Boxes, Past Promptings... and Another Journey into Africa

Boxes

          Well, the last few weeks have been home to much activity here at Livingstone House. I’ve been continuing to help in stores: looking through, sorting out, and distributing boxes of various types of literature donated from the States. Then just this week, a shipment of 40 tons came in. What bountiful supplies God distribute for His work! Once the literature comes in, anyone can come by to take as much as they would like/are able to take. There have been an increasing number of people stopping by to take material, and it seems to have picked up a decent rate of distribution. There are also some people who have taken a few tons of literature to then distribute in another area. Please pray that the material will make its way into the right hands as there are so very many in need of education, growth, and a deeper hunger for Christ. Is it not for a lack of knowledge that people perish? May God use the literature in a great way that will create a hunger inside the lost, challenge those who are found, and spur each one on to pursuing a more vibrant life in answer to Salvation's call.

To Jerusalem first...

          God has provided several opportunities in which to minister to those right around where I'm located. Just over a week ago, as I was going for a walk, a lady coming up the side street I was crossing was carrying several large bags. She said she could in fact use some help and we began walking toward where the taxis stopped. This provided about 1 km's walking time to talk. She had actually come from the high school my dad attended and was one of the cooks there! So right off the bat we had a common ground. It didn't take too long before the conversation turned to an eternal value. Grace said that she wasn't a Christian, but wanted to become one. She mentioned that she wanted all the blessings that some with a life in Christ, that she was going through a really hard time right now. Wanting to make sure that she hadn't the wrong idea of what a life resting on Christ looked like, we began to discuss the nature of hardships and the call Christ gave to take up our crosses. It grew to such a fruitful conversation! And as far as I could tell from merely that walk, she did have a genuine desire to follow Christ, even through His assurances of suffering. What a wonderful thing! I hope, Lord-willing, to see Grace again (as she travels that route daily) and talk more about the Lord. Please pray that either I will have the chance to have more conversations with her, or if it was God's will for me to only be a seed that she will come in contact with someone else who can help grow her in the Lord.

...then Judea...

          On the weekends, I often commute back with my uncle (who works very close to Livingstone House) and cousin (who's school is on the same block as LH) to Somerset West (about an hour's drive from Capetown), where much of my family are. This last weekend, I went for a run Saturday night and came across a man sitting on a short post in a park. His name being Joshua was a great segue into the Bible, and we had quite a lengthy conversation going from this topic to that. However one thing which he brought up several times was the power of a name, firmly standing by the fact that if you have a Bible name, you are greatly blessed by God and are definitely one of His called children (...but only the good Bible names as I found out when asking him about Cain, Delilah, and others). Conversely he was very hesitant to accept that someone without a Bible name could be a son of God. Many times I tried to steer rather toward the Gospel, but, he didn't seem to want to follow that train of thought in an actual discussion; however he told me at one point to keep talking because he liked what I was saying, so perhaps God was indeed working in him. But please pray that the words he heard were of God and not from my flesh, that God would stir in him a hunger for something more than content with the emptiness of death he now holds inside.

...Samaria...

          From March 30 until April 5, Frontline is holding a Biblical Worldview Summit (like the first week of my training back in June) in Vereeniging, so I'll get to help with that. Our aim with this course is to reach those further north in South Africa who aren't able to make it down for the courses usually held in the Cape. We would appreciate your prayers for this as it draws near.
          You can also read more details about about the week here.

...and to the ends of the earth!

          Preceding the BWS, a small team of us will be heading up into Africa for another mission! The focus: Discipleship. we will be holding several seminars, working through two of Frontline's books on discipleship: Practical Discipleship and the Discipleship Training Manual. Our goal is to give a clear understanding of salvation and repentance in addition to discussing topics such as "I am not ashamed of the Gospel," suffering, revival, the beatitudes, wisdom vs. folly, and others. Please keep us in your prayers as we leave very soon for that. Pray for a hunger for revival and readiness to stand up against the darts of the prince of this world. pray that to those we minister, the light of Christ will spread.

