Tony & Laurie-Ann Copple, Iris Western Cape, Worcester Cluster, South Africa
Iris Ministries Canada Missionaries August 1, 2017 - April 2, 2020 (would it be longer but for cancer treatments)
Tony & Laurie-Ann's Bio: November 2017
Tony and Laurie-Ann are from Ottawa. Tony is retired from financial services, and Laurie-Ann is a social media ministry coordinator. When Tony proposed to Laurie-Ann in 1998, she told him that he would marry into the mission field. The time wasn’t right for Tony to join her long-term, but his heart was being prepared for the time he would retire and be ready.
Laurie-Ann’s heart for Africa began in Kenya in 1993, where she worked with Somali refugees. She returned to Kenya several times before Tony joined her on his first short term mission in 2005; and in 2010, Sierra Leone. By this time, Laurie-Ann had been on nine short-term missions, and Tony two. Then came the Iris Harvest School 24 in Mozambique and outreach in South Africa. Both were deeply impacted by different Iris mentors, and were strongly drawn by the ministry of compassionately stopping for the one.
Laurie-Ann has a background in administration, fine art, Christian counselling/pastoral care, teaching, and radio broadcasting. Tony has had careers in the Royal Navy (engineering), computer sales, and as a financial advisor. Both are warm and compassionate in their work with people wherever they go. Both have been very involved in Ottawa with the Alpha Course, prison ministry, local radio work, and many interdenominational ministries.
Both Laurie-Ann and Tony had a series of dreams confirming their ministry in South Africa. However, it was when they reached out in the Robertson townships that their hearts were truly broken in compassion for the people. They knew that they were ‘home.’ They feel called to the township peoples, including the youth and ‘latchkey’ kids that exhibit an orphan spirit. They would be like grandparents to these children, loving them, parenting them, mentoring them like family.
South Africa is a rainbow nation of different peoples – with 11 official languages. This means while they may be more drawn to a certain demographic, their primary ministry is to stop for the one – of any group. They also plan to do art, radio, prison and hospital ministry in the area; as well as involvement and support of Iris Western Cape base in the form of Father’s House Discipleship Schools, administration and missions in other areas of Western Cape. They will also network with local ministries in the area.
The Copple's will be moving to Iris, Western Cape in November 2017.
Email Tony tonycopple@gmail.com or Email Laurie-Ann laurie-ann@coppleswesterncape.ca; or view the Copples’ website at http://www.coppleswesterncape.ca/ . Both are very active on Facebook and Twitter.
Tony and Laurie-Ann are from Ottawa. Tony is retired from financial services, and Laurie-Ann is a social media ministry coordinator. When Tony proposed to Laurie-Ann in 1998, she told him that he would marry into the mission field. The time wasn’t right for Tony to join her long-term, but his heart was being prepared for the time he would retire and be ready.
Laurie-Ann’s heart for Africa began in Kenya in 1993, where she worked with Somali refugees. She returned to Kenya several times before Tony joined her on his first short term mission in 2005; and in 2010, Sierra Leone. By this time, Laurie-Ann had been on nine short-term missions, and Tony two. Then came the Iris Harvest School 24 in Mozambique and outreach in South Africa. Both were deeply impacted by different Iris mentors, and were strongly drawn by the ministry of compassionately stopping for the one.
Laurie-Ann has a background in administration, fine art, Christian counselling/pastoral care, teaching, and radio broadcasting. Tony has had careers in the Royal Navy (engineering), computer sales, and as a financial advisor. Both are warm and compassionate in their work with people wherever they go. Both have been very involved in Ottawa with the Alpha Course, prison ministry, local radio work, and many interdenominational ministries.
Both Laurie-Ann and Tony had a series of dreams confirming their ministry in South Africa. However, it was when they reached out in the Robertson townships that their hearts were truly broken in compassion for the people. They knew that they were ‘home.’ They feel called to the township peoples, including the youth and ‘latchkey’ kids that exhibit an orphan spirit. They would be like grandparents to these children, loving them, parenting them, mentoring them like family.
South Africa is a rainbow nation of different peoples – with 11 official languages. This means while they may be more drawn to a certain demographic, their primary ministry is to stop for the one – of any group. They also plan to do art, radio, prison and hospital ministry in the area; as well as involvement and support of Iris Western Cape base in the form of Father’s House Discipleship Schools, administration and missions in other areas of Western Cape. They will also network with local ministries in the area.
The Copple's will be moving to Iris, Western Cape in November 2017.
Email Tony tonycopple@gmail.com or Email Laurie-Ann laurie-ann@coppleswesterncape.ca; or view the Copples’ website at http://www.coppleswesterncape.ca/ . Both are very active on Facebook and Twitter.
April 2018 Tony & Laurie-Ann Copple Update
We arrived in Western Cape at a time when the nation is changing for the better. Although the drought in the area is severe, we are hopeful in given promises of a turnaround not just in rain, but for the spiritual rain of revival.
When we arrived in Worcester, we trusted the Lord for a long term affordable home and place to minister. We were led to a small house in a retirement community and ministry opened up in a variety of places. Since most of the people we minister to are in the townships, we’re going to where the people are. We have found the people in Worcester open and thirsty for the love of Jesus. We have partnered with many ministries already in the town. One of Iris Western Cape’s mandates is to be family and to link ministries to each other. We are both networking and holding the nets to reap and sow love. We have become teachers through ‘MasterPeace Academy’ (to bright township kids). Tony teaches science (daily) and music (weekly), while L-A teaches art (weekly). Back in 2014, L-A had an impression that she would be teaching art to African children (as well as radio). It is such a joy that some of this is already happening. One of L-A’s pupils is gifted in art and he loves Tony’s science lessons as well.
[L-A and Minmarie]
We arrived in Western Cape at a time when the nation is changing for the better. Although the drought in the area is severe, we are hopeful in given promises of a turnaround not just in rain, but for the spiritual rain of revival.
When we arrived in Worcester, we trusted the Lord for a long term affordable home and place to minister. We were led to a small house in a retirement community and ministry opened up in a variety of places. Since most of the people we minister to are in the townships, we’re going to where the people are. We have found the people in Worcester open and thirsty for the love of Jesus. We have partnered with many ministries already in the town. One of Iris Western Cape’s mandates is to be family and to link ministries to each other. We are both networking and holding the nets to reap and sow love. We have become teachers through ‘MasterPeace Academy’ (to bright township kids). Tony teaches science (daily) and music (weekly), while L-A teaches art (weekly). Back in 2014, L-A had an impression that she would be teaching art to African children (as well as radio). It is such a joy that some of this is already happening. One of L-A’s pupils is gifted in art and he loves Tony’s science lessons as well.
[L-A and Minmarie]
We especially love to see the kids grow in their learning and faith. They never cease to surprise us – with giggles, questions and sometimes lightning fast understanding. Tony has taken the boys swimming after school, since it has been so hot. And when Tony’s birthday came, they surprised Tony by singing Happy Birthday!
We are part of a weekly ‘Riverview Kids Club’, where they love on Riverview township kids, sing, teach the Word and musical instruments. This group of kids are incredibly sweet and are eager to learn about God. L-A shared with them a talk about forgiveness and changing a heart of stone into God’s heart of love – she used a small rock, a paper heart and maple candies. They listened with rapt attention and understood a concept that many grown-ups don’t always understand! L-A has been ill lately (something that may be remedied through an operation at the end of March). Due to the illness, she had to miss a Kid’s Club day. Some of the kids missed her so much that they wrote a note that said: “Mano and Sorita ask you how you are. Mano and Sorita miss you. We love you. We asked Mr. Tony where you are, and we will pray for you. We love you.” This was a special moment to cherish for weeks to come!
[Laurie-Ann and Soraya doing a lesson on February 14 at the Riverview Kids Club.]
We are part of a weekly ‘Riverview Kids Club’, where they love on Riverview township kids, sing, teach the Word and musical instruments. This group of kids are incredibly sweet and are eager to learn about God. L-A shared with them a talk about forgiveness and changing a heart of stone into God’s heart of love – she used a small rock, a paper heart and maple candies. They listened with rapt attention and understood a concept that many grown-ups don’t always understand! L-A has been ill lately (something that may be remedied through an operation at the end of March). Due to the illness, she had to miss a Kid’s Club day. Some of the kids missed her so much that they wrote a note that said: “Mano and Sorita ask you how you are. Mano and Sorita miss you. We love you. We asked Mr. Tony where you are, and we will pray for you. We love you.” This was a special moment to cherish for weeks to come!
[Laurie-Ann and Soraya doing a lesson on February 14 at the Riverview Kids Club.]
Both of us are involved with ‘My Father’s House Worcester’, a community development project in Avian Park township. We reach out to gang members, teens and vulnerable women. We are involved with music on Mondays, Tony helps in food distribution, and L-A has helped them establish an internet presence with a brand new website. They’ve become fond of these teens, and L-A has become a mother figure to recent YWAM DTS grad, Soraya, who is called to be a long-term missionary. Tony weekly joins a YWAM-sponsored children’s ministry in the shanty-town section of Avian Park, and has made many friends in the local ‘Boland Hospice’. Both reach out with a local women’s shelter.
Laurie-Ann felt strongly called to join a special ministry in the Roodewal Township that is called ‘Kibbutz El-Shammah’ - and they do many things, including the ‘Changemakers’ program for former gangsters and drug addicts. L-A drew a prophetic impression of that ministry and is now their bookkeeper! This strategic ministry has established such a presence in that township that crime rates are significantly lower than the other areas – but there is so much more to do. They are expanding to a second location on the other side of the township to form a canopy of love over the neighbourhood.
