We were able to see some of the historical sites

In South Africa we have a few things around 300 years old. But the wealth of historical theres here is just amazing.

Yesterday22nd December was special

There are 2 "HUGE" "HUGE" cranes in Belfast. Along with Walter and Alister we went up to check it out. The two are named Samson 330ft tall & Goliath 300ft tall. We went up Samson. Impressive. When you see the little bubble hanging out over the middle of nowhere, I was in it. The last picture has a 40ft shipping container in front of the 2 sets of wheels. Just to give an idea of how HUGE this crane is. WOW!

The final product

After a few encounters with snowball hurling hooligans

Also some fun was had

With the help of some snowman building experts.

Then we had a drive in the snow

We have had a taste of....

Down Cathedral

This is the Church where Walter & Rosie were married. But also is supposed to be the place where St. Patrick is burried.

A few pic's from the air

up,up and away

And now for something different. For the first time I went up in a "Microlight" plane with Walter's brother Samuel. It is was sooo much fun!

The four "coldies"

We went up to Giant's Causeway

Wow! Really something to see. Just the beauty and to see some of the things that God just spoke and there it was.

We arrived in Northern Ireland

And we have been blessed with a number of outings. We had expected it to be much colder and alot more rain. But it has been quite nice. But much colder than we are used to.

While down in Cape Town

It seems we had a few moments to relax. We did do a lot of work as well. "I promise".

HOME ASSIGNMENT

We have so far had the privilege of meeting so many folks. Also the opportunity of sharing at a number of Bible study groups and Churches. Thanks so much from Dawn and I you have spoiled us so much.
Also we have been blessed with a tyre changing machine. Wow! I am once again stunned by the generosity of God's people. This is going to help so much. Changing tyres with a high-lift jack and tyre leavers with a hammer is a thing of the past.

Wow! God is awesome

AMEN! God is fantastic. Recently while still in Mozambique some very special friends came to visit us. Now that in itself is fantastic to have visitors. BUT. When they were with us we were asked if we would go and visit them some day in the UK. And as one so often responds to questions like that, yes sure,...providing we have the extra $$$ (which is never). The next thing they were serious and bought our plane tickets. WOW!!!! Knock me out with a feather.

So on the 24th November we fly to the UK and return on 3rd January. Boy it's going to be cold but very blessed to spend Christmas with such special people. This is going to be the first full holiday we have ever had during our married life, (19 years 9th Nov). We are so looking forward to it.
God is GOOD

The paparazzi are eveywhere

All over the country

Hi Everyone,
Dawn and I went back to Espungabera for a week's quick visit (20th-28th Oct.). Dawn's dad Jim came with us and seemed to enjoy his week in Mozambique. We arrived in Cape Town on the 1st Nov and have meetings / Bible studies scheduled almost every day until 24th Nov. At most of these meetings we have been given the opportunity to make a presentation of the work we are doing in Mozambique.

So far we are very encouraged as we are attempting to raise our support base. Please pray that God would encourage faithful partners for the work in Mozambique.

Please pray that we would at the same time raise awareness for the building projects for the new missionaries soon to come to our area. Cecelia a Brazilian lady has already arrived in Mozambique, Beira. She will join us at end of January in Espungabera to work with youth. God is the Best!

Walter & Rosie (Irish) have already accepted the call to our area. Right now they are trying to raise their support as well. Please pray for them as this is a whole new direction for them. (it's not easy to raise funds especially in the current economic situation.) They are due to join us around September 2010.

Please continue to pray

This is the first of 6 foundations which need to be built upon. Praise God! New missionaries will be arriving. And we need to get housing ready for them. Dawn and I will be leading a new team. The emphasis will be on discipleship. We have not been able to get to do a good job of discipleship with the leaders of the 11 Churches. They are scattered far and wide. As a team we want to mature the local Church.

Aim (Africa Inland Mission) has a project registered SR-MOZ-152-U for partnership and donations towards this building project. Please would you consider consider being part of the infrastructure team.

Where on the trail are we?

Dawn and I are in Welkom at the moment. We arrived on Tuesday afternoon. We have been blessed with a wonderful place to stay while we are here. We are staying a the home of Chris & Lee. It's so great to stay with folks who love Jesus. On Sunday morning I have been given the privilege to preach and Dawn to take the Sunday school lesson. We will leave here on Monday morning and head back to Pretoria again.

