Wednesday, February 20, 2008

A quick Hello!

My how the time has flown! We wish to apologize again for the lack of postings,but internet access is very minimal. We want to thank you for all your prayers We truly feel them as we minister.

Tuesday, Doug, Lee and Keith went to the local Christian radio station to discuss the Pastors conference being held on Thursday and Friday. It is reported that Doug has a promising career in radio should he so choose! The show generated many phone calls to the CMI offices. Please pray as Keith and Lee work this event. The local Pastors are very excited to be attending.

The childrens ministry went to a public school in Grassy Park (Kander Muir). We worked with the Grade 6 and 7 students. The Headmaster asked if we could have a discussion with the students on the local varient of crystal meth as this is a big problem in Mitchells Plain and Cape Flats. They call it Tik and it is destroying families here. The team was able to deliver a gospel message as part of the Tik discussion. We completed the work with the students and had some time to see their classrooms.

Tuesday evening the team split so John and Ross could go to the tent meeting in Lavender Hill and Lee, Terry, Keith, Bill, Megan, Doug and Patty going to mister to the saints at Strandfontein Baptist. Kim stayed back at the Lodge with David as he was not feeling well. (Sharon and Ted, David is fine today!) Lee and Terry spoke to the couples about the importance of communication in a marriage. It was well received. We will be back to Strandfontein on Saturday morning for the "Men For The Master" breakfast.

Well, thats all for now. We need to prepare for this evenng ministry. Doug is preaching at Fellowship Bible, Keith is preaching at MEC church and Bill is preaching at Seaview Baptist. Please continue to pray for the team!

Be Blessed!

Bill

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Sunday in South Africa!

We have good news and bad...let's get the bad news out first. It looks like we are having issues getting pictures on the blog. We are truly sorry because we want to show you the amazing work of God here, but the internet is fickle to say the least and we have had issues trying to get the pics on. There is an internet cafe downtown and we are going to try to get there to post the pics so, we apologize and ask for your patience.
Enough about that, what an amazing and blessed Lord's day! For the morning, the team was split into three groups going to three different churches. Lee, Terry, and Megan had the privilege of ministering at King of Kings, a white church in Cape Town. Then travelled directly to a small black Baptist church in Masiphumelela. From all accounts it went very well and they were blessed.
Meanwhile, at the Great Commission church in Khayelitsha, Doug preached the Word while Patti shared her testimony. They were both amazed by the Pastors vision and passion for that community.
The last team of Ross, Kim and Bill, Keith, and David worshiped with the Saints at the Upper Room Church in Lavendar Hill. It was an incredible time of worship and praise and Keith's sermon was quite well received.
We all met for lunch that was provided by Upper Room Church. Can you believe we discovered an amazing dessert? It is assorted fruit on top of ice cream. We had found that most sweet dishes served after dinner are called Pudding. Bill asked them what the locals called this, and they said "Fruit on top of ice cream":) After lunch we rushed back to the lodge to rest up for what would prove to be a very exciting evening. The Upper Room kicked off the first night of a three day revival which was held in a huge tent set up near a central gathering place amoung the housing complexes (Bill says to think Cabrini Green in Chicigo). It started with lively praise and worship...and guess what? WE HAVE SOME VIDEO-TAPED FOOTAGE OF IT for everyone to be blessed by. Words just don't do it justice. Lee preached a stirring message on substitutionary attonement aka "Someone's got to pay!" The alter call saw many souls in need of prayer coming forth to prayer with the church elders and also the team. After a sweet time of prayer, the Pastor called three ladies who had been ushered to another room out to the front. His honesty took me back a little when two ladies came out as he announced both had been restored after back-sliding. And praise the Lord the third had just given her heart to Jesus. What a great evening it was! And now it's quite late and we are exhausted.
We did hear that Cornerstone service was cancelled...what a winter.
We pray you are all safe and well
Be Blessed in the Lord today:)
Kim and Ross for the team

Friday, February 15, 2008

GREETINGS TO THE FROZEN CHOSEN

February 15, 2008
Greetings to the Frozen Chosen (says Doug)!
As we write this it is Friday and the entire team is finally together after many flight delays. The Northbrook team arrived late last night and have quite the traveling story to tell which I will leave to them. We have been a little stretched too, having no luggage for our first two days ministering at the Eagles Wing School not to mention fresh clothes to wear. Patty really had to adjust her game plan but found out that God had everything under control. The school has been greatly blessed since Bill and I were there 18 months ago. They have built two new classrooms and are prepping and praying for the next addition. Also the teachers now receive wages and the number of children has grown from 42 to 106…Praise the Lord!
I am sorry to have caused you worry since it has taken so long to get our first blog from ZA sent. The internet connections are not 100% available as I intended to send this Thursday eve but could not get a connection.
Okay, you will have to excuse me if I am rambling but suddenly found myself very tired and David is beside me talking while exercising. Today we went back to Eagles Wings School just in time for their recess. Boy what a rowdy time that proved to be as the children were quite excited to see us return. The joy of these children blessed our hearts beyond measure! They enjoyed singing with us and making a Valentine. It was sad leaving them but we must get lunch and retrieve the luggage holding the crafts and candy before the next engagement. Ross, Keith, and Bill went back to the lodge to prepare for tonight’s message to the teens at Red Hill and greet Terry, Megan, and Lee. David, Patty, Doug, and I traveled to where Doug will be preaching this Sunday to do Children’s afterschool ministry. The church is located in the center of a very large squatter camp and founded by a Godly man who felt compelled to help these people. He started out feeding them soup suppers that grew into feeding them God’s holy word. His story is quite touching and I am sure if you ask Doug he will do a better job telling you more. The children were very good listeners while Patty told the story of King Josiah and gave them the salvation message. Then we divided them into groups-Doug took the youngest children which were very excited to play a ball-tossing game and then decorate a foam cross with letters and shapes. I had the next age group and was able to have them spell out Jesus on their crosses while we talked about all the things that He does for us. And Patty enjoyed making beaded jewelry with the older girls and a few boys. All in all, it was a safe place for them to be and prayfully seeds were planted in their hearts. Driving out of the squatter camp was a visual experience with a flurry of activity all around us and even right in front of us. Women scrubbing and hanging clothes up to dry, others cooking food on huge open containers holding fire, endless dogs barking and roaming the streets, barbershops in shipping containers, boys playing soccer, and God watching over all of them. Much to our dismay we even saw a huge pig that had been beheaded laying right there, insides still pink.
A lot to take in and a lot to pray about.
Well, hopefully I will get the chance to post again soon.
Until then, be blessed.
Kim, for the team

P.S.
We hope to have photos tomorrow.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Preparing for departure!


Greetings!
This is my first try at blogging;thanks to Dennis Hierl who is guiding me through this learning process.
We are still enduring the chilly temperatures in Waterloo, Wisconsin but we are all so excited to start the journey.
We anticipate God doing great things!
Please keep us in your prayers.
For His Glory,
the team