South Africa Update January 2011

Our flight to South Africa was long and tiring as you can see from the photo of Jordan and Isaac below. We flew overnight from Philly to London, landing at Heathrow Airport in time for breakfast on 17 Nov. 2010. What you may not be able to tell from the photo is we sold or gave away almost everything we owned and this is also a picture of all of our worldly possessions stuffed into 12 bags and 4 carryons!!


Our layover in London was almost 12 hours so we took the train and went downtown to do the tourist thing for the day. We had a proper British breakfast and then took the tube to see the sights… Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, etc. and we got the aerial view on The Eye (which is in the photo behind Jordan and Isaac). All of us took our winter coats as carryons and we were glad for our decision because it was really cold in London. Well, fatigue set in quickly and by mid afternoon we were on our way back to Heathrow.

Our flight left London at supper time and arrived in Cape Town in time for breakfast in South Africa. What a difference 8,000 kilometers makes!! As we settled into our apartment in Fish Hoek, just outside of Cape Town, we also settled into the beginning of summer and beach life! Our apartment is only a 30 second walk from the Indian Ocean waters of False Bay.

Jordan and Isaac have joined a beach program called Nippers. It is a beach lifesaving and is a highly athletic program. The boys and girls are organized by age group for push ups, running on the beach, swimming, and a variety of ocean stuff like boogie boards, wave boards, kayaks, surf skis and motorized inflatables. All of the beach communities have a club and they compete about once a month. By the time the kids reach the age of 16 they are certified ocean lifeguards.


We are truly living in one of the most beautiful areas in the world!! Every time you look outside there are gorgeous views in any direction you turn. We have asked many people who have lived here 10, 15 or 25 years “Do you ever get tired of the views?” and the answer is always the same “No, they still take my breath away.” As I said earlier, the beach is a 30 second walk from our apartment, but I didn’t add that in 2 minutes of walking we are in the mountains, and in a 15 minute drive we have crossed from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean!

Here we are on a walk (they call them walks not hikes here) up to Elsie’s Peak. The walk was about 4km one way. From various places we had views of the Indian Ocean and as we got near the summit we had views of both the Indian and the Atlantic Oceans at the same time. We sat on boulders at the peak for a picnic lunch and looked down at a helicopter flying around the town of Glencairn below us!!


God has blessed us with many friends in such a short time in a new country and a new town. Our good friend Rod Shiers came down from Joburg for 6 days in late November. We were blessed to attend the wedding of Gershwin and Magdalene Nehemiah on 27 November. Gershwin is a friend I met in March 2010 and he leads the From Addict to Disciple groups in Pollsmoor Prison in Tokai. We have checked out several churches in the area and every time we went to church we were invited to lunch or dinner with someone from church! We have also met several missionary families from Ohio, Oregon, South Africa, Canada, Norway, etc. who are currently serving in this area or they are here on an extended furlough seeking God’s next step for their lives. We spent Christmas day with a family who spent years ministering in a baby house in the northeast corner of South Africa. Pictured above with us is the Van Harmelen family from Joburg. They are dear friends who we stayed with for 5 weeks in 2009 and they drove down to Cape Town to spend the 3 days during holidays with us.


As we look ahead to the coming weeks, we expect to begin what will be more of our regular routine. Jordan and Isaac’s school year starts on 17 January 2011. I have had many networking meetings regarding the ministry and my full credentials for Pollsmoor Prison will be ready in less than a week. From the tent making perspective I should begin doing some one on one counseling and holding an A2D group in the Fish Hoek area by the end of January. Several people have expressed an interest in being trained to lead groups in the prisons and in the townships so we will also be looking to start an outreach into Masiphulele and Ocean View. In addition I will be working to expand the website to include a membership section which would provide online training courses and addiction groups and a shopping cart feature. Before the end of March, I should be going to Joburg to train people there for the expansion of the ministry into the prisons and communities in that area. Finally, I’ll be doing some editing of my first two books in preparation for having them printed here and writing my next two books, one based on the book of John and one focused on sexual addictions.

We ask for your ongoing prayers as we serve here in South Africa. Thank you so much for the Christmas cards we received. We wish all of you a blessed and joyous New Year.
Dave, Shawn, Jordan and Isaac Hain

PS. I haven't figured out how to properly place the photos with the text, hope you could figure out what each one is!!

Back to South Africa!

WOW!!! God continues to do amazing things as HE opens doors for our ministry in South Africa. On Feb.27th I'll be flying to Johannesburg and meeting up with my dear friend Rod Shiers. The two of us will then drive down to Capetown and introduce the From Addict to Disciple curriculum in Pollsmoor Prison. (to learn about the prison see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm9jkYWoZIA ) This prison is well known for having the toughest gangs around. We'll be ministering every day the first week of March.

