Eshcol Children Ministry - In Touch Mission International

March 01, 2005

Eschcol Update

The Board of Directors for Eshcol has advised Graham and Jene Des Fountain to take a six-month sabbatical during this transition period, while they are waiting on the Lord for adequate premises in which to care for abused and abandoned children in the Cape peninsula area. ITMI’s Bill Bathman visited them recently and agrees completely.

The pressure of the work has been unrelenting for the past four years – virtually 24/7. The Board is concerned that they may be approaching ‘burn-out.’ Jene especially needs a lot of prayer as she carries the major responsibility of caring for the little ones. There are frequent tears these days while their nest is empty. This is not a “job” for them, it is a ministry.

During this in-between time, funds already received in Africa from ITMI have been put into a special account reserved for future facilities. Funds that you designate for this project and send to ITMI during their sabbatical will be held in the Mission account for Eshcol and be ready when they need it.

The lack of a house that would meet the unique needs for this ministry has led them to consider building a suitable facility that could be designed to meet the special demands of this work. Graham, a skilled handyman and builder, estimates it will actually cost less to build than to buy, since he could provide a significant part of the labor.

Bill is trusting the Lord for someone to donate the land on which to build. Will you pray with him about this?

Eschol: Tenderness After Trauma (February 1, 2005) The banner headline, above the fold, on the front page of the CAPE TIMES proclaimed: “43 children raped a day.” More than 700 children were murdered in South Africa last year. A paltry 4.5% of rape cases ended in conviction . . . more

Eschol, Summit and Africa (February 1, 2005) Dear Team, Jene' and dear little one. For the last few months we’ve focused on “Eshcol,” a vital ministry to abused and abandoned children in the Cape Town area, led by Graham and Jene Des Fountain. This precious couple opened . . . more

Vision and Victory in Africa: Eschol (January 1, 2005) Cape Town The phone rang at 6a.m. A voice on the other end said, “We have a baby on the way.” There wasn’t much time to prepare, but then there never is. Any new arrival at Eshcol, a Christian shelter . . . more

Growing Interest in Eschol (November 1, 2004) Interest is growing in Eshcol, the wonderful ministry to abused and abandoned children in the Western Cape. The date has been extended for their option to close on a suitable property. Graham recognizes, “It’s always a challenge to wait . . . more

Eschol Ministers to Children (October 1, 2004) Eshcol, ITMI’s latest project caring for abused and abandoned children. Graham and Jene Des Fountain write, “We have three little ones who have been with us now for some time and will be leaving at the end of September. It’s . . . more

South Africa's Eschol (September 1, 2004) Graham and Jene Des Fountain have nearly completed the “winter term” (seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere) of parenting abused and abandoned children at Eshcol. When Johnike and Shawn arrived at Eshcol, along with their little sister, they were . . . more

Touching the Heart of God (August 1, 2004) There was unusual urgency in the way the phone rang. Jene answered. The Police in Simon’s Town, a few miles along the coast from their home, were on the line. “Mrs. Des Fountain, we have a small baby here that’s . . . more

New Hope for Children in Africa (July 1, 2004) Bill praying with an Eschol child.In January, following Steve Evers’s visit to Africa, we introduced you to Graham and Jene Des Fountain and their ministry to abused and abandoned children in the Cape. Their ministry is known as Eshcol, meaning, . . . more

Eschol Ministry to Homeless Children (January 8, 2004) Steve and Eschol children During his recent trip to Africa, ITMI Director Steve Evers started right away to visit new friends and set up some potential new projects for consideration by ITMI. Among them Graham and Jene Des Fountain who have . . . more