We also are a part of the challenging Iris Western Cape ‘Farm Kids Club’. Three quarters of the group are wonderful learners, but some are utterly wild kids. We need to reach them consistently with God’s love, despite their unruly nature! Tony has taken to teaching the other kids financial matters, fun science knowledge and matters of faith. They also love singing and dancing during our worship sessions. Otherwise, we trust for divine keys to reach these farm kids.
[Tony teaching finances.]
Laurie-Ann felt strongly called to join a special ministry in the Roodewal Township that is called ‘Kibbutz El-Shammah’ - and they do many things, including the ‘Changemakers’ program for former gangsters and drug addicts. L-A drew a prophetic impression of that ministry and is now their bookkeeper! This strategic ministry has established such a presence in that township that crime rates are significantly lower than the other areas – but there is so much more to do. They are expanding to a second location on the other side of the township to form a canopy of love over the neighbourhood.
We also are a part of the challenging Iris Western Cape ‘Farm Kids Club’. Three quarters of the group are wonderful learners, but some are utterly wild kids. We need to reach them consistently with God’s love, despite their unruly nature! Tony has taken to teaching the other kids financial matters, fun science knowledge and matters of faith. They also love singing and dancing during our worship sessions. Otherwise, we trust for divine keys to reach these farm kids.
[Tony teaching finances.]
We just received the last clearance papers to become prison volunteers in Brandvlei, with ‘Prison Alpha’. We connected with the chaplain, and the national South Africa Alpha director, Jeremy Jobling. Jeremy had commissioned a Cape Town prison Alpha team to go weekly to this Worcester-area prison, yet it wasn’t sustainable, because of the drive there and back. And then - along come the Copples at just the right time! We are so excited for this opportunity! We even will have a close ministry friend who speaks Afrikaans join us when she has her own clearance.
While we practice the Iris lifestyle of stopping for the one, we also joined our local church’s ‘Street Evangelism Team’, and are making more connections as we do this – in town and in church. We have been connecting the nets of these and other ministries in Worcester. We intentionally promote unity and family among all who minister and love Jesus.
Lastly, we started another ministry within our hill-top home. We’re back on the radio through ‘Copples Western Cape Radio (CWCP)’, an internet radio station that broadcasts weekly through Galcom international. We are broadcasting interviews, South African faith stories, music, and teachings. We plan to involve children within the broadcasts, and in future, a radio camp. Laurie-Ann is also producing art work, and has been encouraged to do this within the context of our church creative team and more.
We are so hopeful for our time in South Africa. While we have had a lot of challenges, these do not compare with the blessings we have encountered, the people we’ve met and the grace of the Holy Spirit that has filled so many of our times.
We invite you to visit our website, coppleswesterncape.ca, and we are on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We invite you to join our newsletter emails by emailing L-A at laurie-ann@coppleswesterncape.ca.
While we practice the Iris lifestyle of stopping for the one, we also joined our local church’s ‘Street Evangelism Team’, and are making more connections as we do this – in town and in church. We have been connecting the nets of these and other ministries in Worcester. We intentionally promote unity and family among all who minister and love Jesus.
Lastly, we started another ministry within our hill-top home. We’re back on the radio through ‘Copples Western Cape Radio (CWCP)’, an internet radio station that broadcasts weekly through Galcom international. We are broadcasting interviews, South African faith stories, music, and teachings. We plan to involve children within the broadcasts, and in future, a radio camp. Laurie-Ann is also producing art work, and has been encouraged to do this within the context of our church creative team and more.
We are so hopeful for our time in South Africa. While we have had a lot of challenges, these do not compare with the blessings we have encountered, the people we’ve met and the grace of the Holy Spirit that has filled so many of our times.
We invite you to visit our website, coppleswesterncape.ca, and we are on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We invite you to join our newsletter emails by emailing L-A at laurie-ann@coppleswesterncape.ca.
October 2018 Tony & Laurie-Ann Copple Update
We Copples have continued to nurture children while teaching at MasterPeace Academy, as well as leading three after school kids clubs and a leadership training group for Avian Park teens. We took a road trip holiday to the Eastern Cape – much needed! After the winter school break (mid-June to mid-July), we arrived back at school to find not just two students, but six! Mpho continues to challenge us, since his mom has taken him off his ADHD meds, so he’s disruptive in class. Please pray for him. L-A has been leaning on God in teaching them art concepts that she did not learn in school, but they are keen. In one lesson for example, she taught about catching the right composition using viewfinders. It was a hit!
[L-A’s art class with the schoolboys with viewfinders.]
We Copples have continued to nurture children while teaching at MasterPeace Academy, as well as leading three after school kids clubs and a leadership training group for Avian Park teens. We took a road trip holiday to the Eastern Cape – much needed! After the winter school break (mid-June to mid-July), we arrived back at school to find not just two students, but six! Mpho continues to challenge us, since his mom has taken him off his ADHD meds, so he’s disruptive in class. Please pray for him. L-A has been leaning on God in teaching them art concepts that she did not learn in school, but they are keen. In one lesson for example, she taught about catching the right composition using viewfinders. It was a hit!
[L-A’s art class with the schoolboys with viewfinders.]
We continue to be challenged with the kids clubs – in our My Father's House Avian Park club, the numbers have reached as many as 80 kids! Thirty is much more sustainable in the library setting we are using. Some are just coming for the sandwiches and fruit, and bringing younger siblings. We’ve lost our Afrikaans co-leader so we are managing with simple English and halting Afrikaans. The teen leaders help. The founder of the ministry, Jan Buchanan has decided that we need to limit the numbers to a maximum of 40 by having a minimum age of 8. The highlight in this group so far was the Iris Harvest School 28 outreach team of 11 that came for one day. And what a day – we were primed for the Alpha Holy Spirit day within Youth Alpha. We invited the Holy Spirit to come and touch their lives, and between them the Harvest schoolers lead 13 children to faith alongside us! We even had enough sandwiches. Also, L-A has had some incredible God moments with individual children, even on bad days. Jesus is still in control, for which we, tannie and oom (aunt and uncle) are thankful.
[Montages of Alpha Holy Spirit Day in Avian Park with the HS 28 outreach team.]
[Montages of Alpha Holy Spirit Day in Avian Park with the HS 28 outreach team.]
We’re also blessed and challenged by the teens that are learning how to lead Bible studies on Saturdays within our home. They always come hungry: for love, sandwiches, fruit, juice, cake and selfies on L-A’s phone. They are cheeky and test our limits, but they know they are loved. Our other kids clubs in Riverview and Vinkrivier are challenging in other ways. Riverview meets outside in a courtyard, and it has been cold. Thankfully it has not rained during our time with them. Some of the farm kids at Vinkrivier are quite rough in nature and test us. It’s quite the love war, but Jesus wins. We are calling more of them by their names now, and L-A had a breakthrough one day when she and Tony led the group in leader Kaysha’s absence. Some didn’t want to participate in singing until we gave them homemade percussion instruments. They don’t want to just watch or listen; they want to participate. Some didn’t want to limbo dance, although those who did had a great time. But ALL of them wanted to join L-A in prophetic colouring.
Previously, L-A had been working on one of her worship drawings, and was about to add colour. Holy Spirit nudged her to leave the drawings black and white and scan them so the kids could join in on worshipping God through art. What was amazing was the Holy Spirit fell on these kids and they were all quiet and happily working for almost an hour! This was a first! We are thankful and are praying for more keys to love on these diamonds in the rough.
[Vinkrivier farm kids enjoying colouring L-A’s prophetic drawings.]
Previously, L-A had been working on one of her worship drawings, and was about to add colour. Holy Spirit nudged her to leave the drawings black and white and scan them so the kids could join in on worshipping God through art. What was amazing was the Holy Spirit fell on these kids and they were all quiet and happily working for almost an hour! This was a first! We are thankful and are praying for more keys to love on these diamonds in the rough.
[Vinkrivier farm kids enjoying colouring L-A’s prophetic drawings.]
L-A has also found other art opportunities. She has become bookkeeper to Change Makers Worcester, which is a Roodewal township ministry that rehabilitates drug addicts to become changed men in the Lord. Yet L-A also had a prophetic impression of their parent ministry, Kibbutz El-Shammah, that they were an oasis of living water and Father’s love to Roodewal. She made this impression into a drawing. Change Makers has now moved to the opposite end of the township (thanks to a God-connection through Tony and South Africa Child Welfare). We believe the two ministries will be used as a canopy of love over this despairing neighbourhood. L-A gave the drawing to the founder of the Kibbutz and Change Makers, Erena van de Venter who loved it and had it framed. L-A has also been invited to enter three pieces of worship art in an upcoming Christian arts festival in October. Two appropriate pieces are finished so far. Here’s a look at some of the drawings with and without colour, and the gifted drawing.
[L-A's worship/prophetic drawings and colouring book montage.]
[L-A's worship/prophetic drawings and colouring book montage.]
We are now running Alpha in the medium security wing of nearby Brandvlei prison on Saturday mornings. Part of our reason for coming to Worcester was because of this 1500 inmate institution. The first session was sharing and worship, with 12 men and two prison warders. We have so much favour with the men. Most are strong committed Christians, and two Muslims. Tony also shared about Alpha with Correctional Services executives on behalf of Alpha South Africa. Alpha would be running in every South African prison if there were enough volunteer leaders.
