An little bit of whats its like to cross the boarder from South Africa into Mozambique and back again.
Monday was no ordinary day. Today Felito & I needed to renew our South African visas. They become somewhat of a chore. Felito’s visa only lasts for month, but with a huge smile mine is for three months. But once the church is registered here in South Africa we will be able to apply for volunteer/resident visas.
We handed in the application for the church to be registered in early March. We were told the process only takes three months. But just like Mozambique, South Africa has its own rhythm & time. With each phone call to the Department we are getting more & more desperate but God in His mercy is teaching us the word GRACE. Please pray for the registration of the church to have the favour of God, just as Esther did. Also without the church being registered it means, we are unable to build permanent structures on the land and also we are unable to send an application to the local government/council to send an application of interest in the land.
The Boarder Crossing. Oh, How good our God is. As the alarm goes off early in the morning, my mind wishes the sound to go away. After preparing everything, we were off. It’s about a four-hour drive to the boarder and we wanted to get there before the buses did. As they create LONG lines. The drive was wonderful. Cathi & Billy & Eric came along for the ride too. We had the CD player going, and the heater. We were all just praising God and simply having a grand time. But enjoying the heat was we drove up through the country. As we had rented a car, it was unable to cross. We left Eric & Cathi & Billy on the South African side and crossed over by foot. It was great, as we walked the birds were singing as the sun was going down. Must admit that here in Africa, the sunsets are glorious and full of colour. It was another successful boarding crossing/visa
renewal for another month.
Thank you all, for you prayers!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Entering Kruger National Park
After our trip to the Mozambique/South Africa boarder to renew both our visas, we decided to head home through the Kruger Park. As the gates are open & shut at certain times, we were unable to enter the Park on Monday evening. We woke early the next morning as the gate opened at 6am and we wanted to be the first ones there. When we arrived, we discovered that others had the same idea. We paid our tariffs to enter the park & off we drove. We started at the Crocodile Gate and drove first to the campsite of Lower Sabie for breakfast and a leg stretch then onto Skukuza for lunch and then we exited the Park at the Numbi Gate. What a day. It was so long, but God totally blessed us with His creation & handiwork.
One of the highlights was being able to watch a scene was having the privilege to watch a huge herd (family) of about 120 elephants walk alongside the car, then across the road to go through the reeds of the local river. What an opportunity. They walked in a huge long line, with a huge male elephant at the front and then the biggest male elephant holding up the rear. In the
middle were a few baby calves. What a sight to see, it really was just so very awesome. I felt like one of those people who work for National Geographic.
Another amazing time was also being able to see a giraffe up close. As we were driving along the road at our speed limit of 40km per hour we looked out to our right and in the bush eating
one of the top leaves of the tree was a young giraffe, it then decided to stand in the middle of the road and pose for us. It was just so awesome. We were so close we could see that his patches of
colour were different shades of brown and almost orange and that he had very long black eyelashes that every human girl would be envious of.
As it has been very dry here and winter is the not the rainy season at all. After we had lunch at the Skukuza camp site, it sad us to see that km after km was just black from being burnt in the bush fires. It means that the animals don’t have enough food and also they have to move to different parts of the park to find food.
(Photos to be added soon)
One of the highlights was being able to watch a scene was having the privilege to watch a huge herd (family) of about 120 elephants walk alongside the car, then across the road to go through the reeds of the local river. What an opportunity. They walked in a huge long line, with a huge male elephant at the front and then the biggest male elephant holding up the rear. In the
middle were a few baby calves. What a sight to see, it really was just so very awesome. I felt like one of those people who work for National Geographic.
Another amazing time was also being able to see a giraffe up close. As we were driving along the road at our speed limit of 40km per hour we looked out to our right and in the bush eating
one of the top leaves of the tree was a young giraffe, it then decided to stand in the middle of the road and pose for us. It was just so awesome. We were so close we could see that his patches of
colour were different shades of brown and almost orange and that he had very long black eyelashes that every human girl would be envious of.
As it has been very dry here and winter is the not the rainy season at all. After we had lunch at the Skukuza camp site, it sad us to see that km after km was just black from being burnt in the bush fires. It means that the animals don’t have enough food and also they have to move to different parts of the park to find food.
