Greetings from Michigan

Greetings from Michigan. Hi there. I arrived back in the US on Sunday afternoon and must admit – it feels a bit strange. On the one hand, so I’m excited to be home to see family and friends, and to plug back into church and school. On the other hand, I miss South Africa and my mind is whirling with all the things I need to do to go back. I’m so grateful that the Lord is giving me this opportunity, calling me into full-time missions which has been on my heart for many years now.

So let me back up just a bit. After my first mission trip in 2002 I was “hooked”. I felt the Lord had given me a glimpse into his purpose for me - a calling for which he had been preparing me through my education, work, and even life experiences. That may sound strange, but I knew I wanted to be involved in overseas missions someday, somehow – I just had no idea of the timing. When I was laid off from Ford I felt that the Lord had closed one door but opened another. My prayers regarding the timing had been answered. And so I embarked on a 2 month adventure with Thrive Africa to experience being a full-time missionary and to seek the Lord’s confirmation about making a “career change.” The trip was amazing! I had been to Thrive Africa several times before and it was “love at first sight”. The people. The land. The vision and their commitment to excellence. So I was grateful to have an opportunity to serve behind the scenes in their Outreach Department. Long story short – I felt the Lord’s confirmation that this is the right place to be for the next several years and who knows afterwards. Pretty cool, huh?

What’s next? There is so much to do to return – I’m excited, a bit overwhelmed, and trusting God for all the details. Visa and travel arrangements. Setting up a support account. Fundraising to cover monthly expenses. Selling or renting my house. Handling all my personal affairs, finances, etc. And most importantly, like I said, trusting God each step of the way.

Thank you. So thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement. Your partnership has been instrumental in bringing hope to people in need, and also in turning my personal dream into a reality. I am grateful for that. And I would so much appreciate your continued prayers.
- That my house would sell or rent quickly despite this difficult economy
- That all the details would be handled quickly and smoothly
- That I remain humble, obedient, and strong in my faith
- For the financial and prayer support needed to serve in South Africa

I also humbly ask that you pray about your continued role in this calling. Perhaps the Lord is calling you to be part of the prayer team, to give financially, to support one of Thrive Africa’s programs or projects, or to serve on a mission team… God has a plan and purpose for each of us. God Bless.

Ham and Cheese

Say Cheese

Children's Ministry

Friends in Khelangoni

Emily and Menke

As I described in a previous entry, when teams go into the villages the goal is to build relationships, serve families, and share the love of Christ through what we call a Life Exchange. The mission team met so many wonderful people this past week, and my team (we divided into 3 groups) was privileged to spend a few days with Emily, her daughter-in-law Menke, and her 2 grandsons Joseph and Johannes. We helped with gardening and housework, played with the kids, and sat in the shade of the peach tree to get to know each other better. Such strong and beautiful women – we were thankful for their hospitality and the opportunity to get to know them better.

Emily shared with us that although she is a Christian she had also previously worshiped ancestors as part of her religious upbringing. She definitely believed the Bible to be the authoritative word of God, but had a lot of questions about what it said regarding ancestral spirits and what happens after we pass away. She had lost her parents and missed them very much – their love, their guidance, their support - and she longed to continue communicating with them. She also felt distant from her home church because it was difficult for her to attend regularly. I shared about losing my grandmother and how my mother and I both were with her when she passed away. My teammate Phong shared about losing his parents. While we may miss loved ones who pass away and still cherish fond memories and wise advice, they go on to be with the Lord. They do not remain as spirits among us to mediate between ourselves and God, to influence the powers of good and evil, or to answer our prayers. We shared some Bible verses, prayed, and had a great time together, and at the end of our visit Emily thanked us for sharing God's love and His truth. And we were so excited when Menke and the boys came to the afternoon children’s program, and then the whole family came to church with us Sunday. I pray that they felt welcomed and decide to attend on a regular basis. Real Vision church is a strong, Bible teaching church that is very close to their home. It will be a great place for them to learn, grow, and connect with others in their community.

Children's Program in Khelangoni

We spent this past week ministering in Khelangoni where we built relationships, performed household chores, cared for the sick and shared the love of Christ with families in the village. We also had a children’s program each afternoon at Real Vision Church. The team did a great job! More than 50 kids attended each day and enjoyed games, songs, and Bible lessons complete with homemade props and a lot of group interaction. We were surprised and delighted when the children quickly learned Bible verses and new songs – they are so smart and eager to learn! And it was great fun to learn songs from them as well. The kids were especially excited to use the microphone and speaker – a special incentive for answering questions and volunteering to lead songs. We met Jesus in each special friend we made, and I pray they met Jesus in each of us.

Please pray with us for the children of Khelangoni. That they grow up to be healthy men and women, strong in their faith, aware of their God-gifted potential, and excited and hopeful about their futures. That they hang on to the hope of Christ when things seem hopeless. That they dare to dream dreams as big God. Thank you so much for your prayers and support!

Lead. Serve. Love.

After the Bethesda team safely arrived at home our Thrive trip arrived - a team of 10 amazing men and women assembled from all over the US and even the UK. It’s so cool that Thrive Africa offers yearly trips for individuals in addition to the teams that come from churches and other sending organizations. We began the trip talking about how each person was called here (such inspiring and encouraging stories) and what each person expected from the trip. Praise the Lord for generously exceeding all of our expectations. The team bonded from day 1 and became fast friends, and it was a blessing to serve alongside them. We laughed and cried, learned from each other, and encouraged each other along the way. Our daily devotions focused on how we are called to follow Christ’s model of Leading by Serving, Serving by Loving, and Loving by Leading. Lead. Serve. Love. We each definitely have a long way to go, a long way to grow, but Christ has equipped us with everything we need for what we are called to today. I’ll share more about our work in some additional entries, but we ended the trip with an overnight safari. It was a way to rest, reflect, and celebrate a wonderful week of ministry. Afterwards, it was on to the airport for the return flights home. Amidst the hugs and tears we rejoiced at how the Lord knitted together such a great team and used us in surprising and amazing ways. Please join me in praying that their lives are forever changed by this experience, and that the Lord continues to use them to do wonderful things wherever he calls them to next.