We have continued our CWCP internet radio broadcasts, where Tony interviews different ministry leaders for our Worcester Reports show. L-A includes her Ways to Grow in God devotional segments, and often we have audio clips of children singing, and other music. You can find podcasts on the CWCP page on our website, coppleswesterncape.ca, under the ‘Listen’ dropdown.
We took one week out for a holiday after the 2nd school term, and drove all the way to East London (with stays in different guest houses). We especially enjoyed connecting with Rachael and Josh Minter, who run an Iris Affiliate base in a former garden refuse dump in East London. L-A got to help serve lunch to the 500 resident Xhosas. The people were hungry for more than stew and bread. Josh has a gift of healing, so one resident approached us and wanted prayer for a nasty toothache. It was healed! We would like to visit them again.
[Montage of feeding the Xhosa crowd in East London]
We have continued our CWCP internet radio broadcasts, where Tony interviews different ministry leaders for our Worcester Reports show. L-A includes her Ways to Grow in God devotional segments, and often we have audio clips of children singing, and other music. You can find podcasts on the CWCP page on our website, coppleswesterncape.ca, under the ‘Listen’ dropdown.
We took one week out for a holiday after the 2nd school term, and drove all the way to East London (with stays in different guest houses). We especially enjoyed connecting with Rachael and Josh Minter, who run an Iris Affiliate base in a former garden refuse dump in East London. L-A got to help serve lunch to the 500 resident Xhosas. The people were hungry for more than stew and bread. Josh has a gift of healing, so one resident approached us and wanted prayer for a nasty toothache. It was healed! We would like to visit them again.
[Montage of feeding the Xhosa crowd in East London]
We had many God moments (which we wrote about on our Coppleblog page on our site). The other real highlight of our holiday was driving up the Swartberg Pass between the Little Karoo and the Great Karoo. It was spectacular and Tony enjoyed driving on the windy, gravel roads. Thankfully, L-A didn’t get the vertigo that she gets on other mountain passes. We are thankful for our holiday and for all the God moments of ministry and rest. We’ve now expanded Mama Heidi’s phrase from “Love looks like something” to “love looks like something everywhere.” We never stop being missionaries!
[Tony enjoying Swartberg mountain pass montage.]
[Tony enjoying Swartberg mountain pass montage.]
You can track our progress on http://www.coppleswesterncape.ca, including a daily journal and blog. We are on Facebook as Copples in Western Cape (as well as Twitter and Instagram). We invite you to join our newsletter emails by emailing Laurie-Ann at kootenaysprayer@gmail.com
April 2019 Tony & Laurie-Ann Copple Update
[Tony - worshipping with the MFH girls.]
[Tony - worshipping with the MFH girls.]
We Copples have continued to nurture and teach children from one township at Master Peace Academy, as well as working with three after school kids clubs. One of the clubs turned into something special in the Avian Park township. It wasn’t sustainable to run a large kids club, so we trained eight teenage girls to be leaders using the Mailbox Club curriculum for younger kids. We disciple these girls on Saturday afternoons. The above picture shows Tony leading worship with many of them while Laurie-Ann was making them sandwiches. They often join us at church and for other events. This has gone far beyond just training them. They are beautiful and compassionate leaders with the children under their care! The picture below shows M (one of our MFH girls) teaching children under the shade of a tree. M is being counselled for witnessing gangster violence, yet she still has a wonderful heart of mercy towards children.
[M - teaching MFH Mailbox Club children under a tree.]
[M - teaching MFH Mailbox Club children under a tree.]
While we miss many of the younger Avian Park children, we still work with the Riverview township children on Wednesdays. We’ve been invited to join them on a nature retreat soon, and hopefully Laurie-Ann can share an art session with them. This is the only group that L-A has not been able to share art with, due to them meeting in an outdoor courtyard. Wind, rain, heat and cold combat our time with them, but we remain persistent. We also are still involved with the farm kids club, run by Iris Western Cape base. We have new South African leaders who speak Afrikaans – the children listen to their every word! We are thankful to work with and learn from them. The picture below shows Sergio, one of the younger Riverview boys. He insists on sitting on the table portion of Laurie-Ann’s chair. He’s just under the weight allowance (10 kg).
[L-A and Sergio – Riverview.]
[L-A and Sergio – Riverview.]
Sometimes we reward our MFH teens with special days. In September it was an outing to the nearby Karoo Botanical Garden. In December we had a pizza party and gave the girls their very own pink Afrikaans bibles and handmade denim bags to hold them. In February we had a baking party, while watching the movie Annie (by popular request). That very day two YWAM-trained counsellors took three of our girls into our office and bedroom to counsel them for issues related to family strife and gang violence. One of the girls ("Bonnie") was in protective custody, due to her mother being assaulted by her step-dad. Tony is working in pastoral care with Bonnie, her siblings, and grandfather; he is working to reunite the family, since the step-dad is now in custody. We are glad that Bonnie has had wonderful times with us where she can laugh and learn. She was one of the ones who enjoyed baking brownies with Laurie-Ann in the picture below.
[L-A baking with My Father's House teen girls.]
[L-A baking with My Father's House teen girls.]
Laurie-Ann continues using art to bless children. She teaches art in Master Peace Academy (a challenge with younger students this year), and shares with kids clubs about prophetic art. Then the children get to colour in some of the images that will be in a future colouring book. We were asked to join our local church’s Kinderkerk for two weeks in December. The first week they coloured. The second week they were encouraged to listen to the Holy Spirit and draw their own art. The head of the Sunday school wants to bring Laurie-Ann into other venues with her art. Laurie-Ann has also been invited to consider the possibility of sharing this kind of art with Worcester Primary students.
[Kinderkirk (KidsChurch) with L-A.]
[Kinderkirk (KidsChurch) with L-A.]
Both Tony and Laurie-Ann have been given other opportunities to bless others. Tony is a weekly pastoral care visitor in a local hospice, and is part of a savings club called GIG. He has a heart to teach savings and budgeting to cash-strapped township folk, which are taken advantage of by pay loan companies. Tony is also recording an audio version of Jasper Cloete’s book, Legacy. This is the book that the GIG club is based upon. Laurie-Ann is also heavily involved with bookkeeping for Change Makers, which has freed up the people who run that ministry for more rehabilitation projects and devotional time with Jesus.
We continue to run Alpha in nearby Brandvlei prison on Saturday mornings, although after we spent eight months with the medium security facility we were asked to switch to the youth offender unit. Apparently the people that we are leaving want us to return ASAP, because we ministered to more than the inmates. The wardens also receive love and pastoral care. Oh that we had more time to spend with them! Much of our time centres on our school, Master Peace Academy and the MFH ministry in Avian Park, and we’ve been advised that we need to slow down, not speed up.
We continue our CWCP internet radio broadcasts where Tony interviews different ministry leaders for our Worcester Reports show. L-A includes her Ways to Grow in God devotional segments, and often we have audio clips of children singing. You can find podcasts on the CWCP page on our website, coppleswesterncape.ca, under the ‘Listen’ dropdown. If you by chance you would like to sample these podcasts, we recommend the two by ex-gangsters turned evangelists, Marco (July 26, 2018) and Ebrahim (March 14th 2019).
In December, we took a six day break to the West Coast of South Africa, discovering wildflower country, natural fynbos honey and rooibos. We also were able to find a rare Christmas turkey, so we celebrated Christmas with some of our local Iris family in our home (which included Kaysha and her then fiancé, who left our base to marry a Rwandan pastor). We have more vacancies at our base, as well as in both the Robertson and Worcester Iris clusters.
After that, Laurie-Ann endured two months of illness (boils, carbuncles, rashes) that gave Tony a run at nursing Laurie-Ann. After multiple-rounds of antibiotics, painkillers, tests and colloidal silver, most of the skin ailments have been conquered, while slowly working on bookkeeping, teaching and discipling MFH teens. We have a new understanding of Job’s experience, and it’s quite humbling. Some of the girls decided to walk up to our home to “stop for the one” and bless Laurie-Ann. They didn’t ask for food, although did get a ride home! They just wanted to see Laurie-Ann and to pray for her. One of the girls (Chantelle) drew us a little cartoon. We are so happy that these girls are part of our legacy to Worcester.
[Chantelle’s love note to the Copples.]
We continue to run Alpha in nearby Brandvlei prison on Saturday mornings, although after we spent eight months with the medium security facility we were asked to switch to the youth offender unit. Apparently the people that we are leaving want us to return ASAP, because we ministered to more than the inmates. The wardens also receive love and pastoral care. Oh that we had more time to spend with them! Much of our time centres on our school, Master Peace Academy and the MFH ministry in Avian Park, and we’ve been advised that we need to slow down, not speed up.
We continue our CWCP internet radio broadcasts where Tony interviews different ministry leaders for our Worcester Reports show. L-A includes her Ways to Grow in God devotional segments, and often we have audio clips of children singing. You can find podcasts on the CWCP page on our website, coppleswesterncape.ca, under the ‘Listen’ dropdown. If you by chance you would like to sample these podcasts, we recommend the two by ex-gangsters turned evangelists, Marco (July 26, 2018) and Ebrahim (March 14th 2019).
