Weary Warriors

Breaking bread (and a little pie)

Incredibly busy day; last minute shopping, cooking, picking up vans for team and luggage, checking flight schedule and watching excited grandchildren waiting for Papa to arrive. The team, weary but excited, arrived only a little behind schedule because of bad weather in Washington. Had a smooth flight, great time of fellowship at dinner and are now headed for showers and a good night's rest. Breakfast prayer time at 7:15 and we're off for the day until after dinner tomorrow night. Long but exciting day planned for us by our hosts T/K. Everyone in amazement at the goodness and faithfulness of God in inviting us to be a part of His incredible plan of sharing Christ with others.

Love in any Language

K, K (college graduate interning for six months) and I spent the morning at Aurora trying to complete lesson plans that our women will implement next week with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders. More complicated than it sounds. How do you explain the pronunciation for the short I in the word igloo to students who have no idea what an igloo is (most of these students speak their tribal language (most Zulu), Afrikaans (pronounced A'free'kans), and are trying to learn English...one thing...three words...all confusing.) They must know Afrikaans and English in order to graduate. All of you elementary teachers, my hat is off to you!!!! (We also have a group of students who need extra help with math...ok...everyone in my Sunday School class can STOP laughing NOW...fly over here and HELP).

I have uploaded a picture of the teachers receiving their teacher bags. They were so excited. One teacher was absent because of a family emergency but will receive it next week. They were appreciative and humbled that we sent items just for "them" and "their" use. They were overwhelmed with the teacher classroom materials. Veronica insisted that I do an on the spot "inservice". Thank you Tucapau for the love offerings that made all of this possible.

Looking forward to having dinner tonight with D/B, another gracious couple serving the Lord. (Two hours later.) Wonderful fellowship with this couple who are in the volunteer IMB Masters program. He is an early retiree from a business career in the States who wanted to serve God using the skills he had learned as a businessman. This program is a great opportunity for retirees who have a call to missions but don't know how they will serve. It can be a short term or long term commitment. They are planning on doing an additional commitment when this term is completed. They love what they are doing.  The IMB can use whatever daily life skills God has given us. She was a stay at home mom during her husband's career and now helps him in his job with IMB. Both have begun Bible studies (he, men and her, women with people they have met who want to know more about the Bible). It was a wonderful evening of sharing their experiences and how God has worked in their lives and the lives of their children. An additional guest from (XXX) added to the laughter and pure pleasure that, I think, only  Christians can enjoy, and their exchange of stories was fascinating...I just sat and listened with wonder at the cost of serving God and also the rewards. An incredible blessing to have met these individuals.
For all of you Rebels, I had an opportunity to meet a couple today whose hometown is the team that beat us last Friday night in football. Needless to say we had a good time exchanging "bragging rights."

BSF Bible Study Fellowship

Johannesburg's version of Sams; being sold to WalMart

Had the privilege of attending a BSF meeting this morning with seven wonderful women who want to love and serve Christ in their everyday lives. We met at a Methodist church in downtown Joburg and 72 Christian denominations were represented. BSF is an international Bible study organization which was begun by an English missionary to China over 50 years ago. They are a non-profit, faith based organization headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with one goal: to study the word of God so we can become His witnesses in the world. They do a different book of the Bible each year consisting of 33 lessons between September and May with separate study groups for men and women. Bethel United Methodist in Spartanburg is the closest one to us. The material was wonderful as was the fellowship. I look forward to seeing if I can attend the one at Bethel. It takes a commitment to study and faithfulness in attending the meetings.

Tonight, I am having dinner with servants of the Lord from (XXXX). M/W are my hosts and I am looking forward to fellowship with them.  (Three hours later). What an incredible evening. Those of us who volunteer can only sit back in amazed admiration for the young couples who answer God's call not only to what appears to be impossible places to do impossible tasks but unbelievably dangerous ones. Yet they are clearly enjoying taking on these places/tasks for Christ in whom ALL things are possible. The difficulties for families go way beyond the mere inconveniences that would stall most of us in our tracks and about which we would probably complain endlessly (as we hightail it home), yet there is a genuine humility in accepting with good humor the joy of suffering for Christ (suffering is my term not theirs). They see these things as Paul did...part of the joy of serving. Amazing time of fellowship I will treasure. I will be having dinner tomorrow night with another couple who (like these this evening) have generously invited me into their home and their lives. One thing I am witnessing is how much they care for one another, not just about one another. As Christians we should all be so like Christ who said that the world would know us as His followers because we LOVE one another.