As soon as we arrive we will need to pick up a few items that we have ordered in Pretoria. Then we will need to begin packing the trailer and bakkie. Dawn's dad Jim will be arriving on Monday afternoon by bus in Pretoria at about 5pm. We have convinced him that he needs to come with us to Mozambique for a quick 1 week visit. We ought to arrive in Espungabera on 21st and we leave again on the 28th. On the 30th we leave from Pretoria for Cape Town for the month of November.

Election time again

Would you please add to your prayer items the Mozambican elections which take place on the 28th October. People are scared and there are reports of intimidation. Pray that things would be peaceful, the election process and results would be transparent and above all God honoring.

Landy Update

The Land Rover after it was overhauled is working great. But it has a big oil leak. So when we arrived back in Pretoria we dropped it off at the garage and they are now busy repairing the leaks. We are so grateful to God, He has provides us with friends who are so generous. Thanks to Klaus & Sue for loaning their bakkie to us in the mean while to use. God is good!

Land Rover

We have had our Land Rover back for a few weeks now. As many know it went in to have a full engine overhaul done. We would like very much if you would praise our God with us. All the money need was donated and we were able to pay for it. (very expensive). God is good! But soon, 12th October we will need to take it back to the workshop. It has quite a serious oil leak. So praise the Lord this has happened here in South Africa where help is at hand. So it will go back to be sorted out.

Still on the move

We are back in Pietermaritzburg right now. We got back from a visit with my dad & mom in Port Alfred on Saturday afternoon. We had a good rest and a relaxing visit. It was really good to see them again. It has been 3 years since our last visit with them. We also went to Port Elizabeth last Thursday. We took dad & mom and spent the day with my sister Sandy. We went to lunch at a restaurant near to her home. God is really good making the opportunity for us to get together again.

Please pray for the folks. They are worried that we will take too long before we get to see them again. They are in their mid to late seventies. And health issues are taking their toll. Hearing is becoming more and more difficult, hearing aid and grommets don't seem to be helping very much.

Deputation Home / Assignment

Hi everyone. This has been a jam packed time so far. We have been so well received both in the Pretoria area in August and now in Natal. God's people are just so hospitable and caring. We have been hosted, treated, spoiled and overwhelmed with love and genuine care. Thanks so much.

We are in Port Shepstone at the moment and have been to Bible studies and meetings. We have been able to share with the folks here what God is doing in Espungabera area. Dawn on Saturday is sharing a devotion at a flower arranging meeting where a number of non believers will attend. Last year people were openly rude to the speaker. On Sunday I have the privilege of sharing God's Word with the congregation.

Then on Sunday evening we hope to make a new contact at a Church in Harding. And are hoping to share what God is doing with new missionaries coming to Mozambique next year with the use of a 10 minute dvd. demonstration.

On Monday morning we will leave for a few days off phew! with My dad and mom in Port Alfred. We haven't seen them in 3 years or more.

August

This has been a hectic month so far but at the same time filled with many blessings. Our Land Rover went into the workshop to have it's engine overhauled. We should be getting it back at the end of the week. We are very thankful to God for the faithfulness of his people who have contributed to having the engine repaired. Thanks so much to all of you.

We were able also to have our eyes tested and new glasses. It is so good to be able to see things that are not in a haze or blur. Thanks so much Deidre, you guys are such a blessing! Dawn and I have both had quite a lot of dental work done and are starting to get back to normal. I have been to the chiropractor a few times to try and get my neck and back into line again. They have been out of line for so long that skew feels almost normal.

We have been to many prayer meetings and have had the opportunity to share at a number of Churches. Thank you for having us over we have made many new friends and look forward to keeping in contact with you.

Prayer needed

As we visit and share all over South Africa, pray that God would protect us and that we would be able to ignite a passion for mission in Mozambique.

With the new Mossurize Ndau Team coming together we are going to need much help with building of new housing (6 houses will need to be built) not all at once but quite soon. AIM Mozambique has opened a project to raise funds for the building of these houses.

