A bit of the forest cleared out for the new Church
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Preperation visit
Dawn and I have just had Pam & Geoff visit with us for a few days. They help co-ordinate and get prepared for new medical missionary doctors coming out to the field. We were able to go and visit 3 rural clinics and as well had a grand tour of them all. Then lastly we were able to visit the main district hospital in Espungabera. And the leadership of the hospital are all very eager to get the new doctor. So Pam & Geoff helped me a lot in thinking through what needs to be done in preperation of Russell, Nicole and family. We are not wanting to have them overloaded/committed and they get discouraged. Please pray for the wisdom in dealing with govenment officials so we don't creaate expectations which can't be met.
Middle of April
Again we have been overwhealmed by God's goodness to us. As we recieved a team from Northern Ireland, LIFT (labour in faith and trust) they came to help us get Walter & Rosie's house completed. What a blessing as they brought fellowship, friendship and a hole bunch of fun with them. Thanks you so much. We all enjoyed being with you and the way you guys got stuck in. It is a massive step for us to get all done what you did in a few days.
End March & beginning April
We were blessed, we were blessed, la,la,le,la. Our home Church, Holy Trinity Church Pietermaritzburg sent their first outreach to us. This has been a long time prayer & hope for us that we would get a team come. It was just so great having a really mixed team, some quite young and the older folks. Anotheer blessing on the team was Rob. Although he mentioned that he is older but never the less we appreciated his input. The youngsters, local people are still commenting on how they got involved and for the most part willingly. Thanks guys. Just our daily lives out here is a wonderful testimony.
With the HTC outreach team we were able to plant a new Church at Zimowane. This is a area where Mateus from Makumba has been visiting over the last year from time to time. It is quite a trip to get there and the reception was fantastic. Such friendly people. We were able to show the Jesus film a few times with upto 300 folks at the one showing. And would you know it or we should have expected something, as Satan would not be happy us making in-roads.
The ageing DVD machine let out a bit of a smell and one of the parts which is factory filled with smoke let the smoke out! KAPOT! So what now? It is just amazing how God provides for the Gosple to go out. There was a young man in the crowd who in the middle of the bush had a DVD machine and loaned it to us, So the rest of the film was seen by all.
Another cool thing was seeing Craig get down a boogie with the local folks as they sang choruses and danced. It's true white folks have no rythum. The next morning we had a man and his family come and were converted. They brought along all their trinkets from the witchdoctors to be burnt and destroyed. The Lord is good
With the HTC outreach team we were able to plant a new Church at Zimowane. This is a area where Mateus from Makumba has been visiting over the last year from time to time. It is quite a trip to get there and the reception was fantastic. Such friendly people. We were able to show the Jesus film a few times with upto 300 folks at the one showing. And would you know it or we should have expected something, as Satan would not be happy us making in-roads.
The ageing DVD machine let out a bit of a smell and one of the parts which is factory filled with smoke let the smoke out! KAPOT! So what now? It is just amazing how God provides for the Gosple to go out. There was a young man in the crowd who in the middle of the bush had a DVD machine and loaned it to us, So the rest of the film was seen by all.
Another cool thing was seeing Craig get down a boogie with the local folks as they sang choruses and danced. It's true white folks have no rythum. The next morning we had a man and his family come and were converted. They brought along all their trinkets from the witchdoctors to be burnt and destroyed. The Lord is good
Team building time
March we set aside a week as a team to have opportunity to get together, pray, talk and re-connect. We, being Walter & Rosie, Cecilia, Dawn & myself had not realised how tired some of us actually were. When we got to Xai-Xai, to Nascer do Sol. I got Walter's and my fishing rod all sorted out ready to go and get that big one for our supper. Well we didn't starve but we also had no fish. The whole week we were just too tired to muster the energy to go down and enjoy some fishing.
Never the less, we had a good time and came back relaxed and ready to face things again. It was just such a reminder that we are on call 24/7 in our ministry places, Espungabera and Siyabuzana. That to find time off or time to rest is just so very difficult. Not like in the city where you simply close the door of your house and nobody bothers you.
