January 2009 News - VANS on their way


Dear Friends

January has been very eventful with Diane falling on our front door steps as we were preparing to go away for a few days to the South Coast. Well she is a strong lady got up, said what we waiting for let’s go, not knowing that the whole holiday was centred around her injury which immobilised her, but this did not deter us to have a good break. She has recovered well thanks to Sharon Brent, she is a Liberty member and has her own Physiotherapist practise. She was our first stop after returning from the coast, she has been treating Diane’s ankle and foot which have made good recovery…thank you Lord!

Bernice enrolled at Unisa and started working at Kings School West Rand. She has been settling in well with my sister and their family while spending the last few weekends with mom and dad. Please keep her in your prayers and support her where you can. Bernice will also help us to co-ordinate emergency prayer sms’s while we in Burundi.

Excitement is brewing as we starting to finalise all the final arrangements before we board Rwanda Air Flight from OR Tambo on the 6 Feb 22:00 PM. Yes only 12 days before we leave for our promised Land.
This is a scripture we received from one of our prayer partners:

Deut 11: 10-12
“The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.”


Saying good bye has become increasingly difficult, a number of people have indicated that they wanted to say goodbye with a final meal or visit…..however the time we have available to us before we leave just do not permit us to visit each person individually. What we have decided to do is to have a Farewell @ Discovery Campus on Saturday 31st at 14:00 for a big group hug!! However painful as it is to leave family, friends and loved ones we have to keep focus on the goal.

Rom 10:13-15
“…Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”


With every goodbye there is always a hello…..we planning to spend every March and September back home connecting with our Partners, family and Friends…also we will be using Skype (you can search for us on VANSCHALKWYKA) to make contact. Creating a Facebook account will also help us stay in touch (I’ll send an email once this is up and running)

Finances, amazingly we have received support both monthly and to relocate. Although we continue to trust God that he will continue to raise more people to support the ministry as we step out of the boat there is always an element of faith and trust which can only be placed in God. Currently the numbers are as follow:
Monthly Support = 71% attained, Relocation costs = 63% attained

Our guiding scripture for 2009 comes from

Isa 52:12
“But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”
We have complete peace as God will direct our steps and that fear will not form part of our walk, no God’s promise is very clear he will be our Rear guard and go out before us.

Prayer partners please pray earnestly for the following over next few weeks:
· Protection of our physical health
· Journey mercies – we will fly on the 6 Feb via Kigali/Rwanda with a connection flight the next day to Bujumbura/Burundi
· Our luggage for both in flight and cargo which should accompany us
· Favour to receive our Work Visas in Burundi timeously – this we will apply for when we arrive Burundi
· Preparation of our hearts and hands to be clean, to be PURE vessels whom God will use in His service
· Clear communication with the Holy Spirit….that we hear Him and obey God
· Relationships we have formed over the years with Ps Charles and the local church in Burundi
· Favour with government officials and leaders


Our prayer for all our prayer & financial partners are that God may multiply back to your storehouses 100 fold what you have sown into the ministry.

Love you guys and may His peace and joy remain with you!!

Anton & Diane

2 comments:

thorad said...

Hey, guys sorry missed your farewell but life been so hectic...
You are always in my prayers; May God bless you as you share His love....
Joh 15:16 - 17 You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.This, then, is what I command you: love one another.

Joh 15:13 The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them.
God bless your team. Love Thora

Van's@Burundi said...

Hey Thora

Thank you for your comment and encouragement...you are such a blessing. Not to worry we can connect when we visit SA again.

love vya
AnD