Sat 3 Dec 2011 - Bulgaria, Bulgaria and Bulgaria

JP & Rita shared on their trip to Bulgaria with Kobus, Hanneke and Christoph.  He related the detail of how God showed them what property to buy and offered people options to work toward and/or financially buy-into the renovation of the property in 2012, during the Bulgarian summer.

The next Bulgarian presentation is scheduled for Sat 21 Jan 2012 at the base in Midrand

Sat 26 Nov, LOY KRATHONG - fees van lig

Ek het met groot verwagting binne die 'food court' ingeloop om die Thai mense weer mooi te sien ent e hoor want hulle laat my aan Flippie dink!

Nie dat Philip enigsins soos hulle lyk nie, maar omdat hy so lief is vir hulle! En dis met daai agape liefde dat ek die kos en verrigtinge so geniet het, want ek weet die Here se hart klop tjoklits vir die kort mensies....

Ek het my verlustig om die Thai mense ongekunsteld te sien in hulle familie groepe, laggend, in hul element juis omdat dit hulle dag is

Ons het die lekkerste park-kuier gehad - kaalvoete op die groen gras, lekker kos, goeie gesleskap en vermaaklikheid van 'n heel ander natuur

Daar was so baie om na te kyk.... en ek praat nie net van die Thai nie.... yislaaik!

Sover ek weet het die meeste nasies 'n fees van lig....

KE weekend at Thabazimbe farm, 17 - 20 Nov

What an amazing experience for Kobus, myself and Christoph! We want to thank all 15 of you that joined us on the farm and spoiled us with your love, enthusiasm and hard work! Not to mention the laughter and great food!!! This weekend will always be imprinted into our memories! Off course the physical evidence of all the hard work will remind us of how a caravan of followers of our King and Saviour, Jesus Christ, can serve.

 Although the weekend was far too short for everybody, there were time for fellowship and relaxing (just a little bit of that thoughJ) as well!

A proud team, standing in front of the (almost) finished project: 2 brand new toilets were installed in the bush! How luxurious can it get! The children will just love this!!

 Mixing concrete... hard work???

Jean-Pierre’s expertise came in real handy! Thank you so much for the complete list of plumbing “spares” needed that you have provided as well JP! We didn’t have to go in to town to get a pipe or anything!! That was good planning!! But what is new from a guy like him...?!??!!!

 While the men were toiling outside, the ladies were painting inside! Wow, would have taken me a couple of weeks on my own to complete what we have done in one weekend! Thank you soo much!

    Thank goodness for meal times – at least everyone could take a break…!!! Thank you all for supplying and preparing great great food!! The labourers needed good food, and good food was what they received!

Kobus could share his heart on the farm with all – working with the cattle! What is the cutest – a new born calf or a baby????? Everybody jumped in to help. For some it was their first time ever to see how a calf gets thrown over, an ear tag put on and much much more!! Jordan, Jeroen and Jakes installed the solar panels on the roof while all this was happening (the guys on top of the roof below). Talk about a team effort!

And now we even have a designer fire pit on the farm!

Thanks to Louis, Leone and Christoph, sitting around the fire will be even more special!

 Jordan entertained all with his love for all sorts of animals..!!

After the first day’s hard work, relaxing next to the river brought some peace and appreciation.

Thank you all for being part of our journey. You are very special people.

The next camp with 14 – 17 boys will take place from 2 – 8 January 2012

If you want to come as a volunteer to love and serve these children, please let us know.

With love and appreciation, Kobus, Hanneke and Christoph

Sondag, 13 Nov 2011

Danie & Esther van Niekerk, Partnership feedback

A changed vision and a new direction requires a new strategy.  Danie & Esther's scope is on the Roma Gypsies of Macedonia - an anamistic people who lives underfoot of racism, disqualified and sidelined because of a culural predisposition of human-hate, which is perpetuated by different cultures all across East Europe and surrounds.

The Van Niekerk's are in the process of joining the ranks of GEM and would be the first non- Americans to join this Northern-America based sodality.  In Skopje D&E would also be the first missionaries to attempt working purely under the Roma, which might mean the Macedonians would also sideline them in return because of their works among the outcasts.

The price Father had in mind when He gave His son's life for us, is the same price He requires from us for the Roma's lives.... 

Apart from this family, who else is willing to go?

05 November 2011

This weekend we gathered once again, to share the amazing work our sublime Father is doing in each of our lives. It’s incredible how He never fails to surprise and delight us with His ways along this rollercoaster of a journey
From every individual’s story, we can see how He takes us from the depths of despair within ourselves and through ourselves, to abundant life within and through Him. Gracious enough not to show us all of our faults and shortcomings in one blinding, devastating revelation, but teaches, guides and enlightens us step by step as a loving Father disciplines His children.
We all marvel at His great faithfulness. The way He comforts, supports, strengthens, provides, encourages and showers us with His indescribable passionate love every step of the way.
So then He is with us whether we are up or down, flying or crawling. What can separate us from the love of Christ? Neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What is apparent, is when we seek, ask and knock, He does show, answer and open the right door. Not always immediately but we persist, He obliges.
Each step for keeping the vision proves invaluable as we serve, pray for the nations, serve, journey with Kingdom centred people, serve and focus in and out upon our calling.
Enjoying the present and eagerly awaiting the future. He brings us shalom and life, life in all its fullness.