If you feel that God is directing you towards being involved in this ministry.
For financial contributions please contact Jill at finance.sa@aimint.net & quote project number SR-MOZ-152-U

But if you would like to be involved in a building team from February 2010 onwards please contact us on jdreyneke@aimint.net

HOME ASSIGNMENT

Why have we gone on home assignment?
There have been some fantastic developments in the Mossurize district. A team of missionaries are going to be coming together to minister in the district. Why? Since we arrived in Espungabera in January 2002 God has been building His Church. And Dawn and I have been running to try & keep up with the Lord. We at times have felt so overwhelmed at the hunger for God and His Word. We have been used by God to plant 11 Churches but we have now got to a point where we have to stop planting Churches. Because we are unable to disciple the leaders and potential leaders in each of the Churches.

That is why the MOSSURIZE NDAU TEAM is coming together. So that we can do the work well and disciple the churches properly and to build Christ centered Churches among all African people. We have been witness to see God at work in bringing together this team. Walter and Rosie McCorkell are the first to join up and we expect them around October 2010. This is going to mean that Dawn and I will take on a new role of being team leaders and being the "gap" people for the new missionaries. Please pray for this.

We are at the moment in South Africa visiting our supporting Churches and many friends who have been a major port of our ministry in Mozambique. Please pray with us that as we visit and share what God is doing that we would be able to improve our financial situation. We had run out of work funds in October 2008.

Our Land Rover is at the moment in the workshop to have the engine overhauled, our vehicles take a beating all the time. The roads never seem to get any better but steadily worse and worse.

In Espungabera

The outreach team again came with a bounty of energy. Some of the younger guys got stuck in with a building project. We have been trying a little by very little to build the pastors manse. But then all the help arrived.
There was such a hive of activity going on and in no time the walls were going up. A few of the girls tried their hand at brick laying as well. The result of some interest and some enthusiasm is shown in the middle pic.




We now are ready to start the roof. Making the roof trusses, then putting up the roof sheeting. (corrugated iron) But that is going to need money again. So we now are waiting on the Lord to provide for the next stage, roofing and then we will need to put in windows, doors and floors. Wow! God has done so much in such a short time & we have had the privilege of being His hands and feet on earth! How cool is that!

Siyabuzana

The children were once again "spoiled rotten". They are never paid so much attention and given the time of day. It was just great to see the team teaching Bible stories and playing games and getting their faces painted.

We were also part of the Sunday service where we witnessed 2 people giving their lives to the Lord and a number of baptisms. With hand raised this lady confesses her faith in the Lord Jesus.

So what did we do?

The basic thrust of the outreach this year was follow-up visits to 2 Churches we had planted along with outreach teams from previous years. We went to Siyabuzana in weather that threatened to pour rain on us almost all the time we were there. This was a cause for much prayer as we planned to show the Jesus film 2 nights. Edson the leader there with the elders organised a fantastic time. And it always touches me how generous theses people are.

They decorated the Church as well as the tree next to the Church with all kinds of fruit.

The outreach team arrived

We enjoyed our time with Walter & Rosie. It was great seeing them again. We took them back to Harare to fly home on the 24th June. Then on the 28th June the outreach team arrived after a 2 day tiring trip. They were a 20 person team from quite a few different Churches & denominations.

Walter & Rosie

We went to Harare to fetch Walter & Rosie. It was so good seeing them again. I is amazing how much we had bonded with them when they were here last a year ago. We have become such good friends. We are really grateful that the Lord had given us friends that are so similar in mind and heart.

Their purpose in this trip was to check where exactly the Lord wanted them to serve him. And we went to 2 places with them. Makumba which is near Mukuyana & Chitsama or more correctly the area of Chitsama. God in Walter and Rosie's words said He shouted CHITSAMA in the way He made it clear to them. this pic from Google earth will give you and idea. all the little brown dots you see are houses.

They are going to be about 3/4 the way across and 3/4 the way up the picture near the the tool bar. Praise God with us for their faithfulness to Him.

Fetching friends

Today we leave for Harare to fetch couple arriving from Northern Ireland on Monday. Walter & Rosie will be with us for almost 3 weeks and will be seeking God's face and answer to prayer as to their exact placement as missionaries. We can't wait to see them again. They were part of last years outreach team.

Egon who is from Brazil will be going with for the drive to Harare to see a bit of Africa, (not a whole lot to see along the road) but it is his first time in Africa.

