April 2011

We are not called to live a life of significance, but obedience.

From a life of obedience significant things will happen...

 

Jason Upton has a song called “just like you” in which he sings, “it is my weakness that perfects Your power.” The funny thing is, Paul wrote it ages ago (2 Corinthians 12:9). It’s only through experiencing something first hand that we truly understand it, and the power behind it. It’s only in dying to ourselves that Christ can live, it’s only in admitting that we can’t do it that God comes and does it.

This is something I’ve really experienced first hand this year. The hard way… I wasn't saved from a life of drugs, sex or alcoholism, but religion. Which is actually worse, because you think you’re ok. And many times this year I’ve seen how I fall back into religion and back into works. Trying to do what only God can. Trying to add something to God’s undeserved grace in my life.

I’ve already had a couple of times this year where I would feel REALLY frustrated,  tired and in the midst of it all I would lack faith. God allowed me to get stuck in this place of frustration so that I can clearly see that I CAN NOT DO THIS. I need Him. John 15 - If you abide in the vine then you will bear much fruit & Apart from Me (Jesus) you can do nothing. I really needed to repent of self effort and dead works, of a lack of faith and not trusting God. I allowed my circumstances and my emotions (my reality) to influence my faith and God’s reality. It’s in resting in Him that we find success. Relying on His strength and DAILY admitting to ourselves (because God already knows) that we need God. We can’t do anything of any eternal value out of our own strength.

The moment we realize that we are weak, and that it is OK to be weak, then God is strong. Realizing this I’ve stopped to try and do something and just surrender fully to God. This has brought fourth such a peace and freedom in my relationship with God. Taking of the burden of trying to be perfect - because we can’t so that just leads to guilt and condemnation. And our mission to Mozambique is a huge testimony of this. God used unskilled people to do the work of the skilled. When you surrender His grace empowers you.

May my mistakes inspire you to first surrender and THEN ask, “God what do YOU want to do through me…?”

Spending some time with the family...

I was privileged to get to spend some time with my family over Easter weekend. I went down to Douglas (Northern Cape) the Monday before Easter Friday with the hope of going to see potential partners. The Tuesday I started to feel a bit ill and the Wednesday it was confirmed that I have malaria. I spent 3 nights in  hospital in Kimberley, which were really not the highlight of my time “home”, but God used that to really just break this word of dying to myself in my heart. I got to spend a couple of days at home and I had an excuse to catch up on some TV.

It turned out that 7 of the 11 mission team  members got sick. We have all  recovered and we’re ready to go again. It just shows that the enemy attacks when we are gaining ground for the Kingdom of God. So getting malaria from going on a successful missions trip to Mozambique is definitely not a discouragement, but and absolute encouragement. We are on the right track!

Being sick was not nice, but I did get to spend Easter Weekend with my family which was awesome...

Prayer:

PLEASE pray with me for Centurion Academy. It is a very religious culture and the students try to sidetrack discipleship. I see a campus filled with God-honoring disciples filling the workplaces of our nation, making disciples and advancing the Kingdom of God. Humanly speaking its impossible, but with God all things are possible (Luke 1:37). Pray with me for lost people to be saved and for  students to be discipled...

 

Mozambique Mission Feedback

Mozambique Mission
1 - 10 April 2011

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On the 1st of April 11 of us embarked on a mission for which we, in our own strength, were not nearly equipped to do. God chose 11 “wonderfully weird” people (as Sasha described us) for a unique purpose and a devine encounter...

The team: Dawid du Plessis (team leader), Jaco Oldewage, Rudo Ellis, Kennedy Manyike, Miemie du Plessis, Sasha Stroebel, Danja Kühn, Luhanri Le Roux, Nicol Albertyn, Michelle Gouwes and Nicole Matthee.

We visited Kees and his family at the Maforga Christian Mission  station where they run a boys orphanage, a Bible school and a prayer house. Our main purpose was to equip the Bible school students with an effective method through which they can disciple their own people and also to install a stolen bore hole pump in a nearby village (Rubotane) to give the people access to clean water.


