November 2009 Burundi News - Back on the Track

AMAKURU AMAKI? (What is news with you? In Kirundi)

Back on track is the flavor of the month, we predicted with confidence that we were in for a soft landing back in Burundi and merely continue from where we left off in September, this was most probably a little ambitious. Allow me to balance this statement with Arlene Cloete who accompanied us on our journey back to Burundi for a month’s visit. Now those of you who know Arlene will know that she is an absolute joy, and has the ability to pull the “micky” out of every situation, even the mundane routines she would merely colour in with her personality. So having her here really helped us to get back on track and make the emotional shift.

When we arrived back on Sunday late night, 8 November we planned to stay over at Tim and Jeanette’s house in Bujumbura, who generously offered that we could stay over even though they are away in South Africa at the moment. We arrived late at night with Ps John, our Burundian friend and church planter who collected us at the airport, he took us to Tim’s house. Low and behold the night guard do not have a key for the house and we did not make arrangements with the house keeper. After we checked all doors and windows for entrance and found none, Ps John suggested we attempt to use his house key to open the back door, with the thought running through my mind, Ya right there is only one chance that the key will work and it is, no chance…..I heard the door lock scramble to an open….with amusement we look at one another at the open door. We also greeted Ps Charles in Bujumbura who was on his way to Dakar, Senegal for a seminar. The joy was visible on the faces of Ps Charles and Esperance as they welcomed us back home.

We arrived back in Gitega and found all to be in order, well at least for the first hour, when the toilet broke, light bulb and door handle came off, all made in China. Sunday we were back at Church and received a wonderful welcome by all.

Diane was back at her post with the Sunday school, the number of children have now increased to 85 and growing. The religion period at the High School continued while we were away. The School have now grown to 7 classes. Currently the children are in a time of exams before they break for two weeks from mid December. While we were in South Africa we received 100 Bibles to distribute to the children which we will do as soon as the exams are done. We praise God for this donation as it is a huge answer to prayer to be able to place a Bible into someone’s hands.




Speaking about Bibles, whilst we were in South Africa we connected with an organization called Bibles for Believers who has a vision to bless long standing believers with a Bible. After we met Fanie Loots (the founder) he immediately donated 50 Bibles for Believers in Burundi. Last week we visited one of Ps Charles’s village churches and were able to bless 14 people with a Bible, another 4 men said they do not have a Bible but they can buy one so we decided to sponsor them R20 each towards a Bible as we do not want them forfeit a blessing of buying their own Bible. The money was handed over to the Church treasurer.

Just today a lady, called Constance, came to our house apparently the 3rd time she attempted to see us, asking for a Bible. So precious….she has been following Jesus for 12 years and does not have a Bible, how can anyone say no. It is definitely more blessed to give than to receive.

On Sunday we were in Nogera, Ngosie Province visiting another village church about 1000 people attended, I truly sense God’s presence was so thick, so impressed on my heart that He was with us as if I could almost see bids of heaven breaking through into the natural realm…anyways just how I sensed how God was moving, so many people coming to salvation and making commitment to Jesus because people want to follow Jesus who is alive. During the service we come to hear about a financial need in the church, they had to pay workers who are building a sister church, they need FBU 100 000 (about R800), guess how much was in our wallet, Again it is more blessed to give than to receive. Freely God gives us freely we receive every month He is so faithful, and you our financial supporters all share in what God is doing amongst our other Brothers and Sisters here, one day we will praise and worship God together in one place for He is so awesome to orchestrate His blessings.

Then I need to tell you about favour, favour and more favour from God…truly we sit in awe seeing God at work. We needed to bring to Burundi some household and camping equipment from South Africa, which included a Rooftop tent, Generator, and 4 boxes with house hold items. Well off we go to the army base in Bujumbura. Introduce ourselves to the Chaplin and Warrant officer (RSM) explained what we do and who we work for and how we need their help. Immediately we exchange contact numbers and started networking with South Africa air force base. I mean we do not know these people from a bar of soap. Next day we contact the South African base in Pretoria for permission to fly in the goods…yes the answer came back, favour, favour, almost too good to be true. We contact Bernice, our daughter and Mauritz my brother in law to help pack all the goodies back home. They have little time basically 2 days to have all the packing done and delivered to the air force base. Monday I follow up with the army, the answer comes back sorry the aircraft is full we will fly Saturday. Only to find out that the flight is cancelled, hope becomes dim (in my eyes), as we receive reports that the South African army are withdrawing from Burundi in the same week, we send a prayer request. Monday army confirms equipment will arrive Wednesday. Finally we receive the equipment 10 days after Mauritz delivered it Pretoria, 1 day before SA Army troops start leaving Burundi. We were so encouraged that we have received God’s favor a door which only He could open.