Leighton

Leighton arrived in New Zeeland yesterday after a very long trip. But is in high spirits and I'm sure happy to see family and friends again. Please pray for him as he re-adjusts to life at home. Reverse culture shock can sometimes be a problem. Pray also for his future plans and finding work. That God would make each step clear to him.

Tuesday I took Leighton to Beira and we arrived there at about 10.30pm. He is flying out of Beira today 4th and then out of Johannesburg on the 5th back to New Zeeland. Please pray for a good time for him as he gets back in contact with family & friends. Also that he would soon find suiteable employment.

We enjoyed having him with us and have benifitted from his farming knowledge.

Outreach 2009

The outreach to Espungabera 2009 is going to be taking place from 27th June (leaving Pretoria) and arriving in Espungabera 28th June. Until departure 11th June (arrival in Pretoria) 12th July.

This year we are planning to do some building at the Espungabera Church, mainly to the manse so we will soon be able to move the pastor and his family out of the Church half completed building. We will also be doing some maintaince work to the mission house.

3-5th July we will be out in the bush camping and then again 7-9th. We will be visiting Siyabuzana and Chitsama. The focus this year will be on encouraging the local Churches with teaching. One of the main topics will again be about monogomus marriages. We will also be trying to encourage the Church leadership to identify and encourage young men especially to marry ONE wife but to also go into leadership training in the Church.

The ladies will again be doing hand crafts but will also be taught about not accepting that their husbands take more wives. As all ways we will be showing the Jesus film two nights at each place.

Returning FRIENDS

We so blessed, we so blessed, tra-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la! Walter and Rosie who came to Espungabera a year ago and were part of the outreach team 2008 are coming to visit from the 8th to 24th June. We have kept in regular contact with them. They are coming back to seek confirmation of their calling to Espungabera area. We will be going with them to two places we as a mission AIM have pinpointed as important areas to be developed. And they are going to be praying that God would make is calling clear to them and also as to which of the two areas He wants them.

Please would you also pray that God would make his will clearly known to them about this calling and give them peace in their hearts. We have been wanting help for so long but it must be God's doing not ours. The weekends of 12-14th and 19-21st is when we will go to these two places, (Makumba & Chitsama areas.)

Brazilian Dentist,

Egon is a retired Brazilian dentist. It has been quite a lot of fun having him around. Especially as he speaks "no" English. So I have had a personal Portuguese teacher for a week at Bible school. Egon went to the Bible school with me to experience rural Mozambican life and also to teach dental hygiene at the local school there.

There was just so much new "stuff" for him to see and be part of. I think he had quite a wake up call as to how a large part of Africa lives. He mentioned over and over that they never see that side of life on TV back home. But I guess neither do many of us.

He and I will be going on Monday to Catholic mission station about 20km's from Espungabera and he is scheduled to teach there at the clinic and the little school about dental hygiene. He will also be teaching at a few other places in and around Espungabera until his return to Chimoio around the 15-16th June. He will then also go and visit some other areas of Mozambique. Please keep him in your prayers as this rural African "stuff" is quite a culture shock for him.

The Kiwi gets Malaria.

Thursday 21st saw us go to Chimoio to do our shopping and banking and also to get Egon the retired dentist from Brasil. Leighton our resident Kiwi and "agricultural specialist" went with us to get rid of a bit of "cabin fever". And on Thursday evening he was cold and shivering and came down with Malaria. We were able to start treatment right away. And when on Friday after 1pm we went to fetch him at a friends house to go back to Espungabera it was very doubtful if he was going to be able to travel. But I suppose the younger you are the stronger you are! (alas!) Well he wanted to come to Espungabera and not spend another day in Chimoio. By Monday morning he was feeling much better but is still a bit weak. But every day he he is getting back to his old self. Praise the Lord!

This weekend.

We will be going to Goi-Goi this Sunday for Church. The Church there is led by a young man 24 years old Phienas. He was elected as the leader after the death of our much loved old "saint" Baba Williamo.

Phienas is a one of those young guys that is just growing in leaps and bounds. During Bible School week we normally have an open Bible study on Wednesday evenings. During that time what often happens is that folks come forward to be prayed for. Normally for health reasons. Phienas came forward and blew me away with his prayer request. "That God would enable him not to be so shy and to be able to lead the Church well espically with his preaching". A sure sign that he maturing.