Past Promptings

          It was four years ago, that Dad, John and I had the privilege of visiting a mission by the name of Kwasizabantu. The supernatural wonders that I saw there were amoung my most prominent earlier memories of seeing first-hand the power of God. After hearing a vibrant sermon by Erlo Stegen, we were shown around the grounds, extensively informed of some of the ministry that bloomed throughout the mission--a ministry based on the foundational recognition and repentance of one's sins, and acceptance of the Lordship of Christ; which then led to phenomenal healing both spiritually and physically!
          After that visit, I had recorded in my journal that I felt God calling me back to that place. I didn't write too much about it, because at the time, I hadn't seen how that would actually come together. I didn't know why God had placed it on my heart or even when and for how long I should return. Little did I know that God had in His plan, not only for me to go back and visit, but to share testimonies with the people there! Following this upcoming mission into Africa, and just before the BWS, the team will be doing exactly that. What's more, He's placed it on my birthday! God has such a sense of humour; what an amazing gift!!!

A Message of Thanks

I write this post to specifically thank those of you who have given so much towards my year here in Africa and pray it will provide encouragement to you of the might of our Saviour. How blessed it is to be a part of an eternal family, united together through the bonds of One whom no power could dare overthrow! As I continue in the work the Lord has prepared for me here, I am continuously and increasingly thankful for how He has provided for my needs through your support.

To Prayer Supporters:

To those of you who have committed yourselves to prayer, may the assurance of God’s active work here in Africa be an encouragement in your prayer life and a strengthening in your faith. Regretfully, much of the year has passed me by without a proper appreciation or even knowledge of the enormous impact of the power of prayer. “Of course someone going on a mission trip, doing the Lord’s work, following His guidance, needs the prayer of fellow believers,” I often thought, yet so little had I known of the weight of that very thought. Having grown up in a Christian home, with prayer an assumed part in my life, It has been much more of a practice than a reality, the reality of coming before the throne of God Almighty: omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent! to whom even the seraphim round His throne can only say Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts! How true it is that “fools rush in where angels dare to tread.” And I  have so often been one of those very fools, “just shooting up a quick prayer” here and there, or praying something from which even the next day I have ceased to look for how it was answered. But biggest of all has been my vagueness in prayer, where out of a laziness in seeking Him, I pray only in generalities. Yet even in through this, how incredibly humbling it is has been to think that there are brothers and sisters praying specifically for me in my spiritual walk, for the work the Lord has for me here, and regarding various concerns throughout this year!  I’m filled with such a tremendous joy to think that this year advances with His children on their knees before Him as He advances His kingdom here on earth. And what a blessing to have the very same Father, who hears our earnest prayers—Our…Holy…Father! Thank you so very much for your prayers regarding this year. God has indeed been at work throughout this continent, He is indeed at work in my own life. And His Name will continue to be praised as a result of His work!

To Financial Supporters:

For those of you who have sacrificed financially to support my year here, my gratitude goes deeply to you also! From covering the expenses of the missions I’ve been able to partake in so far, to things as simple as food, transport, etc., it’s is such a blessing to have the financial support to do so. As I think of the sacrifice this is for many, I am again very humbled at the thought, and through your support, God has provided me with all my needs so far. Thank you so much for all your generosity! And may God greatly bless you.

Thanks be to God

It is really quite hard to express my deep gratitude for all the support you guys have given me, but I thank first and foremost our Father in heaven, who has seen all and paved the way long before we travel it. Praise Him for His eternal work! Praise Him that He not only shows us the path He has laid out for us, but has already provided for us what He has seen we need. What a truly amazing God we serve!

Mission Orientation Weekend Report

A Few Talks and a Campfire

The Mission Orientation Weekend went very well, with 24 participants joining us on a vast, remote farm (about a 2 hrs drive north of Capetown). Starting Friday afternoon, we discussed cults and sects as well as secular humanism. Questions were many, and I was encouraged especially by the eagerness of those taking notes and asking. That evening, we had a time of singing, sharing missions stories, and worship in front of a fire. It was such an awesome time of hearing how God had worked in the lives of several others there, and ways He had used them and changed them in the process. To the others, I pray it continued in motivating and deepening their desire for missions.

Saturday’s Events

First time I've fired a revolver

            We started the next day with a 5:00 PT, running up one of the hills near the camp—an exercise which oddly few seemed too keen on. But the reward was great when the rising sunlight splashed over the clouded horizon. The day was filled with lectures on faith, evangelism, Islam, self-defense, Creation/Evolution, and a couple films. The one described Islam very thoroughly, while the other, Ee-Tauw, was the story of a mission couple’s tribal ministry in Papua New Guinea (well worth seeing!). For the Creation/Evolution talk, we had the privilege of hearing from Mark Labrum, in association with ‘Answers in Genesis.’ In addition to the lectures, we did an outreach for a few hours to a nearby town and in the afternoon were able to use the farm’s shooting range

Arab Threat!

