Well, we have arrived in South Africa and I am at Christ Seminary in their computer lab writing this post. It has been very eventful since the last time I wrote, and I am sure you all have already heard about some of our situations that we were in, including the accident with the young man that was hit with the combi (van). I am not going to go into any details about that here, or even our breakdowns afterward, but only to say that in all things God has been so gracious to us and has protected us from every and all adversity we have faced. Satan has tried to distract us from the work we came to do, but we are not going to let him discourage us.
God showed us great and mighty things as we travelled up to the northern region of Malawi. What we saw was a group of people who were eager to hear the gospel, hungry to be fed the word of God, and yet not many learned people or bibles with which to learn and grow. Each team member has specific people that they were impacted by, and how great the need is for a good solid basic understanding of the gospel of our Lord. Indeed, the fields are white and ripe for the harvest. We really do need laborers who are willing to go to this people in remote places, without electricity, or phones, and even limited clean water. Those who are willing to sacrifice in order to reach the lost for Christ. Going there can only leave your heart broken over the great need for the Lord's workers to reach these people. May God indeed provide such workers.
It is so good to be in the beautiful countryside here in Polokwane. This is the Africa I have grown to love. Not that Malawi is not on my heart, because it is so very much. But if God were calling me back to the mission field, this is where I could see us going (sorry, Julie). What is going on here at Christ Baptist Church is very exciting and I think is what the people of Africa need. They need to continue to grow this method of training African pastors, teachers, and missionaries to model a bible centered church that looks to the gospel as the means to reach their world for Christ. Not only do they have the Seminary here, but they also have a missions program where people can come on short-term missions trips and help share the gospel to various peoples groups here in SA. I do not have more details for you now, but will bring home much information about that ministry.
This Seminary is why we have sent 2 Malawi men here to be trained. Men like this is what is needed to go and reach the north of Malawi for Christ. Men who are trained with a solid Biblical foundation and are able to properly teach and train their congregations how to reach maturity in Christ. This is what is so desperately needed in the churches in Malawi.
Well, my time is up and I must go have lunch with the students. I am looking forward to it.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
God is Good!
Wow!!!! This was so much different than we could have ever imagined. It was so very interesting when we drove up the countryside on our way to Mzusu. For the first 150 Kilometers it was very similar to Namibia, and I was kind of homesick for there. Then we started to get into the mountains of northern Malawi and everything changed. It looked kind of like our mountains but with a distinctive African twist. There were trees of Africa mixed with many trees we would see in the States. Then, would you believe we started seeing pine trees. That is right, pine trees. There is the largest man-made pine tree forests in southern Africa in Malawi. That was a shock.
When we got to Mzusu we got our second shock. After a bumpy ride down several torn-up dirt streets with houses on the side, we came around the corner to a sea of people with the women dressed up in purple and white dresses, singing and dancing their hearts out. We got out of the car and they proceeded to parade us around and then into the house, where we were seated like kings in Brasswells living room. All this time they continued to sing to us. Then there were several introductions on all sides and we were each asked to share a word with them. I was so proud of the boys and what they had to say. Then they fed us and again they treated us like kings. I am sure the food we ate was way beyond the churches means. We were indeed humbled.
Yesterday we travelled up here to Rumphi, and then went on to the Beteri training center which is about a 30 minute ride out of town on old dirt roads. When we got there we received almost the same greeting as we received before. We then got into meeting, and Charlie spoke first about servant leadership. Then after a long break so the others could eat (we did not), then we met again and Dan shared with the pastors on the importance of the gospel and how they need to be bold, gentle and blameless with the gospel. Then we had trouble with our accomodations (they were poor for Brasswell's standards) so we needed to go and make other arrangements. The place is quite modest, but I am sure top notch for this area.