At the same time, in going to Goi-Goi we have the opportunity to show our new pastor Domingo where the Church is. Seeing that we will soon be away for a few months.

Bible school a blessing

The week just passed 25th to 29 May was well attended by the students,(Church leaders). As many of you know that the Mossurize district is one of the main training areas for witchdoctors in Southern Africa if not a large portion of Africa. So the teaching on Jude in the New Testament was particularly helpful to the leaders. Although most of the leaders come from a background of "traditional religion" they were quite unaware of what to look out for and what some of the characteristics of of false teachers and distorter s of the faith are.

What a blessing it was to see how they they enjoyed Jude but also their comments about in the past they had just skimmed over Jude as it "only had one chapter & therefore of not much substance" according to them. So when we got down to the nuts and bolts of Jude they were quite shocked! But they found it very helpful.

Bible school.

Bible school is going to be from 25th to 29th of this month. For some of the students it will be the last course. I will need to present them with certificates in recognition of their studies. They have been learning and doing very well since 2003. All are leading Churches and have ministries of their own going now. 2Tim 2:2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

So now I will be focusing on the newer students and also be looking at finding new leaders hopefully coming up through the local Church where the trained guys have been teaching.

Urgent

Please pray for God's provision with us. Ask that He will send rain to fill our water tanks or that the town water would work and the tanks be filled that way. However God is able to fill them. Town water has made an appearance not even 10 days this year so far and that for only a few hours at a time.

Up and comming events.

This week which is about to "attack" us with all it's challenges and things which God has prepared for us is going to be quite busy. 11th through 16th is going to be a week where lots of final preparation needs to take place. Much maintenance needs to be done around the house and also the generator has seized. This is the one which we have just had replaced. It is already sorely missed as we are experiencing power cuts daily and for long periods at a time. End of June sees the outreach team come and we need to be ready for that. The gas deep freezer has stopped working and needs to sorted out as well. With no "town" electricity keeping frozen foods is difficult. Pray that I can get both the generator and the deep freezer working by the time the outreach team comes.

But before they arrive we are going to be receiving a "retired" German dentist who had spent around 30 years in Brazil. He will be arriving on the 18th and will be spending a month with us. He will be going to many Church groups and also to the hospital and a few of the clinic's and will give lessons on oral hygiene. Lets pray that he is well received and is able to have a meaningful time and mostly a chance to share the Gospel.

I have been asked to preach on Sunday 17th at the Espungabera Church and would appreciate your prayers for the preparation.

Thanks

I firstly need to say sorry to those who keep up with us via this blog. I have not kept it up-to-date over the last few weeks. This has been a very full, testing and mixed up period.

Dawn's mom was very ill and we were called urgently to Pietermaritzburg. She passed away on the 20th of April. Dawn's dad over the same period and a little earlier had a heart attack and a week later a week later his gall bladder removed and a week after that had a hernia operation done, which got infected as well and caused problems. But he is doing much better now. So thanks to all of our dear friends who were praying.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

Since October 2008 all of us have heard how world economies are taking a dive. And it always seems to be over there, far away. This morning I was call and told that our financial situation looks very bleak. This ahead of us coming on Home Assignment. Since October we have not had any work funds and have been making a plan this and that way.

Please would you urgently pray with us about this situation. We are seeking God's face in this situation and would appreciate your partnership.

Good News, Read all about it!

We have just heard that the building project has been registered. So now we as a mission can start raising funds for the building of the Espungabera houses for the new missionaries. If anyone feels led the project reference number is; SR-MOZ-152-U and funds can be sent to our Cape Town office (if from in SA) or any one of the international offices if from outside SA. E-mail for banking details to finance.sa@aimint.net
We have been praying and hoping that we will get additional help in our area. So this such an encouragement to us.

Update about Dawn's dad & mom

Thankfully Jim was released today but has to be back in the morning for further tests and check-up so he is out of immediate dangers but not in the clear yet.
Then Dawn's mom Dorothy was diagnosed a short while ago with cancer in her throat which was the cause of what seemed to be a non stop cold. She had her first radiation treatment on 12th of March and is scheduled for a cat scan tomorrow to check the status & to decide if they will start chemotherapy. Please keep them in your prayers as well.