            Throughout the weekend, there was a continually developing story we became a part of. We had gone into an Islam territory to bring in the Gospel. However the border was heavily guarded by Arab militia, obstructing us from crossing back over the border. Come Saturday night, we were waiting for a break in the guard, an opportunity to cross back into safety. And after a few hours’ sleep, the very opportunity had come! We woke the participants up at 2:00 for a river border crossing simulation, and amoung 3 teams, saw who could do it the most inconspicuously. We used the nearby pond as a river substitute while one of the leaders shone a spotlight from the top of his bakkie when he heard anything.

Sunday

            After completing the exercise, we all got a little more rest before church the next morning. Michael (who was on my previous Frontline missions) came in on the Sunday morning to give the sermon. He gave a very good message on faith. After talking with several of the people who had come and spending some time in prayer, we headed back home.

           

Praise in Answered Prayers

            Throughout the week, we saw a few people who were showed much eagerness in the lectures, who were keen to participate in the exercises, and who showed a genuine interest to carry on with missions. There were also many whom the camp didn’t seem very motivated at all, who didn’t show much of an interest at all to participate in and learn from the course. And yet the most encouraging thing through the entirety of the course was going into it knowing that God had already answered prayer; that He was convicting people of their sins, revealing Himself to those there so they might know Him more fully, and giving them a strong desire to become the fishers of men God has called them to be. I am eager to see how God has and will work in the lives of those who were there, and am so incredibly grateful that God has given us the gift and power of prayer at all. Praise His Name!

Upcoming Mission Orientation Weekend

          This upcoming weekend I'll be speaking at a Mission Orientation Weekend at Swartbergsvlei 4x4 grounds. Located "in the bush," the aim is to give people interested in missions a brief field experience and training ground. I'll be speaking on humanism tomorrow evening; then Saturday, following a presentation on the ideology and threat of Islam, I'll be talking about the love of Christ to ALL people groups and therefore the importance of our obedience in going to all nations with the Gospel of Salvation (On that note, if you haven't already seen the film More than Dreams, I would highly recommend it to you. Containing 5 testimonies of how God convicted and transformed people's lives into repentance through dreams, It is a great reminder of Christ's power and love).
          Please lift this weekend to the Lord in prayer for (1) a strong conviction of sin, (2) further insight into the understanding of God's character, and (3) a strong desire to go out as fishers of men in answer and obedience to His commission.

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD" ~Isaiah 2:3

Views from the Helderberg

A Glimpse of Jonah
          Last weekend, I hiked to the top of the Helderberg, one of the well known mountains of Somerset West. The sweat was running down as the heat of the day became more intense. No clouds in sight; no shade to walk by. However as I approached the top of the mountain, a thin canopy of cloud spread over the peak. I could suddenly feel the coolness of the breeze wafting by, and my mind suddenly began dwelling on the story of Jonah; the shade God provided him while on the hill; the shade which He took away. And I was much grateful for the cover above. However, I thought, surely the shade couldn't have been the lesson to Jonah; what was God teaching him?... Suddenly a cry echoed out over the rocks, and in the distance I could see two figures now at the top; a shout of victory! After a few minutes, I too hit the peak and was introduced to the men, Jeff and Carl. A very brief chat later, they were headed down the mountain. Opening then to Jonah, I began reading the fourth and last chapter to find what i failed to remember. And the portion which stuck with me, the same portion which I before had missed the significance of was this:

Then God said to Jonah, “Do you have good reason to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “I have good reason to be angry, even to death.” Then the LORD said, “You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?” (vs 9-11)

Prioritized Focus

          The prideful, grudging desires of and responses to the flesh will lead to hardened heart against all who are lost and dead, an unwillingness to carry out the Lord's work in ministry, even a distaste for the result of that work once carried out. So it was one thing to have been thanking God for shade that day, yet I hadn't lifted a finger to pray for and talk to the lost.

Daniel?… I know him!

The cross I made at the
peak from a plant

          I started down the mountain and before long had caught up with Jeff and Carl. While finding our way down the rocky portion, it came upon Carl to ask me to remind him of my name. He was quite mused that his brother was also named Daniel, and carried on to say that Daniel was indeed a great man. In complete agreement I concurred, adding also that he gave us may great examples. However Carl had in fact meant his brother and was skeptical that I actually knew him and this, how did I have this knowledge of him? When I proceeded to tell him I was referring to the Biblical character, his reply was, "Oh! No, I've moved beyond that stuff"... BAM!!! a completely open door into discussing God, discussing the Bible, discussing all sorts of things. Isn't it wonderful how God uses our pitiful mistakes and misconceptions in a conversation to carry out His precious work!