The Ties that Bind

The promise of spring

I can better appreciate the hardships of those that serve in foreign lands. Since arriving last Thursday, my brother-in-law and my sister-in-law have both been hospitalized for serious problems and now tonight I learn that another family member is critically ill. I know they are being cared for by the best medicine has to offer and by families that love them. My presence there would not change their care or help their condition, but it certainly would help me. I know that I am in God's perfect will where I am and do not regret that I am here, but there is such a since of helplessness when people we love are hurting and we think (foolishly and perhaps even egotistically) that our location matters. I know I have a faithful God whose grace is sufficient for my loved ones regardless of where I am. It is prayer that matters and God's guarantee that He is listening. I believe that all of you who are reading my blog know about whom I referring and are praying already. This same confidence that others are "holding the ropes" has to be what keeps those who serve the Lord where they are regardless of what is happening "back home." They need to know we are praying for them. This situation is certainly a reminder to me that I don't do my part "back home" for those who are working in the fields.
I have attached a few photos that show more contradictions. You might call them "Beauty and the Beast."

Coal, not nuclear, power towers

Praying in God's Will Ephesians 3:14-21

Wonderful Zulu musicians at open air market.

Open market where we will eat on Sunday

All the power of God (the width, the length, the hight, the depth) of His love is ours.... Out of His glorious riches He strengthens us. He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine....but so often we do not ask. Ask with me for the following today: (1) a much needed volunteer to help with home schooling material distribution (can be time consuming and complicated job). Those on the field are dependent on these materials to educate their children; (2) for materials that are now in a seaport needing only a sheet of paper to release them from customs...could take months...but we can ask God to release them tomorrow; (3) for perfect flying weather for the remaining team members. They should fly out this Thursday and arrive here late Friday afternoon. They have only one hour between landing in Washington, D.C., and taking off for SA. They must leave Charlotte on time.  We were 40 minutes late leaving Charlotte for Atlanta, but we had a three hour layover. If they miss their flight, they will have a 12 hour layover in Washington; (4) Pray for continued good health for all of us; (5) Pray that each one of us will make a difference in the lives of those we meet in Christ. It is so hard not to get caught up in the business of business; (6) Pray that we stay focused on Christ's purpose for each. T/K are gracious hosts. Pray that they will receive encouragement and spiritual renewal through fellowship with the team. They have worked so hard to get all that is needed done and in time; (7) Pray for warmer night time temperatures for next week. It is spring during the day but still winter at night...at least for this southern girl. Just thought on this last one...Maybe not so much...the snakes here where we will be are poisonous and deadly very quickly, so for  me and LP pray that there will be NO SNAKES. It is totally dark by 6:00 PM and we can't take our showers until after 8:00 PM. We won't be abel to see beyond our small flashlights. The path way is so narrow only one at a time can walk. Thank you for your prayers. I know for a fact that God is listening.  

Praise and Worship

Nana, Mama, Anna arriving for services

Over the Exit at EBC

Worshiped today at the 8:30 AM service at Edenvale Baptist Church, Johannesburg, SA. An incredible time of praise and worship preceded a wonderful sermon on Hebrews, Chapter 11 by Paul Waldrip, a visiting pastor from Pennsylvania. The music was wonderful and the fellowship encouraging and uplifting. The rest of the day was spent planning for when the team arrives. Having a good time getting to fellowship with new Christian friends and discovering that just getting around in a foreign country can be daunting. I'm discovering that South Africa is a city of contradictions: everywhere there is freedom and everywhere there are gated walls with electrical wire/barbed wire toppers separating neighbor from neighbor and church from surrounding community. Every house is gated and even the church has a wired wall and gates around it, yet the open smiles and friendly countenance demonstrates the love of Christ to all who enter. South Africa is a German, Dutch, English, and multi-tribal culture. So many languages and so many cultural blends...No wonder Africa has had a struggle trying to define herself.

Conquering the Skies

Downtown Johannesburg from BIMs

Unbelievably beautiful flying weather, smooth flights and soft landings...but I'm still "white knuckle" on take offs. The flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg was 15 hours and 5 minutes and we landed exactly on time for a total of 21 1/2 hours from home to here. God was so merciful in bringing to mind all the verses I needed to keep me focused and excited.  Even with 10 bags between us, we had no trouble getting through immigration, passport check and customs. Baptist International Missions (where I will stay until the team arrives) was a good sight for me. I got in about seven, went to bed at 7:30 and was asleep by 7:31. The pilot and I were the only ones who didn't get to sleep on the trip and I'm not too sure about him.

This morning we visited Aurora Primary. The shy smiles and winks told me I'm going to enjoy my weeks in Africa. I've included a few pictures. More will come. The scripture lesson for today was from Proverbs 4:23...the New Living translation states this verse this way: "Guard your heart above anything else you have, because it determines the kind of life you will live." Pray for me that my "heart" will be right with God and that I will open it to what He wants to show me this week and in the weeks to come.
Every where in Africa EVERYONE smiles and speaks a friendly welcome.
Best sign of the day..."NO HOOTING"...means "don't blow your horn."
Tonight we're going to "African Idol," the dancing competition. This should be interesting and lots of fun.