Urgent Prayer request

Dawn's dad Jim was taken to Hospital last night with another heart attack and was quite confused. He has all sorts of scans etc. done. He has now been placed in High Care and is complaining of the heart burn feeling. He says it's very sore. This is about the 4th or 5th in just over a year.

Itinerary for Home Assignment

What's our itinerary like from August to end of January?

In August we plan to be in the Pretoria and Johannesburg area for most of the month. September we plan to be in Natal. October sees us spending much of our time in the Free State. November we have planned to be in the Cape. We would even now appreciate your prayers for all the organising that needs to be done so we do not sit around wasting time.
Please check out our prayer requests below as we are concerned about a number of things.

As always when one goes on Home Assignment, we will not be allowed to return unless we are fully supported. So please do pray with us.

"all dressed up and nowhere to go"

Not quite! but the thing is we have prepared two building site and have dug all the foundations for the first. On Monday I will go and cart stone for the foundations and once that is here on site we will place the stone in the foundation ready to start building. But we are still needing to get funds raised for that. So we are depending on faith that the funds for the building proper will soon come in.

PRAYER REQUEST

We have a number of important things coming up which need to be soaked with prayer. So we would really value your partnership.

1) We are going on Home Assignment from 31st July until 31st January 2010. This is so that we can make contact with all who support & pray for us. In 2010 we will be receiving new missionaries to our Espungabera area and Dawn & I are going to be "team leaders" so we can not be away when new missionaries arrive.

2) Pray that we will be able to make the best use of this time to see everyone but also to find new supporters as we are finding ourselves under supported which is also a reason for the Home Assignment.

3) We bought the Land Rover knowing that it would need an engine overhaul within 30,000 -50,000km. So we will need to have this done in August soon after arriving in SA. We will need a reliable vehicle for the next term of serving the Lord. We have got an estimated cost of R30-000. Please pray about this.

4) Toni's schooling as she gets to the last one and a half years of high school has become more and more costly. This has caused a few accounting problems. But we need to look a bit further as well. Before July 2010 she will need to be enrolled into a university. That process has started already but we will need to find a bursary or scholarship or some form of help for her tuition.

5) We will once more be doing a huge amount of traveling. So safety on the roads will be key. And we will need to make appointments. Pray for opportunities and openness to us.

6) With new missionaries going to be arriving in 2010 we need to start building houses. We need to build two on our property. But will be starting with one house for a family and a smaller one later for two single folks or vise-versa. AIM as a mission will be looking for partners in this regard. So we can house new missionaries in our area.

Update on the Farming God's Way

Leighton has made quite a few experimental beds of maize, sunflower, beans and cow pea. This Thursday we are going to have the first of a few open days where he can teach and show how different ways of planting make a huge difference.

2nd to 5th March

We needed to make a flash trip down to Musina so that I could apply for a new passport. So we arrived in Musina after dark on the Monday evening and made our way to Tsipise where we put up our tents in the dark.
Tuesday we went to the Home Affairs office in Musina and duly got my hands dirty with finger print ink. The result is I now have a temporary passport and a new permanent on the way. Let's pray that the 6-8 weeks will be just that.

Church service 1st March

It was a pleasing sight to see that at the mid-week Bible study in the evening their must have been about 70 people. This in the bush and at night. That set the pace for Sunday morning service. There were many more folks at the Sunday service. And as there had been a number of conversions over the last weeks we combined a Baptism service done by Domingos and then I was asked to take the Holy Communion part of the service.

Just before the communion service but after the baptism's as the new members were about to return to their benches, a young girl about 15 years old flopped down writhing and ranting in front of us. So Domingos & I began praying for her, asking Jesus to remove the evil spirit. A while later she became calm and relaxed, just as we thought that was over she started again, three times. She was released from three demonic spirits. PRAISE THE LORD!

Not quite done yet; as we were praying during the second manifestation another young girl also flopped down with the same kind of manifestation. Praise the Lord only one evil spirit. Satan is working every bit as hard to destroy the good work of Christ.

Feb. Bible school

Bible school was held from 24th February to 1st March. And we went this time to the Makumba church for the week of teaching.

Mateus has really worked hard at building up of this Church. For those who have been here, this is where Thomas after watching the Jesus film manifested a demonic spirit and started throwing stones at us. And Kennith, Trevor's son dive tackled him.