Fruitful Discussion
          From that moment for about an hour, as we hiked downward, there was such fruitful discussion about nature, physics throughout, nominal hypocritical Christians, various other religions, the existence of only one God amoung the millions which man has created, the destructiveness of following God for religion's sake, and other such topics. My heart was filled with such incredible joy in the Master's workings. Is their salvation not infinitely more precious than a mere patch of shade!

          Now I ask you to pray for these men, as Elijah once prayed for his servant: “O LORD, I pray, open [their] eyes that [they] may see." May God reveal Himself to them that they might clearly see Him through all that surrounds them

Jeff (left) and Carl (right)

South Sudan Mission Report

Shall We in Fact Go?

Crossing the Nile River in Uganda

          How were we to make it to South Sudan with the funding consistently falling short of our needed amount. The calling had been so strong to help the South Sudanese in their newly found need of discipleship--a newly established country, a new constitution, with great threats from the Islamic invasion of Sudan. In Joshua, when Israel was commanded to cross the Jordan, it was not until they had walked right into the water that the river was parted, that they were able to proceed in how God had led them. God required obedience before revealing His methods. 

Where the Lord Leads, He too Provides

          On September 27, a team of four of us set out from Capetown to train up and disciple the South Sudanese. A mere four hours into our journey, the phone rang. All the finances to enable us to reach South Sudan had been received. Praise to the omniscient Provider who knows our needs before us!

Unsurpassed Artwork

View from a mountain gorge of
one of Tanzania's vast expanses

The Great Rift Valley
as seen in Kenya

Victoria Falls
the smoke that thunders

          We continued through Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania and Uganda up into South Sudan. Throughout each country the beauty continually staggered me into an awe of the complexity and creativity of our creator. Passing through both the tropic of Capricorn of Northern South Africa and the equator in Uganda. From the sunrises, to the thundering splendour of the vast clouds, each new flower’s intricate design, the mighty expanses, and rugged mountains all declared the glory of God!

God Amoungst the Muslims

          While in Tanzania, Hunter and I met a man named Yakuti, a Muslim mechanic who helped with one of our trailer repairs. As we were having our quiet times while waiting for one of the men to finish welding, Yakuti, curious that we were reading the Bible, asked us if we were familiar with the Quran of his religion. What a perfect opportunity to share our faith with him. Although he believed both the Bible and the Quran he was unaware that the Bible explicitly stated that Jesus was THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life, and that no one came to the Father but through Him. once we showed Him directly from Scripture that one cannot be saved through Islam, but only through the way of the Master, he prayed for repentance then and there, tears of conviction rolling down his face. Now, Yakuti’s life is a proclamation of Christ’s immense power.

Pride before the Fall

One of the men who joined our

teacher training seminar

          God had many an opportunity for drilling me throughout our time in South Sudan, to reiterate His strength in my weakness; to tear down my high walls of pride, greatly hindering my relationship with God. Our ministry started out with a five day course to college students in the diocese of Kajo-Keji, giving lectures and devotions each day, showing films in the evenings, and going on outreaches to schools, chaplains, and local villages. After my first few lectures, I became very comfortable with presenting the talks, quite liking the positive and encouraging feedback of how I did, not realizing Satan’s decoys from the purpose of our mission: to minister, not entertain. Again and again I had to ask forgiveness for my prideful behaviour, and in response Christ didn’t just forgive me and move on. No, I was given more opportunities to lecture, each time seeking more to keep central focus on God, not merely on my presentation of Him. And the thing that encouraged me the most, that confirmed the power of His message, was this. As I was presenting, there were often times when participants didn’t seem to be listening or taking notes; but as soon as I mentioned a passage from Scripture, immediately the ink began to roll from their pens, as they were eagerly attentive to that of the Bible. What a blessing to see the hunger for God’s Word, for the message that changes life and converts the soul. We were able to do several various seminars and outreaches throughout the region, speaking at different churches and meetings, and again and again, the Lord was confirming His message through the people. Praise God for the work of His Holy Spirit!