Today, it was my turn to teach. After several small delays, we were off. Down the road we went. Then all of a sudden, an alarm in the combi (van) went off. Long story short, we were out of water. And we were also low on oil. We were stranded with what seemed like no option. Then someone came with some water and we began to fill up the reservuoir with water. We were stuck there between an hour and 1 1/2 hours. I began to think God did not want me to teach today. But, we finally got the engine cooled down, and got back on the road and to Beteri. God was so kind to me and gave me exactly what He wanted them to hear. After a break for a late lunch, then Charlie shared the vision of Coast for a shared responsibility for the building of the training center there. Because it was so late, we could not travel to Kalopa today. So, we had to arrange lodging at the same place as last night, and tomorrow morning, bright and early, we should be headed to Kalopa. We may even see animals tomorrow.
Well, I must go. Please continue to pray for us. We have had many bumps in the road that I have not had time to share, but God has been so good and faithful. Pray that we continue to be kind to one another and not get on each others nerves. The next 2 days will probably be the hardest of the trip. But, if the last 2 days are any indication, our hearts will continue to be blessed beyond our comprehension. Our lives will forever be changed by this experiences for sure. The people here have to trust God in ways we just cannot possibly understand. God is Good!
When we got to Mzusu we got our second shock. After a bumpy ride down several torn-up dirt streets with houses on the side, we came around the corner to a sea of people with the women dressed up in purple and white dresses, singing and dancing their hearts out. We got out of the car and they proceeded to parade us around and then into the house, where we were seated like kings in Brasswells living room. All this time they continued to sing to us. Then there were several introductions on all sides and we were each asked to share a word with them. I was so proud of the boys and what they had to say. Then they fed us and again they treated us like kings. I am sure the food we ate was way beyond the churches means. We were indeed humbled.
Yesterday we travelled up here to Rumphi, and then went on to the Beteri training center which is about a 30 minute ride out of town on old dirt roads. When we got there we received almost the same greeting as we received before. We then got into meeting, and Charlie spoke first about servant leadership. Then after a long break so the others could eat (we did not), then we met again and Dan shared with the pastors on the importance of the gospel and how they need to be bold, gentle and blameless with the gospel. Then we had trouble with our accomodations (they were poor for Brasswell's standards) so we needed to go and make other arrangements. The place is quite modest, but I am sure top notch for this area.
Today, it was my turn to teach. After several small delays, we were off. Down the road we went. Then all of a sudden, an alarm in the combi (van) went off. Long story short, we were out of water. And we were also low on oil. We were stranded with what seemed like no option. Then someone came with some water and we began to fill up the reservuoir with water. We were stuck there between an hour and 1 1/2 hours. I began to think God did not want me to teach today. But, we finally got the engine cooled down, and got back on the road and to Beteri. God was so kind to me and gave me exactly what He wanted them to hear. After a break for a late lunch, then Charlie shared the vision of Coast for a shared responsibility for the building of the training center there. Because it was so late, we could not travel to Kalopa today. So, we had to arrange lodging at the same place as last night, and tomorrow morning, bright and early, we should be headed to Kalopa. We may even see animals tomorrow.
Well, I must go. Please continue to pray for us. We have had many bumps in the road that I have not had time to share, but God has been so good and faithful. Pray that we continue to be kind to one another and not get on each others nerves. The next 2 days will probably be the hardest of the trip. But, if the last 2 days are any indication, our hearts will continue to be blessed beyond our comprehension. Our lives will forever be changed by this experiences for sure. The people here have to trust God in ways we just cannot possibly understand. God is Good!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
We are here!
We have arrived. We are exhausted, but we have made it all in one piece. God is very good and he has provided for us at every step. We have many stories to tell already and we have not even arrived at our destination. We are in Lilongwe, Malawi, and after what we hope to be a good night sleep we will make the 330 kilometer drive to Mzusu in the morning. It will take most, if not all of the day to get there. Then the real stories will begin.
Please keep us in your prayers. It has been very challenging so far, but we have seen that God is faithful and has provided for all our needs. We had a hitch in NY with our bags, but God has been gracious to us and we received all our bags and everything we bought appears to be here too. Brian got sick before dinner and went to bed without eating. We think it was exhaustion and motion from the plane. We will see.