Then we will fly back to Johannesburg to continue the ministry that has been ongoing for a year in Krugersdorp and Leeukop Prisons. The fruit there has been amazing!! Rod will be baptizing somewhere between 25 and 50 inmates this coming Sunday! PRAISE THE LORD for His faithfulness and His heart and life changing interventions into our lives!!! I will fly back to the US on March 19th landing at 6AM on the
20th.

I ask for your prayers for God's move in the prisons. Also keep Shawn, Jordan and Isaac in prayer while I am gone. Thank you for your faithful support of our ministry and our family.

New Group Meeting Locations

As we enter 2010, God has taken 'Etsah Ministries to a position of repositioning for growth and expansion. We have closed our office on Hess Rd. in Leola, PA as God has sharpened our focus on groups versus 1 on 1 counseling. In doing so God has opened doors in various locations around Lancaster County.

The new meeting locations and times are:
- Every Tuesday at 6PM for men at The Potter's House, 17 Hoover Lane, Leola, PA
- Every Tuesday at 6PM for women at Life Awakenings, Mt. Sidney Rd., Witmer, PA
- Every Wednesday at 3:15PM men and women at City Gate Lancater, 218 N.Duke St. Lancaster, PA.

We ask for your prayers as we shift to these new locations. Also for prayer we have been invited to hold groups at churches in Mt. Joy and Quarryville, PA. Please pray for wisdom and God's timing as we expand.

God Works in Mysterious Ways

As we minister to men with sexual offense charges and/or convictions in Lancaster County Prison we see their need for: 1) an address when they get released (but many do not have families welcoming them with open doors and most rehabs and Christian residential programs will not accept them), 2) a job (but many employers will not hire men with sexual offenses)and 3)Christian fellowship (but Probation Officers and secular counseling agencies are prohibiting them from attending church even if they are not listed under Megan's Law). In addition, many men feel they are not getting enthusiastic and compassionate representation from their Public Defender in court.

Below is a letter I received today from an inmate in Lancaster County Prison after our one on one session on Friday September 18th was cut short:

Hey Dave!
God does work in mysterious ways. Obviously, He knew our meeting was going to get cut short today...and He also knew what was awaiting me later in the day. So apparently, in His infinite wisdom, He saw fit to free you up from my lengthy dialogue so I could complete the story in a letter...I guess!

My "Twilight Zone" life continues.... I think I told you that the judge rejected a pre-arranged plea agreement which was exactly in the middle of the sentencing guidelines?! ... and that somehow - strangely - I was at peace with this even with the knowledge that this would mean a state sentence for me. My last impression on the day of court was that: in a couple of months; I'd hear more.

Well... at about 4:30PM (this same day 9/18) I was called for a legal visit. I really had no idea what to expect on a Friday after court hours. Low and behold... my public defender! Something moved him to take this matter to the president judge. Not only is he going to accept the agreement, but it seems that due to the stumbling that took place, other points of importance which may have been lost in the hasty first appearance, will likely be addresses and received. In essence this would include immediate work-release and judicial approval of church attendance.

Granted this is not all finalized as yet, but my public defender was even apologetic to me for not being attentive enough to my pleas and concerns... AND even paid me a compliment by recognizing and stating that I am unlike most that he is forced to deal with. This he did as I tried to apologize to him for being so difficult. Very different...very strange... very COOL!

So, back to my opening statement: God does work in mysterious ways! Regardless of the final outcome... He's obviously working. Halellujah!

P.S. You know you're free to share any of this as a praise report to encourage others, if you so desire... with my appreciation and blessings!



We at 'Etsah Ministries pray that you have been blessed by this letter. Feel free to contact us by email or phone from wherever you are. We are always willing to listen and respond as God leads and from any experience and resources we have to offer.

From Addicts to Disciples

It’s Wednesday afternoon and the inmates from G-1 Block are gathering for the weekly From Addict to Disciple Group in Lancaster County Prison led by David Hain and myself. The meeting is opened with prayer then there is an opportunity to share prayer requests and praise reports. This gives the guys an opportunity to share what is happening in their lives, their struggles, their victories and concerns for families, court dates, and whatever else is on their mind. Often we play music that draws our hearts to God’s love and grace in our lives.

Then comes the main part of our group session; discussing what God has to say through his word about addiction and how to overcome it. Currently we are working through the Gospel of John, chapter by chapter, so see what Jesus has to say about the subject. After watching the chapter on the Visual Bible DVD, the men share what stood out to them and spoke to their heart. This past week we were discussing in Chapter 14 how Jesus and the Father want to make their home in us. We agreed that if we could live in that reality, our lives would be transformed. After 2 hours, the meeting is ended with prayer. In addition to this group, David holds another men’s group on Friday morning and David and Kathy Paxton hold a group for women on Wednesdays.

Dave and I consider it an opportunity to share our hearts with these men as they are on their journey to freedom. Their honesty, desperation and desire for change is refreshing. Because of the consequences of their addiction, they are forced to look at what has controlled and destroyed their lives. Unlike many of us, they cannot hide who they really are. It is out open for all to see.

