Saturday 13 Aug 2011

Mapping Point - Be careful how you build

Braai Saturday night after lectures

Saturday 6 August 2011

Ansie started by praying while covering herself with a head dress, the way women do in India.

This day was all about Ansie sharing with us her experiences over the last few years. In preperation for this she went to her journals, and found that the one constant was the manner in which God changed her from wrong thinking patterns.

Most people tend to think that missionaries are ‘super holy’, but she explained that if God is using her, he can use anybody - He uses all of us, in different ways. Even those growing up in the very secure environment of living your whole life in Pretoria, growing up in one house, going to one primary school, one high school, and one university. Going through the motions of a degree in Geo-Environmental Science, and thereafter pulling a 9 to 5 job at the same firm for five years (2004-09) – hating every minute of it, even hating life ...

She then met up with the KE fellowship and went to Thailand in 2007 and journeyed with them in 2008. She was at that stage torn between two worlds – “Missions didn’t grab me”, but the job took its pound of flesh. JP suggested that she take an 18 month sabbatical. She could always go back to work if it didn’t work out. She did not have enough money saved, but was tired of her work. Discipleship Training School (DTS) seemed to be the answer, and while researching she found India to be the place. Even though she was afraid to go (and still is to this day) she resigned from her job. God provided in many ways and things fell into place.

A mix up at the airport in Mumbai almost gave her mother a heart attack as she ‘disappeared’. It was intense to adapt to everything, and the continuous ‘culture shock’ led to stress and frustration. In the beginning she wanted to come home, but realized that she had to deal with the difficulties that she experienced, e.g:

·        In the Asian culture you are not allowed to ask questions, because you challenge their authority.

·        When playing with kids you get lice.

·        No comms - no cell phone.

·        Their daily lifestyle was very scheduled, plus you were given no choices regarding anything - just take what you get.

·        Regular power outages

·        Fetching your water with containers every day.

Due to the unfamiliar circumstances you don’t know how to do anything and you start feeling useless – she even had to ask the outreach leader at one point, to teach her how to use the toilet. These things taught her true humility, and she learned to be herself, as there was no place for pretence. Rejection was a big issue to handle and learning not to take offences (e.g. being called fat - which is not an issue in India), and to learn to accept herself. She also became quiet, and learnt to hear God’s voice and became more reliant on Him during these trials.

After the first 3 months were spent on studying topics, they went on an outreach for the last 2 months. She was still feeling scared, but “when you are scared, just do it, the scare goes away – and when you feel unprepared, just start packing, then you are prepared”. This trip was even more difficult. They had to sleep on the floor, everyone in the same room. The heat was unbearable, but at least she could shower under a coconut tree (without having to pay thousands of rands for the privilage – if you are willing to ignore the occasional motorbike going past). She could feel the oppresive spirit world during festivals. In the beginning it was hard to go to church, as she didn’t understand the language, but she eventually remembered that it is about God, and just enjoyed Him. They would share the gospel when on the streets, and by going to houses, asking for water and then following into a conversation, as the people were very hospitable. They would also share it by presenting the kids with vacation school – the parents didn’t mind as they believed their children would in any case never convert. She found that all of these hardships was worth it, as she fell in love with the people and their serving relationships.

As she eventually came back to South Africa, the reverse culture shock made her feel that she didn’t fit in anywhere, not India, not here. Especially contrasting to her was the first Sunday she attended church; comparing it to her experience in India it was really boring!

She had to decide on what to do next, and felt that the School of Biblical Studies (SBS ) would present an opportunity to grow, especially the one in Uganda. The reason being that she felt an uneasiness around black people, and hoped for it to change as her maturity grew from training herself.

It was not easy living with 19 people in the same house, especially from different cultures. It revealed the bad inside of her; the impatience and selfishness of not knowing how to share. There was also the constant malaria danger, but she felt that she could trust God and therefor took no tablets. The food was boring and meagre - everyone complained about it. They had to fill up and carry the jerry-can for all their water needs, which included growing their own vegetables. They had to do their washing on the ground on Sunday mornings – back breaking. The work ethics were very low amongst the students, because they were doing it for the group and not themselves. Issues didn’t get resolved, as people were too polite for confrontation, which meant that communication with other Africans was not directly to the point. From this a feeling of distrust grew. She is still learning not to make assumptions about people though.