I am not sure if I will have any access to the computer before we come back here to the ABC Bible College next Monday. If I can get access somewhere, I will give you some update. I wish I could write more, but the time has come, and we must go to bed. It will start very early in the morning.
God is doing great things!
Please keep us in your prayers. It has been very challenging so far, but we have seen that God is faithful and has provided for all our needs. We had a hitch in NY with our bags, but God has been gracious to us and we received all our bags and everything we bought appears to be here too. Brian got sick before dinner and went to bed without eating. We think it was exhaustion and motion from the plane. We will see.
I am not sure if I will have any access to the computer before we come back here to the ABC Bible College next Monday. If I can get access somewhere, I will give you some update. I wish I could write more, but the time has come, and we must go to bed. It will start very early in the morning.
God is doing great things!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Goodbye & God Bless
Well, with less than 34 hours left before we leave LAX, this might just be the last post I do before we leave. We are practically packed, and we are about as prepared as we are going to be for this trip. It is so exciting and yet at the same time very difficult to believe that the time has come. What seemed like dream a year ago is becoming a reality before our eyes.
It is amazing to see how God answers prayer. I will confess to you here that for a while I have been praying for God to lead Brian in a spiritual direction as he enters into his adult life. Not that he has been lacking spiritually. I must say I have seen the hand of the Lord on Brian's life long before I began praying for his spiritual wellbeing. But, it is hard as the Lord is changing me (and wow has HE been changing me), not to have high spiritual ambitions for my children, especially my oldest. We want him to become the man that God wants him to be, and yet I cannot help but ask if He would not have full time ministry planned for Brian. And with that, here we are. Without any prompting from myself in this matter, Brian expressed a burning desire to see firsthand what God is doing literally half way around the world. And now, we are just moments away from an experience that will change his life! Do not get me wrong, I do not interpret this as God's calling Brian to go into missions, but I do know this is all part of God's sovereign plan for Brian's life, and I am just so pleased to be an eyewitness to God's answers to many tearful prayers.
I cannot go on and speak about all the things on my heart right now. There are so many things I have wanted to share. I still have not shared the mindset that has been molding me most for the last 7 months. That will have to wait until later. I will be teaching on it with the people of Malawi, and I promise to share it in great detail with those who will read after I come back. But, just so you are not totally in the dark, it is the subject of Jesus as our Lord (Kurios), and his disciples (Christians) who are his slaves (doulos).
I do need to go. I still need to prepare for the other main topic I want to teach on, worship of God. It is so much more than singing songs on Sunday morning. It is about everything we do. What we look to for joy, happiness, and satisfaction. And if we worship anything other than God, then we are no more than idol worshippers.
Please pray for us. Pray for our safety, and for our health. Pray that we would say what the people of Malawi need to hear from the Lord. Pray for our families as we are away from them. Pray for the ministries we will leave behind that the Lord will provide for them while we are away. I am always amazed at how God is sovereign and has planned everything from before the foundation of time, and yet we are to pray and ask God to work in ours and other peoples lives. Then He blesses us by meeting those needs far beyond all that we could ask or think. It keeps reminding us that we have nothing else in which to trust, and that God is faithful to those He has chosen to be His slaves.
Here is our itinerary so you can keep up with where we are suppose to be. Remember there is a 9 hour difference ahead (from PT) where we are going, so we will be ending our day as you begin yours.
God bless each of you and may His hand guide all of our steps until we are together again.