The first morning in Mozambique I stood for a moment just taking in the beauty around me and I became so aware of how it is not us coming to bless them, but them blessing us… The Sunday after we arrived we joined them for their church      service. I was challenged by their simplicity through which they worship and serve God. Someone (without any formal order) would stand up and lead the congregation in a song. The “band” (two people playing on accordions) would play around trying to find the right key and once they have it they groove. Then someone else who stand up and lead a song and the process would be repeated. At one point a lady stood up with a baby on her hip and she started leading the church!

No barriers. In simplicity they just love God. I think in the westernized church we have grown dependent on “things” in order to respond to God. In Mozambique I saw people with nothing filled with a joy, peace and freedom that is often lacking in my life.

We were received with so much love. One of the boys, Nelito, wrote me a letter upon arriving asking whether I would be his friend. During our time their he would follow me and make sure I am ok. We had the amazing privilege of building into the lives of these young boys! I’ve received an email from Nelito just saying that he is praying for me and looking forward to our next visit. I’m humbled.

The Bible school consists of about 35 students coming from the surrounding villages, faithfully attending even through drenching rain storms! We had 3 days to teach the students on discipleship using a method that takes them into the scripture and exposes the Sin, Promise, Example, Command end Knowledge inside the scripture (SPECK).

We had to use translators from English to Portuguese which cut the effective teaching time in more than half. The aim was to equip the students to be disciples themselves and to reach out and disciple their own people. Transitioning into a church planting movement.

As part of the teaching we had two practical days where they could apply what they have learnt. And this would be the test whether the teachings have been effective. On Thursday afternoon we went into Seserre, a nearby village, and went from house to house where the students would go and share the gospel. They were also invited to a showing of the Jesus Film that evening. Many showed up and many responded to the gospel, committing their lives to Christ!

The Friday was the real challenge. They (the students) had to teach what we have taught them to 65 leaders from nearby communities. God just showed that it was His purposes and plans and He would be the one making it work. The students completely understood the method and explained it to the leaders in absolute simplicity and practicality. We literally didn't have to say a word. We were amazed and in awe of a very very faithful God...

While the students were doing the teaching work we were free to complete the work on the bore hole pump. We had our challenges with typical Mozambique rain, power failures and wrong fittings, but the people from Rubotane now again have easy access to clean water.

We also spent a day with about 600 (of over 1000) orphans who are looked after through home based care and were able to bless them with food which they regarded  as Christmas food. Bringing joy to others brings joy to yourself!

Thanks to the financial support of many we were able to really be a blessing to the people of Maforga,  Seserre, Rubotane and many more. The soccer team was blessed with a complete kit and soccer balls, the girls had the opportunity to design their own photo frames and for many of them this is the first photo they have ever had of themselves. And the girls on the team really blended in and had their hair braided just as the locals did it...

 

Coming back we’ve received a testimony following the outreach to Seserre. Here is a short extract:

So as we went to Seserre to redeem the village and pray for the village and we showed the Jesus film last week, what happened afterwards is that many were touched and the churches were full on Sunday. The owner of the local cinema, a shack with a big television and dvd player went to Chimoio to look for the Jesus film and next night they showed it. As two students live close by, they heard and went to see, they stood up afterwards and preached and the people (the shack was filled) were convicted and asked what they should do (Acts 2:37), the students preached and prayed all the way till midnight and the people threw publicly the bottles of alcohol away and wanted to come to Serre's (one of the Bible shool leaders) group. But the group is so big now so they decided to split it up in several groups all over Sesserre.

We are going back to Mozambique from the 27th of June - 1st of July to continue equipping the students and aiding them in raising up leaders that will disciple their nation and their people. Please continue to pray for us as a church and for the people of Mozambique. Especially Kees and his family (www.keesandsarah.com) as they live the Kingdom. And who knows, maybe God is calling you to go along, to not just read about it, but tell it!

In the space on 10 days hot water became a luxury in my life, my fear for spiders is significantly smaller, my heart for nations grew significantly larger and I’ve been touched by people who will most probably never know the extent to which they have touched me.

I have learnt that as we go and meet the needs of others we have the needs in our own hearts met. Often not even knowing that they were there. Thank you God for Your love and Your faithfulness.

Moçambique - Até logo....