They had to walk to town and once there, it was a bit overpowering. It took a while before she went to the market on her own. She continued being irritated with being identified as ‘Mzungu’ (white person), as the children kept crowding her when asking money, and everyone charged her inflated prices. The butchery was something to get used to. Kampala was crazy, the Shoprite being the only familiar sight.

There was a marked difference between the culture in India, which was very rigid, compared to the culture in Uganda that had no rules - you figure it out as you go along.

The Christian people don’t want to read for themselves, but would rather just believe what the pastor teaches them. And what they do want is the blessings promised in scripture. Everybody wants to be a pastor for the sake of money. The spirit world is much more real for them than in South Africa – as is evidenced by reports of demon activities making the newspapers. An example was when a boy died, resulting in both Muslims and Christians accusing each other of witchcraft.

“If stuff is a problem here, it will be a problem there; because you take it with you. You only manage to see it more clearly there.” She missed home so much in the beginning, that she even contemplated putting up a poster of Steve Hoffmeyer (from one of the magazines she received). Christmas is not big in Uganda, and after her mom phoned, telling what they were doing, she lay alone in the dark crying herself to sleep. Her birthday was nice though, starting with a breakfast treat from fellow students and ending with a phone call from the KE fellowship in South Africa. She learnt to really appreciate and value the people that were in her life during that season; who gave her the needed support and friendship, who pushed her in a conscience effort to change – especially the friends she made over there.

The course was tough as they had to read through the bible and complete assignments in 9months. It was just read, read, read, and class 3x / week. She was concerned though that the course tended to be purely academics and not spiritual. She had to study by candle light, as there was no power 3 nights per week. In the beginning she was up until 2am in the morning, but later on she was in bed by 9pm, as she allowed herself to ‘breath’ more. In South Africa it is all about performance, but not over there – your worth is in who you are. There is a line between laziness and doing nothing; people are too concerned about the latter over here. She is convinced that she had a better quality of life in Uganda regarding her health and relationships.

At first she was a victim of her emotions and the decisions she made from depressed and negative thinking. But, during all the hardships she became fit – physically, mentally and spiritually. “I felt like I could do more stuff, once I got used to it.” Living for God is a daily decision.  Everything in our lives are influenced by our view of God, our relationship with Him. It is hard to give up your comforts when you don’t know God. A bond slave makes a choice to serve his Master, because he knows he can trust Him to look after his best interests.

While taking a break before Ansie presented the last part of her story, each one present was treated with an 'Ugandese Rolex' - what a nice treat.

And now Ansie stands before us, about to embark on the next leg of the journey: Wycliffe Bible translation. There are many cultures who can’t or don’t want to read and people groups who don’t have translations of the Bible. You can’t just give them a bible. And it seems that Ansie will start of with the One Story Project in Angola, where she will stay in the midst of  four unreached people groups. They have built up a relationship with the people since before the war, and asked Wycliffe to be involved to work  with locals to translate story sets. She will first go to YWAM in Brazil to learn Portuguese there and then will follow a very structured program of a two year training process for students. First though she needs to go through a stiff process of application and hopes to be on her way during middle 2012.

She is on the journey . . . and it is SCARY.

JP ended of the talk with telling Ansie how proud he is of her and how she has grown. He further encouraged all present to become involved in helping her by partnering in a sending cell for her.

May the Ruach Hakodesh be with you all on this journey, Shalom!

Sat 30 Julie

India Exposure and Prayer Trip
1st brief with general information of dates, air fares, budget and a few tit bits
2nd brief Monday night 8 August - booking of tickets...
Lord, can I extend my faith to trust you to go?

