The O'Tools

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - Tidbits

2010-03-04T21:48:00.001-06:00

Today we took Meredith & Drake sledding for the first time. We figured that the snow will be melted soon (if we're lucky) so we'd better take advantage because it could be several years before our kids see snow again. We also made our first family snowman, something that Meredith has been gravely concerned about all winter. After all the festivities we went to Burger King for a treat and some time on the play equipment.

Amber & I are sitting at the table and Meredith runs up to us in a panic. She breathlessly informs us that there is a monster hiding in the play equipment. I respond, somewhat vainly "do you need a handsome prince to come take care of things." Meredith looks right at me and says "no, I need you to come take care of it." Ouch.
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At the end of last school year Lebogang Secondary School held a celebration for all the graduating seniors. I gather that it is their version of prom, only you don't go with a date, you go with your group of friends - probably a good idea given the culture. In fact, that would probably be advisable here.

Anyway, it's a big deal, so everyone wears, buys, or borrows the nicest clothes they can find. Here are photos of some of the boys.

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Carroll High made it to State in Boys Basketball, so we get to enjoy watching them in the tournament. The Boys State Tournament has always been a big deal in our family. In fact, last year was the first year I missed attending in over 20 years, I believe. 5 of the 6 oldest boys in our family have been on a tournament team (sorry Joe). So it's pretty exciting that we get to see one of our own there again. I do need to point out that I didn't actually play in the State Tournament, but I was the token skinny kid on the end of the bench.

This year Carroll defeated Ballard of Huxley to qualify. You may remember our account of Carroll playing Ballard in football this year, when Frank & Louis stole all of Tim's thunder. Check it out here if you didn't see it.

Anyway, Ballard has become something of Carroll's whipping boy these last few years as the Tigers have knocked the Bombers out of the playoffs almost every year recently. A point made all the more funny considering I now live in Huxley, and our co-worker, Brian Niehoff attended that school. I guess this is further evidence that people from Carroll are very awesome.

So the game last Monday night was a nail-biter, being sent into overtime. I won't recount the whole thing, because it is done very well for you in this story. Just know that when Blake Haluska fouled out in OT and Tim O'Tool entered the game, I turned to everyone sitting around us and said "You never really want an O'Tool in with the game on the line. We get the yips." So what happens? Tim goes to the foul line with the game on the line. Read all about it here. Just know that Tim played less minutes than 5 other players, yet dominated this entire article. He kind of has that weasel way about him. And he came prepared to cut down the nets by bringing his own scissors - come to think of it, maybe I'm the only O'Tool that gets the yips...

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - JT at School

2010-03-03T22:50:00.002-06:00

The following are two emails that I received from JT. He is the young man that was working toward a scholarship for Chemical Engineering. Over the last couple months it has seemed that the scholarship was provided, then not, and back and forth - a bit confusing actually. Just recently we have heard from him in the following emails. I'll summarize them to say that another couple in Welkom that had heard of his situation took him to another university, helped him bypass all the registration, and got him lined up for a partial scholarship and loans to cover the rest. Subsequent to that JT got an interview and was able to get a full scholarship for the entire cost. Very exciting to us and even moreso to him. The photos below were sent by the couple that took him up to school. Praise God for those willing to help!

Uncle Louis this is what happened. I got a barsary in the department of education because I was there in the top learners in Free State so on my application form they wanted the student number and the student number I had was for Central University of Technology so i just it was down because University of Cape Town did not yet reply to me. But God is amazing! guess what happend to me. Do you remember the lady i told you about who was feeding us in school? She took me to University of the North in Potchefstroom to study chemical engineering and we were taken to another Prof and i was like a prince because many people were standing in the line to register but i didn't i just pass many of them, like a king, yes i was special because my father in heaven was in control of every thing. That day the university offered me another bursary to study and a loan and promised me to pay for all my studies this year and for my resident and food also so now i am here in Potchefstroom studying chemical engineering. talk to u later bye

HI UNCLE LOUI GUESS WHAT HAPPENED? YOU KNOW GOD IS GREAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY BECAUSE HE IS MORE THAN THE WORD GREAT. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. I RECIEVED A CALL FROM THE FINANCIAL OFFICE IN THE UNIVERSITY TO COME TO AND INTERVIEW ON MONDAY AND I REMEMBER EVERY THING YOU HAVE TOLD ME WHEN WE WERE AT PRETORIA, AND I DON'T KNOW, I DIDN'T PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW AND ON MONDAY AFTER THEY PRESENTED TO US ABOUT THE BURSARY I STARTED TO PREPARE MY SELF AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY AND I WROTE A SMALL PARAGRAPH ABOUT MY SELF WHEN THE INTERVIEW STARTED. GUESS WHAT? THE LADY ASKED ME ONLY ONE QUESTION, THAT ONE I WROTE ABOUT MYSELF. SHE JUST SAID TO ME TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF LIKE SHE SHOULDN'T ASK AND I STARTED TO FLOW AND AFTER THAT QUESTION SHE SAID "THERE IS NO NEED TO CONTINUE BECAUSE I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU A BURSARY". THAT GOOD NEWS I REMEMBER YOU SAID GOD IS DOING GOOD THINGS FOR US. I AGREE AND THAT IS SIMPLY SAYING TO YOU THAT EVERY THING THAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA GET IS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. GOD BLESS YOU. HOPE TO HERE FROM YOU AGAIN. BYE

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - "What does this guy do?"

2010-03-02T09:33:00.001-06:00

You would think that after 2 years of working specifically with children and young people in South Africa that we would have learned a thing or two. Like not opening it up for questions or inviting feedback.

Yesterday we were in Guthrie Center, IA speaking to a group of about 25 kids in the Swordbearers program. We have learned with children that it is good to start with some type of activity that gets their attention, because if you don't get it right away you'll never have it. Typically we start off our slideshow with a dozen or so pictures of African Animals. You know, the quintessential African Animals that we discussed at length last June when I so soundly defeated my brother Sam in our animal-spotting safari.

