Namibia News

I recently had the privilege to teach alongside Floyd McClung and invest in the lives of 70 leaders in Namibia.  It was such a joy to share with them some real life discipling principles and stories.


Some of the feedback we received said:

• Clarence: "I won't try to talk someone into something unless I've prayed their hearts ready to hear it."

• Anon: "I learnt how to approach someone in bringing them to Jesus. We've done it wrong. We judge too much."

• Mona: " I will disciple my friends into the love of Jesus. "

• Beverly: "I will apply this in the small group that I'm leading."

• Annemarie: "Evangelism is sometimes just hit-and-run. I will have patience in discipling people."

• "I've learnt that Leadership is not primarily about organizing events, but about shepherding people into Jesus and into healthy spiritual family."

• "I have been reluctant to take people from friendship to the next step in becoming followers of Jesus.  When I return to my country, Zambia, I will do it!"

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May I ask you to pray for these 70 leaders; right now, if possible. If the Holy Spirit lays anything in particular on your heart, or an encouraging Scripture comes to mind, please share.
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I cannot say thank you enough to everyone who supports us in our ministry through prayer, finances, encouragement, wise counsel, friendship, air-miles, technology, - - the list is endless. Together we are making great strides in advancing God's Kingdom of Love.
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[Click here for more about our training and ministry opportunities.]

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Malawi to Mazambique to MyHome

Friends, I cannot tell you how many times we have been called "my friend" in the last few weeks :)
I have been 'friend' to
*steetvendors,
*money changers,
*car guards,
*freelance border-post guides,
and a whole lot of other friendly Africans wanting to make a quick buck, metical, kwacha, pula, or rand.

We just crossed the Mozambique - South African border and I love being back in our beautiful country. Sure there's lots of room for improvement but we have so much to be thankful for.

MALAWI - the warm heart of Africa.
We could not have arrived at a better time. Due to numerous unforseen challenges, our cross-border team was facing many difficulties. The team was gracious enough to allow us to speak into the situation, share from our own experience, and bring some much-needed encouragement. This morning we received a report that things have greatly improved.
All of us stayed in tents in the back yard of a wonderful Malawi couple, Oliver and Rhoda. They did our training a few years ago and are moving strong in bringing Jesus to the people of Mangochi!

MOZAMBIQUE:
Due to numerous roadblocks, potholes and little villages scattered all along the highway, it takes much longer than you would expect to drive from North to South in this beautiful country. Someone blessed us with accomodation near Inhambane, and for the 1st time on our trip we had to put our trusted Toyota Condor in 4-wheel drive so we could plough through some thick sand to get to the cabin. I happened to be behind the wheel and loved every moment of it!
Yesterday was our last pastoral visit of this trip. Near the capital city of Maputu lies Matolo where we visited two All Nations orphanages under the leadership of Pieter and Rika Boersma. They are giving their most for the least. As a result of our visit we now have much stronger relations and are looking forward to more synergy coming from our partnership in ministry.

Obrigado (thank you) to everyone who helped make this trip possible through financial support and prayers.

-from somewhere on the road back to Cape Town...

Archie

Zambia, Vic Falls and lots of driving

May 15: Shashe Mooke to Livingstone
Another full day with:
* lots of driving!
* elephants on the side of the road,
* border crossing between Botswana and Zambia (that included a ferry ride across the mighty Zambesi river ),  and
* visit to an orphanage on the banks of the Zambesi.

Sure we didn't have running water most of the time, but who cares if you have a thick mattres to sleep on and...Internet to stay in touch with our loved ones :)

May 16: Livingstone and Villages
There's no better way to start the day than enjoying a good cup of coffee at Wonderbake for only 3Kwacha (R5 or about half a $)
Two of us drove out to the village for a strategic meeting with one of the key guys in the ministry. (Squeezed in 2 hours of birdwatching :)

After picking up fastfood from 'HungryLion' - Africa's version of KFC - we were off to the mighty VICTORIA FALLS!

For more info check out: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/509 .
Imagine all the superlatives you can think of and multiply that x100. That would not even bring you close to describe this majestic work of God's hands.
Revelations 1:15 speaks of His Voice being like the rush of mighty waters. I think Vic Falls comes pretty close!

May 17: Livingstone to Malawi border
Yesterday we noticed a diesel leak on our trusted Toyota Condor, which was really worrying.
I guess maaany people are covering us in prayer. Within one hour and only R 180 later we were back on track for another full day on the road to the Malawi border.

The next 3 days with our Malawi team are extremely important in many ways.
Please pray that we will be mightily used by God.

(Archie, reporting live from somewhere close to Lusaka, Zambia, on behalf of the pastoral care team)

Austen in "bush school"

I am so proud of our son. Today he did double the amount of work so he can be free tomorrow.
Please pray that this trip will have a lasting influence on his life to live missionally!

Botswana: pastoral care team visit

It's only been 24 hours since we have linked up with our team in Shashe Mooke, near Francistown, towards the east of Botswana. Our local team is moving fast and we are so proud of them. Let me restate that: God is moving fast through the obedience of our team!

Shashe Mooke is hungry for God. There has been healings, confessions and deliverance of substance abuse, new decisions for Jesus, new life being breathed into a local church, discovery Bible studies popping up everywhere! It is so refreshing to see firsthand what God is doing through the lives of our CPX students.
"It's the kind of stuff you only see on God TV." (Said by one of our guys, Paul, as we sat around the fire tonight)
This team is working hard and God is giving them amazing favour among the people in the community.

We are trusting God that our team will lay down a strong foundation for a disciplemaking movement in Shashe Mooke!

Here's that team picture I promised. From left to right:
Archie and Austen van der Byl
Shane Duffield
Sonja Muller
Victor and Neo Fercho

Travel Journal: Cape Town to Botswana and a bit more...

We left Africa House in Cape Town at 10.30 PM on Thursday, May 9.2013.
Our team, picture will follow, but for now, here are the names:

Archie & Austen van der Byl
Shane Duffield
Sonja Muller
Viktor and Neo Fercho

(Right now we are somewhere on the road between Gaborone and Shashe Mooke - towards the north east of Botswana.
Roads are great and I did not expect having internet access here.

Day 1: Friday, May 10
Driving, driving and more driving, until we reached Molopo-Oog, halfway between Lichtenburg & Mahikeng.
Highlights: Grilled Chicken burgers with Jimmy Sauce, warm shower, rowing, and fishing for the boys...followed by a good night's sleep in warm beds.
Word of Wisdom for the day: Victor says that he once shared a dorm room with 20 young guys.
Some were snoring, gnashing teeth, talked in their sleep, groaning, etc. He thought to himself: a fireplace can be quite noisy; yet we view it as something soothing. So, from then on he decided to enjoy all the background noises people were producing in their sleep.

Day 2:  Last bit of shopping in Zeerust before an uneventful border crossing into Botswana.
Fast food in Gabarone (capital city)
I'm amazed at how many of the South African franchises and products are available in Botswana. Nandos, Mugg&Bean, HiFi corporation, Game, Shoprite, Pep, etc.
And then more D-r-i-v-i-n-g!!!

Basically... 2 days of driving to get to our first team visit, but we know it will be worth it!

From South-Africa to southern Africa

To all our intercessors and prayer warriors: please print & pray.