(Photos to be added soon)
Testimony - Maria
This is Maria. Her mother is ill with HIV/AIDS. Maria
has been a Christian, but found it hard to attend church.
Then when a team from the USA came and did an
outreach and visited her at her house we invited her to
come to church. She did. Maria rededicated her life to
Jesus and hasn’t looked back. One of the things she has
been praying for is a job. Three weeks ago she shared
that God has answered her prayer. She now has a JOB!!
Thank you Jesus. She is very thakfull. Also she loves to
sing and didn’t know what to do, but God had told her she
needs to sing. She is now on our worship team. Please
pray for her, for God to continue to bless her and fill her
up and also that her mother will be healed.
(Photo to be attached soon)
has been a Christian, but found it hard to attend church.
Then when a team from the USA came and did an
outreach and visited her at her house we invited her to
come to church. She did. Maria rededicated her life to
Jesus and hasn’t looked back. One of the things she has
been praying for is a job. Three weeks ago she shared
that God has answered her prayer. She now has a JOB!!
Thank you Jesus. She is very thakfull. Also she loves to
sing and didn’t know what to do, but God had told her she
needs to sing. She is now on our worship team. Please
pray for her, for God to continue to bless her and fill her
up and also that her mother will be healed.
(Photo to be attached soon)
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Worship with Cathi & Car Update
Worship with Cathi
Cathi is a recent graduate from Iris Ministries International School of Missions has been staying with Felito & I. It has been such a huge blessing. She has a heart for worship & has also been teaching & leading worship while she has been here. It’s been very amazing.
What a difference it makes during worship. One of the great things is that now during
worship we are really worshipping. God is teaching us to be thankful & when we enter
into worship we start by praying then we sing & as we sing, His very presence comes. People are being touched, healed & just so very blessed. Even the children are enjoying worship. Some of the children are seeing visions & hearing God’s voice. It’s just so very exciting. One of the songs that Cathi has taught is “I’m Trading My Sorrows”. Once we got past the pronouncing of words the song just took off. It’s so great to see everyone just praising God without hesitation & totally
unashamedly.
Please pray for Cathi, as tomorrow she leaves for Uganda for several weeks before she returns to us here at the end of September. Uganda is a beautiful place, many people are hungry to hear the Word of the Lord, but it is also dangerous. Please pray for God’s protection & for divine
appointments as she ministers & makes new friends & may she have many amazing testimonies on her return of God’s goodness.
Ward 61 – Pastors Forum
Last Sunday we were invited to attend the first of many meetings with other pastors
from around the community of Ward 61. We found out many interesting & helpful things.
It was wonderful to talk to some of the pastors after the meeting & hear their heart
& visions. It’s so very encouraging & exciting. We are expectant to see what God will do in this area. Please pray that as pastors from Ward 61 that we can continue to stay united in our work for the Lord.
Car Update
Praise the Lord. This week Felito got his beloved Padjero back, after months of us taking it to various mechanics. It served us so very faithfully in Pemba for all the outreaches and various activities. It has survived very harsh terrain. We are so happy to have it back, sitting in the driveway, though it’s still not 100%, but we are believing for a miracle. One of the reasons it has been huge difficultly to fix, is that the Padjero is an Japanese import & in South Africa, there aren’t many Japanese imports, so its hard to get the parts required, which means even harder to find a registered mechanic to fix it. Another difficulty is that the car is registered in Mozambique and like us; it requires a visa, which also lasts for one month, just like Felito’s visa. Thank you for your faithful prayers. Please pray, that God opens a door for us to be able to find the last parts to make the car in perfect running condition. We would not be able to survive without it.
(Photos to be added soon)
Cathi is a recent graduate from Iris Ministries International School of Missions has been staying with Felito & I. It has been such a huge blessing. She has a heart for worship & has also been teaching & leading worship while she has been here. It’s been very amazing.