As we show the pictures we ask the children to participate by raising their hands, at which time I will call on them and they get to say what the animal is. On the really easy ones we don't ask for the animal's name, rather we ask "What does this animal do?" or "What sound does this animal make?" So yesterday we arrived at the last animal pictured. It is the photo you see here of the African Gorilla. On this, instead of asking for the animal's name I asked what the animal does, anticipating a child screaming and beating their chest Tarzan-style.

Since it was the last question I made sure to call on a little boy that hadn't yet answered (the one in the orange shirt with his hand in the air) and therefore hadn't received the tootsie roll reward. This guy was probably 8 years old. When I said "What does this animal do?" his hand shot straight up. I pointed to him and he responds "Well, if that's a chimpanzee then he throws poop."

Now how is a missionary supposed to respond to that?

Fundraising Update

2010-03-01T09:02:00.001-06:00

Yesterday we were in Evansdale, IA presenting our ministry to a church there. We spoke during the Sunday School time, allowing us the opportunity to hear an outstanding sermon. It was on the book of 1 Samuel, specifically on the instance when Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint David as the next king of Israel.

One interesting point that was made related to one of the names of God. Anyone who has studied Old Testament history knows that there are many names used for God, and each reveals something important to us about His character, His nature, and His relationship to us. The specific name discussed during the sermon yesterday was El Shaddai. Typically, in the English language, that name is translated as "GOD ALMIGHTY". While this is an accurate translation, the original language would have carried an even greater force. We think of Almighty in terms of power, but another translation will help us understand the full force of God's name. That translation comes out "GOD IS ENOUGH" or "GOD IS SUFFICIENT".

When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, he referred to Himself as "I AM". In other words, God was communicating to Moses that He is the Self Existent One. God doesn't need anything, depend on anyone, or require anything else for His existence. He is the One who possesses all and upon whom all else depends. Interestingly enough, Jesus Christ used that same name for Himself in John 8, making a public and accurate claim to His own deity.

So the question to us is, do we really believe that God is enough? Is He sufficient for us or are we constantly looking to something else? Are we content with what He gives or are we striving for more? Do we truly believe that He will supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus?

From the beginning of our fundraising efforts we have known that the task before us was daunting. Our prayer has been that God will provide, and provide in such a way that no one can dispute that it is His provision, not a result of any wonderful plans or abilities that we possess. I want to testify to His provision and His sufficiency. We officially kicked off fundraising 4 months ago today. As of today God has brought in $103,747!

God is enough.

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - Packing the Container

2010-02-24T09:30:00.003-06:00

As we prepare for our return to South Africa and the establishment of Restoring Hope Village our plans include the shipment of a container full of materials and goods important for the work there. You may remember about a month ago that we sent out a couple lists of things that we wanted to collect. Two weeks ago I made the comment to Amber that we wouldn't have enough to fill the container. Not that we didn't have a good response or a lot of things, but we've shipped a container before and we know how much can fit in those things. I was convinced that we would be short.

Was I ever wrong! In the last two weeks things started to pour in. Our emails have been forwarded two or three times and people we've never met have given things for the ministry there. The container is filling quickly and we have more than enough. God is good. So many have been involved and we are grateful for the willingness to give to the overwhelming need in South Africa.

The last couple weeks we have been crazy busy, running around fetching loads of donated items. We have spent hours on the road, and as everyone in Iowa knows, the roads and weather conditions haven't been peachy. It has been a good chance for Amber & I to spend some quality time together, although I think our kids are getting tired of being strapped into the car seats. Meredith likes for us to tell her stories as we drive, but Drake doesn't really like anything about it. Fortunately they have been with my family for the last week or so.

Last time we shipped we rented the container, so it arrived on the back of a semi and we had two hours to load it full. Fortunately we had the use of a warehouse in Ankeny and we were able to prepare beforehand, loading lots of boxes on pallets. This time everything has been collected in two storage sheds in Slater. We hope to sort and pack a bit more efficiently, although last time was pretty amazing. RHI owns a container that is parked at Slater Baptist Church. The church is graciously allowing us to sort and pack in its big gym building. You'll see in the pictures that we've taken full advantage of that, spreading our things as far as the eye can see.

Amber and Lois have arranged a great packing system. We sort everything into piles - kitchen, clothing, toys, books, etc... From there they are sorted and packed, all clothing into small bags and everything else into boxes, tubs, dresser drawers, cabinets, and any other open space that we can cram full. The clothing that goes into bags is sorted by size and gender, then folded and labeled. We then take those bags and pack them into any open crack or crevice in the container, ensuring that we use every square inch possible.

One challenge is that we have to record everything that is packed, both for our records, and for the customs manifest that must be included with the shipping documents. Amber devised an ingenious recording plan using color coded labels, clip boards, abbreviations, and lots of other things that make sense. So far it has worked famously. She had to explain it to me three times and I'm still not sure I get it, but everyone else seemed to. Maybe that says more about me than her system...

The container is now 3/4ths packed. The remainder will be filled over the next couple days, as we attempt to be discerning as to what is most important of the remaining items. Anything that does not fit in the container will be put in a garage sale this spring, with the proceeds going toward the establishment of Restoring Hope Village. Over the last week we have had dozens of people help with sorting and packing. We couldn't have come close to where we are now without their help. It has been an enjoyable time for us to spend with everyone, especially during meals and breaks. One day the Schwan's truck went by and Brian flagged him down. Just because it's barely above zero doesn't mean we can't enjoy some ice cream. Not that anyone has ever accused Brian of being impulsive.

Special thanks to the mothers of RHI's field staff, as they have done everything from packing, preparing food for the volunteers, and watching our little ones as we work. A huge thank you to Brenda DeTar and her boys who have been there every day to help. And to everyone else who stopped by as time permitted, we greatly appreciate your assistance.