The week as mainly dedicated to teaching farming God's way with Leighton teaching the leaders some farming practices which were new to them. We had expected many more of the leaders to come. But it was raining hard the first two days. I suppose one can't blame a guy for not wanting to walk in the rain the whole day.

February been and gone

As I sit and update this blog it seems such a long time since I did it. And the realization came that a whole month has shot past,wow!

After a few long trips recently the Land Rover needed some attention so a few days were taken up in the beginning of Feb. with tyre changes and oil change.

Then I (Jinx) went to Kenya to be with Toni at her banquet and It's preparations. I left Espungabera on 12/2 & arrived back home on 23/2. RVA kids prepare a theme for the senior class and then set about building the set and they put on a play/drama that goes with the theme.

Toni's class decided on "Charlie and the chocolate factory" So many of the parents are asked to help the kids build the sets for the hall. So that's where I come in. I was asked to do the electrical side of things, spot lighting and lighting for above the tables as well as black lighting. Wow what a lot of work! Any way It was good to see Toni with friends and also to be part of her school life.

The kids had a bunch of fun with the paint.



Toni and her date walking up to the banquet hall.

And we are all set to build

About 2 weeks ago we handed in our plans for building the new house for the new missionaries who will be coming soon. Today we were told to make a few small changes to the plans and they were accepted right away. Just as well as we had already started to clear the area for building.

Concern & prayer request

This morning we were contacted by our sending office. As with many of our fellow missionaries, companies and the every day folk, the big change in the Rand / Dollar exchange over the past few weeks and months has affected our situation quite seriously. And it has become a concern and also a point of urgent prayer to us. Please would you pray with us that the Lord would over rule and provide. He after all does own all the cattle on a thousand hills.

Moving right along!

An update to an earlier blog is that Leighton has planted the maize and it has germinated well and has planted in a few different ways so we can show local guys the difference in production.

We are about to take the program out to the Church leaders who we are hoping are going to be the core guys who will teach and train many others. Leighton is also focusing on ways that will produce nutritional value as well as provide some income.

Sunflower seems to be the crop to bring in an income and is also very hardy. Here Leighton is planting and watering the new sunflower seed.

We are hoping to be able to get enough seed to our church leaders so that they will make a bit of money out of their labour. It would be great to see them take a hold of this project and make it work. And by so doing encourage others.

We are planning a teaching week from 24th Feb to 28th Feb which is the Bible school week and will be teaching Biblical principals and good farming methods.

It's happened

It's happened, last week we came back from our monthly shopping trip to Chimoio and we brought the new pastor who is going to replace Alberto. Domingo is an wonderful young guy and seems keen to take on the new challenge. Please pray for our first planning and preparation meeting on this Saturday morning. He really wants to get to know what, where, how & when. So we are looking forward to the "new blood" being injected into our area.

Domingo is married to Laurinda and they have five children. One of whom is called Grace and is a bit retarded and for the second year running has not passed grade 1. Please pray for the family as they get used to new surroundings, schools and a whole new way of life. They will also suffer culture shock as this is all a bit strange & not their home culture

Then this passed Monday at 10am (rather late) we took pastor Alberto and Virginia and their four children to Maputo as that is where they have been transfered to. Talk about a long journey. We arrived back on Wednesday 3pm 2400km later. And the road!
The first 90km although dirt road is not too bad but the next 110km is just a shocker. The car rattled and shook so much that the bolts that hold the front and back axels to the car came completely loose. We stopped just in time. As the car started to crab along. As I stopped, just then the one bolt actually fell off. We managed to find the bolt and tighten every thing up again.

Then there are 2 sections on the main North / South "highway" which the potholes are just something else. In one place the pedestrians are walking on the "tar" while the cars have made a track next to the road.

So today has been spent fastening everything on the car. I'm just "gob-smacked" how almost every nut and bolt is now loose. Tar toll roads seem like quite a good thing to me right about now.

Blessed

Jesus is just so good to us. We are so often just humbled and at the same time in AWE of Him.

As you may be aware our generator has had better days and is now in need of some TLC. So how does that mkae us blessed I can hear you asking yourself. Well, I called the man who we got the generator from and asked if he knew where we could take it to be repaired. He told me to call his father in SA and he would be able to help me with all that sort of info. I dutyfully called and promptly had my socks blown off.