What a difference it makes during worship. One of the great things is that now during
worship we are really worshipping. God is teaching us to be thankful & when we enter
into worship we start by praying then we sing & as we sing, His very presence comes. People are being touched, healed & just so very blessed. Even the children are enjoying worship. Some of the children are seeing visions & hearing God’s voice. It’s just so very exciting. One of the songs that Cathi has taught is “I’m Trading My Sorrows”. Once we got past the pronouncing of words the song just took off. It’s so great to see everyone just praising God without hesitation & totally
unashamedly.
Please pray for Cathi, as tomorrow she leaves for Uganda for several weeks before she returns to us here at the end of September. Uganda is a beautiful place, many people are hungry to hear the Word of the Lord, but it is also dangerous. Please pray for God’s protection & for divine
appointments as she ministers & makes new friends & may she have many amazing testimonies on her return of God’s goodness.
Ward 61 – Pastors Forum
Last Sunday we were invited to attend the first of many meetings with other pastors
from around the community of Ward 61. We found out many interesting & helpful things.
It was wonderful to talk to some of the pastors after the meeting & hear their heart
& visions. It’s so very encouraging & exciting. We are expectant to see what God will do in this area. Please pray that as pastors from Ward 61 that we can continue to stay united in our work for the Lord.
Car Update
Praise the Lord. This week Felito got his beloved Padjero back, after months of us taking it to various mechanics. It served us so very faithfully in Pemba for all the outreaches and various activities. It has survived very harsh terrain. We are so happy to have it back, sitting in the driveway, though it’s still not 100%, but we are believing for a miracle. One of the reasons it has been huge difficultly to fix, is that the Padjero is an Japanese import & in South Africa, there aren’t many Japanese imports, so its hard to get the parts required, which means even harder to find a registered mechanic to fix it. Another difficulty is that the car is registered in Mozambique and like us; it requires a visa, which also lasts for one month, just like Felito’s visa. Thank you for your faithful prayers. Please pray, that God opens a door for us to be able to find the last parts to make the car in perfect running condition. We would not be able to survive without it.
(Photos to be added soon)
Monday, August 20, 2007
Palm Ridge is Experiencing Change!
Hello everyone! Can’t believe that Church has been going just over 6 weeks!! It’s awesome!!
God has been so faithful and loving!! It has been going well. We are seeing growing in numbers and, we are seeing lives being transformed, it’s amazing! We are just so thankful!
As a reminder, Palm Ridge was known for the Indian community during apartade, which means its known as Moslem community. Even today when you drive in to the township you don’t need any one to show you or tell you, its very obvious that it has been a Moslem place for long time, as in the entrance there is a big Mosque. And at certain times you can the music coming from the huge speakers pointing into the community.
Chair Testimony
We started the church in the tent, with 100 chairs, and it is in the middle of winter here and it’s freezing!! The pastor who borrowed us the land to use, came for a visit and was amazed that even though it’s so very cold people are coming!
He was even more shocked to see that after worship had finished that all 100 chairs were full and are in need of more!! He never thought it would be possible to even start during winter due to the cold!! But with God – ALL things are possible!! God is so good!!
A Testimony from Felito
One of the guys in Church is Sthole. He is in his 40s and I have known him for long time, and he didn’t want anything to do with Jesus. I remember once I was visiting my brother here in South Africa when I used to live in Mozambique and Sthole was in my brother’s house and we had small group to pray together and Sthole would go out side and wait till we finished
praying, but if the Lord can change Paul of Tarsus, he can change Sthole’s heart. The Lord sent him to help us find the land (in Palm Ridge). From when we had our first service, Sthole has never missed one service. One of the amazing things that are just so awesome is when Sthole phone me and asked, “Why do we have to wait till Thursday to have a service? That’s a long time”. He says. He is so hungry! God has done a change in his heart!! This is TRANSFORMATION!! His wife still can’t believe that the Lord has given her a new husband!! Our God is just so awesome!!
We are seeing people being changed everyday, Palm Ridge is also known for witchcraft. But when they come to Jesus, they give up everything, and they just want the real thing!! The people of Palm Ridge are HUNGRY! Read Matthew 5:6
What has been happening?
Last week we had Stephanie from Vineyard Laguna Niguel return and she taught about prayer. Everyone was taking everything in. Even the children were sitting still. We have noticed a huge change especially on Thursday evenings at the prayer nights and they do not pray the same!! Its as if something has been released upon them.
