Greetings from Africa!					16 Dec 2004

It is getting close to the time of my return to the US, which will be
very nice, and then to my return here for "year #2", which is very
exciting. Several weeks ago I sent pictures of a building site where a
church is relocating near Rustenburg's big mall. My friend Jan is in
charge of the project, and the senior pastor's name is Theo Burger. I
have met with Theo three times since Saturday, and it seems that quite
a relationship is developing. Theo has at least one Ph.D. in counseling
(and maybe one in theology) and seems to be ready to fill a vacancy in
my life here in Rustenburg. Hallelujah!

On Monday we had lunch and discussed my plans for a discipleship
program next year, and he became very excited. After lunch we drove to
a building that belongs to a member of his congregation, which he
referred to as a "counseling centre". It is very nice inside, and, more
importantly, is AIR CONDITIONED! It has a nice, small classroom and
three counseling rooms, two for just a few people and one for a larger
group, and finally there is an office. He said that he could make that
available for the discipleship training for the whole year, or at least
until his new church is done and there are even better facilities. Wow!


Yesterday I had a counseling session with a lady who has been utterly
transformed in the past three months -- praise God! We are shifting
focus from her individual issues to family ones, but in the meantime
had the chance to discuss some general things. I shared my concern
that, after I move to the Mission Station, I will have difficulty
getting to the gym with any regularity because of my more remote
location. She also regularly goes to the gym, has a nice car and
doesn't have a regular job, so she offered to solve my problem for me.
Again, praise the Lord! I still have hopes for a car -- someday -- but
with the weak dollar and the cost of cars here, it seems that something
extra will have to happen for that. There are some important ministry
opportunities that I don't have anyone offering to help me with, but
the Lord cares more about those than I do, so when He decides He wants
me to do those things, well, He knows what I need!

We had a VERY nice evening on Saturday at the Mission Station, even
though it rained and, briefly, rained very hard. The deluge came
precisely when the meat was getting  done on the braai, but three other
guys who know what they are doing in that environment far better than I
do made the sacrifice and retrieved the goodies. Yum! We had a
wonderful time of fellowship in the "lapa", or room attached to the
main house featuring a thatched roof. It had a few significant leaks,
but we sat under that part that didn't. See attached pictures of that
event.

Erton and Lydia still don't know where they will live next year, and
the uncertainty is quite a burden for them. Please pray that the Lord
opens up precisely what He has in mind for them SOON, so they can make
their plans and have peace. At this point a lot of ideas are floating
around, some pretty wild (I think), and I certainly don't know what the
right answer is. Anyone who actually prays for them could be a real
blessing by sending me a short email, just saying that you are praying.
I would love to be able to give them a list of the people back in the
US - people they have never even met - who are praying for them.
Thanks, in advance.

Johan	Braai before the rain
A hero in the rain

Love from Africa,
Lary

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