I'll call them, Koos and George, had decided between them that they would supply us with a refurbished good as new generator as an exchange for our old messed up one; and it was their contribuition to the extension of God's Kingdom. NO CHARGE. Praise the Lord for people who are so faithful and generous. All we need to do is to make a trip down to Louis Trichardt. Take the old machine and come back with the new one. And it is already there and waiting for us. God is GOOD!

Generator update

After a whole lot of work on Ben's part stripping the geni and finding that there are just too many problems for me to sort out in the backyard. So Ben has got the whole lot back together again and now I am going to have to find someone in SA to fix "old faithful" So at the same time I was wondering if it would not be a good time to look at getting a bigger generator unit which will be able to support all 3 houses when the other two are built. At the moment we have a 5 kva. run on a 10hp Lister diesel. Any comments?

Up & Coming

This week is Bible school week again from 12th-16th January. Shiela Moyo a Bible school student from Cape Town is going to be teaching on decipleship this week. This should be really benificial to the guys as Shiela is African and will be teaching from an African context or point of view. So please pray for the teaching as this area of decipleship is much need and has been neglected for far too long. This is also the reason that we are devloping the Mossurize Ndau team. And are looking for missionaries to come and be a team with us to deciple the Churches we have planted over the last few years.

Please also pray for the house plans which we submitted on friday 9th Jan. The Administrator seems happy so far, we just need the inspector to come and check where we plan to build the house on our property. We need to get a move on with this project as well. There is much building and planing to take place in a very short time. We are hoping to have the house built and ready for new missionaries by end of July 09.

If any one has some free time and is able to build, paint, plumb etc etc. You will be a most welcome guest.

Bitter sweet

Today has been a day filled with activities happening on all fronts. Shiela Moyo went with one of the Catholic sisters to visit the sick. (HIV?AIDS) and came back with a number of things to think about. One of them being, as evangelicals we focus a lot on Bible teaching and doctrine and the like. While the Catholic's are mostly focused on the "works" side of things. We can really learn alot from the Catholic's. If we can somehow continue the Bible, doctrine etc and then add to our faith the good works, careing, teaching and helping. We would be a mighty tool in God's hands. We need to find ways to do both and do them well.

Then as Ben Moyo is the qualified mechanic I decided to keep out of his way and let him get on with stripping the generator. At first we thought that it would be just a few small things that I could put back together once the parts arrived. But the bitter is that there is more damage than we can fix here. So the generator is going to have to be put back together again. Then taken to someone in South Sfrica who can repair it.

New Initiative

For a long time we have been wondering how we can help & to improve the food production. As many of you know the folks in these areas are going through an extremely difficult time of hunger. On this note: We would like to thank all those who have been faithful to God and contributing to the Mozambique Emergency Relief Project. We have been able to distribute much needed food.

But the new initiative, Leighton has been preparing and planting using a method called "Farming God's Way" We have started with experimental fields on our property in Espungabera. We are hoping soon to be able to take this project out to the rreally rural areas where folks are subsistance farming but have the potential to yield bigger & better crops. We are also hoping to introduce different food types which will dramatically add to the nutritional value of the local diet.

It would also be a good idea I think if we can start re-introducing the traditional African wealth system which was shattered by many years of civil war. That is to start a cattle project which and as people get involved they will become recipients of a cow and the first calf will have to be given back to the project to be given to someone else. These are new ideas which will fall under the "Farming God's Way" project. So we would appreciate your ideas.

Generator woes

We have been really blessed to have a generator that can run the whole house on the many occaisions that the electricity is cut off for one or another reason. We have been without the generator since begining of November. And we suspected that it was begining to seize. We have the priveliage to host Ben & Shiela Moyo. Ben a mechanic, helped me to strip the generator and we found that a small pipe which feeds Diesel to the injector had broken and had leaked diesel into the engine oil and the bearings were damaged & seized the engine.

So, now we need to find someone to do the repairs to the crankshaft and to supply new bearings. Another learning curve in progress.

Please pray that we will be able to get it sorted out quickly. As power cuts are still a problem although not as frequent and not for very long periods. But electricity supply is never certain.