Here are some things for which you can join us in praising our Father:

-Safety on the roads

-Generosity of those who gave

-A whole container full of good, quality, usable items

-Help from so many volunteers

-Health throughout this process

-A nice, big, warm location to sort and pack

-Mick Wenger finding us a huge discount on a lawn tractor

-The funding to ship the container

-Casey's doughnuts (see previous post)

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - Amber's Priorities

2010-02-21T18:55:00.000-06:00

Growing up in the Midwest, crime wasn't a part of our daily routine. Typically it didn't affect our activities, thought process, or decisions. I remember as a child when we would leave home for a week or more without even locking our doors. My first real experience with illegal behavior came when a crime wave struck western Ankeny, specifically in the apartments on College Ave. I had left my book bag, complete with Greek textbooks, notes on intercultural communication, and for some unknown reason, a calculator -I say unknown because I attended Faith Baptist Bible College, a place not exactly known for producing mathematicians. Unfortunately this bag also contained my checkbook, forcing me to go to the credit union and close my account. That's the real extent of crime that had affected me prior to our arrival in South Africa.

South Africa is ranked highly in international crime statistics. There was some level of culture shock for us as we became accustomed to bars over all windows, gates on all doors, 5 different locks just to enter our apartment, and ensuring cars are always secured and anything within them covered. In fact, when I preached once I shared an illustration about fences. The people there were shocked to learn that in the US fences were generally to keep children and dogs in, not to keep other people out. The first night we spent in Welkom was an adventure of its own. Amber wakes me up in the middle of the night saying breathlessly "I heard gunshots". Of course, she wouldn't allow me to return to my dreams without me first investigating said gunshots. After a bit of sleuthing, we located the source of these "gunshots" that oddly enough were spaced exactly 5 seconds apart. One of the girls at the home was struggling with TB and had to use an oxygen machine to breath. She was staying with some short-term missionaries and so was living just down the hall from us. The hose on the machine was kinked, causing the machine to go "thump...thump" every 5 seconds or so. We were thankful that real tragedy was averted and that we didn't get to experience crime firsthand for several months, until the copper thief incident in October that year.

After spending 18 months in South Africa, our mindset had changed to the point that locking doors and other advisable precautions were becoming second nature. On our return to the States last fall it was a bit surprising to see so many windows without large iron bars. Although much of our time has been spent in small-town Iowa, we still lock our car doors whenever we leave, a habit for which we have taken no small amount of grief from the local Midwesterners. All this to build up to the latest revelation I've had about my sweet, dear wife. Isn't it strange that you can know someone so well, for so long, and yet still be able to learn things about them?

We will be shipping a container of important supplies to South Africa. Over the last couple weeks we have been preparing, a large part of that being driving around to pick up donated items. Since our minivan frequently can't handle the amount of things we pick up, Slater Baptist Church has graciously allowed us to use the church van for collections. So the other day we woke up early, bought day-old Casey's doughnuts for breakfast, and drove over to the church to get the van for a day of collecting donations. Before our return we had a list of things we were excited to experience again. One of those high on the list was Casey's doughnuts, although now that we've been here a few months we have resorted to day-old. So between Huxley and Slater we partake of these delectible treats, and on arrival at the church we begin transporting all necessary gear from our minivan to the church van. Amber then, following the habits we developed in South Africa, begins covering all valuable items left in the van. After observing her activity for a moment, I realize that she neglected to cover the iPod and other such items, choosing instead to use my coat to cover the half empty box of day-old Casey's doughnuts. And that's when I learned just how important those things are.

If anyone knows someone in the marketing department at Casey's, let them know that Amber would be happy to do a testimonial about their doughnuts.

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - Miscarriage

2010-02-09T19:28:00.001-06:00

This past week has been a bit of a roller coaster for our family. Throughout our time back in the States we have received encouragement on so many levels we can’t even begin to express our thanks to God and to those who have blessed us in so many ways.

Early in January we learned that Amber was expecting our third child. This was cause for great excitement, and not just a little surprise. This isn’t the first time God has proven to us He is in control. During our preparations to move to South Africa over 3 years ago we thought we had things all figured out. Meredith was 18 months old. That meant we would be able to get pregnant and have the baby, all while still under corporate insurance. Then the baby would have been about 6 months old at the time of our move to South Africa. Everything seemed to be going according to our plan.

That’s when we found out, in early January 2007, that Amber’s pregnancy was ectopic, meaning the egg had implanted in the tube rather than the uterus. Not only was this not a viable pregnancy but it could be potentially fatal to Amber. Thankfully, the doctors found it early and were able to resolve the danger without surgery.

For almost a year after that we were unable to get pregnant. God eventually chose to bless us with Drake in September 2008. I think all parents will understand when I say it is hard to remember a time when Drake wasn’t part of our lives. And looking back, we understand that if our initial planned pregnancy hadn’t failed, we never would have had the little guy we so intensely love.

Fast forward now to our current furlough. Since we are in the midst of fundraising, our future is a bit uncertain. We are confident we will be returning to South Africa soon, but don’t have a specific date. Knowing that, we thought it advisable to delay any additional children until our return. Of course, we’ve all heard the proverb “Man plans, God laughs.” That’s how we felt in early January when we learned the news that we would be expecting a new arrival in August. And we immediately began making plans for that new information.

Then last week we learned that once again, not all would be according to our plan. Amber began to experience a few complications. We went in for a checkup and the ultrasound could not detect a heartbeat. Babies have a heartbeat at 18 days, according to a billboard in Des Moines. They can usually be detected at 4-5 weeks. According to calculations, our baby should have been about 10 weeks, but was measuring at 5 weeks.

Additional tests confirmed that Amber was indeed miscarrying. While this was difficult news to digest, we know that God is in control. He has demonstrated that continually and how could we doubt Him now.