In December, we took a six day break to the West Coast of South Africa, discovering wildflower country, natural fynbos honey and rooibos. We also were able to find a rare Christmas turkey, so we celebrated Christmas with some of our local Iris family in our home (which included Kaysha and her then fiancé, who left our base to marry a Rwandan pastor). We have more vacancies at our base, as well as in both the Robertson and Worcester Iris clusters.
After that, Laurie-Ann endured two months of illness (boils, carbuncles, rashes) that gave Tony a run at nursing Laurie-Ann. After multiple-rounds of antibiotics, painkillers, tests and colloidal silver, most of the skin ailments have been conquered, while slowly working on bookkeeping, teaching and discipling MFH teens. We have a new understanding of Job’s experience, and it’s quite humbling. Some of the girls decided to walk up to our home to “stop for the one” and bless Laurie-Ann. They didn’t ask for food, although did get a ride home! They just wanted to see Laurie-Ann and to pray for her. One of the girls (Chantelle) drew us a little cartoon. We are so happy that these girls are part of our legacy to Worcester.
[Chantelle’s love note to the Copples.]
We are coming back to Canada for a home visit (furlough), and arrive in Ottawa on May 30th. We are staying in different venues, from friend’s homes/cottages, timeshares, rented basement apartments and airport hotels. We’re having a challenge finding a car, but we expect we will find one soon. We are open to speaking (especially to small groups) and we do have a Sunday or two available. Our 20th wedding anniversary (June 18th) will be celebrated at One Way Ministries in Ottawa, where we will have a drop-in time where friends can connect with us. We also plan to be in Williamsburg, Virginia for a week (at a timeshare), so that we can visit Laurie-Ann’s 'Iris papa (mentor)' who leads the Iris-affiliated Dwelling Place church in Richmond, and other friends as well. If you’d like to see the Copples, please visit our events page at https://www.coppleswesterncape.ca/events. We would be happy to fit in a few more visit times if you’re in the area.
You can track our progress on http://www.coppleswesterncape.ca, including a daily journal and blog. We are on Facebook as Copples in Western Cape (as well as Twitter and Instagram). Tony also has a Flickr account with many photo albums (https://www.flickr.com/photos/97690335@N02/sets/), and a YouTube account (https://www.youtube.com/user/TonyCopple1/videos). We invite you to join our newsletter emails by emailing Laurie-Ann at: laurie-ann@coppleswesterncape.ca.
You can track our progress on http://www.coppleswesterncape.ca, including a daily journal and blog. We are on Facebook as Copples in Western Cape (as well as Twitter and Instagram). Tony also has a Flickr account with many photo albums (https://www.flickr.com/photos/97690335@N02/sets/), and a YouTube account (https://www.youtube.com/user/TonyCopple1/videos). We invite you to join our newsletter emails by emailing Laurie-Ann at: laurie-ann@coppleswesterncape.ca.
October 2019 Tony & Laurie-Ann Copple Update
We Copple’s continue to nurture and teach children from two townships at Master Peace Academy, as well as working with three after school kids clubs. In April, we were invited to join an initiative started by our pharmacist and her husband, who had a dream to involve the seniors from our Hooggelegen retirement village. They wanted to invite the seniors into pharmacy weekly, so they could pass on/share their many skills with the community. Some would offer help with remedial reading, others share travel experiences, and others tell stories. Some older tannies (Afrikaans word for Aunts) taught the kids how to knit and crochet. We went in as if we were coming to a kid’s club, except this is in the school context. We led singing, Tony taught a little science with visual aids, and then we taught some art. The kids loved colouring L-A’s drawings, and have since drawn some of their own. One Tuesday after Tony taught about the solar system, L-A taught them about Canada - sharing Canada flags, maple sweets and stickers. When L-A became sick and was in the local MediClinic hospital the children all made sweet get-well cards for her.
[Legacy Relay montage: L-A playing Bodhran, Lesson on Canada, L-A sharing art, Tony sharing on astronomy.]
We Copple’s continue to nurture and teach children from two townships at Master Peace Academy, as well as working with three after school kids clubs. In April, we were invited to join an initiative started by our pharmacist and her husband, who had a dream to involve the seniors from our Hooggelegen retirement village. They wanted to invite the seniors into pharmacy weekly, so they could pass on/share their many skills with the community. Some would offer help with remedial reading, others share travel experiences, and others tell stories. Some older tannies (Afrikaans word for Aunts) taught the kids how to knit and crochet. We went in as if we were coming to a kid’s club, except this is in the school context. We led singing, Tony taught a little science with visual aids, and then we taught some art. The kids loved colouring L-A’s drawings, and have since drawn some of their own. One Tuesday after Tony taught about the solar system, L-A taught them about Canada - sharing Canada flags, maple sweets and stickers. When L-A became sick and was in the local MediClinic hospital the children all made sweet get-well cards for her.
[Legacy Relay montage: L-A playing Bodhran, Lesson on Canada, L-A sharing art, Tony sharing on astronomy.]
We still supervise the Mailbox Clubs with our teen leaders in Avian Park township. The girls disciple and love the younger children, while we spend time loving them on Saturdays. Sometimes one or two of them come to us on other days so they can do homework in a quiet place that has Wi-Fi. The son of The Mailbox Club International Executive Director came to visit us, since he’d heard good stories about our MFH girls. He and the leaders of Mailbox Southern Africa took a tour of the Avian Park groups, and were happy with what they saw. There may be another training of supervisor leaders like ourselves, as well as training for more teen Mailbox Club leaders. One plan is to minister in the informal shanty section of Avian Park, where it is too dangerous for us to go. This depends on our helper, an ex-gangster turned evangelist who knows his way round that part of the Park.
[Mailbox Club visit montage: the SA and American executives, one of the leaders leading a group.]
[Mailbox Club visit montage: the SA and American executives, one of the leaders leading a group.]
Sometimes we reward our MFH teens with special days. In the past we have visited the nearby botanical gardens and had pizza or baking parties. Tony has taken two groups of girls up to the ‘Lonely Tree’ that overlooks the town (set on the Brandwacht foothills in front of the mountains), and taken them to McDonalds afterwards. Some of our MFH girls have moved away, so we are beginning to train up more. One local boy is interested in become a Mailbox Club leader. We would like to have more outings, but can only take so many in the car. One girl slept over at our place in an emergency and went to Cape Town with us. She was a blessing. Tony also takes some of the teens to the hospice with him for ministry, where they learn how to pray for some desperate souls and where both the patients and the nurses are very appreciative. Some of these teens are already learning the beauty of stopping for the one through these informal ministry times.
[My Father’s House montage: special days, special ministry.]
[My Father’s House montage: special days, special ministry.]
We continue to work with the Riverview township children on Wednesdays. We were part of a retreat with the Riverview children on the top of Bain’s Kloof Pass. The kids and teens loved doing art with L-A, and were very interested in seeing her draw the nearby mountains the next day.
[Montage from Riverview kids club: retreat at Bainskloof (March 2019).]
[Montage from Riverview kids club: retreat at Bainskloof (March 2019).]
Laurie-Ann continues using art to bless children. She teaches art in MasterPeace Academy and shares with other kids in different venues about prophetic art. The MasterPeace Academy kids had a project of their own drawings, which L-A made into their own colouring books. L-A has used some of this experience with the MasterPeace Academy learners, kids clubs and kinderkerk, to begin teaching the Worcester Primary kids about Christian symbols. This will make it easier for them to express themselves in prophetic art as well as increase fine motor skills. Both Tony and Laurie-Ann continue in other opportunities to bless, beyond their ministry with children and teens. Tony is a weekly pastoral care visitor in a local hospice, and is a member of a financial literacy movement. Laurie-Ann is involved with bookkeeping for Change Makers), an organization that rehabilitates former drug addicts, alcoholics and gangsters to become changed men in Christ. We continue to run Alpha in the youth offender wing in the nearby Brandvlei prison on Saturday mornings. Tony goes in with our YWAM friend who accompanies him. We continue our CWCP internet radio broadcasts, where Tony interviews different ministry leaders and local movers and shakers for our Worcester Reports show. L-A includes her ‘Ways to Grow in God’ devotional segments, and sometimes we have audio clips of children singing, and include other music. Y can find podcasts on the CWCP page on our website, coppleswesterncape.ca, under the ‘Listen’ dropdown.
[Montage of the colouring books - Master Peace Academy.]
[Montage of the colouring books - Master Peace Academy.]
Late in May we returned to Canada for a home visit, and were there until July 10th. We shared each Sunday in different churches and during some mid-week gatherings (including on our 20th wedding anniversary at One Way Ministries in Ottawa). We thought it was very thoughtful that our guests brought anniversary cards and prayed over us. Each venue was delightful in its own way, which we share more of on our events page: https://www.coppleswesterncape.ca/events.html. We also had valuable visits with L-A’s family in Toronto, family friends in eastern Ontario, and meeting Angie (from the IMC office) in Oakville.
[Home visit montage: receiving, drawing and gifting.]
[Home visit montage: receiving, drawing and gifting.]
[Home visit montage: sharing in different venues.]
[Home visit montage: with family, friends, partners, and Angie from IMC (top left picture).]
Upon our return, both Tony and L-A jumped in with both feet on Legacy Relay and the school work. The other ministry was a gradual stepping back in. We were warned by our SA pastor that we needed to have adequate rest. Shortly after that, L-A’s was diagnosed with hidradenitis superativa and was advised to go off of cow dairy. Since then she has had no more breakouts. We are thankful for this major step in this healing.