Malawi 2008 Proposed Itinerary:
Oct 10th (Fr) Depart LAX at 6:15AM PDT on United Airlines UA 84; Arrive JFK at 2:30PM EDT
Depart JFK at 5:20PM EDT on South African Airways SA 204
Oct 11th (Sa) Arrive JHB at 5:00PM; taxi to BIMS House in Harmelia; meet Brasswell; stay overnight
Oct 12th (Su) Taxi back to JHB; Depart at 11:30AM on SA 170; Arrive Lilongwe, Malawi at 1:55PM;
Rendevou with Brian Beidebach at airport for transport to African Bible College for overnight stay and ministry overview
Oct 13th (Mo) Kondwane (Brian’s driver) will drive us to Rumphi (full day travel)
Oct 14th (Tu) Ministry with Brasswell in and around Rumphi and Betere
Oct 15th (We) Ministry with Brasswell in and around Rumphi and Betere
Oct 16th (Th) Ministry with Brasswell in and around Kalopa
Oct 17th (Fr) Ministry with Brasswell in and around Kalopa
Oct 18th (Sa) Ministry with Brasswell in and around Mzuzu
Oct 19th (Su) Ministry with Brasswell in and around Mzuzu
Oct 20th (Mo) Drive from Rumphi back to Lilongwe for overnight stay at African Bible College
Oct 21st (Tu) Depart Lilongwe at 2:45PM on SA 171 to arrive in Johannesburg at 5:15PM
Oct 22nd (We) Christ Seminary and Christ Baptist Church
Oct 23rd (Th) Christ Seminary and Christ Baptist Church
Oct 24th (Fr) Depart Polokwane at 3:40PM on SA 8812; Arrive JHB at 4:45
Depart JHB at 7:10PM on SA 203; Arrive JFK at 7:05AM EDT
Oct 25th (Sa) Depart JFK at 11:55AM EDT on UA 87; Arrive LAX at 3:07PM PDT
It is amazing to see how God answers prayer. I will confess to you here that for a while I have been praying for God to lead Brian in a spiritual direction as he enters into his adult life. Not that he has been lacking spiritually. I must say I have seen the hand of the Lord on Brian's life long before I began praying for his spiritual wellbeing. But, it is hard as the Lord is changing me (and wow has HE been changing me), not to have high spiritual ambitions for my children, especially my oldest. We want him to become the man that God wants him to be, and yet I cannot help but ask if He would not have full time ministry planned for Brian. And with that, here we are. Without any prompting from myself in this matter, Brian expressed a burning desire to see firsthand what God is doing literally half way around the world. And now, we are just moments away from an experience that will change his life! Do not get me wrong, I do not interpret this as God's calling Brian to go into missions, but I do know this is all part of God's sovereign plan for Brian's life, and I am just so pleased to be an eyewitness to God's answers to many tearful prayers.
I cannot go on and speak about all the things on my heart right now. There are so many things I have wanted to share. I still have not shared the mindset that has been molding me most for the last 7 months. That will have to wait until later. I will be teaching on it with the people of Malawi, and I promise to share it in great detail with those who will read after I come back. But, just so you are not totally in the dark, it is the subject of Jesus as our Lord (Kurios), and his disciples (Christians) who are his slaves (doulos).
I do need to go. I still need to prepare for the other main topic I want to teach on, worship of God. It is so much more than singing songs on Sunday morning. It is about everything we do. What we look to for joy, happiness, and satisfaction. And if we worship anything other than God, then we are no more than idol worshippers.
Please pray for us. Pray for our safety, and for our health. Pray that we would say what the people of Malawi need to hear from the Lord. Pray for our families as we are away from them. Pray for the ministries we will leave behind that the Lord will provide for them while we are away. I am always amazed at how God is sovereign and has planned everything from before the foundation of time, and yet we are to pray and ask God to work in ours and other peoples lives. Then He blesses us by meeting those needs far beyond all that we could ask or think. It keeps reminding us that we have nothing else in which to trust, and that God is faithful to those He has chosen to be His slaves.
Here is our itinerary so you can keep up with where we are suppose to be. Remember there is a 9 hour difference ahead (from PT) where we are going, so we will be ending our day as you begin yours.
God bless each of you and may His hand guide all of our steps until we are together again.