Telling the story of Gideon
to chaplains

Participants in Kajo Keji

One of our best translators over-
joyed at receiving a study Bible

Turning Family against Family

Hymnbooks that survived the war

          We carried on our ministry northward throughout several other diocese and, as opposed to those in Kajo Keji, who having fled south to Uganda for the war had nearly no knowledge of the happenings thereof; plainly saw the heavy toll the war had taken on them. Bullet holes in the thatch, tombstones cracked, overgrown churches and schools which were the victims of air raids, and many other sights. However the effect of the war never really struck me until I was talking with one of the doctors we met, who described how in Khartoum where he had gone for schooling, he was forced by the Arabs to join the army and on threat of death forced to kill those from his hometown, including his own brother. I can’t imagine being put through that, the thought today still terrorizing him. Yet we know that Christ works ALL things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. With him and another friend, I had the priviledge of attending a time of hymns and worship held under a large mango tree, where we sang both English and Arabic songs. What a blessed time of fellowship!

One of the bombed churches

Eagerly reading their new literature

Bombed cathedral wall - rebuilt
since Frontline's last visit 

Redemption in Lui

          Also in Lui, stood Laro, the Slave Tree today known as the Salvation Tree; which is a truly a remarkable depiction of redemption. Used just less than 100 yeas ago by the slave trader Adilla to chain slaves where they were then sold to other traders and merchants passing through, this tree was the very location of the first prayer meeting held by Doctor Kenneth Fraizer upon his discovering of Lui in 1920. It also provided shade for many church services and times of worship, leaving a perfect illustration and reminder of God’s own redemption for us sinners. “I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see,” quoted slave trader John Newton after his conversion.

          I couldn’t help but be drawn to the immensity of God when looking at this tree. For under the same branches at which i stared, nearly a hundred years ago, slavery ran rampant under the rule of fierce Arab slave traders. To put myself in their position, I would be overwhelmed with this terrible atrocity, not knowing God’s sovereign plan for redemption in that very spot they were chained. How can we become so confused in God’s purpose when things seem to us to be out of place. Oh that we would find truly how to rest in His palm with faith enough not to question the trials we face.

Blessed with Malaria

Talking on the Ten Commadments (while with malaria)

          After a few weeks inside South Sudan, my health began failing, and to my initial dismay, a small mosquito had presented me with the gift of Malaria. However, this was indeed a blessing! For throughout its duration, not only was my prayer life was significantly strengthened as well as my trust in Christ’s supernatural strength, but He used in ways I hadn’t thought. My continual prayer was that through this God would be glorified in our ministry. I wasn’t sure exactly how this would work now, not being able to function well at all. But as soon as I stood up to talk and began with the material, Christ filled me with such a strength to talk and share with them. Then after we were finished with that discussion and i sat back down, the symptoms returned, until the next lecture...and so on. I felt better much talking in those times than in other lectures and am reminded now of Livingstone’s quote, “I am immortal till my work is accomplished.” Now I cannot say whether those listening gained more from those lectures than they would have otherwise, but I do know this. That through them, God was working boldly. For when we are weak, Christ is strong. If only we could more consistently and continually be not only weak in ourselves, but dead to all earthly pleas of the flesh.

Tongues of Fire!

          On our return trip through Uganda and Kenya, I was exposed to several Pentecostal churches; and although it was very interesting to see their heavy focus on the power of the Holy Spirit, it seemed in many instances they were using His power for their own gain, preaching a name it and claim it gospel. There was a huge vibe and response when preachers would tell the congregation that they would go in the power of God, and that with His Spirit in us that “we are living, breathing gods on earth” as said by a more extreme preacher. True, we cannot but rejoice in the tremendous power of the Holy Spirit, but when men use His blessed Name for personal gain, creating “a form of godliness,” we must be weary of their counsil, “tak[ing] every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

Living to Die

          It says in the Good Book, “He that honours Me, I will honour.” May we not continue with contentment in our own deeds, which in all their esteem amount to no more than wood, hay, and stubble; but rather a desire for His work, His kingdom on earth. May we seek in everything, with everything, to live a life fully comprised of service to God. What a privilege to be commanded to serve the Servant King.

"When God wants to drill a man...

                                                                       ...and thrill a man and skill a man;

When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part;

When He yearns with all His heart to create so great and bold a man,

That all the world might be amazed, watch His methods; watch His ways.

How he ruthlessly perfects whom He royally elects.

How He hammers and hurts him, and with mighty blows converts him

Into trial shapes of clay that only God understands,

While his tortured heart is crying, and he lifts beseeching hands.

How He bends but never breaks when His good He undertakes.

How He uses whom He chooses, and with mighty acts induces him

To try His splendor out; God knows what He’s about!”