The next healing is a bigger challenge for us, but not for God. L-A experienced increasing pain in her left breast, and was hospitalized for mastitis. It turned out after investigation that it is inflammatory breast cancer. Please pray for us in this challenge as we seek the Lord’s directions. We strongly believe God will heal this, as Holy Spirit has spoken directly to L-A about this even before it showed up. We need discernment on the ministries to continue, which to wrap up for now, and which to deepen the legacy of. If you’d like to learn more about our private medical campaign, please click this link: https://www.coppleswesterncape.ca/medical-campaign.html.
Otherwise, we are involving the children and MFH teens so that they will grow and watch as God heals Laurie-Ann. They are standing with us in faith, and as a result are growing as child and teen leaders; so amazing to see this! We are thankful that L-A is still able to proceed with her prophetic colouring book project (with 24 images so far), with more to come. All of the children love them, including the families of her surgeon and her wig-maker. An Iris father in the faith mentor of L-A’s prayed over these drawings (and L-A’s Ways to Grow in God devotionals) that we have available on USB sticks. He prophesied that both will impact people all over the world – especially the drawings. We are to help unlock young people’s creativity to hear more from the Holy Spirit and become world changers themselves!
You can track our progress on http://www.coppleswesterncape.ca, including a daily journal and blog. We are on Facebook as Copples in Western Cape (as well as Twitter and Instagram). Tony also has a Flickr account with many photo albums (https://www.flickr.com/photos/97690335@N02/sets/), and a YouTube account (https://www.youtube.com/user/TonyCopple1/videos). We invite you to join our newsletter emails by emailing Laurie-Ann at kootenaysprayer@gmail.com. We will have a health updates newsletter as well, since the ministry one is power-packed.
April 2020 Tony & Laurie-Ann Copple Update
We Copples continued to nurture and teach children from two townships at Master Peace Academy, from September to December. The school closed and then transformed into a resource centre for homeschool parents. We were challenged by the four special needs learners in class, but we didn’t give up on them. We also continued with two after school kids clubs in and Avian Park and Riverview townships. Tony has recently taught the Riverview kids (with translation help from our My Father’s House girls Bella and her friend Joy). “Uncle Tony” continues to bring joy to the kids with worship songs and little Afrikaans choruses that Tony learned from the local “Homeless Church.”
We continued our teaching and loving grade one learners through Legacy Relay at Worcester Primary School on Tuesday mornings. This ministry has been given favour by the current principal of the school. We pray that the new principal would be as kind and open to volunteer seniors coming in to classes to pass on legacy skills (including Christian faith). Most of the volunteers work with the Afrikaans children, while we and a couple others work with the English speaking children. We did a special project with the WPS learners in term 4 (late September – late November). Laurie-Ann took a 30” x 40” canvas and divided it into four. We divided the class of 42 into four groups, where they would draw with coloured pencil in their areas, to be followed with water and brushes to turn into paint. Then L-A transformed the background into an abstract base. The children then drew their own Christian symbols, and voila, after a bit of changes from L-A, we had a beautiful reminder of the 2019 grade ones! The 2020 grade ones are different in character (many don’t like maple candy or even chocolate!) but they are still sweet, love to sing with us, and many are serious in their love of art. They also love to hug Laurie-Ann.
We still supervise the Mailbox Clubs with our My Father’s House teen leaders in Avian Park township. We found a South African to supervise the teens in our place. The leaders know and respect him. These girls disciple and love the younger children on Mondays, while we spend time loving the teens on Saturdays. Tony’s birthday fell on Saturday this year, and we planned to celebrate with the teen girls, but only one was available. In a flash, Tony was reminded of the Bible verses of those who refused the invitation to the Father’s banquet, and that the helpers were instructed to bring others who were available. So Tony brought J’s Mailbox Club into our home, which was a surprise for Laurie-Ann. We ran the afternoon like a kids club, with sandwiches and juice, and singing choruses and worship songs with shakers and L-A’s drum. Then we shared cake and ice cream, and sang “Happy Birthday” to Tony, who used a load-shedding candle on the cake! He had already served the kids, since they couldn’t wait. We ended the afternoon with colouring some of Laurie-Ann’s colouring sheets. Thankfully we had some available. You never know when you will need them.
We have taken some of the teen leaders with us on visits to Hillsong Somerset West, the Strand beach and the Paarl’s Spice Route. Two of the girls have also slept over separately at our house due to family violence and drunkenness in their homes. They felt safer to be with us. Another girl, “J” also stayed more often, due to addiction and violence issues in her own family. However, not all of the visits to our house were for sad reasons. Sometimes they come over (one by one) to do homework and use our wifi. We also shared “Canadian style Christmas” with “B”’s family of six. Thankfully, we had enough dining room chairs, and food for eight, but we had to improvise with cutlery and plates. It all worked beautifully, and we blessed B’s grandma with the same necklace that we had given each of our teen leaders. This joyful lady acts as hostess of her home, while B teaches her Mailbox Club kids. The other leaders continue to lead as they can.
B had a scoliosis operation. We visited her with “J” at Groot Schuur hospital in Cape Town. We brought her books to read, snacks and a chicken dinner, since the food is sparse at public hospitals. Still, the doctors did a great job with B; although she was given doctor’s orders to not walk to school until mid-March. So B asked us if Tony could drive her to school and back home Monday to Friday! This was a huge commitment, especially since Laurie-Ann was also receiving chemotherapy treatments in a Cape Town suburb. So far the “B” express has worked, if we have had no car problems (which we have had!!)
We have taken some of the teen leaders with us on visits to Hillsong Somerset West, the Strand beach and the Paarl’s Spice Route. Two of the girls have also slept over separately at our house due to family violence and drunkenness in their homes. They felt safer to be with us. Another girl, “J” also stayed more often, due to addiction and violence issues in her own family. However, not all of the visits to our house were for sad reasons. Sometimes they come over (one by one) to do homework and use our wifi. We also shared “Canadian style Christmas” with “B”’s family of six. Thankfully, we had enough dining room chairs, and food for eight, but we had to improvise with cutlery and plates. It all worked beautifully, and we blessed B’s grandma with the same necklace that we had given each of our teen leaders. This joyful lady acts as hostess of her home, while B teaches her Mailbox Club kids. The other leaders continue to lead as they can.
B had a scoliosis operation. We visited her with “J” at Groot Schuur hospital in Cape Town. We brought her books to read, snacks and a chicken dinner, since the food is sparse at public hospitals. Still, the doctors did a great job with B; although she was given doctor’s orders to not walk to school until mid-March. So B asked us if Tony could drive her to school and back home Monday to Friday! This was a huge commitment, especially since Laurie-Ann was also receiving chemotherapy treatments in a Cape Town suburb. So far the “B” express has worked, if we have had no car problems (which we have had!!)
We have had a real lesson in trust with the car. We tried to drive to Namibia for our December holiday. We didn’t make it at first. We got stranded on a mountain pass. Thankfully, the owner of a restaurant/store towed us to the top of the pass, where we got a cellphone signal strong enough to call AA for a tow. We were given kindness, rest, and dinner by the owner and his wife before the tow truck arrived. We took a rental car to Namibia, which is another story. Then after Christmas, the car blew a “glo-plug” as we drove towards our friend’s wedding. We were meant to be her ride to the venue, but we were able to call her in enough time to arrange other transport to her wedding. We unfortunately missed the wedding, but we met three kind men who inspect trucks before they drive through the Hugenot toll towards Cape Town. They kept us safe and engaged while we called AA for a tow back to Worcester. Unfortunately, we couldn’t rent a car or even have our own car fixed until January 6th. Many businesses shut down the week after Christmas. This meant we were stranded in our home for eight days. Thankfully, an Iris colleague brought over a grocery care package, our pharmacist took Tony shopping, and brought us other things. Others took us to church. During our time of isolation, L-A drew more towards her first colouring book project, and Tony learned Windows 10 on his computer.
Meanwhile, Saturdays are a highlight for us due to our prison ministry at Brandvlei. First we were in the medium security, where we loved on the inmates and it was like church in the prison. They were so open to receive, and we found they blessed us back. Two of them have since been released, and one of them gave us a visit at Groot Schuur hospital, after we visited B. It was wonderful to hear how his life was transformed. He was given favour with several good jobs that included dog walking and entrepreneur opportunities. Tony was moved to the youth offender wing to work with our YWAM friend Soraya. She helped us with Afrikaans, since the inmates were more comfortable in that language. Laurie-Ann had to bow out due to illness and mobility issues. Tony also has found a suitable South African to replace us at the prison. He has a calling AND police clearance. He is an answer to our prayers!
Meanwhile, Saturdays are a highlight for us due to our prison ministry at Brandvlei. First we were in the medium security, where we loved on the inmates and it was like church in the prison. They were so open to receive, and we found they blessed us back. Two of them have since been released, and one of them gave us a visit at Groot Schuur hospital, after we visited B. It was wonderful to hear how his life was transformed. He was given favour with several good jobs that included dog walking and entrepreneur opportunities. Tony was moved to the youth offender wing to work with our YWAM friend Soraya. She helped us with Afrikaans, since the inmates were more comfortable in that language. Laurie-Ann had to bow out due to illness and mobility issues. Tony also has found a suitable South African to replace us at the prison. He has a calling AND police clearance. He is an answer to our prayers!
