December 2015

IN THIS ISSUE: ………………………..

Christmas Greetings 1

Word from the Chair 2

Thanksgiving - Mad Hatter Party 4

Director's report 5

Volunteers'portfolio report 6

Training Dept. 7

Counselling tips from Rozanne 8

Straight from Malashi 9

Thank you! 10

Calendar January 2016 11

……………………….. Don't let yesterday use up too much of today. Cherokee Indian Proverb

“Word from the Chair” November 2015 Dear LifeLiners, Family and Friends

As 2015 draws to a close, here's wishing you and all your loved ones a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year,

may 2016 be filled with Love, Peace, Joy.

Congratulations Dedication of Probationers

21 November 2015

Graduation (going Solo) 2015

It is a great privilege and honour to welcome our new graduates and look forward to probationers filling their duties and becoming fully fledged LifeLiners.

I would like to congratulate all the Counsellors for their time, dedication and willingness to spend their time and energy in helping others. To date, excluding November and December 2015, we have counselled, via the telephone or face to face, over 2011 (two thousand and eleven) people so far……..

You have made a difference and been there for someone.

Thank you

God Bless Sonya Rayne Chairperson

Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov DecQueenswood 4 8 11 8 17 12 21 16 10 9Mamelodie 13 23 25 14 13 24 21 27 26 21Soshanguve 29 43 34 10 0 3 9 7 3 13Watermeyer 101 87 104 122 125 138 285 266 190 119Total 147 161 174 154 155 177 336 316 229 162 0 0

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LifeLine Statistics 2015

Queenswood Mamelodie Soshanguve Watermeyer Total

REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear LifeLiners,

Instead on submerging myself in improbable New Year’s resolutions, I decided to devote 2015 to mindful living. I made a conscious effort to switch on all my senses, and devour everything in my environment. While I admit that some days I was so overwhelmed with sensory over- load, I marvel at all the positive energy that has kept me inspired.

I am inspired by volunteers who have cared for ill loved ones this year.

I am inspired by volunteers who suffered great illness this year.

I am inspired by volunteers who had career and parenting roles to fulfill this year.

I am inspired by volunteers who studied this year.

I am inspired by volunteers who faced emotional challenges this year.

I am inspired by volunteers who faced financial challenges this year.

And most of all, I am inspired that these people kept on volunteering at LifeLine. That they, in spite of some immense challenges, still gave of themselves in service of others. My wish for 2016 is that all of you keep on inspiring, keep on fighting and digging deep when life throws its inevitable curveballs at you. Thank you for showing us all that, regardless of cultures, religion or worldviews, we share universal characteristics of strength, courage and fearlessness. I know that there were days when you did not feel so fearless and courageous, but I sensed otherwise. I sensed a warrior spirit in all of you, and I was inspired.

Teresa

VoLunteer report While chatting to a Volunteer two weeks ago, she mentioned her concern at "not really being there for LifeLine, but work has been impossible these past months". I told her to do what she could even if it was not the full twelve hours. "A little was better than nothing."

She drew herself up, looked me in the eye and said: “I pledged to do twelve hours a month and I will keep my promise no matter how I have to organize my life. When I commit, I mean it!” That volunteer has the true LifeLine spirit of commitment. Am I taking my pledge that seriously? If life happens and I really can’t do my session, let me find someone to stand in for me, and inform Faith of the change.

Let us also be pro-active e.g. if you meet a volunteer you don’t know, introduce yourself; if forms are running low, get a staff member to print more; if there’s a typing error, correct it; if a picture is skew, straighten it; if a vessel has been used, wash it, etc, etc, etc. LifeLine is a family of like-minded, loving people so let’s treat everybody with WedRag !!!!

Have a restful, untraumatic break and may the season of Christ bring us all peace and joy. Thanks to each of you for your dedication and care.

Congratulations to all the 'nearly Christmas babies' on their birthdays i.e.

Oupa - 2nd December Jenny - 5th December Dani - 15th December Alex - 16th December Lizzie - 19th December Johanna - 28th December God Bless you Flick

Training Department Hallo LifeLine Family

As I am writing this last newsletter for 2015, it made me to look back at this passing year and my heart got filled with thankfulness and appreciation. Firstly to my ever faithful God, also to the people who are a part of my life and to the challenges and life lessons that I’ve have learned during the year. I believe that nothing in my life is a waste or for nothing, but came into my life to serve a certain purpose.

All our training for this year has been completed with great success. Due to demand, we added another Personal Growth Course in October, and thankfully, this course also went well.

I would like to thank all the volunteer counsellors and probationers who facilitated at all the courses this year. No words can be enough to show my appreciation for the commitment and dedication that you have shown to LifeLine Pretoria. Also your great support and care that you show to me, not just about the training courses, but also in my life and family, thank you and thank you. My prayer for you all is that may all be well with you and your families during this Christmas season and also in the upcoming year.