Fellowship
2 Mercy projects: Hammanskraal and Musina
Kingdom currency: serve, serve, serve .... when putting skouer aan die wiel
There are different levels of need but how far do we get involved?  What kind of gospel do we give the needy (if at all at this time)? Who is best positioned to determine real worldview in a cross cultural community where we go to serve?  Do you honestly think (local) money is the answer to bring long term solutions because eventually money corrupts someone in the giving-chain.....?

 give what you have extra / give what you think you must / risk everything to give

 It was great to have JP facilitate the next steps we are considering to take in strategising and going again soon.

Saturday, 23 July 2011

Hammanskraal Skin Contact 2 Project + Turning Point


SERVE, SERVE, SERVE = mercy work at home, make hay while ur sun shines
Giving of self, time and money and resources in tact: we receive cars, holidays, computers etc. in tact but we give gospel tracks and sermons to the poor ....... don't think so.  How many winter jackets/jerseys to choose from in your bursting cupboard - how many have you given away this winter?

From different denominations

The Cooking Team

Feeding babies, playing ball games, telling stories with an interpreter, prep& cooking for 120, teaching guitar, making beads & bangles, face painting, baby & toddler playing, prayeing on site, welding jungle gym, making coldrinks, laughing & crying, soccer, changing nappies, giving and giving and serving the orphanage workers by giving them a break 



Cathrine - she started by taking in babies, toddlers and dropped-off children and looking after them when everybody else was doing life. It took 9 years before help finally showed up.

LAST 2011 TURNING POINT

Bumper class of 21! For most the paradigm pennies properly dropp by the 2nd or 3rd time. The journey starts when a believer realises that we are moving from 'you at the center of God's work' to 'God's work at the center of your life' .

 

Last 2011 MAPPING POINT -  Thu 11 - Sun 14 Aug   

16 July 2011 KE Fellowship

Thank you Pauline and Mark for all your input on Saturday, we all thoroughly enjoyed the evening at Pit Stop Café.  The Moroccan Lamb stew with Chilli Salsa (Recipe to be posted soon as requested) and the fellowship was very uplifting.

KE 'Fellows'

Musina Border
The evening was centred around feedback on the Musina Border Outreach, by Jana & Jacques and the Madagascar Outreach by Michael, Kim and Amos.

Thank you J & J for giving us an idea of what is taking place at our very borders!  It was shocking to see how so many people are being smuggled through our borders by means of human trafficking. Our hearts ached to see those mothers and children hopeless and homeless at the borders, children of just 6 years, lost and forgotten with no idea of where they lived or how they got there. The needs there are dire….

We realised that this is reality and is happening right under our noses, confronted with the fact that we CAN make a difference. Even though the situation seems hopeless, it is important to be challenged with these realities to remind us of the state of our world and the part that we as KINGDOM ambassadors ought to play! How exiting!!   It’s amazing to see how it is possible to uplift the spirits of hopeless people in just a day or two, with only your presence and love.

We are looking forward to hear about second visit to Musina (Bate Bridge Border Post), please keep us up to date!!

Madagascar Outreach

Kim, Michael and Amos

The second group, who went to Madagascar, generally had a very successful trip. They became part of the Malagasies’ lives (apparently a Malagasy adopts a stranger, and will tag along everywhere holding your hand and carrying  your stuff!)

The group was from Lewende Woord Bible School along with Michael and Kim also from KE. We again noticed how important a World prayer life is as we saw how helpless you can feel in reached countries where the people struggle to be freed from ancestral worship (and consequently poverty also playing a big role)!

We also saw how important it is to keep your eyes open when Prayer Walking, as we almost said goodbye to Kim playing chicken with oncoming Malagasy vehicles!! Thank you Michael for your ‘undivided caretaking’ of Kim!

We  could also clearly see how different cultures from the same diverse South African ‘nationality’ experienced Madagascar differently,  such as Amos and Michael who experienced something absolutely distinctive from each other.

This feedback fellowship definitely gave us some important tips and perspectives on what to expect in a cross cultural outreach like this. Until next week!! Cheers!

