Farming God's way

Leighton and Hayley have come and Leighton is in the thick of things teaching and training. We went to Makumba just a few days ago and Leighton was quite encouraged to see how Mateus has changed his planting methods and is saying his crops are much better and getting 2-3 times the amount of food of the same field.

CHRISTMAS MORNING

What more could you want? Reading the Scriptures and learning an old truth again. We are filled with God's holy Spirit. Those who have accepted God's gift of Jesus the Salvation for all mankind. That is BIG! God in us.

I was just blown away this morning by that reading. Sipping my big mug of espresso and being ministered to by the Word of God! That is COOL!

God is Good!

We have been so touched by how God works in and through His people. Have a look and see how our vehicle financing is doing on the thermometer on the right of the page. It seems that we will soon be able to purchase a "new working" vehicle. We can't wait to see what the Lord is going to provide for us. Please pray with us that Jesus would make it very clear which vehicle we should get. We are also praying that we will have enough by the 8th of February to be able to buy it between 8th-15th February

Yeah!

We have been blessed again this December. We went to Beira to fetch a good friend. Leighton who was with us around 3 years ago for six months. He came back this time with Hayley his wife. They were recently married and we are blessed to see them together.

Leighton who taught Obedient and Nyarai better farming practices is back teaching while he is here. We will be going out to Siyabuzana, Makumba and Chitsama so he can see how things are developing in the planting methods. and maybe help with a few more ideas.

The Lord is just amazing. And we are so thankful to the Lord's faithful servants who support us so much in keeping us in His service. We have just received information that our vehicle replacement project has kicked off with a great start. Check out the thermometer on the right. And kep an eye on it as we wait on His provision.
PRAISE JESUS!

It's Raining

It has just begun to drizzel and a fresh smell is every where. Isn't God good? It has been very dry and hot. And while we were out at Siyabuzana yesterday when we drove between some of the fields. The new maize looked as though it was begining to suffer from the heat and lack of rain.

BIG PRAYER REQUEST

Living out in the "boonies" comes with a few opportunities for personal growth. One of them is the absence of facilites like banks and post office as well as a host of other things. However vehicles are allways a source of challenges and that with growth spurts, especially in the area of patience and mechanical skill, not forgetting the make a plan moments.

Our Land Rover has finally coughed it's last. We have just spent a sizeable amount on another engine repair. And now it has broken down but I've called it a day with repairing this one.

It has got to the stage where the repairs and maintenance are keeping me out of what the Lord has called us to do. Namely planting Churches and training Church leaders. As well as heading up the "new" team of missionaries which are coming to enable the work to go forward through disciplship in all the local Churches.

PRAYER REQUEST

We please need everyone to pray with us that we will be able to get a "new" vehicle soon. We now depend on others to get around. We are also looking for a vehicle which is not going to do my neck and back any further damage. But it will need to strong none the less. We are hoping to find a good Land Rover Discovery 2 not older than a 2002 model. Obviously finances is going to play a massive part in our eventual decision.

A wonderful Saturday

This morning began with a men's breakfast at the Glen Methodist. There must have been more than 30 people there both men and woman. Dawn and I were able to share with some great people who support and love us, about what God is doing in Mossurize district of Mozambique.

The ladies put on such a spread for breakfast. What a nice spoil! It was also a time when folks could ask us questions which they had on their heart. One of the things that was clear is that we really do need to get a newer vehicle and one that is reliable. So we will be sending out more information about this very soon.

Then we were blessed to have Martin & Cheryl come up from Pietermaritzburg and we had lunch together and able to catch up with them. We would have liked to have been at their wedding but weren't able to make it due to my father passing away. Thanks Martin cool to meet you finally, we have heard so much about you.

Not to be out-done

The next picture should explain it all.After a short drive. This happened.

The Land Rover began to overheat again every 5 km's. Praise the Lord the Cameron was close by to tow us the 500km to Tsumeb. Where we were able to be helped by a fantastic guy Frank from Excutive Auto +264 81 127 5469.
Along story short; When the Land Rover went in for the engine overhaul. Much of what was charged for was not done or supplied and at huge cost.

