Greetings from Africa!                                                                                                                03 Aug. 2004

 

Last week Erton & Lydia were off far to the west of here on a ‘missionary journey’. The attached pictures come from that, and I thought it might be a change of pace for all of you to here about that adventure in their own words, rather than my re-telling of their tale. So, here goes:

 

During the past few months, we have been praying and asking God to give us guidance as to where we could go to minister the Word in the villages of North West Province. One of the villages we were called to is called KHUNWANA and is on the road to Vryburg, which is almost 150 km outside MAFEKENG, which is about 170 km from (west of) Rustenburg. The roads close to the village are very bad, and the combi had a flat tire (see photo). Our driver went very fast, and accidents on such roads are common.

 

It was on 26 July that Lydia and I set off to MAFEKENG and proceeded to KHUNWANA. It was quite an experience to see the people of this village and how hungry they are for the Word of God. The village has 9 schools and 1 clinic. It is so big that paying a visit from one house of a believer to another for prayer involved walking for one hour each way, crossing two big, dry river beds.

 

We visited and ministered in the ‘Full Gospel Church’ (see photo), which has three walls of brick but is essentially a shack. The pastor of this church (see photo) does not live in the village, and only comes to minister once a month. The rest of the time there is no teaching or fellowship, so they responded to our being there for six days as a very big blessing. We prayed for the sick and many other people, including an old lady who has been confined to a wheelchair since 1977 (we were told she has a problem with her bones). We have faith that the Lord has touched her, especially from seeing the joy in her eyes when we prayed for her. We look forward to a good report soon.

 

During our stay in the village we shared the room with the mother of Maserame (you have seen her and her baby standing in front of their shack in Sunrise in an earlier email – she is one of the members of the Sunrise congregation where Lydia and I minister on Sundays). One of the photos shows Lydia standing by this lady inside the church.

 

From this village we went to UITKYK, which is 50 km outside MAFEKENG. In this village we prayed for many people, including a family that has a child with asthma. We heard a good report the very next morning, that her breathing and her sleep were much improved. Praise the Lord! People in this village were also hungry for the Gospel, and especially for deeper teaching, but the pastor here also comes only once a month to preach. One man of this village, a strong intercessor, prayed for us with tears, asking if we could stay and continue ministering there.

 

The hunger for the Word of God in the villages is far greater than you would expect. We hope the Lord will help us and strengthen us so that we could go back to such remote places, just to pitch a tent and bring Jesus to their doorsteps.

 

Lydia and I do thank God that we could use our brother Lary’s camera, which can help make what the Lord is doing in Rustenburg and surrounding areas more real to all of you. We also thank God for all the prayers you pray for us. Please know that we pray for you every day.

 

Your brother in Christ, Erton

 

Yesterday we met the man who runs the Rustenburg branch of Judea Ministries, which manufactures and supplies tents for church planting and evangelism all over South Africa (and beyond). The Rustenburg branch also has a farm where these evangelists and church planters receive some training, and where conferences are held. We had a very good, long visit and will be going to visit the farm in the near future. This could be a wonderful connection for all of us. We will keep all of you updated as we get to know them better.

 

Last night I enjoyed the birthday celebration of a lady I ministered to last week. I had the joy of seeing the fruit of that ministry come forth quickly, as she reconciled with her daughter and son-in-law regarding issues that had been robbing her of peace. Praise the Lord!

 

Oupa will be coming in a little while for our weekly time together. This young man has been a shining light in his generation from an early age, often challenging his peers simply by his manner of living. He arises every morning at 4 am for prayer, worship and time in the Word. Almost every Sunday he preaches in one of Pastor Bilong’s congregations in Mogwase. It is an absolute MIRACLE that the Lord is able to use me to bless Oupa. Please understand that Oupa has not had an easy life. For example, when he was 9 years old he witnessed the murder of his father by his father’s best friend. Please pray for Oupa and all the young men and women of God like him in Africa – there are many of them.

 

Today the news came to me that a woman we prayed for a week ago, who has a baby but no husband, no job and no money, GOT a job and started work today! Then tonight the Session at Rustenburg Presbyterian Church and I agreed to an arrangement beginning in two weeks, in which I will be given 15 minutes of each service (which will be extended by that time so the rest is not compromised) for teaching the material of the ‘Fresh Bread’ course. My challenge will be to confine myself to 15 minutes – please pray for me!

 

P.S. from Wednesday

This morning I was invited to preach at the ‘mother church’, i.e. the first Dutch Reformed Church in Rustenburg. Shortly after that call I was invited to preach on September 5th at the combined meeting of the rural Presbyterian congregations that I addressed on Good Friday. This time the meeting will not be in Rustenburg, but at one of the rural sites. So, there should be some interesting pictures from that day. I also got a ride to the mall this morning, so I could get a couple of needed bulky items (much more convenient that lugging them across town by hand). After lunch a lady from Sunrise Park came by for counseling, which went very well. Immediately after that I went to the gym with Rev. Ruth – she has resumed going regularly and offered to give me regular lifts if I wanted to start going. This seems wise, since my knees both got somewhat damaged by the US trip and I’m doing less walking. On the way back we stopped to visit a 30 year old woman who almost died two years ago from a diabetic coma, after which she suffered every complication in the book – and many that are not. She can now walk a little, sit up well, and is just on the verge of talking again. Her spirits, however, are remarkably good. Then this evening a cousin of Lydia’s came over and we had a wonderful visit – he, too, is a dedicated Christian. I though ya’ll might like to know what a busy day in Rustenburg for me was like, so there it is!

 

Love from Africa

Lary

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