As we reflect on this latest event in our life, the one thought that keeps returning is of the children of South Africa. While unexpected, we so desired and anticipated this new addition to our family. The disappointment we feel is only for a brief season. Having been in Welkom for almost two years, we saw multitudes of children in desperate need. There are children who were wanted but the parents have died. There are more children who were never wanted and have never experienced love.

We have learned that people are the same all over the world. So often we have a stereotype in our minds, but as we’ve come to know and love these children we see they are no different than our own. They have the same needs, desires, dreams, fears. Maybe this is just an emotional response to loss, but we can’t wait to get back and meet the children God is preparing for us. He knows all and is already making straight our paths.

I’ve been an expectant father twice now, and the anticipation we feel for the commencement of The Village is similar. You just know that you’ll fall desperately in love with your new little one. And you know your life will never be the same after that child becomes a part of it. We get the privilege of having that experience over and over again. We hope and trust that God will bless us with another of our own, but if He never does, we still get the blessing of adding maybe dozens. Keep praying that we can get back there soon. God is doing amazing things.

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - Challenge: Illegal Mining

2010-01-27T21:04:00.001-06:00

The following article is from the London Times. It discusses illegal mining operations in South Africa. The majority of illegal mining takes place in Welkom, as it is still the center of gold mining in the country. The article mentions a mining accident last June that took the lives of at least 91 "ghost miners". This is a real problem and even in our visits into the mines we have been warned about these people.

They stay underground for months at a time, many of them even losing the pigment in their skin, leading to the name "ghost miners". The G-Hostel mentioned in this article is a place we pass almost every time we go to Thabong (the township of Welkom). The boys from our Bible Study have told us many stories about the things that go on in the township, most of the criminal activity related to G-Hostel. It is not uncommon for our boys to be robbed at knifepoint, the most desired plunder being cell phones, which will then be sold to the criminal syndicates, making them untraceable. This type of criminal activity has not affected us or our ministry, but it gives a window into the culture of South Africa, and paints a picture of how desperate the situation can be for so many.

GOLD PIRATES WAGE A DIRTY, UNDERGROUND WAR

Dan McDougall - September 27, 2009

Imagine an existence in the bowels of the earth where, for up to eight months at a time, there is no fresh air. The temperature between the walls that close in on you is a stifling 38C. There is no day and night as you drill for gold for 12 hours a shift. At your side is a weapon to protect yourself from the authorities and your fellow miners. To extract gold, you handle mercury so toxic that it can be absorbed through the skin, attacking the kidneys and brain.

This is the life of South Africa’s gold pirates, a band of tens of thousands of unemployed men whose numbers have increased sharply in the past year with the soaring price of gold, a traditional haven for investors in a financial crisis.

They break into some of the most dangerous mines on earth, many armed with commercial explosives rammed into bottles. They will emerge months later with their muscles wasting away and their eyes sinking into their sockets.

Here in the goldfields region of South Africa’s Free State province, their prize is a lump of crudely processed gold, barely the size of your palm.

Some of it is smuggled to Switzerland and traded on to European countries, including Britain, in a black market worth £300m a year that begins with unimaginable suffering and ends on the high street.

Last week The Sunday Times gained a rare insight into the lives of the Zama Zama — literally “Let’s have a go” in Zulu — and the burgeoning illicit businesses that supply them with everything from cola and hamburgers to prostitutes up to a mile underground.

Many of the miners never resurface. In June the bodies of 91 Zama Zama were recovered from the closed 5,250ft Eland mineshaft in the former goldrush town of Welkom. The authorities believe as many as 1,000 illegal miners have died underground in the past year, killed by toxic fumes, fires and each other.

“Going under is the hardest thing you will ever do,” Masahe, an illegal gold miner, told us in a shebeen near his home in the shadow of Welkom’s No 6 mine.

“After a few days you start panicking, especially at night. You lose track of time. You start to feel crushed, imagining that the walls are collapsing into you. I would curl up into a ball beside my drill, convinced the earth was coming down on me.”

Masahe is dirty and frail and stinks of booze. But he still holds menace — and a weapon he threatens to use against us if we identify him. As we talk his heavily scarred face is contorted by hacks and coughs. He says he works for a syndicate that includes legal miners, shift managers and security guards helping illegals to operate in unsupervised areas of their mine.

It pays him about £2,500 for a four-month stint underground, a fortune in a South African township, and, according to Masahe, it is more sophisticated than most.

“A businessman in Welkom with police and mine contacts sends us down for up to six months,” he said. “With trained miners losing their jobs, we have managed to get more equipment. We steal it from the mine companies or take it at gunpoint. Now we use fake IDs and pay the shaft operators to take us down.”

Using maps and walkie-talkies, they descend a legitimate shaft. Then, Masahe says, they walk anything up to 18 miles underground to their chosen point. He sits in a pit full of boulders and crushes the stone into smaller pieces. “Sometimes I work the mercury, using chemicals on the rocks to leach out the gold flakes.”

Supplies are vital but expensive. “A loaf of bread or a bottle of Coca-Cola costs us £5, all on credit which we have to pay when we get out. A smuggled hamburger can get more than £30. Many of the transactions are made in gold. Cigarettes go for between £10 and £20 a pack of 20. Oude Meester brandy from £50 and Fish Eagle whiskey for £30. A tab of everything we eat and drink is kept on the surface.

“Women are being brought down now. They will do a round for a week, having sex with us all — they are getting very rich from the Zama. They are dressed as men and taken down the shafts in hard hats.”

Masahe claims a war is going on a mile beneath the surface of Welkom. “There are rival syndicates and battles are being fought underground. We are fighting each other to get to the richest seams. Our syndicate captured a rival and we decided by committee to take retribution. We cut him open with a blowtorch and threw his body down a shaft. There are so many bodies down there.” Other Zama Zama said the official death toll from the Eland disaster was at least double the official toll of 91: they perished after an inferno ripped through an illegal camp.

