THANK YOU

We want to take this time to thank all our family, friends, prayer partners and supporters. We just wouldnt have been able to survive this last weeks without you. Thank you for hearts, hugs, extra tissues and smiles and the warm cuppas and understanding eyes (and the beautiful flowers).

God has just surrounded us and engulfed us with his peace and love and comforting arms. It has really lifted a huge burden from our hearts and minds knowing that our little Joanna Grace is in the arms of her loving heavenly daddy and we are looking forward to one day being in heaven to see our daughter. It has also helped us when releasing our feelings and emotions just knowing that she is ok and safe up there. So a huge thank you for your prayers and kindness....

We have also learnt about God's incredible faithfulness. His love is so unfailing and totally unconditional and really loves us. He has never left us during this time and has been such a constant steady in this time of a major down. So God, we thank you for being so faithful and never leaving us and simply just being with us....we wouldn't be here today without you!!

Thank you again.
God BLess

Anna & Felito

It Is Well With My Soul

On Sunday while attending church, they shared about this hymn, It is well with my soul. As they showed the short video the tears rolled down my face and my heart was racing. Not only do I understand what Mr Spafford went through after we lost our little Joanna Grace, but the peace and love that God sent and showered us with is inderscribable which is evident as you hear the words of this hymn. This hymn was heaven sent to Mr Spafford and it really does speak of hope that all of us have as believers, no matter what the pain and grief become us, God's love and peace are given and freeily. Hope you are blessed as much as I was.

Mr Spafford wrote this in 1871. He had lost his only son, then shortly after his son's death he lost everything in the great Chicago fire. So he decided to send his 4 daughters and wife on a holiday, as they were in a ship in the Atlantic their ship collied with another and sank. His wife was one of the only 12 survivours. He lost all his 4 daugthers. As he went to bring his wife home and his boat sailed past the area of where the ship had gone down with his daughters, the Holy Spirit fell on him in power and he wrote the incredible words to "It is well with my Soul".


IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

Thinking of Joanna Grace Utuie

A tiny flower

Lent not given

To bud on earth

And bloom in heaven

~Author Unknown~

I found this quote in a pamphlet given to us by the SANDS in NZ
and thought it just said everything we felt

A Poem - Our LIttle One

♥ Joanna Grace Utuie ♥

Our little one, our beautiful one
Forever in our hearts
Forever Our little one, forever in our mind
Forever our little one
Forever our love for you
♥
Daddy’s little girl,
A twinkle in your mother’s eye
And a smile in our hearts
A butterfly, you are so free
Forever our little one
Forever our love for you
♥
Dancing with the angels
Safe in Daddy’s arms are you
Forever, forever our little one

Love always,
Daddy & Mummy

© Anna Utuie March 2007

Very Sad News

It is with great sadness that Felito and I share this news.

Two weeks ago as I was making my way back to NZ we found out that our little one had died.

Felito arrived last week Wednesday and Joanna Grace Utuie was born on Friday 7 March in the early evening and the Tuesday 11 March, we held a family service.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Another Update (Jan-Feb 2008)

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.”
PSALMS 18:2

We want to thank those who have been praying for us since we have started this work here in South Africa, in Palm ridge, a township, south of Johannesburg. Thank you, it is your prayers that keeps us going.

The Work in Palm RidgePalm-Ridge is really experiencing a change, the fruit is starting to come up. Very encouraging things are happening!!! The most of all - the presence of God is becoming more and more evident every Sunday. Lives are being touched every Sunday.
The testimonies are amazing, for example this past Sunday, a lady who came for the first time, Sunday before this one just to check out the church she testified, this past Sunday about what she felt in the service, she also said that during Ministry time she came forward for prayer didn’t tell of pain she was experiencing in her legs for long time but as she received prayer the anointing touched her and she was healed, that’s when she realized that this is real the real thing.
The presence of God is what we are after, and He is showing up even in Palm-Ridge.

There has been many challenges that have defenatly slowed the work here ,with the storms destroying the tent 4 times since we started the church, been tough in that way as now we are only having services on Sundays only, for we have to put the tent up and down every Sunday for we are trying our best, so it doesn’t ripp even more. and not being able to have even the Sunday services.

We are now believing God for provision to be able to build a shack for that will survive the winds of Palm-Ridge. As some of you know that we have been given the land we are currently using temporally and it looks like we are to give it back, so if you could believe God with us to give us a piece of land that is not to far from where we are, that will be good because we have many people that live in the area we are now, a walking distance for them will be good.

Being in Palm-ridge not long ago, I have been invited to be part of the Pastors forum of ward 61, 120 Pastors palm-ridge over 1.5 million people.After attending the pastors forum for few months I have been asked to be in the Leadership on the Pastors forum, which is a very exciting opportunity,Having realized that most of the Pastors have no training not even what you would consider basic they don’t have, a friend who was with me visiting teaching about worship in our church told me about International Accelerated Missions (IAM) curriculum. So I contacted them and they sent us the material so this pastors and their church members can be have an opportunity that is taken fog ranted but here will be a life changing experience. Many pastors were happy to hear about the training and they said this is what we have been praying for, for long time, this is an answer from God to us.We got all excited and wanted to start the training in the beginning of January but we haven’t started yet, because of the tent problem, as soon as we have the shack, we are going to start the one year training for this pastors and their Leaders.
So we are also calling out anybody who has a heart to teach, any who feels has something to give to this people, please come and help us teach, what ever time you have available is fine with us, one month, 3 months 6 or a year you are welcome.

We want to thank the Brumbough’s Family and the church that raised 5 thousand USD to bless us with a mobile office for the church, now will also be very useful for the Bible school also.

Things we need prayer for:
*Please pray for the provision to build the shack, 20mx8m. (total Costs equivalent to 2000 USD) South African Currency. Rand 12000
*Please pray for the land that is permanent, to be given to us not far from where we are so people won’t be affected by the distance.
*Please pray for the school that we want to start, to set this community and churches on FIRE!
*My car problem has been solved since December, but fuel is going up every day here in South Africa, I do a lot of driving for the ministry and now there is an opportunity to minister in prisons and hospitals and add more trips to the church when we start the school. Since you all know that I don’t really have personal support, this is getting tough on me, please pray that God will send someone from somewhere to sponsor me with fuel.
*Lastly please pray for Anna and I and our coming Baby.

Thank you so much without your prayers we wouldn’t have come this far. You are much appreciated.