We are just in awe of what God is doing!! Keep coming Jesus!!
This week Cathi (a dear friend) who has just graduated from the Iris International School of Missions is here to teach us about worship! We are very excited and are looking forward to worshipping God together!!
A Huge THANK YOU
Just want to thank personally the church in San Francisco of California that sent us funds to buy Bibles for our people. You don’t know how blessed people are by this. Thank you. You have made things worse for us in a good way, because they have thousands of questions to ask about the scripture, they just can’t get enough!! Thank you!!
We also want to thank the Vineyard Laguna Niguel Church for sending a team here. You were all such a huge blessing. We want to testify that everyone person that was reached on the one-day outreach are still with us and are growing every day!! You guys were awesome!! Be blessed!!
Things to pray for:
(1) Pray for my car to be fixed, its almost 2 months without a car, its hard
(2) There was a strong wind last weekend that ripped our tent into shreds, please pray that we can get the right person to
fix it, that’s our building
(3) Pray so we will be known as community of love,
(4) Pray for the growth not only in numbers but spiritually also.
God has been so faithful and loving!! It has been going well. We are seeing growing in numbers and, we are seeing lives being transformed, it’s amazing! We are just so thankful!
As a reminder, Palm Ridge was known for the Indian community during apartade, which means its known as Moslem community. Even today when you drive in to the township you don’t need any one to show you or tell you, its very obvious that it has been a Moslem place for long time, as in the entrance there is a big Mosque. And at certain times you can the music coming from the huge speakers pointing into the community.
Chair Testimony
We started the church in the tent, with 100 chairs, and it is in the middle of winter here and it’s freezing!! The pastor who borrowed us the land to use, came for a visit and was amazed that even though it’s so very cold people are coming!
He was even more shocked to see that after worship had finished that all 100 chairs were full and are in need of more!! He never thought it would be possible to even start during winter due to the cold!! But with God – ALL things are possible!! God is so good!!
A Testimony from Felito
One of the guys in Church is Sthole. He is in his 40s and I have known him for long time, and he didn’t want anything to do with Jesus. I remember once I was visiting my brother here in South Africa when I used to live in Mozambique and Sthole was in my brother’s house and we had small group to pray together and Sthole would go out side and wait till we finished
praying, but if the Lord can change Paul of Tarsus, he can change Sthole’s heart. The Lord sent him to help us find the land (in Palm Ridge). From when we had our first service, Sthole has never missed one service. One of the amazing things that are just so awesome is when Sthole phone me and asked, “Why do we have to wait till Thursday to have a service? That’s a long time”. He says. He is so hungry! God has done a change in his heart!! This is TRANSFORMATION!! His wife still can’t believe that the Lord has given her a new husband!! Our God is just so awesome!!
We are seeing people being changed everyday, Palm Ridge is also known for witchcraft. But when they come to Jesus, they give up everything, and they just want the real thing!! The people of Palm Ridge are HUNGRY! Read Matthew 5:6
What has been happening?
Last week we had Stephanie from Vineyard Laguna Niguel return and she taught about prayer. Everyone was taking everything in. Even the children were sitting still. We have noticed a huge change especially on Thursday evenings at the prayer nights and they do not pray the same!! Its as if something has been released upon them.
We are just in awe of what God is doing!! Keep coming Jesus!!
This week Cathi (a dear friend) who has just graduated from the Iris International School of Missions is here to teach us about worship! We are very excited and are looking forward to worshipping God together!!
A Huge THANK YOU
Just want to thank personally the church in San Francisco of California that sent us funds to buy Bibles for our people. You don’t know how blessed people are by this. Thank you. You have made things worse for us in a good way, because they have thousands of questions to ask about the scripture, they just can’t get enough!! Thank you!!
We also want to thank the Vineyard Laguna Niguel Church for sending a team here. You were all such a huge blessing. We want to testify that everyone person that was reached on the one-day outreach are still with us and are growing every day!! You guys were awesome!! Be blessed!!
Things to pray for:
(1) Pray for my car to be fixed, its almost 2 months without a car, its hard
(2) There was a strong wind last weekend that ripped our tent into shreds, please pray that we can get the right person to
fix it, that’s our building
(3) Pray so we will be known as community of love,
(4) Pray for the growth not only in numbers but spiritually also.
