Amahoro (Kirundi for Peace)This month have seen much ministry activated as we have been able to sail through most of the choppy waters which threatened our launch into big blue from the safety of the harbour. Yes sometimes we long back to the “safety” and comfort of our harbour back home but have been encouraged sufficiently by the Holy Spirit to persevere and find strength in His guidance and call.
Diane and I are doing fine really, we are so fortunate to have Ps Charles and Esperance as our foster parents here in Burundi....we have all we need and more. Physically Diane and I are strong and give thanks to the Lord for your continuous obedience to lift us before Him, you prayer partners are truly generals in Gods order. Emotionally, yes well as a man I have a very practical approach to emotions, if it ant broke don’t fix it or Honey tell me what’s wrong so I can at least seem to be going about finding a solution. But Solutions is the last thing you ladies want to hear in a time of emotionally low point...so yes I did sit with Diane a few times and could only look up to Him to help me comfort her in this time. So hence my question where is the manual to the Emotional Control Panel for women...please help!
We identified that having a proper routine also helps us focus and manage our emotions better. Our Kirundi lessons continues but our teacher’s wife had a baby girl “Shelter” hence the slight slowdown in pace. We also resumed our theological studies through SATS (South African Theological Seminary) which gives us more structure and adds to our goals. We minister every Saturday and Sunday and travel to one of the many Full Gospel churches under the leadership of Ps Charles. We really enjoy going to the villages which reminds me of the Sunday we went to a different province about 4 hours drive one way to go encourage 15 churches who meet together for this occasion....this was amazing hey...the building was packed packed...people outside at the windows the doors all the place inside church was taken by people standing and sitting, about 1000+ people and then it started raining...man pouring so loud that our voices could not carry from the one end to the other...not even when we were standing in the middle of the building shouting back and forth because the rain on the tin roof just made it impossible. So we prayed that God will calm the storm...we sang one song then God calmed the storm...amazing stuff...so much so we could preach....many many souls have come to JC that day...thank you Lord!! Then the trip back was camel trophy stuff I tell you the vehicle (not a 4x4) had to be pushed through 9 kms of pure mud...fortunately God gave us a couple angels/people who helped push the vehicle while we were sitting very comfortable inside. Well the locals seem to have this kind of thing occur regularly as they were to happy to assist for a few dollars.
Diane is very successfully using a ministry tool called Little Folks Visuals, I’m sure some of you have seen these felt boards the teachers used at Sunday school to tell you the stories of the Old and new Testaments, well before we left SA we ordered a set from the US....the children loves this man you must see their faces. I even asked Diane to use it with the adults in the Village churches so we work hand in hand with Him. Diane also had a Children’s outreach during the school holidays and invited all the children from the community, about 200 came.
Also went to visit the local prison....the conditions these guys live in makes the SA prisons look like hospitals I tell you! The church’s football team came along and played a game with the prisoners which was a major highlight for them. The Prisoners lost 2-3 but played amazingly well considering the odds, being that they actually do not have a soccer ball to practice with, most of them play bear feat on the dirt field and probably suffers from malnutrition. Afterwards the band played and the choir sang songs which drew some people, followed by the preaching of the Gospel. During the preaching I for some reason turned to one of the on lookers and said that when we both stand before God one day that my skin colour will mean absolutely nothing, and that rather the fact that I have accepted Christ as my Lord and saviour will be the only criteria for entering heaven. This really caused a stir where one man actually went to one of the helpers afterwards and enquired if he really will have the same rights before God as the “Muzungu” – white man. You see this is the kind of mindset which must be broken that a certain race is more superior...Afterwards we handed out a small booklet discipleship handbook. My heart broke for them, not because of the circumstances, no, rather it was the manner in which they were fighting to also receive a copy of the booklet because we did not take enough copies with. Hunger for the word of God astounds me. Notwithstanding the circumstances many are starting to make decisions for Christ and we starting to see a steady flow of people attending the 2 weekly services at the prison.
Then we went to school, this is really exciting, Diane and I have availed ourselves to the local High School to teach “Religion”. We now have a program on Tuesdays teaching 5 classes for 45 minutes each....these kids really have a desire for the Word of God..and yes this is an opportune time in their lives where we can bring correction in the understanding of many other religions which are knocking at the doors of the hearts of these children. The catholic, muslim and jehova witnesses are some of the kind of religions in the immediate community. So it helps to focus our attention to the leaders of tomorrow, here we have open time once by week...thank you Lord for this opportunity to help shape the hearts of the future leaders of Burundi. Again my heart is touched by the fact that in every class there is about 60 students of which only a handful has access to a Bible, this is our vision to buy Bibles for them...we will start by acquiring about 40 bibles which we will share with each class but by the end of the year we would like to be in the position to buy each student their own Bible. You should have seen the faces lit up when I said OK, we will buy some Bibles to at least read the verses in class!!! No man we can do better!!
Right now I’m sitting in Bujumbura, tonight (30 April) we are invited to be one of the guest speakers at the concert of prayer for the elections here in Burundi scheduled for 2010. Also I’ve send a prayer request via email asking to pray for us regarding a vehicle which we know God is sending us. God willing we will have finality by 1 April on the price...the vehicle is in good condition 2nd hand import directly from Japan.
From our hearts.... on reflection over the last 3 months we can only say thank you Lord for your guidance and encouragement. It remains His work, His calling and His Glory...God knows how much my heart desires to reveal His glory to people...I want people to fall down like Moses and Peter when God revealed Himself and Jesus to them...the same Glory I desire to overtake people which must and will culminate...revealing to them how awesome God is!!! How deep His love is for them!!! This is my primary and ultimate desire to see God's Glory manifest on Earth!
Prayer points:
1. MFA – God opens the door to initiate a project to provide running water to the mothers and children staying on the farm.
2. M4J – for wisdom to pilot this project and initiative to implement in the local community.
3. Website – for the Church and Justice ministries.
4. Water – running water for Gitega and the guest house where we stay as well.
5. Vehicle – finance for this need and for the correct vehicle.
6. Vision – for Gods vision to materialise through his obedient servants here in Burundi.
7. House – we are looking for our own little house in Gitega
Love ya!
Anton & Diane van Schalkwyk