The result was we had to get a new head and valves & gasket. The radiator was serviced and repaired. All which was supposed to have been done during the overhaul.
But we are driving again and the clock just rolled over to 400-000km's

Much needed holiday :-)

October saw the arrival of our anual holiday. Of which we are very often guilty of not taking. Very often we find ourselves with so much to do and can't quite see our way clear to leave and and take a break.

Clearly this is a mistake! We have just returned from our holiday and we both needed it so very much.

We were blessed this year to be able to have Dawn's dad with us on holiday. Wow! at 80 years old he is such an adventourous man.

The holiday started with a bit of a low point, seeing as we were both very tired and frayed at the ends. The Land Rover decided that it would leak a whole bunch of oil from the engine. That took 5 days "squatting" at our very good friends Meryl & Hendrik just out side of Chipinge. It was quite a thing to get 2 oil seals for the front of the engine. So after stripping and rebuilding the front of the engine 4 times. We got it fixed.

So away we went. Through Zimbabwe out at Plumtree and we stayed over at a 4x4 rest camp outside Francis Town. We left for Maun and stayed over a nice place called Crocadile Camp. We then left for Chobe north of Maun. What a dissapointment :-( It was so dry and sand so thick and not a single animal to be seen and no place to stay over, they were all full even for camping.

After a very hot day in the car we crossed into Namibia and stayed in Katima Mulilo ate the Protea Hotel camping site on the Zambezi. That was just great!

The next day we set off for the Kwando River in the Caprivi and went to Nambwa camp for a few days. Boy it's wild and you are in nature for real.

Kwando was so peaceful and such a good time to see the wonders of God's creation. But one evening we were blessed with a visitor in our camp. Just 8 meters away.

LIFT.

A team from Northern Ireland came out and again we were just blown away with how much Satan does not want us to succeed among the Ndau. When they had booked and confirmed their flights all was well and according to plans. When they arrived at the airport for departure all went wrong and the bookings were wrong and there were delays. But JESUS is good and all worked out and we were blessed by them and through them.

The weather for a big part when they were in Siyabuzana was rainy and miserable and cold. Talk about unseasonal. It reminded me very much of Job. Satan had power over a number of elements to discourage Job. But he was faithful and "stuck" to God and did not give up.

Some "making memories" moments

During our regular trip in April to Chimoio to do shopping and banking, which went as usual, frustrating at times but otherwise all well. Walter & Rosie were there in their Land Rover and Dawn and I with Cecilia in ours. We had loaded up and we had our trailer with us mainly for lock up space. So the "help-me-self" shoppers in Chimoio can't help-me-self too much. When we had gone about 80km of the 350km trip back to Espungabera there was a huge bang/clatter metallic noise from the engine. Oh no! What now? We then knew the the engine had given up the "ghost".

Walter then towed our Land Rover with the trailer behind the rest of the way to Espungabera. Well what a trip! And with 170km of BAD dirt roads, it was interesting to say the least. Not to be outdone with just the Land Rover broken. The trailer's axle and springs broke as well and not from a heavy load just the poor road. We abandoned the trailer on the side of the road after off loading everything from the trailer on to our engine stricken Landy and the rest into Walter's Landy. Off we went for the last 45km when late at night by this stage Walter's Landy got a puncture.

I tell you Satan tried very hard to discourage the whole lot of us. But Jesus suffered VERY much more on the cross for all of our salvation. We do not loose heart.

A very busy year

Since the last post in December such a lot has happened. We have been so very busy with our new missionaries who have done very well in adapting to a completely different environment and the difficulties that living in rural Mozambique has to offer. As Walter says they are opportunities. We have had 3 teams come out during the past 6 months to help with the building of Walter & Rosie's house. One from Northern Ireland and 2 from South Africa. Thanks to all you guys we have made a massive amount of progress and the house is nearing to completion.