Outside Welkom more than 100 paupers’ graves bore testimony to the young men killed. Many were migrants from Mozambique and Lesotho, attracted over the border by the latest gold rush. “We have no names on our graves because we don’t exist,” Masahe says.

The fact that the men are virtually impossible to identify makes the police battle against them all the harder.

Above ground, the gold pirates are largely headquartered at G-Hostel, a sprawling, apartheid-era block of concrete chalets. During police raids there is panic everywhere as the locals hide stashes of drugs. Brothels are shuttered and Zama Zama melt into the township walls. Reporters and photographers have been threatened with guns and told they would be shot if they persisted.

The smell of burning coal and mercury pervades the air. In the back alleyways are the smouldering remnants of small-scale chemical works used to leach out gold.

The centre of Welkom’s illegal gold mining industry, G-Hostel is a place where police officers are seldom seen. The sewer alleys provide cover for Zama Zama middlemen to run illicit operations, breaking ore and grinding the pieces to powder. It is melted at temperatures of more than 1,064C to extract the molten metal that is passed on to smugglers.

In the past four years, 1,734 men and women have been arrested in this area in connection with the Zama Zama, mainly for being part of their supply chain and processing the gold ore. The gold pirates themselves remain largely elusive.

“These guys are serious criminals,” says the police officer leading the raid. “We have seen them with AK-47 assault rifles. There is a lot of money at stake and there is an endless procession of young men willing to do this.”

With gold prices close to record highs at nearly $1,000 an ounce, the black market — which also employs children to haul ore — is expected to continue its rapid growth.

According to Anton van Achterbergh, a legal adviser at the South African Chamber of Mines, cracking down is virtually impossible. “The area between Johannesburg and Welkom is like Swiss cheese,” he said. “We’re talking about a few thousand [kilometres] of tunnels underground. Gold can be mined fairly easily so how do we stop it growing?”

The mining industry has tried to protect its interests by beefing up security measures and firing corrupt employees who supply illegal miners with food and equipment. Yet illegal gold flooding out of the country is estimated to account for up to 10% of South Africa’s exports of the metal.

Fundraising Update

2010-01-25T12:49:00.002-06:00

Thank you all for your prayers and ongoing support. Since our last update we have increased to $75,276. This is over 50% of our Phase 2 goal, and we are praising God for this milestone. Right now we are working on arranging additional meetings to share what God is doing in South Africa. If you can help with this please contact us at louisotool@gmail.com or 712-830-1245.

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - Marriage Counseling

2010-01-21T13:17:00.000-06:00

I don't remember this advice coming up in Counseling Class at Bible College. Thankfully, this doesn't fit my wife, whom I love with all my heart. The following tips come from Red Skelton, apparently.

1. Two times a week we go to a nice restaurant, have a little
beverage, good food and companionship. She goes on
Tuesdays; I go on Fridays..

2. We also sleep in separate beds. Hers is in California , and mine

    is in Texas.

3. I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back.

4. I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our
   anniversary. 'Somewhere I haven't been in a long
   time!' she said. So I suggested the kitchen.

5. We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops..

6. She has an electric blender, electric toaster and electric
     bread maker. She said 'There are too many gadgets,
     and no place to sit down!' So I bought her an electric chair.

7. My wife told me the car wasn't running well because there

was water in the carburetor. I asked where the car

was. She told me, 'In the lake.'

8. She got a mud pack, and looked great for two days.

    Then the mud fell off.

9. She ran after the garbage truck, yelling, 'Am I too late for
    the garbage?' The driver said, 'No, jump in!'

10.  Remember: Marriage is the number one cause of divorce.

11. I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always.

12. I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months. I don't  like to interrupt her.

13. The last fight was my fault though..  My wife asked, 'What's on the TV?'

I said, 'Dust!'

Psalm 41

2010-01-20T14:15:00.000-06:00

In the light of recent events, both in Haiti, and in our own personal ministry, I find this Scripture exceedingly appropriate. Ironically enough, I've been reading through the Psalms, and on this day I came across Psalm 41. Just when it seems we need it most...

"How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will deliver him in the day of trouble. The Lord will protect him and keep him alive, and he shall be called blessed upon the earth...Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting."

Fundraising Update

2010-01-14T06:36:00.001-06:00

Dear Faithful Supporters,
In the last two weeks the Lord has continued to bless. Since our last update He has continued to provide, and our latest report shows $71,216 raised toward our initial building project. Please pray with us that the final funding will be raised quickly and that we will be able to return to the work in South Africa. We appreciate each person who has given. Praise God for His amazing provision!

"How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You before the sons of men." Psalm 31:19

Radio Interview

2010-01-13T15:03:00.003-06:00

Thursday, January 14th, Brian Niehoff & I will be on the Maxine Sielman program. It is on Praise 940 in the Des Moines Area at both 8:00am and 5:00pm. This is our second appearance on the program. We trust that God will direct the conversation. Your prayers are appreciated.

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - Tidbits

2010-01-07T16:34:00.004-06:00

1. Right before Thanksgiving Meredith informed me her boyfriend lives in Kansas so we could visit him when we went to Wichita for Thanksgiving. I'm not sure where she learned about boyfriends and girlfriends, but she did follow up that statement with "I have to ask you before I get married to anyone" so we're making progress. When I asked what this boy's name is, her response was "He-guy". Apparently he is He-man's brother. So it looks like I'll have a run for my money when he comes calling.

2. Drake is now walking. And he likes to wrestle other little kids, who don't exactly know how to take it. Fortunately, every other kid his age has been walking for 3 months now so he can't keep up with them. He has learned to stalk, however. He almost caught my cousin Chloe (yes, I have several dozen cousins who are the same age as my son) by distracting her, using some toys as a lure, then pouncing as soon as she got close enough.