Saterdag, 9 Julie - Mapping Point

Donderdag 7 - Sondag 10 Julie
Mapping Point could be summarised as "Be careful how you build" (as in 1 Corinth 3:3 - 7) or ''Daring to do the right thing" as the consequence of doing it wrong ALWAYS amounts to loss

the last of the Encounter Phase - the choice to listen and obey = faith & works 

danie & esther came round to say hallo as they just arrived from their most successful Balkan recce (thanx jacque & jeroen!)

introductions to the group

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PLEASE READ JANA'S ACOUNT OF THE MUSINA REFUGEE WEEKEND UNDER' " my journey right now".

Right now the journey

• Ansie kom terug SA toe Vrydag 1 Julie, van 9 maande in Uganda YWAM bible studies
• Marion het hierdie week vertrek saam met Global Challenge vir 'n 4 week uitreik
• Mike & Kim het veilig aangekom in Madagascar en is daar vir die volgende 2 weke op uitreik
• Danie & Ester se recce trip vorder goed.  Hulle is tans in Bulgarye
• Alison is currently in New Zealand attending doing David Bridell's course   

Saterdag, 25 Junie - Boermark 6vm!!

 Vroegoggend en amper die koudste dag van die jaar

 Alles en almal was daar

 Familie v Paulien: Tanika (kuier van Oz), Cornelia en Mika



Saturday, 18 June

ROB BELL

God is interested in our hearts, not JUST to be saved, nor is he interested in our religion, because it is like honouring God with our lips, but our heart is far from Him. God does not even want our money, he rather takes joy in the way we use the money he gave us in the first place to serve him, again about where our heart is.
God want us to draw near to Him in every situation, he does not want us to fall into a ritual or recipe of how to deal with specific situations. We serve a living God who`s thoughts is far higher than what we can comprehend. He knows what is best for us. He knows what good gifts to give us, according to His will, not our will. He truly is a loving Father.

Just a few thoughts that came up when we listened to Rob Bell. What a great pleasure it was again to have fellowship with like minded people, with a heart to follow Jesus.
Was great to see Arno, Louise and family again.

 Starting out we had awesome food sharing and cheese and chicken and all the good things. That puppet show was great, tickets and all. I must say the administration was great and the acting(Erhardt) so special, with constant direction from the director(Richard).

One of the main focuses of the evening was KEEPING the vision.  What would it require to keep the group active and growing (Survival) à Active Implementation. This is not just a social gathering.  As each one is on their own journey, we also become soundboards to each other.

VISION – The analogy of the 2 fish bowl in Starting Point: His divine conspiracy is activated by attempting missions meaningfully.

“Anything other that instant obedience is disobedience” - Estelle

What is your calling? If you have an answer to that one, is it really relative or even important? Are YOU the centrality of Gods work in YOUR life? Who is it about? Where does plan and purpose fit in and can we pin it down in our plan?

KE – “Can be one of the spokes in the wheel of the revolution that is here” – Mark

1. KE wants to make the implementation of the journey more effective with the Vision of training (experience) in mind.
2. Each project will start with a visionary implementer, the person with the heart for the project.
3. It will be the person staying with that project and giving others a chance to Serve and show Christ’s love to others. (Be the blessing)
4. This will give others a platform to serve effectively and grow (Telescope of vision).

Upcoming implementation: Kim is organizing a trip to an orphanage she already visited in Hammanskraal.  Dates to be announced for July.

“Do what you can and God will do the rest” – Marion

“Do what you can while you can” - Pauline

Living Word

Living Word is the love of Jesus that enters through the ear and settles in the heart, there is becomes life as it moves out through the hands and feet as actions.

As James says “Faith and works”

As opposed to coming in the ear running through the brain and becoming theological talk out the mouth. As Paul says “I came not with lofty speech” (1 Cor 2:1)

PS: Bring your flash drive (4-8 gig) / Memory Stick next time, if you don’t have one get one.

Saterdag 11 Junie 2011

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Danie & Esther Sending Cel Meeting: 4 - 5:30 pm

Tuesday, 7 June, on their way to see the gypsies

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SATURDAY 4 JUNE - KE WORKSHOP NO 2 at the Base in Midrand
(specifically for people connected to church)