Malawi 2008 Proposed Itinerary:
Oct 10th (Fr) Depart LAX at 6:15AM PDT on United Airlines UA 84; Arrive JFK at 2:30PM EDT
Depart JFK at 5:20PM EDT on South African Airways SA 204
Oct 11th (Sa) Arrive JHB at 5:00PM; taxi to BIMS House in Harmelia; meet Brasswell; stay overnight
Oct 12th (Su) Taxi back to JHB; Depart at 11:30AM on SA 170; Arrive Lilongwe, Malawi at 1:55PM;
Rendevou with Brian Beidebach at airport for transport to African Bible College for overnight stay and ministry overview
Oct 13th (Mo) Kondwane (Brian’s driver) will drive us to Rumphi (full day travel)
Oct 14th (Tu) Ministry with Brasswell in and around Rumphi and Betere
Oct 15th (We) Ministry with Brasswell in and around Rumphi and Betere
Oct 16th (Th) Ministry with Brasswell in and around Kalopa
Oct 17th (Fr) Ministry with Brasswell in and around Kalopa
Oct 18th (Sa) Ministry with Brasswell in and around Mzuzu
Oct 19th (Su) Ministry with Brasswell in and around Mzuzu
Oct 20th (Mo) Drive from Rumphi back to Lilongwe for overnight stay at African Bible College
Oct 21st (Tu) Depart Lilongwe at 2:45PM on SA 171 to arrive in Johannesburg at 5:15PM
Oct 22nd (We) Christ Seminary and Christ Baptist Church
Oct 23rd (Th) Christ Seminary and Christ Baptist Church
Oct 24th (Fr) Depart Polokwane at 3:40PM on SA 8812; Arrive JHB at 4:45
Depart JHB at 7:10PM on SA 203; Arrive JFK at 7:05AM EDT
Oct 25th (Sa) Depart JFK at 11:55AM EDT on UA 87; Arrive LAX at 3:07PM PDT
Friday, October 3, 2008
The Lord says "GO"
The time is upon us. In just 1 week, Dan, Charles, Josiah, Brian and I will embark on the long trip to Malawi, if the Lord wills. As Dan stated to us last night in our final planning meeting, this is all surreal. Indeed it is. We went over all the final details, made a plan for attacking the final needs, and are really close to physically being ready to go. The truth is, I would leave in the morning if I could. I can hardly wait to see what the Lord is doing amongst His people in Africa to prepare His bride. I am very excited.
I am reminded in John Piper's book, Don't Waste Your Life, why we as representatives of Coast Community are going on this trip to Malawi. He talks in chapter 9 "The Majesty of Christ in Missions and Mercy" of the heart and desire Christ has to take His message to the ends of the earth and to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). He has chosen to use His disciples (Christians) to do this. Whether we are the ones to actually go, or whether we support others through prayer and our finances, we as believers are responsible to be the hands, feet, and mouths of Jesus Christ to peoples who need to hear the message for perhaps the first time. This is not an option, it is the purpose we are here for.
Thanks to the missions team at Coast, the 5 of us are about to get a small taste of what it looks like to "go". Of course this is not like those who God give an unyielding desire for the hearts of those that have been unable to hear of God's mercy, and cast aside the callings of this world and make it their life's mission to enlist His elect into His heavenly kingdom. But we will get to, in some small way, be a part of this glorious work that God continues to do until all is fulfilled and His kingdom is complete. Wow, what a privilege!
What we get to do is special, and what I think fits right into some of the gifts God has graciously given me. We get to encourage the body of Christ in the towns we will be visiting. This means we will teach the congregations from God's word to strengthen their faith. We will have opportunity to admonish the leaders and the pastor's of these churches to faithfully and accurately grow up their congregations in the knowledge of our Savior Jesus as He has revealed Himself in the Holy Scriptures. These things will happen in different ways. One will be organized meetings where one of us adults will be allowed to teach on different subjects. Another way will be in our casual times of fellowship. When we are travelling with some of the pastors, we will have many opportunities understand their needs and culture, and show them things in God's word that may help them to see Christ better.