Never the less, we had a good time and came back relaxed and ready to face things again. It was just such a reminder that we are on call 24/7 in our ministry places, Espungabera and Siyabuzana. That to find time off or time to rest is just so very difficult. Not like in the city where you simply close the door of your house and nobody bothers you.
Feedback on Nairobi trip
The week's conference was a great time to meet with other folks who are all passionate about planting Churches. We had a number of presentations on a completely "new" or different approach to Church planting. Starting with a different way of thinking of; what is a Church. In this presentation it is 2 believer's/families who meet regularly. That is very broadly stated. And their whole approach to how and who does the Church planting. This to the western way of thinking is almost unheard of. Where traditionally we get ourselves prepared and then go out. Wow! some challenging ideas for sure.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Up and coming events
In just a few days time I (Jinx/Eugene) am going to a conference in Nairobi Kenya. I have been asked to participate because of the experiance we have out here in our areas. So I will be leaving Dawn in Espungabera between the 7-22 Feburary. But when I return I will be driving our "new" vehicle.
Cecilia gets back towards the end of the month from her home assignment. And we are all looking forward to her telling us about all she did. And seeing her re-unite with the youth and children.
Bible school starts 27th Feb. for a week. and this is the first time in the new year. And we pray that all the local people will have good harvests this year. Please pray for regular rain that is just the right amount.
Middle of March we have a team building time away for 7 days. 13th to 20th pray that this would be a good time to share and bind together and also to be praying and sharing together. Satan is not happy that we are making in-roads. We are all facing opposition in one or another form. But it is to be expected. Please pray with us.
Cecilia gets back towards the end of the month from her home assignment. And we are all looking forward to her telling us about all she did. And seeing her re-unite with the youth and children.
Bible school starts 27th Feb. for a week. and this is the first time in the new year. And we pray that all the local people will have good harvests this year. Please pray for regular rain that is just the right amount.
Middle of March we have a team building time away for 7 days. 13th to 20th pray that this would be a good time to share and bind together and also to be praying and sharing together. Satan is not happy that we are making in-roads. We are all facing opposition in one or another form. But it is to be expected. Please pray with us.
The Lord is Good
We have over the last two months been amazed by our Lord, over and over again.
A number of things that have happened can only be explained in and through Jesus. Toni applied for a change in her course/faculty. After waiting for a long time, the response was, sorry but we have no space. Wow! what now all the applications had closed for the year 2012.
We were advised to contact a university and what do you know, Jesus answers prayer. We sent the email application on the Wednesday and she was accepted the next afternoon. Praise the Lord. But we had to go down to South Africa for the official interview and payments.
The next thing we had heard of a vehicle which seemed was what we were looking for. It was just down the road from where we were with Toni in Pietermaritzburg. And it was in good condition and we took it for a test drive. It seemed just great. But we had only about half the purchase price available. We informed some of our supporting Churches and within a few days we had all we needed to buy the car. Blessed I tell you!
The vehicle is in Pretoria at the moment being made ready for our conditions. Again blessed with men and women who love the Lord and are helping out there. Tyres need to be replaced, the front bumper needs to be exchanged for a metal one to house a winch. And there are a few odd and ends that need to be looked at.
GOD IS GOOD AND ALL HIS PEOPLE SAID AMEN!
A number of things that have happened can only be explained in and through Jesus. Toni applied for a change in her course/faculty. After waiting for a long time, the response was, sorry but we have no space. Wow! what now all the applications had closed for the year 2012.
We were advised to contact a university and what do you know, Jesus answers prayer. We sent the email application on the Wednesday and she was accepted the next afternoon. Praise the Lord. But we had to go down to South Africa for the official interview and payments.
The next thing we had heard of a vehicle which seemed was what we were looking for. It was just down the road from where we were with Toni in Pietermaritzburg. And it was in good condition and we took it for a test drive. It seemed just great. But we had only about half the purchase price available. We informed some of our supporting Churches and within a few days we had all we needed to buy the car. Blessed I tell you!
The vehicle is in Pretoria at the moment being made ready for our conditions. Again blessed with men and women who love the Lord and are helping out there. Tyres need to be replaced, the front bumper needs to be exchanged for a metal one to house a winch. And there are a few odd and ends that need to be looked at.
GOD IS GOOD AND ALL HIS PEOPLE SAID AMEN!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)