Gerald May describes addiction as a state of compulsion, obsession or preoccupation that enslaves a person’s will and desire. Addictions include things such as drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling, food, shopping, just to name just a few. We believe that addiction is a spiritual battle. Our particular addiction is medicating a wound or hurt that is in our lives. Instead of looking to God to meet all of our needs, we try to fill the void with other things. Often as a result of these wounds, we end up believing lies about ourselves, God, and life and make bad choices. In the groups and one-on-one sessions, we look to identify these wounds and ask God to bring healing to our hearts. We talk about what it means to be a godly man and how to make godly choices. We also discuss the importance of true fellowship; finding five godly men who will speak honestly and lovingly into their lives.

On Tuesday evenings, two From Addict to Disciple Groups (one for the men and one for the women) are held at the Etsah Ministries offices in Leola, PA. Etsah is an addictions ministry that meets the state’s requirement for drug and alcohol counseling and fulfills the requirements of parole and probation. The goal of this group is to provide folks with an opportunity for fellowship and a safe place to be honest about their journey. Often families of addicts attend to understand what is happening in the lives of their loved ones.

Recently David, the founder and director of Etsah Ministries, had the opportunity to take the From Addict to Disciple Program to South Africa. Over 200 prisons are open and wanting to get involved. For more information: www.etsahministries.org/

Back in the US, Back in the US, Back in the US..A

Just a play on an old song title to see if anyone catches it.

We landed at Dulles Airport a little after 6AM on the 31st of July. Our processing through baggage claim took a while as Isaac's bag is lost and we had to file the claim and fill out the forms. Shawn's parents picked us up and drove us home. SO with a stop off for breakfast we were home before noon. Jetlag and the time difference began to settle in and by suppertime we were ready for bed.

Our last week in South Africa was awesome. The service on Sunday July 26th in Tembisa township was a real blessing to all of us. Pastor Vincent Mathews and his wife Cheryl and 8 of their 10 kids (missionaries from Detroit) minister at Tabernacle COGIC Church. They have a permanent building for offices and Sunday School and a big tent for the sanctuary. It's easy to preach in a setting where everyone is full of life and energy and praisin' Jesus!

That evening we were treated to a variety of Indian food as guest's at the home of a family from Acts Christian Church. It was fabulous and their hospitality was amazing! They gave us generous amounts to take home as leftovers and then made another dish we hadn't tried and delivered it to us on Tuesday!

The last week in Krugersdorp and Leeukop prisons each of the groups were special. Men came forward to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, men shared testimonies of how their lives had changed, new men joined the groups and stated "I had to come and see what was going on when I saw how much these guys had changed!", and one man shared his vision for taking the From Addict to Disciple group approach back into the communities when he gets released! The officials at Krugersdorp have agreed to take some pictures of the group and email them to me.

On Friday the 24th of July, Jordan and Isaac ministered in another preschool in Tembisa township. What a delight for me as their dad to watch them share their love for Jesus, a skit, a song, several stories and a craft with 35 smiling and laughing young children loving every minute of it!

On Monday and Tuesday we checked out two Christian schools in the area and toured their facilities. This was very helpful as we have a real understanding of options for Jordan and Isaac in case we move there.

On Tuesday evening group at Acts Christian Church had a braai (barbecue) where we all got to share Afrikaan boerwors (sausage). One man's mom brought some Indian food and all the guys brought a variety of snacks and beverages. It was a great night of fellowship and ended with sharing of testimonies.

Wednesday evening we had a wonderful meal and family time of fellowhip with Pastor Vincent and Cheryl and their family at their home. It was a fitting ending to our month to spend time with an American missionary family who had lived their for 5 years. We got to ask many of our questions about long term visas, health insurance, etc. as well as compare notes on American sports with a family of Detroit Lions fans!

We have so many people to thank for how they blessed us during our month in Midrand, South Africa. Rod & Sharon, Gerard and Tiana, Pastor Peter, Pastor Vincet & Cheryl, Kyle, Mark, Dhaneshree's family and all of our new friends at Acts Christian Church, Tabernacle COGIC Church, and at the prisons. Also thanks to all of you who have been faithful prayer warriors for us as we have been in South Africa.

Prayer Requests 23 July 2009

A quick update for prayer requests:
1) Keep Steve Martin and Kathy Paxton in prayer as they continue the ministry in Lancaster, PA while we're in South Africa.
2) Our office in Leola, PA was broken into a couple of days ago. Pray that God stirs in the mind and heart of whoever broke in. Pray that God draws them closer to Him with His love.
3) Jordan and Isaac will be ministering at another preschool in Tembisa on Friday July 24th.
4) Dave will be teaching a 3 hour workshop for Christian counselors in the area on Saturday July 25th.
5) Dave will be preaching at Tabernacle COGIC Church in Tembisa on Sunday July 26th.
6) Ongoing ministry at the prisons on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and the group at Acts Christian Church on Tuesday night.