3. We saw this road sign on our way back from Colorado. It gave us some nostalgia for South Africa, as this seems like something you would see there. Although in fairness to South Africa, they wouldn't do this because it would never work there. If they put a sign up like this around Welkom, it would soon become part of someone's house. Right after moving into the building for The Pines our co-workers took down an old Harmony Gold Company sign and took it to the dump. A few weeks later while driving by the township they noticed the same sign was the wall to someone's dwelling. Doesn't it just seem like if you are going to go to the trouble of posting this sign, couldn't you just drop some asphalt into that pothole.

4. Take a close look at those names on the two stockings on the left. Apparently, Amber has developed this strategy that the more snares she sets the more loot she'll bring in. That, or she is so favored that she needs two red furry socks just to haul it all in. Just another lesson that women will do whatever it takes...

5. While we are talking about the holidays, let me share our experience with you. Since we were in Africa last Christmas, and it looks like we'll be in Africa for many Christmas' to come (especially after this weather, eesh!), the entire Frank & Maggie O'Tool family gathered at the homestead in Carroll. And then everyone proceeded to get sick. Meredith, Drake & Caleb were all suffering during family pictures, and from the photo at left you can see Meredith continued to suffer through gift-opening time. Amber & I had a presentation scheduled at Pleasant Ridge church, so we prayed hard. Unfortunately, I didn't think through the whole process clearly. I prayed that the Lord would keep me from getting sick at least until we were done speaking. And that's just what He did. Ironically enough, the pastor preached on Prevailing Prayer. Next time I am praying that I won't get sick at all.

6. So we arrive in Carroll to find my brother Timothy hanging the family stockings. He must be in cahoots with Amber, because he is anticipating some pretty heavy duty stocking stuffers. You can see that he's using a 27 oz. hammer to drive spikes into these pretty socks. You don't want them falling off the mantle (or wall in this case) if someone decides to start dropping gold bricks in there on Christmas Eve. And the safety glasses are good thinking. Safety First in the O'Tool family.

7. Here is a picture of the family Christmas tree. It's kind of spindly-looking, I know. But our sister-in-law is the type to know about these things and she says that those cost double or triple what a normal tree costs. I thought it looked very Charles Dickens-y, as if Tiny Tim might wobble out from behind it at any moment while Bob Cratchet does Ebeneezer's laundry in the kettle. My brothers nicknamed it the "Recession Tree".

8. Meredith got to help Grandma Maggie make presents for her cousins. Although since Grandma Maggie hwears bifocals, and Meredith is threading the needle, we're not sure who is helping whom.

9. When the O'Tool & Stangl families, or anyone on the Wiedemeier side gets together, it's tough to find real estate at the dinner table.

The Parable of the Space Rocket

2010-01-07T15:53:00.002-06:00

At a recent RHI board meeting one of our board members, Tom Clegg, brought a challenge to the RHI board. Tom apparently grew up as a space geek, probably because his father was an engineer who worked on the design and construction of the NASA mobile launch pad. Without getting into the specifics, this was a tremendous undertaking, one said to be impossible by many of the great engineering minds of the day. The challenges involved were deemed to be too great, including transporting the entire space shuttle from the assembly building to the launch site, keeping this enormous structure erect, supporting it against winds of up to 110 mph, carrying the weight required, and withstanding the intense heat and vibration produced by a 4.4 million pound rocket blasting into outer space.

One of the biggest challenges was the design of the arms that hold the shuttle to the tower. These arms have to be able to serve as a bridge, allowing the astronauts and NASA personnel to cross from the tower to the shuttle. They must be able to support all sorts of hoses, pipes, and other machinery required to get necessary pieces into the shuttle. They must be strong enough to hold a shuttle that is taller than the Statue of Liberty without wavering. And here is the most interesting point...these arms must also be designed that they can withstand the full force of the rocket blasting off, keeping it on the launch pad for about 3 seconds after it reaches blasting power. When the announcer reaches T minus 6 they open the fuel valves, allowing the gasses to mix. Without fail, these gasses ignite, and begin their job to thrust the rocket off the ground, defy the laws of gravity, and put this gigantic machine into space.

What most people don’t realize, and I didn’t until Tom shared this with us, is that without these arms holding the rocket down, it would have enough power to lift itself a bit, then it would hover around for awhile, before finally becoming somewhat unstable and tilting to one side or the other and blasting in that direction. As Tom pointed out, rockets are not designed to hover. In fact, that would probably be the worst possible scenario for any NASA scientist, engineer, or astronaut. It probably wouldn’t be good news for anyone living in a 12-state radius either.

The point is, once the gasses ignite, the rocket must still be held back until full thrust can be achieved and enough power is built up not only to lift the rocket off the pad, but blast it to its intended destination.

This is where we currently find ourselves as the RHI board. Right now, by the blessing of God, we’ve generated enough to get us lifted off the ground. We started fundraising at the beginning of November, and within two months God has shown Himself mighty and faithful in too many ways to count. Through the faithfulness of His people, God has given us $57,891 to date. This is far and above what we had the right to logically expect. But God doesn’t work on man’s logic. Amber & I have been praying that God will provide in such an awesome and powerful way that no one can ever dispute who accomplished the work. And He is doing just that. Thank you to everyone who is investing in God’s work in South Africa. Our goal is drawing ever closer.

I can say personally I want to blast off now. I’m tired of the US, tired of waiting to get back to the people we love so dearly. But that’s not what God has for us right now. Who knows, but that there might be a $50,000 check on the way right now. I don’t. But I know God does, and in His timing we will be fully prepared and able to get back to the field. In the meantime it is ours to simply seek His face, His honor and glory, and know that while He doesn’t need us, yet He graciously allows us to be part of His work.

Please, please pray for us as we continue our work to reach the people of Welkom through Restoring Hope Village. Pray that our board will have wisdom in its decisions. And pray that God will give justice to the children of South Africa, and that He will bring it quickly (Luke 18:7-8).

And especially, Praise God for His fantastic provision of $57,891.