I also want to express my appreciation to the office staff members who are my second family. I appreciate the team spirit and support that I receive from you, and it really makes me feel valued and appreciated. Our Director, thank you so much for the great and positive energy that you have brought into the office, I am truly learning a lot from you as a director, wife, mother and friend. Thank you to all for being a part of my life, I am truly greatful and feel blessed.

I personally also want to thank the LifeLine Pretoria board for giving me the opportunity to participate in the training on - Facilitate learning unit standard using a variety of given methodologies, presented by NICDAM training institution. I have learned relevant information that I will use in my work and also about myself. The training made me realise that I can still do what I am passionate about and that I need to start developing my facilitation and training skills. Once again Thank you so much also for your care and support throughout the year, may the good God bless you and your families.

As I conclude this newsletter article, many thanks once again to LifeLine Pretoria. For me it is still a great privilege to be a part of this wonderful life changing organisation.

I wish you all a Blessed Christmas season and a prosperous, peaceful 2016 for you and your families.

Till next year Agnes Semono

Counselling tips from Rozanne

Tip #8 The LifeLine way of counseling facilitates the process of change in a client's life by helping them, through active listening and reflection, to identify their challenges and then make their own choices on how to solve these challenges. By doing this we empower our clients to help themselves.

Straight from Malashi

Hi there LifeLiners

This is the last newsletter for 2015. What a year it has been. When I look back and reflect, I think it has been fair year, maybe…maybe not? OK, admit, it was tough for some others found it to be a blissful year. Well, I guess congratulations and hard luck stories are in order.

As for me, I have been at the hospital this year more often than I ever was in my life prior to last year. I think before 2015, I had been in hospital once, but this year…, I even lost count. Seriously, if it wasn’t the shoulder that was troubling me, it was the inguinal hernia, which they did a valuation on and suggested an operation, for which I was given an appointment only to find the night before that I was not booked. How frustrating! I was furious and even told the hospital staff “where to get off”. I mean, after preparing myself emotionally, getting psyched up, and then to be turned down. Maybe that’s the price we pay for using government facilities. Anyway I am booked again for 26 November; I just hope and pray that they have not forgotten again to book me.

Looking back, I think we did a marvellous job as an organisation during 2015. We presented a five full days, tailored Personal Growth and Counselling course for 36 Catholic Church members from Pretoria, Nelspruit, Cape Town, Tzaneen and Potchefstroom. It was very tough and I was finished after that. I am glad though that it went very well. And then we did the usual Personal Growth and Counselling course in Mamelodi, attended by 19 people. After that, we did another project in Ga-Rankuwa over a period of two weeks - 5 full days of Personal Growth and another week of Counselling Course. It went so well, both the participants and the sponsor were very happy. We have also continued to reach out to others through counselling, trauma debriefing and talks.

We have established a new relationship with UNISA Radio and we hope to reach out and empower their staff and listeners with our services. I am convinced that the work that we are doing here at LifeLine is not just a work, I think we are serving a purpose. What do you call the satisfaction that one gets when seeing your client(s) after a difficult or emotional session smile and become optimistic that things WILL be okay? Let me tell you what that is; that is a meaningful life which you are leading. Your work is priceless; no money can match that, and believe you me your rewards will come from above.

It’s officially the 16 days of No Violence against Women and Children. We will be out there, as we normally are, making every effort to educate and empower the victims, and disempower the perpetrators, to eradicate the abuses. I think the challenge we are facing is that we are dealing with strong personal beliefs, habits and attitudes. We also don't always like to make the effort to change our attitudes or beliefs. In fact, we'd rather go out of our way to prove that our belief is right than to change it. Think about some of the beliefs you have about popular brands. You've probably had them for a long time even though they are not upping their game. You are loyal. Some of the victims stay loyal to their vows and stay in that abusive relationship even if it is hard. Maybe they are hoping that one day he is going to change, maybe and maybe not. Love doesn’t hurt; if he loves you he will love and protect you.

I am disturbed by our politicians’ comments and doings. It’s sad that I can’t live with them and can’t live without them. I am a concerned citizen and affected nevertheless. Some of them seem to have recast the constitution to accommodate their deeds. I guess this is what George Orwell's Napoleon in Animal Farm meant by "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

I am wishing you and your loved ones peaceful holidays and safe journeys wherever you go. Thank you so much for being part of such a wonderful movement.

God is good all the time. All the time God is good.

May the peace of God be unto you.

Our deepest gratitude to the following people who assisted us and our clients during 2015.

• Dr Mike Lukhozi – Thuthuzela Mamelodi • Jacques Labuschagne – Department of Health • Prof. Jonathan Scholtz • Dr Cristel Vosloo • Unchain our children, with special thanks to Owen and Wayne

January 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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Mary

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Sylvia

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Facilitators Training

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Elmari Debbie B

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CS Course

Session (1)

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CS Course

Session (2)

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Glory

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CS Course

Session (3)

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Board Meeting

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Course Registra-tion

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CS Course

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Registration

Neil B 31