I am sure that in all of this, I will be blessed, convicted and taught even more than they will. This will probably be the case with all of us. It would be presumptuous to think that we have all the answers and knowledge. As Paul tells the church in Rome in Romans 1:11-12, his intention was to impart to them some spiritual gift, and that he would be encouraged by their faith. God is always faithful, and there has never been a time when I have with open hands been a willing vessel to be used as He sees fit, where the blessing I receive is far greater than the small offering that I give. And that is just here on this earth. He has promised far greater in the life to come, and as such I cannot begin to fathom what awaits us in His glorious kingdom.
Please continue to pray for us. Each of us has much still to prepare for our teaching opportunities. We need strength, diligence, and most importantly the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us the right words to speak. That starts here as we plan and organize our thoughts. Also pray for the young men who are going. I am confident that God has planned for them far beyond their wildest imaginations on this trip, and it is my hope that their eyes will be opened to things they never even dreamed of. Pray that they will never be the same again. Pray that we all will come back as different people, more and more conformed into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To Him be the honor and glory and praise forever and forever. May our Jesus find us worthy to being numbered as one of His slaves.
I am reminded in John Piper's book, Don't Waste Your Life, why we as representatives of Coast Community are going on this trip to Malawi. He talks in chapter 9 "The Majesty of Christ in Missions and Mercy" of the heart and desire Christ has to take His message to the ends of the earth and to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). He has chosen to use His disciples (Christians) to do this. Whether we are the ones to actually go, or whether we support others through prayer and our finances, we as believers are responsible to be the hands, feet, and mouths of Jesus Christ to peoples who need to hear the message for perhaps the first time. This is not an option, it is the purpose we are here for.
Thanks to the missions team at Coast, the 5 of us are about to get a small taste of what it looks like to "go". Of course this is not like those who God give an unyielding desire for the hearts of those that have been unable to hear of God's mercy, and cast aside the callings of this world and make it their life's mission to enlist His elect into His heavenly kingdom. But we will get to, in some small way, be a part of this glorious work that God continues to do until all is fulfilled and His kingdom is complete. Wow, what a privilege!
What we get to do is special, and what I think fits right into some of the gifts God has graciously given me. We get to encourage the body of Christ in the towns we will be visiting. This means we will teach the congregations from God's word to strengthen their faith. We will have opportunity to admonish the leaders and the pastor's of these churches to faithfully and accurately grow up their congregations in the knowledge of our Savior Jesus as He has revealed Himself in the Holy Scriptures. These things will happen in different ways. One will be organized meetings where one of us adults will be allowed to teach on different subjects. Another way will be in our casual times of fellowship. When we are travelling with some of the pastors, we will have many opportunities understand their needs and culture, and show them things in God's word that may help them to see Christ better.
I am sure that in all of this, I will be blessed, convicted and taught even more than they will. This will probably be the case with all of us. It would be presumptuous to think that we have all the answers and knowledge. As Paul tells the church in Rome in Romans 1:11-12, his intention was to impart to them some spiritual gift, and that he would be encouraged by their faith. God is always faithful, and there has never been a time when I have with open hands been a willing vessel to be used as He sees fit, where the blessing I receive is far greater than the small offering that I give. And that is just here on this earth. He has promised far greater in the life to come, and as such I cannot begin to fathom what awaits us in His glorious kingdom.
Please continue to pray for us. Each of us has much still to prepare for our teaching opportunities. We need strength, diligence, and most importantly the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us the right words to speak. That starts here as we plan and organize our thoughts. Also pray for the young men who are going. I am confident that God has planned for them far beyond their wildest imaginations on this trip, and it is my hope that their eyes will be opened to things they never even dreamed of. Pray that they will never be the same again. Pray that we all will come back as different people, more and more conformed into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To Him be the honor and glory and praise forever and forever. May our Jesus find us worthy to being numbered as one of His slaves.
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