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - For our friends in South Africa

2010-01-06T17:26:00.005-06:00

In South Africa we were often asked "Do you know _____________?" or "Have you ever met __________________?" These questions were always about some celebrity, actor, singer, or other famous person. The world's view of the US is so impacted by movies and pop culture that most people think the entire country is like one big New York City (thank God that's not true). Many people don't understand that we don't bump into famous people every day.

When we try to describe the weather, and how cold and harsh the winters can be, there is no concept of that. In fact, my uncle recently related a story from a missionary friend that served for years in the Central African Republic. Apparently, one winter on furlough they brought several Africans home with them. In their native language there was no word for cold, and as they experienced the pain of Iowa winter they used the same word as describing the pain one gets from extreme heat. I thought that was interesting.

Coming from the heart of the Midwest, we are familiar with "flyover country", the part of America that seems so dull and boring to those on the coasts. Amber & I just returned from Christmas in Colorado. No, not the Rocky Mountain State, but the eastern part of Colorado. Most people forget that the state is nearly half plains. So, without any more rambling, let me share some pictures that we took on our return trip. We thought these would serve as good proof for our friends oversees who find it hard to believe when we tell them the whole country isn't skyscrapers and movie stars.

Hour #1 - just west of Springfield, CO.

Hour #1 - draw your own conclusions.

Hour #2 - between Johnson and Ulysses KS, not far from the CO border.

Hour #2.25 - When a 4 year old has to go, you stop, whether there is a toilet or not.

Hour #3 - wind farm near Montezuma, KS. Do not try to watch the blades rotate while driving.

Hour #4 - near Ford, KS. Wishing we had some windmill blades to watch.

Hour #5 - near Pratt, KS. We had a small celebration because we could see trees in the distance.

Hour #6 - the Kansas Turnpike east of Wichita, in the heart of Kansas' famed Flint Hills. I told Amber that if we have another boy we should name him Flint. No one messes with someone named Flint. On a related note, a trip like this gives a driver lots of time to think.

Hour #11 - Sunset near Audubon, IA.

Hello from Lucas Khoza

2010-01-02T11:51:00.003-06:00

The message below is from one of the boys that we do Bible Study with. We've kept in touch via phone and letters and I thought you might enjoy reading, because we sure love hearing from these guys. I didn't think this would happen but we are starting to get very homesick for Welkom.

Hi uncle Louies hope u enjoyed u xmas u n ur family. We miss u n aunt
Amber, Drake n Meridith, I got a copy of da letter n i was so worried
abt Drake I'ts god hu helped him. There is alot 2 tlk abt wen u come
bck, n by da way we getn da result 4 matrix next week thrsdy oh oops i
mean next year da 7th jan 2010. Im prayn 4 all da guyz n evry1 in da
US. Say hi 2 a unt amber n da kidz i luv u all giv Sam my email adrs
tel hm dat I wana hear hm bcmng a Doctor. Hopefully nxt year we r off
2 university. Dnt 4 get 2 bring us Obama T-shirts, may God bless u on
da Fundraising. Sorry 4 da text language im usn a phone. Love u all

Social Commentary

2009-12-29T10:10:00.005-06:00

Normally I stay out of the political arena on this website. However, given recent developments in western Iowa, I thought it would be appropriate to publish this story.

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - Signs from Africa

2009-12-22T14:40:00.003-06:00

The following are all signs that have been seen in various parts of the continent. I imagine some were examples of "lost in translation".

On the grounds of a private school in South Africa: "No trespassing without permission"

On a poster in Ghana: "Are you an adult who cannot read? If so, we can help"

In a maternity ward in Tanzania: "No children allowed."

In a Malawi hotel: "It is forbidden to steal towels please. If you are not a person to do such a thing, please do not read this notice."

In a restaurant in Zambia: "Open seven days a week and weekends."

On a window of a Nigerian shop: "Why go elsewhere to be cheated when you can come here?"

In a hotel in Mozambique: "Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9.00am and 11.00am daily"

On a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo: "Take note: when this sign is submerged, the river is impassable."

In a Zimbabwean restaurant: "Customers who find our waitresses rude ought to see the manager."

A sign seen on a hand dryer in a Lesotho public toilet: "Risk of electric shock - do not touch with wet hands."

In a Botswana jewellery shop: "Ears pierced while you wait."

What were we thinking?

2009-12-09T18:58:00.002-06:00

December 2008

December 2009

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - Foolish Decisions

2009-12-09T17:45:00.004-06:00

I've recently, as in the last 24 hours, come to the conclusion that the most over-rated holiday song is "No Place Like Home For the Holidays". I hereby give permission that if you hear me say that we should take our furlough anytime between the months of November and March, you may slap me upside the head and tell me to snap out of it.

On that note, a special thank you to my cousins, Korey & Laura Pearson, for graciously hosting us last night. And by last night, I mean the whole night, as we were unable to return home due to the 16 inches of snow that fell on central Iowa.

Also, we want to express our gratitude to my Aunt Chris, who hosted us for 5 hours this afternoon, after we foolishly left Korey & Laura's house in the midst of a 30 year blizzard. Fortunately, we realized at the edge of town that we were being a bit foolhardy and we turned right around, parked in someone's yard and hiked a block and a half to her townhome, which has yet to be dug out.

Before leaving Korey & Laura's we were able to help with some shoveling, wondering the entire time why we chose to leave sunny South Africa for a Midwestern winter. Here are some photos to enjoy:

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - Experiencing US Culture

2009-12-07T21:43:00.008-06:00

We have really enjoyed out time back in the US to this point. Although our schedule has seemingly kept us running all over creation, the opportunity to renew friendships, spend time with family, and meet new people has been a blessing.

Our children are getting a taste of many American experiences that are not available in South Africa. Just today Drake saw his first snowfall and seemed a bit perplexed when we went outside and everything was white. Through the months of October and November we were able to attend several football games and watch my brother's team make State. Meredith in particular seems to love football. Here are a few pictures from our experiences:

2009-12-07T09:46:00.003-06:00

What does it mean when you say to your wife "I love you" and she responds "I think...I love you too". She claims she changed thoughts in the middle of her sentence.