Tony and many in our Worcester church connect group help in the town’s Homeless Church. They offer love, teaching, catchy Afrikaans choruses to sing, and juice with jam sandwiches. Sometimes Tony has taught, and other times he has led worship. Several times Tony has had ministry conversations with members of this church elsewhere in town. You never know who will turn up in the grocery or convenience store. Tony also visits people in the local hospice every week and has made friends with some of them. All who see him brighten up when Tony comes in the room. The Hospice supervisor gave Tony an interview for our CWCP Worcester Reports radio show. It was then that Tony learned how much he is loved. He has favour in going into every room, sometimes with a few adult helpers, and sometimes with the My Father’s House teen leaders. Two of them are particularly good at pastoral care.
We had a December road trip visit to Namibia, to see the famous red sand dunes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. After the Namib desert soujourn, we visited Windhoek, and Swakopmund. The last place gave us opportunities for “stop for the one” ministry. We found some gem-sellers at a shipwreck that was aground near the beach. We stopped, and bought gems, since Laurie-Ann sensed this was a special moment. We were asked for water, groceries and meat. After lunch, we returned with hot meat pies, and a care package; enough for two families to make stew and porridge. We prayed with them, and they were grateful. We also befriended our server at a Swakopmund coffee shop and we had a special moment with her. And third, L-A had a moment with a young man in Okahanja, where we change from the B2 to the B1 to get back to Windhoek. L-A wrote about the perseverance we developed during the trip due to car trouble and missing a wedding. This was while L-A’s mother was very ill in a Toronto hospital. Here is the blog link to read about stopping for the one in Namibia:
Meanwhile, L-A is blooming in art. During September – December, she taught art at MasterPeace Academy, as well as Worcester Primary though Legacy Relay Tuesdays. L-A has returned to Worcester Christian Church Kinderkerk to teach prophetic art, and she’s been asked to do the same at a kids’ camp in Avian Park township. There have been other requests for art workshops as well. Yet what kept her going through her illness was the desire to finish her first prophetic colouring book. There are 51 images, with scriptures and stories in Afrikaans and English. We hope to publish a second colouring book in Canada with English and French. We remain hopeful. In the meantime, L-A has been sowing the colouring sheets to many different children’s ministries around the world. We trust L-A’s sowing will end up reaping blessings for the colouring book.
In the midst of all the busy-ness of ministry and chemo treatments, L-A’s mom became very weak. Eventually she was transferred to hospital care since L-A’s 91-year-old dad couldn’t carry on as care-giver. L-A’s mom kept asking for L-A. Finally, L-A sent her sister a loving message, and asked her to read it to their mom. The sister did so verbatim. Their mom was touched and was thankful. The next day, L-A’s mom died. The funeral was a week later, and we sent flowers and a eulogy that was written during a chemo session. While we couldn’t be at the funeral, L-A’s cousin recorded the funeral on his cellphone and sent the file to us. It was wonderful to see all the nuances, although it would have been wonderful to see the faces of the mourners. But for right now, we miss the sound of her voice. Thankfully we know where L-A’s mom Carol is. She’s with Jesus. All the people we love and work with in Worcester shared in our grief.
In the midst of all the busy-ness of ministry and chemo treatments, L-A’s mom became very weak. Eventually she was transferred to hospital care since L-A’s 91-year-old dad couldn’t carry on as care-giver. L-A’s mom kept asking for L-A. Finally, L-A sent her sister a loving message, and asked her to read it to their mom. The sister did so verbatim. Their mom was touched and was thankful. The next day, L-A’s mom died. The funeral was a week later, and we sent flowers and a eulogy that was written during a chemo session. While we couldn’t be at the funeral, L-A’s cousin recorded the funeral on his cellphone and sent the file to us. It was wonderful to see all the nuances, although it would have been wonderful to see the faces of the mourners. But for right now, we miss the sound of her voice. Thankfully we know where L-A’s mom Carol is. She’s with Jesus. All the people we love and work with in Worcester shared in our grief.
L-A received chemo treatments in Cape Town beginning from early September. She went through a painful but character growing season. We are thankful for hundreds of people praying and encouraging L-A through nausea, sleeplessness, pain symptoms, and a change of taste (ie: L-A now prefers tea to coffee, and now likes walnuts and dried cranberries!) L-A’s last chemo was February 10th, when she rang the bell. Later treatments followed including Herceptin injections, blood work and a PET scan which will be sent to her surgeon in Ottawa. We see this doctor on April 22nd. Here is a link to L-A’s health updates:
Sadly, it’s because of the cancer and the condition of L-A’s dad that we Copples cannot return to our mission assignment in South Africa after L-A is completely cancer-free. Ironically, L-A had prayed to the Lord for a fourth year in Worcester after we returned from our home visit. However, we are very thankful for the 2.5 years we have had. We have loved in so many ways, some of them sacrificially. We pray that our legacy will grow as we sowed into hearts and ministries in Worcester and beyond. Other than Iris Western Cape outreaches, we have been involved with: My Father’s House (Avian Park), the Mailbox Club, MasterPeace Academy, Legacy Relay, Boland Hospice, Riverview kids club, ChangeMakers Worcester, Brandvlei prison/Alpha South Africa, Homeless Church and our own internet radio station CWCP, for which we share “The Worcester Reports,” Ways to Grow in God devotionals and various music. You can track our progress on http://www.coppleswesterncape.ca. We are on Facebook as Copples in Western Cape (as well as Twitter and Instagram).
NOTE: The Copples attempted to leave South Africa as planned (with multiple flight bookings, but each were cancelled by the airline). Then South African lockdown began as a measure to contain the corona virus. Since the Copples remain in South Africa, they remain as IMC missionaries until they permanently return to Canada.
NOTE: The Copples attempted to leave South Africa as planned (with multiple flight bookings, but each were cancelled by the airline). Then South African lockdown began as a measure to contain the corona virus. Since the Copples remain in South Africa, they remain as IMC missionaries until they permanently return to Canada.
August 2020 Tony & Laurie-Ann Copple Update
We Copples continue to nurture and encourage children and teens from two townships as much as we can. Covid-19 restrictions hit us hard in South Africa, beginning March 21st. As a result, we are still under lockdown, if somewhat eased, more than four months later. We cannot return to Canada until lockdown levels are down to level 1, and Canadian High Commission in Pretoria recommended that we sit tight. There were repatriation flights, but they left at very short notice, being designed for tourists, and were very expensive. The main reason why we needed to return was for breast cancer surgery for L-A. It turned out that this could not wait for our return, so she was strongly advised to have a full mastectomy and removal of nine lymph nodes locally in Worcester. There was an excellent margin for the cancer, as well as no evidence of cancer in the removed lymph nodes. The surgeon was praising God, calling this a miracle. The oncologist is also pleased, although urged for radiation in her particular situation, which will occur in August in Cape Town. Concurrently, Laurie-Ann is also in treatment for lymphedema (swelling of lymphatic system) through Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD), exercises and compression therapy. The chemotherapy and surgery had aggravated what was an undiagnosed case of lymphedema manifesting particularly in L-A’s legs, and now under her left arm. Had the condition under her arm not occurred, the condition of her legs would not have been diagnosed by her MLD specialist, Este Mellet. It had been undiagnosed for more than 10 years. The discovery of this condition was God’s kindness. By the time we leave South Africa, L-A will physically be a new woman.
Does this cancer journey stop us ministering and stopping for the one? By no means. It just gives us different opportunities. L-A shares her story and ministers to her surgeon, MLD therapist, prosthetist, chemo nurses and radiologist. Devotionals and drawings that they can colour in (or their children can colour) have deepened quite a few of these medical professionals. So God is working not only L-A’s healing, but also deepening the faith of those professionals. We continue in the ministries below, to the extent permissible under covid-19 restrictions.
Relief work with four – six Avian Park families, and by extension, two grandmothers:
While L-A was in Mediclinic Worcester hospital for a mastectomy, our police friend Wilna brought Tony boxes of groceries and vegetables that was meant for us. There was more than enough for us, so we shared with three families we work with. This was the start of Tony going into Avian Park township as needed to help four families, and a blind grandmother in OVD township. While Tony socially distanced, they didn’t always.
Does this cancer journey stop us ministering and stopping for the one? By no means. It just gives us different opportunities. L-A shares her story and ministers to her surgeon, MLD therapist, prosthetist, chemo nurses and radiologist. Devotionals and drawings that they can colour in (or their children can colour) have deepened quite a few of these medical professionals. So God is working not only L-A’s healing, but also deepening the faith of those professionals. We continue in the ministries below, to the extent permissible under covid-19 restrictions.
Relief work with four – six Avian Park families, and by extension, two grandmothers:
While L-A was in Mediclinic Worcester hospital for a mastectomy, our police friend Wilna brought Tony boxes of groceries and vegetables that was meant for us. There was more than enough for us, so we shared with three families we work with. This was the start of Tony going into Avian Park township as needed to help four families, and a blind grandmother in OVD township. While Tony socially distanced, they didn’t always.
One of the girls we mentor is in her final year of high school (which reopened for her grade). She will go to a Cape Town university on scholarship in January. But there is one thing that shadowed her joy in Jesus. That was her teeth. Township dentists are free, but usually only do basic dentistry, possibly fillings, and definitely extractions. She needed more. One church and a friend graciously donated the exact amount needed for B’s dentures. Now she smiles, and she is very grateful.