Monday, August 13, 2007
SA Kruger National Park
After our trip to the Mozambique/South Africa boarder to renew both our visas, we decided to
head home through the Kruger Park. As the gates are open & shut at certain times, we were unable to enter the Park on Monday evening. We woke early the next morning as the gate
opened at 6am and we wanted to be the first ones there. When we arrived, we discovered that others had the same idea. We paid our tariffs to enter the park & off we drove. We started at the Crocodile Gate and drove first to the campsite of Lower Sabie for breakfast and a leg stretch
then onto Skukuza for lunch and then we exited the Park at the Numbi Gate. What a day. It was so long, but God totally blessed us with His creation & handiwork.
One of the highlights was being able to watch a scene was having the privilege to watch a huge herd (family) of about 120 elephants walk alongside the car, then across the road to go through the reeds of the local river. What an opportunity. They walked in a huge long line, with a huge male elephant at the front and then the biggest male elephant holding up the rear. In the
middle were a few baby calves. What a sight to see, it really was just so very awesome. I felt like one of those Entering Kruger people who work for National Geographic.
Another amazing time was also being able to see a giraffe up close. As we were driving along the road at our speed limit of 40km per hour we looked out to our right and in the bush eating
one of the top leaves of the tree was a young giraffe, it then decided to stand in the middle of the road and pose for us. It was just so awesome. We were so close we could see that his patches of
colour were different shades of brown and almost orange and that he had very long black eyelashes that every human girl would be envious of.
As it has been very dry here and winter is the not the rainy season at all. After we had lunch at the Skukuza camp site, it sad us to see that km after km was just black from being burnt in the bush fires. It means that the animals don’t have enough food and also they have to move to different parts of the park to find food.
Prayer Points
• That our tent will be fixed soon
• That our cars will be working
• That God will open a door regarding the church registration with the
department so that it can be processed.
• For safety of our church members. (a lady in our church was attacked
walking home from a shop this week).
• For unity amongst the local pastors in the area of Palm Ridge. We
have been invited to go to a meeting with all the other churches.
(Photos to be added soon)
head home through the Kruger Park. As the gates are open & shut at certain times, we were unable to enter the Park on Monday evening. We woke early the next morning as the gate
opened at 6am and we wanted to be the first ones there. When we arrived, we discovered that others had the same idea. We paid our tariffs to enter the park & off we drove. We started at the Crocodile Gate and drove first to the campsite of Lower Sabie for breakfast and a leg stretch
then onto Skukuza for lunch and then we exited the Park at the Numbi Gate. What a day. It was so long, but God totally blessed us with His creation & handiwork.
One of the highlights was being able to watch a scene was having the privilege to watch a huge herd (family) of about 120 elephants walk alongside the car, then across the road to go through the reeds of the local river. What an opportunity. They walked in a huge long line, with a huge male elephant at the front and then the biggest male elephant holding up the rear. In the
middle were a few baby calves. What a sight to see, it really was just so very awesome. I felt like one of those Entering Kruger people who work for National Geographic.
Another amazing time was also being able to see a giraffe up close. As we were driving along the road at our speed limit of 40km per hour we looked out to our right and in the bush eating
one of the top leaves of the tree was a young giraffe, it then decided to stand in the middle of the road and pose for us. It was just so awesome. We were so close we could see that his patches of
colour were different shades of brown and almost orange and that he had very long black eyelashes that every human girl would be envious of.
As it has been very dry here and winter is the not the rainy season at all. After we had lunch at the Skukuza camp site, it sad us to see that km after km was just black from being burnt in the bush fires. It means that the animals don’t have enough food and also they have to move to different parts of the park to find food.
Prayer Points
• That our tent will be fixed soon
• That our cars will be working
• That God will open a door regarding the church registration with the
department so that it can be processed.
• For safety of our church members. (a lady in our church was attacked
walking home from a shop this week).
• For unity amongst the local pastors in the area of Palm Ridge. We
have been invited to go to a meeting with all the other churches.
(Photos to be added soon)
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