly sits down and fidgets while I write out a sheet of math problems.

It didn’t take long to figure out that Phlumehlo couldn’t tell the difference between the addition and subtraction symbols, so that became our first lesson. Once we graduated to the adding and taking away of fingers, we then started the lesson that we will always have 5 fingers on each hand, no need to count them each time.

With each day he gets a better grasp on things, and while I’m sure he appreciates the help, I imagine that the individual attention is what he’s really seeking each day.

Beginning Again

It’s always hard to know where to start, perhaps that is because each time I attempt to put my thoughts down, the internet goes out, or all the power shuts off. But this is Africa after all, and so it’s par for the course I guess.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the power of family and the impact that is has in each of our lives. Perhaps it’s on my mind now more than ever because I’ve recently said good-bye to my family – a drawn out time of letting go both of my physical possessions and those I hold so dear. It is never easy to say good-bye and yet as I sit here I am fully aware of how truly spoiled I am when it comes to this gift of family. I have been so loved and cared for throughout my life that I’m fully equipped to allow that love to spill over onto others.

I have students working with me that I love dearly, but it’s clear that the love and guidance of family is something they’ve not often experienced. I find myself breaking down concepts again and again, and I’m reminded that even accountability to a task is in many ways a very new concept. Taking apart vision and goals until they become tasks for the week or the day. I’m so grateful for the time that was invested enabling me to reach my fullest potential, and I’m blessed to pass on this gift.

I moved into my new room over the weekend, and my dear friend Carmen put her arm around me and said, “This must be such a huge change for you. So if you need anything let us know. You’re family now, you are my sister.” I was so grateful for that moment because I know the strength that comes from having sisters.

I’m so grateful for this family on the other side of the world – that is willing to support me while I get my feet wet again on this side.

I’m happy to call this complex and beautiful place home.

And I’m so grateful for each of you that lift me up in prayer and support me with your tithes each month.

I’m still about $1000 a month off from what it will cost to stay and maintain the project. So if you’re able to start an automatic monthly gift at www.threadsafrica.org by clicking on the donate tab and selecting the Kuyasa Film School project it would be a huge relief for me.

Love to all from Africa,

Katie