When her ouma C saw B smile, she laughed and cried tears of joy. This reaction is very rare in Avian Park. Ouma C is also the same size as L-A, so we downsized lots of clothes and even bras to her, since L-A can no longer wear them. We know and love this family, and pray that they will be untouched by Covid-19.
When her ouma C saw B smile, she laughed and cried tears of joy. This reaction is very rare in Avian Park. Ouma C is also the same size as L-A, so we downsized lots of clothes and even bras to her, since L-A can no longer wear them. We know and love this family, and pray that they will be untouched by Covid-19.
J is a girl who is sweet, but has orphan spirit issues. However, she knows and loves us. She feels safe around us. Her family are often needy and we have helped as we have been enabled through food relief, taking her to the hospital, and pastoral care.
Tony judges A to be the most needy of the girls. She is handicapped by her mother T, 36, who is good at persuading people to lend her money (zero interest payday loans), and not paying them back. T has a live-in boyfriend, H, who seldom works yet shares in any food that is going. When lockdown came T ran out of people willing to lend, and her job had disappeared. A is quite smart, and somehow survives in the home without getting depressed. She has a ready smile. She would call us on her mother’s phone and ask for various kinds of help, but what she really needed was a smartphone to be able to continue some schoolwork during lockdown. She even identified the phone she wanted, a Mobicel ‘Glo.’ Tony checked the price; only R399 (about $33) and obtained the specification from Mobicel, a South African manufacturer. On paper it offered all she needed. We told her we would pay half, but her mother either couldn’t or wouldn’t pay the rest. One day Tony decided (push from the Holy Spirit?) we should get one for her and ordered it. Delivery took a few weeks, during which time the battery on Laurie-Ann’s phone deteriorated seriously. When it did arrive, it was even better than we could ever have expected at the price. When Tony had set it up with the software she needed, he ordered a second one for L-A. It isn’t as good as her Blackberry Priv, but it is about 4% of the price! The day before he delivered it to A - see above picture – T’s phone was stolen right out of her house by a nephew of H’s, so without the new phone the family would have had no communications. In the next few days, communications proved critical for them, as for example someone unknown through a rock through their front window one stormy night. They called Tony and he fixed it with masking tape and cardboard. None of the families seem to any capability for mending things, and no understanding of the concept of risk, or preparing for potential future problems. In the last 6 weeks we have given more food to this family than any other, since they have no income and most jobs have vanished. We have also given them around R50 of airtime, data and power.
C is a girl who is full of joy and loves to dance to the Lord when in church, and to pop music when the girls used to visit us on Saturdays. She often sends messages that she misses us and wishes she could visit. On our last Saturday afternoon with the girls, C told us that she didn’t have a bed to sleep on. She slept on the cold floor, and colder weather was coming. We gave her a lovely blanket, but continued to pray about how to do more. We already helped generously with food, airtime, electrical power and sometimes rides. Tony also gave pastoral care to the family when C’s sister was apprehended smashing their windows yet again; before going to the glass shop to replace them. And then, L-A spotted a lovely roll-up bed made by the ministry run by a colleague of ours. Tony ordered the bed for C’s size, and she loved it. Finally, a place to sleep, that even rolls up to make room; something that she can take with her on overnight visits to her blind ouma, who we also help.
Ouma L is gracious, positive, lady who is C’s grandma. L is blind, so C comes and helps when she is able. Tony comes with relief food, power and airtime when needed, and he is able to share kindness on the phone and in person. L is always grateful, and says she prays for L-A’s health.
Ouma L is gracious, positive, lady who is C’s grandma. L is blind, so C comes and helps when she is able. Tony comes with relief food, power and airtime when needed, and he is able to share kindness on the phone and in person. L is always grateful, and says she prays for L-A’s health.
Birthday cake story: In February, we celebrated Tony’s birthday with an entire Avian Park Mailbox Club in our home, where they enjoyed sandwiches, fruit, juice, ice cream and cake. Most of the teen leaders couldn’t make it, except for B. We had to buy a second cake to slice up for the teen girls and their families. This seems to be a custom to celebrate your birthday with others, and they get the cake. So when it came to L-A’s birthday, Tony took L-A out to a nice restaurant, the first time since lockdown in March. The cake however, was for the teen leaders, and a few other teens who have either worked with us, or have known us through the girls. The cake seemed to stretch enough to bless everyone that we needed to bless. They just wanted to be included, during a time when we are still not allowed to get close to them.
Tony’s involvement in GIG: Through his connection with Jasper Cloete, the founder of Generational Inheritance Group, GIG, Tony was asked to speak on a GIG Zoom training on 26 July 2020. The subject was ‘Financial Planning for the Poor.’ As a previous professional financial advisor, Tony developed expertise in helping people without money and with debt, in contrast with the preferred client profile of the industry, the wealthy. In this talk he illustrates what could be done, but sadly isn’t being done, for huge numbers of township dwellers in the economic apartheid that characterises South Africa today. The relationship with Jasper had broadened after Tony produced the audio version of Jasper’s ground-breaking book, Legacy. Jasper was attracted to Tony’s voice on CWCP Radio. You can find this teaching here:
CWCP Radio After broadcasting 100 programs, all of which will remain available through podcasts, we decided to do our small bit for the Locked down around the world by broadcasting 24/7, beginning May 7. We felt there is a need for music programming in all genres including Christian, and every so often, Christian spoken word. All the music came from our extensive collection, and the playlists remain stored for future use for our private enjoyment and possible future broadcasting.
L-A continues new drawings for children to colour: L-A published her first colouring book, ‘Colouring with Jesus,’ in mid-March 2020. This book has 51 images, with stories and scriptures. Unfortunately, lockdown hit the following week, but we managed to place books in a local independent Christian bookstore, as well as the wine shop run by our Iris Western Cape supervisors. Above is a picture of what was supposed to be the book launch at Worcester Christian Church. It was the last socially distanced church gathering until the church was re-opened in July. The other picture is of Riverview kids club, when they finally got to colour the drawing that L-A did of them. This drawing is included in the colouring book. The book is only available in South Africa, either in person, at these shops, or online via Takealot.com. Here is the link:
L-A is working on a sequel, ‘Colouring with Jesus 2’, which will have 60 images, and Holy Spirit filled devotionals/scriptures. We need a good French translator for the Canadian version, but meanwhile, our Afrikaans translators are very willing to help with the next book. Meanwhile, L-A continues to sow the basic colouring sheets for free to different bases and children’s ministries.
Legacy Relay: This ministry is something that we will gladly resume, if and when we are allowed to go back into Worcester Primary School. This may be a much smaller group, but the principles will be the same. Meanwhile, we had a special last day right before the lockdown on March 21st. While we said goodbye to the current grade ones, there was a group of the current grade twos who came to say hello and goodbye. This was bittersweet for L-A, but also special. We also enjoyed a visit from the family of one boy, L, who particularly bonded with us the previous year. His whole family were special! Both parents were police officers, who have been helpful to us subsequently when advice was needed. L-A gifted them with children’s art supplies that L could use. Meanwhile, our Legacy Relay supervisors asked us to produce two videos (see above) to the children that they could watch with their parents. We wanted to reach out to these dear ones and let them know that they aren’t forgotten. Here are Tony's and L-A’s videos:
Legacy Relay: This ministry is something that we will gladly resume, if and when we are allowed to go back into Worcester Primary School. This may be a much smaller group, but the principles will be the same. Meanwhile, we had a special last day right before the lockdown on March 21st. While we said goodbye to the current grade ones, there was a group of the current grade twos who came to say hello and goodbye. This was bittersweet for L-A, but also special. We also enjoyed a visit from the family of one boy, L, who particularly bonded with us the previous year. His whole family were special! Both parents were police officers, who have been helpful to us subsequently when advice was needed. L-A gifted them with children’s art supplies that L could use. Meanwhile, our Legacy Relay supervisors asked us to produce two videos (see above) to the children that they could watch with their parents. We wanted to reach out to these dear ones and let them know that they aren’t forgotten. Here are Tony's and L-A’s videos:
Other ministry:
A) Prison: We are not able to go into the prison yet, since it has been shut down since March. However, since Tony found a successor missionary to run Prison Alpha in Brandvlei Correctional Centre’s youth wing, Tony and L-A could potentially return to the men in medium facility, where we ran Alpha in 2018, depending on lockdown.
B) Our Mercedes car – praise report: While the car isn’t a ministry in itself, it feels like one because all other ministry is dependent on it. We had some miracles with transportation. We were loaned a Toyota RunX by another missionary for as long as we needed, it due to major issues with the Mercedes. At first it seemed we couldn’t afford a major hydraulic brake pump that cost a lot of money. Months before we had been quoted R40K, but now in lockdown the price had risen to R52K, and would likely have to be brought from Germany. The car also had an acceleration problem for months. Tony was growing depressed that he would have to sell this beloved car for scrap, and be left only with a borrowed car that would have to be returned. Then Holy Spirit touched the heart of a friend, just at the crucial moment, who wasn’t on our newsletter list, but prayed for us generally. He sent the third largest donation we had ever had, and made it viable for Tony to buy the part. We both felt that we were led to put this donation towards the car. Tony contacted the main Mercedes service centre in Cape Town and after a series of communications became convinced that they actually had the part number we needed, (though not the same as we had in the car). At this point Tony asked for a discount, based on our strained circumstances, and our dream not to see the car scrapped, and was told, “sorry, we don’t do that.” But the parts manager, Eugene, and his wife were Christians, and Tony informed him that we are missionaries, living partially by faith donations. The following day, Tony went to buy the part, and found that he had dropped the price dropped to just over R36k! We took the part to our local mechanic to install, still not knowing if it would work – but it did! The car was now driveable safely, but still not sell-able due to the acceleration problem. Our local mechanic had previously tried and failed to resolve the issue. On July 20th, Tony took the car to Mercedes in Paarl, 45 minutes away, and they diagnosed the fault. It needed a part from Johannesburg – a recirculation valve. On July 31st, he went to Paarl again, and they cured this problem which we had lived with many months, making the car worth much more to a future buyer, and saving its life! We can now do our work unhindered and return the borrowed car, with much thanks.