It was great hearing from everyone, almost (Pity some could not be there, however knowing our Father, those who were there were meant to be and those who weren’t were meant to be where they were.).

Deepavali 2011

New Year's wishes to our Hindu brothers and sisters, who are devotees of Yeshu -  especially those in Varanasi, India!

May the Eternal Light shine brighter in your lives!

Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word Deepavali which means garland of lights.  Quite literally Diwali is known to many as the ‘festival of lights’.  Diwali is also quite an auspicious day to start a new beginning and thus people whish each other happiness, wealth and prosperity for the new year ahead.  Diwali has no meaning without lights and lamps. Traditional Diwali lamps are lit in small earthen clay shells and are lit using a wick and some oil.  It burns for a few hours, lighting up the darkness wherever it is placed.

Rangolis are found decorating the thresholds of homes and other buildings, as well as prayer rooms.  Rangolis are elaborate arrangements made by using coloured powders, flowers, coloured rice, and even pulses.  These intricate designs are characteristic of all special spiritual occasions, and especially Diwali. They are made afresh every day during the five days.. The rangoli is common through every celebration during the days of Diwali.

Flowers are a regular feature in every Indian celebration. The generous use of flowers are used in grand garlands, arches of flowers along the doorways or even just the use of petals sprinkled judiciously to make pleasant designs around the house. The flowers are not just wonderful ways to light up the house and add splashes of colour, but also the most auspicious ways to welcome the Divine.  Their selection, separation and use are all a joy.

Sat 22 Oktober 2011

India feedback presentation
Saturday night saw the completion of a 3 month cycle for the individuals who decided that they wanted to go deeper with God and allowed themselves to experience India like a goer (somebody who is prepared to lay their lives down for the nations and go serve abroad as a coordinator or as a cross cultural missionary).

What a day - the group had their final SA de-brief in the afternoon, to tie together all the aspects of this journey in preparation for what lies ahead.  It was followed by a group slide presentation where each person picked a day and spoke about their own experiences and what happened to them.  We were all surprised by the amazing turnout and made full use of mobilising a captivated audience of course, who stayed till the very end!

Our guests were enthralled and also enjoyed our authentic Fordsburg veg curry & jeera rice, as well as the fruit lassi with cardamom.  A special thanks to Mike & Kim who made it possible for KE to use the Brooklyn Guesthouse for the day's activities.
But most important, we want to give thanks & glory to our Father who partnered with us all the way and made it possible for us to experience Him in the Indian culture like never before!
And just a last and rare sighting - remember missions did it for Jacques (and Jana)!

Saturday 15 Oct 2011

How far can you take love, before the darkness overcomes it?  Christians are not known for their outrageous love, yet this is what we should be known for.

We’re born in a war, and our greatest weapon is God's love.  And it's when you go to some of the darkest places, that you really see that love.  This is what a group of believers did in “Furious Love”.  From the evangelical crusades in Tanzania where demons manifested everywhere, to the streets of the sex-trade industry in Bangkok, to a refuse dump in Madrid Spain, where drug-addicts chase their next hit.



And when believers came face to face with and prayed for witches at a witch-fest in Salem, what happened?  Did God put them in their place and show them who's boss?  No, God brings a word of healing and encouragement for the witch.  Why?  They might have gone to pick a fight with the darkness, but God didn’t – He came to love the lost.

Otherwise there was braaivleis, salad and talk of Indian trains and palak paneer (the stuff they make the soles of cheap tekkies of, when you leave it too long in the sun).



Tuesday 11 Oc t 2011

The India team is back.  Please join us for our feedback presentation on Sat 22 Oct at 6pm @ the Brooklyn Guesthouse in Pta

Jacques & Jana

Ernst

Jeroen

Juanita

Estelle 

Paulien & Mark

 

 Louis & Leone



Keeping the fire at home burning

Kotie, Marion and Ansie got together for good fellowship and prayer on Saturday night. It was good to connect with and pray for each other. It was great to pray for our people in India and Bulgaria - To try and put ourselves in their shoes and what they may be going through as God lead us to pray.

We watched FURIOUS LOVE (thanks to Hanneke who left it for those left behind).  It is the story of one man’s journey into some of the darkest spiritual climates on earth to test the limits of God’s love. Once again we were reminded of the world we cannot see, which is so much more real than the one we can see. God furiously fights for his bride - And he uses people - You and Me. How are we responding? Jesus taught us to love outrageously. But is that what Christians are known for? Christians are usually known for everything but their outrageous love.
God made it simple: "Love them. Let ME change them."