A Visit to South Africa
26 June 2011
Greetings From Sunny Zimbabwe
We are home, wearing shorts and sandals and surprised to see our very white bodies which where hidden under many layers of clothes for many weeks. The electricity is haphazard, making water supplies stretched, phone and email reception come and go – but it is great to be home.
We travelled many thousands of km’s, slept in twenty different beds but best of all – we built wonderful new relationships and strengthened all existing one’s.
Bredasdorp: Southern Cape
Pietie and I met with community members who are starting a big garden to feed children – Pietie will do the training with them.
On a very cold, dark Saturday morning we joined the men’s prayer group around a fire on a hill. God laid on my heart to share Genesis 3:9 “Where are you”. To me this was a prophetic question – here we were standing at the most Southern farming community in Africa – it is from here that many prophecies have said the fire of revival will burn anew into Africa. As we prayed I sensed the gospel that will go out again will be a practical, demonstrative, hands and feet gospel. Not so much about our salvation but all about the establishment of His Kingdom. I was challenged to answer once again to the question of “Where are you” with a “here I am Lord, spend me, stretch me, use me for the sake of your Kingdom”
Grobelaarshoop: Northern Cape
Here we spent a wonderful week helping to facilitate at a leadership seminar which was presented by Southern Cross Ministries( Daan and Beatrice van der Merwe). The group being trained was the Good Year Team a group of 16 young (19-25 years) Coloured leaders from the community. This was the first time we rubbed shoulders with the Coloured community of the Northern Cape – we grew to love them as our own sons and daughters and we could even speak the local language – Afrikaans. Celia and I enjoyed being on the receiving end of great leadership teachings.
Amos has purchased a river farm (40ha) here on the Orange river that will be converted into a training centre for the youth of this area. There is alot of infrastructure on the farm that will need some attention – keep this in mind for your next church outreach.The vineyards on the farm are being leased out to a local farmer to generate income to run the centre. We will be establishing vegetable gardens to provide food, a goat project is also in the pipeline.The focus here is to establish a practical model of uplifting a specific community that we trust will be a banner of His Glory.We foresee that we will be spending alot more time here in the future.
Kuruman:Northern Cape
We have always wanted to visit the Moffat Mission, so here we were at the very place from where Livingstone reached out into the Central continent.We were once again challenged at the grave yard at the incredible price that was paid by those who went before us. Sitting in the old place of congregation, challenged again by the question “Where are you” we answered by singing “May we be a shining light to the nations”
Potchefstroom:
A one day introduction to Foundations for Farming was hosted by the Mission church.We spend a great day together, challenging mindsets,making compost and meeting new friends. We saw the Well Watered Garden that was planted by Pas. Lata and Koos Hamman after last year’s Polokwane training -an amazing testimony of Gods righteousness to two “old” men’s faithfulness – both nearly landed in hospital because of digging the holes at their age – the result – a wonderful harvest.
The road ahead:
We believe that most of the” foot work” for building relationships all over SA are in place. Foundations for Farming in SA will be built on these relationships.It is good to see that so many places where Foundations for Farming is being used , is where Amos relationships have been built over many year’s. Until such time as more trainers come on board , we will share the work as follows:
- Pietie Uys – Southern and Western Cape
- Willie du Plessis and Ben Viljoen – Eastern Cape and Natal
- Boet – Limpopo, Pretoria, Freestate and Northern Cape
In the Northern provinces -Polokwane,Pretoria, Ficksburg, Hoopstad, Potchefstroom and Grobelaarshoop will our focus area’s to raise up models and trainers to function on their own in three years time.
We will be in Zim for the month of July and then August in Zambia. Alet-Mari is with us for two weeks – she then flies to SA to spend the rest of her holiday with Pieter and his family in “die wildtuin” It was easier sharing our son’s than our daughter! ( For Pieter)
A Word:
Isaiah 59:16…. the Lord was appalled/dismayed/suprised that there was no one to stand in the gap
1Sam 17:47….for the battle is the Lord’s
I was so challenged in SA to hear that there are 14 million hungry people in that nation and there we are teaching people to make little 2m by 1m vegetable gardens.(Door gardens) Could this ever make a difference?
At the leadership training these scriptures spoke to me as an encouragement. When David chose to stand in the gap, Saul wanted to equip him with what he thought was the best-tunic,armour,helmet and sword, but David used what was in his hand – a simple staff and a sling and faith in a great God. So the giant fell because of a simple stone and the power of an awesome God.
Many of you are stepping out to stand in the gap and face giants in your communities – giants of poverty, child molestation, drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, violent crime, hunger etc. Know “the church” will say you need more equipping, more courses etc. Know the road will be lonely as it was for David. Know the solution will be simple – it is already in your hand – use it and know the battle is the Lord’s.
Remember this little prayer about a great God ( Dankie Hennie)
Lord,
- Help me to believe that you are, who you said you are
- That you did, what you said you did
- That you will, and can, and shall do what you promised . Amen
Thank God with us,
- That He will use what is foolish to the world to establish His Kingdom
- For keeping us safe over long distances
- For keeping us healthy in spite of the cold
- For all the open homes where we experienced His love in action
- For all the new relationships to extend His Kingdom
Pray with us for wisdom as more young people are asking to journey with us.
Thank you for your prayers
Boet,Celia and Alet-Mari