A) Prison: We are not able to go into the prison yet, since it has been shut down since March. However, since Tony found a successor missionary to run Prison Alpha in Brandvlei Correctional Centre’s youth wing, Tony and L-A could potentially return to the men in medium facility, where we ran Alpha in 2018, depending on lockdown.
B) Our Mercedes car – praise report: While the car isn’t a ministry in itself, it feels like one because all other ministry is dependent on it. We had some miracles with transportation. We were loaned a Toyota RunX by another missionary for as long as we needed, it due to major issues with the Mercedes. At first it seemed we couldn’t afford a major hydraulic brake pump that cost a lot of money. Months before we had been quoted R40K, but now in lockdown the price had risen to R52K, and would likely have to be brought from Germany. The car also had an acceleration problem for months. Tony was growing depressed that he would have to sell this beloved car for scrap, and be left only with a borrowed car that would have to be returned. Then Holy Spirit touched the heart of a friend, just at the crucial moment, who wasn’t on our newsletter list, but prayed for us generally. He sent the third largest donation we had ever had, and made it viable for Tony to buy the part. We both felt that we were led to put this donation towards the car. Tony contacted the main Mercedes service centre in Cape Town and after a series of communications became convinced that they actually had the part number we needed, (though not the same as we had in the car). At this point Tony asked for a discount, based on our strained circumstances, and our dream not to see the car scrapped, and was told, “sorry, we don’t do that.” But the parts manager, Eugene, and his wife were Christians, and Tony informed him that we are missionaries, living partially by faith donations. The following day, Tony went to buy the part, and found that he had dropped the price dropped to just over R36k! We took the part to our local mechanic to install, still not knowing if it would work – but it did! The car was now driveable safely, but still not sell-able due to the acceleration problem. Our local mechanic had previously tried and failed to resolve the issue. On July 20th, Tony took the car to Mercedes in Paarl, 45 minutes away, and they diagnosed the fault. It needed a part from Johannesburg – a recirculation valve. On July 31st, he went to Paarl again, and they cured this problem which we had lived with many months, making the car worth much more to a future buyer, and saving its life! We can now do our work unhindered and return the borrowed car, with much thanks.
Above is the very expensive hydraulic brake part, and the Mercedes being driven to our home by our mechanic's assistant. We are so thankful.
Challenges:
-Not being able to touch and hug the girls and children
-Being limited in our Worcester church, but enjoying the short English language services
-trying to promote and sell L-A’s colouring book!
-L-A’s health and climbing out of the cancer journey
-having to move from our South African home into other accommodation by September 30 (or earlier). (However we do live with a community of beetles in our home which will be fumigated soon. We won’t miss them.)
-knowing when it’s right to help with specific relief needs in Avian Park. The needs do not stop and demanding calls come in daily during this lockdown. But we don’t ignore the calls when some of these teens and their families haven’t eaten for days. We just need good boundaries, so that we can give out of rest and worship. We are trying to train them (a) that we will not come out instantly to every call (b) that calls will generally be responded to a day later, allowing us to respond to several needs with one trip. We do buy them power and airtime/data which we can do remotely saving them going to a township store. Since lockdown, we have had more than double our budget for these kinds of help.
-Concerns about L-A’s dad. L-A’s mom died in January, while L-A was still in chemo treatments and could not travel, let alone be around people. Now L-A’s dad lives alone and is frail, at 91. We are concerned for his health, life and salvation. We reach out to him via his landline, when he is able to get to the phone. Thankfully, we at least leave love messages on the machine (that greets everyone in Tony’s voice).
-L-A had prayed to the Lord for a fourth year in South Africa, and this could come to pass. Our visas need to be renewed in November. We are hopeful about this, since Home Affairs South Africa announced that visas would be extended to expats and visitors who were stuck, due to covid-19 restrictions. We pray that this may allow us to stay until late April or early May. Basically, we would arrive back in Canada 13 months later than planned. We trust that each challenge will bring new opportunity. While we have to minister differently, we still minister.
But throughout our nearly three years in South Africa, we are given constant TKOGs – that’s the “Kindness of God” times. Paul Manwaring would call these ‘Kisses from a Good God.’ While we haven’t had the dramatic miracles surrounding Heidi and Rolland Baker, we have had so many smaller miracles, favour, opportunities, waves of compassion, financial gifts at just the right time, and Laurie-Ann’s continued healing. We fully believe that L-A will return to Canada better than she was than when she left. Holy Spirit directly told her back in 2018, that South Africa would be the place of her healing. Since then, hidden mystery illnesses were discovered and dealt with, from allergies, menopausal fibroids, to HS, to inflammatory breast cancer and primary lymphedema. But these were cured, gone into remission or controlled. At the same time, Tony has had some other medical issues, some of which have surprisingly disappeared after prayer, and others are under control for now. During the process, we have learned to depend on God and be more content in all circumstances. This is a gift.
Thank you for your prayers, interest and encouragement. Some of you have sacrificially given. Thank you. We continue to love and pour out through each ministry, whether it’s CWCP Radio, Ways to grow in God devotionals, GIG financial teaching/coaching, My Father’s House Worcester ministry, Iris Western Cape sharing/teaching, Legacy Relay when the school opens for grade one, and Prison Alpha when we can return to Brandvlei Correctional Centre.
You can track our progress on http://www.coppleswesterncape.ca. Tony’s ‘SA Daily Journal’ is accessible via the ‘Coppleblog.’ We are on Facebook as Copples in Western Cape, and also post to Twitter and Instagram.
Challenges:
-Not being able to touch and hug the girls and children
-Being limited in our Worcester church, but enjoying the short English language services
-trying to promote and sell L-A’s colouring book!
-L-A’s health and climbing out of the cancer journey
-having to move from our South African home into other accommodation by September 30 (or earlier). (However we do live with a community of beetles in our home which will be fumigated soon. We won’t miss them.)
-knowing when it’s right to help with specific relief needs in Avian Park. The needs do not stop and demanding calls come in daily during this lockdown. But we don’t ignore the calls when some of these teens and their families haven’t eaten for days. We just need good boundaries, so that we can give out of rest and worship. We are trying to train them (a) that we will not come out instantly to every call (b) that calls will generally be responded to a day later, allowing us to respond to several needs with one trip. We do buy them power and airtime/data which we can do remotely saving them going to a township store. Since lockdown, we have had more than double our budget for these kinds of help.
-Concerns about L-A’s dad. L-A’s mom died in January, while L-A was still in chemo treatments and could not travel, let alone be around people. Now L-A’s dad lives alone and is frail, at 91. We are concerned for his health, life and salvation. We reach out to him via his landline, when he is able to get to the phone. Thankfully, we at least leave love messages on the machine (that greets everyone in Tony’s voice).
-L-A had prayed to the Lord for a fourth year in South Africa, and this could come to pass. Our visas need to be renewed in November. We are hopeful about this, since Home Affairs South Africa announced that visas would be extended to expats and visitors who were stuck, due to covid-19 restrictions. We pray that this may allow us to stay until late April or early May. Basically, we would arrive back in Canada 13 months later than planned. We trust that each challenge will bring new opportunity. While we have to minister differently, we still minister.
But throughout our nearly three years in South Africa, we are given constant TKOGs – that’s the “Kindness of God” times. Paul Manwaring would call these ‘Kisses from a Good God.’ While we haven’t had the dramatic miracles surrounding Heidi and Rolland Baker, we have had so many smaller miracles, favour, opportunities, waves of compassion, financial gifts at just the right time, and Laurie-Ann’s continued healing. We fully believe that L-A will return to Canada better than she was than when she left. Holy Spirit directly told her back in 2018, that South Africa would be the place of her healing. Since then, hidden mystery illnesses were discovered and dealt with, from allergies, menopausal fibroids, to HS, to inflammatory breast cancer and primary lymphedema. But these were cured, gone into remission or controlled. At the same time, Tony has had some other medical issues, some of which have surprisingly disappeared after prayer, and others are under control for now. During the process, we have learned to depend on God and be more content in all circumstances. This is a gift.
Thank you for your prayers, interest and encouragement. Some of you have sacrificially given. Thank you. We continue to love and pour out through each ministry, whether it’s CWCP Radio, Ways to grow in God devotionals, GIG financial teaching/coaching, My Father’s House Worcester ministry, Iris Western Cape sharing/teaching, Legacy Relay when the school opens for grade one, and Prison Alpha when we can return to Brandvlei Correctional Centre.
You can track our progress on http://www.coppleswesterncape.ca. Tony’s ‘SA Daily Journal’ is accessible via the ‘Coppleblog.’ We are on Facebook as Copples in Western Cape, and also post to Twitter and Instagram.