2010 World Cup Update

2009-12-04T16:54:00.003-06:00

"2010 is coming!" This is a common phrase that one can frequently overhear on the streets of South Africa. The World Cup is scheduled and they have been counting down for the last 4 years. While all is not good news and excitement (read this post), there is much to look forward to, not the least of which is an exciting 30 days of international soccer competition.

For those not following the sport, the United States men's soccer team has potential to be very good. Much of their potential depended on their pool draw. Each team is put into a pool with three other teams. They then play round-robin, with the top two teams moving on to the next round. The fear with the US team is that they would be put in a pool with two other juggernauts, as happened to us in the last world cup when we were pooled with Brazil & the Czech Republic.

The draw was held today and while the US opens against one of the World Cup favorites, England, the other two teams in their group, Slovenia & Algeria, are imminently beatable. Hurray for the US!

Our adopted team, the South African boys, drew a more difficult pool, although it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Both Mexico and France are in the same bracket as Bafana-Bafana (meaning "the boys, the boys"). South Africa showed a surprising amount of spunk in the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa, pushing perennial favorites Brazil and Spain to the wire. We'll have to wait and see what develops.

If anyone is interested in visiting us during the 2010 World Cup, please contact us. Also, please give lots of money so we can get our new orphanage up and running by time all the excitement arrives:-) If you are interested in reading more about the 2010 World Cup, click this link.

Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town South Africa

The Life & Times of Louis & Amber - Challenge: Alcoholism

2009-12-01T14:23:00.003-06:00

One challenge we have faced in South Africa is the problem of alcoholism. In March 2008, just days after our arrival in the country, our co-workers learned of a situation of child abuse and neglect just down the road from us and we removed those children immediately. We also contacted the social workers to ask them to investigate the situation. When the social worker arrived and saw the settlement the children were living in, her decision was quickly made for her. She wasn't even aware that settlement was there, and it was blatantly obvious that alcohol was dominating the life of everyone living there. We cared for Kesentseng and her infant sister until they were placed with an aunt several months later. Click Here to read about Kesentseng & her story.

It seems that alcoholism permeates every aspect of township life in South Africa. One cannot walk or drive through the township without seeing someone blind drunk, stumbling around and falling, or the beer truck making deliveries. Even at #7, a squatter camp without electricity, plumbing, or water they get the beer truck making door to door deliveries.

It seems that regardless of the living conditions, or the depth of one's poverty there is money for beer. When Brian was doing some filming for a video about our ministry he went to the dump to shoot some footage of the people who live there. One clip of a cardboard/old carpet shack caught a man emerging from his doorway, bottle in hand, where he promptly took a deep swig.

There is historic precedent for the impact of alcohol on the life of South Africans. I found the following clip in a 2007 online story about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS): For centuries, the only choice most South African farm workers in the Cape region thought they had was: red or white. Until the practice was banned in 1980, farmers paid part of their farmworkers' wages with bottles of wine. This so-called "dop system" continued illegally as recently as 1991, when a health care survey found that 20 percent of Cape vineyards still paid their workers with wine.

The dop system may be illegal, but many farmworkers and rural South Africans continue to binge drink after pay day, either driving into town to spend their monthly wages on locally available cheap wine, sold in "paap saks" or soft aluminum foil pouches, or simply waiting for mobile "shabeens," or bars, to drive onto the farm and sell booze by the liter.

Kesentseng and her sister are not the only children we've worked with affected by the selfish drinking choices of their parents. Lelohonolo Mahloua lived on a farm with his mother and her constantly inebriated boyfriend. The "man of the house" decided that he didn't have enough money to buy booze and pay for his woman's child, so Lelohonolo was left with someone in Hani Park, where he was quickly kicked out and left to live on his own. When we received him he had been fending for himself for quite awhile.

Other children we have worked with have shown effects of FAS. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a serious problem affecting the children of South Africa. Some regions of the country have rates as high as 12.5% of all births showing the results of prenatal alcohol abuse. A BBC article about the affects of alcohol abuse in South Africa states the following: Local primary school teacher Tina Truda says that in her classroom, alcohol-related disorders affect far more than the 8% who officially have the syndrome."When I look at the child, he's not like a normal child. When I ask him something, I must ask the question two or three times again."When we are playing or singing or doing things with our bodies I see they are lumps without muscles." She says up to 20 of the 30 children in her class are affected.

Much of the alcohol consumed by South Africans, especially those suffering from intense poverty, is homemade. The recipes vary, but without any way to manage it there is one common denominator: It is brewed to give intoxication as quickly and powerfully as possible. There are several local breweries that we have seen in the Thabong area. Some drinks are the beverage equivalent of Crystal Meth, using battery acid among other chemicals to rapidly induce drunkenness.

As I write this I don't want to give the wrong impression of our work in South Africa. Alcohol is not the problem. It is a symptom of the heart problem. HIV / AIDS is not the problem. It is a symptom of the heart problem. Drunkenness, immorality, theft, murder, witchcraft are all results of a greater problem, the problem of selfishness and sin. These vices I listed above are given by Paul as results of human beings living for themselves. Want to know what else Paul lists? Jealousy, anger, arguments. Which of us haven't participated in those, probably within the last 24 hours.

You see, in South Africa the consequenses of sin are obvious, out in the open for everyone to see. Here in the US our sin may look prettier to other people but it still causes death. Our work in South Africa is aimed at reaching the heart of the problem. Showing people that there is life to be lived outside of a pursuit of pleasure, and instead to be lived in a pursuit of our relationship with a loving God. He sent His only Son to save us, and life in Him is amazing and everlasting. One doesn't have to get their kicks from alcohol, drugs, and immorality. Serving Someone greater than us is the most awesome life a person can live, and we are blessed to just be a part of it. We wish you could all come with us.