Arlene who is visiting us from South Africa, go’s preaching in a village church. Most whom possibly never been inside a car but she preached telling the folk about the story of David and Mephibosheth, and the kindness which he showed him and how God, in His goodness, showed us kindness and love through his son Jesus Christ. Many came to salvation because Arlene decided to be obedient. She encouraged us and cooked up a storm in the kitchen she also helped us to setup a cooking roster from ingredients available in the local market. Arlene is flying back to SA on Sunday midnight, after Rwanda air cancelled all flights to SA and we had to reschedule her flight via Kenya. In Africa we play by different rules, there is none.

The long awaited Brick machine proves to be an ongoing prayer request. Briefly the Machine arrived in Bujumbura and remains in customs until we can resolve the import duties. We have submitted a request to the Customs department to allow this gift to Burundi duty free as we will use the Machine to build schools and churches.

I received Veritas facilitator training in South Africa for module 1 (although I have not completed the Module 1 course for students) and am very excited, more than ever that God has placed the correct material in our hands to teach pastors and leaders how to interpret the Bible. I will join the 2nd group to be trained in Burundi during February on module 1, with two of our interpreters in order for us to be properly equipped to start our own group from June 2010. We could merely just start training Module 1 in Jan ourselves, but I’ve opted to attend the training with other Burundian students to observe how the Burundians take to the material and learn some valuable cultural lessons on the way. Also I will be doing Module 2 facilitator training 2 weeks into December 2009. 200 Veritas modules have been printed and packed in Pretoria. We are looking for a way to bring these manuals to Burundi, please contact us if you have any ideas?

Spiritual thought John 14:6 “I am The way the Truth and the life” – There is only one way by which we can live with confidence. This confidence not based on our own intellect, or our own wisdom, or on a role model who is but just another mortal, or on a religion which might lead you to everlasting peace. No, we base our lives and set our coarse on what is fixed, what is unchangeable by which we can navigate our lives accurately, by the TRUTH. Where shall we find this absolute truth, if it does not have its origin in our experiences, or values or ancestors? Where else shall we find it but in the one who came to reveal God to mankind! Yes in the Bible we can find TRUTH in fact 2 Tim 3:16 professes that the whole Bible is inspired by God. You know what I enjoy about studying the Bible, the more I realize we can challenge and ask any question to test the Inerrancy of the content. The more I test scripture through my life experiences in my faith walk with Christ the more I am encouraged because God’s Word holds so much oracles of His Truth which points to Him the author, over and over again I stand in awe!

Here are some prayer points:
1. Veritas – for the material in Pretoria to reach Burundi.
2. Ps Charles’ mother needs a hip replacement, pray for healing. Please continue to pray.
3. Veritas – Module 2 Facilitator training in Burundi during December.
4. Vehicle – pray for the settlement of the balance of the loan.
5. Bibles – pray for Bible distribution at school.
6. Health – continue to pray for good health.
7. Protection – in our new house and in Burundi
8. Kirundi lessons – pray for a good understanding of the language
9. Studies – pray for perseverance and discipline.

Love
Anton and Diane

Sept & Oct 2009 Burundi News - SA visit

Howzit! (Good Day), from South Africa

The beginning of September our good friends from Norway came to visit, Arne, Tomas, André, Øyvind ....all with one purpose how can we help Burundi to develop to the next level. Their experience are in business and we pray that God will use them as a mighty instrument to initiate self sustainable businesses which will benefit the community. A thought crossed my mind, God has sent men from Norway the most Northern part of the earth and from South Africa the most southern part to meet in the heart of Africa for one purpose, to be a blessing to Burundi! Coincidence or God’s plan? Remember coincidence is merely God’s way of remaining anonymous. You see friend God has a specific plan and purpose, which started at the beginning of life as we know it. We can see and experience Him through nature and through one anther however He has revealed Himself in His word the Bible which has stood the test of time and is the all time best seller. The Bible has one main purpose to reveal God to us and to communicate His plan for us. We carry a DNA created by God to be unique never to be repeated again, you and I are so important to God that He has gone to a great length for us to have a relationship with Him. How great is the price He is willing to pay, well He did so with an innocent life, in fact He has already paid this price. His son was incarnated into human life, Jesus Christ, He was misunderstood, spat at, whipped almost to death, rejected by close friends, and finally killed. All is not lost, this was actually God’s plan to redeem us, to save us from an eternal death. My question is what is our answer to God’s proposal, to follow His plan and purpose for our lives?

After 7 months in Burundi we returned to South Africa for a visit, our first impressions were what a country, busy bees and all the new developments to the surrounding highways of Joburg are ongoing which can either leave you with the impressions that Joburg is one big construction site or that the city is actually in a process of metamorphoses of infrastructure which will be efficient and cost effective to benefit the country and not merely some individuals.

We are so excited about the road ahead which I shared in most the meetings we’ve had in SA. From January I will be trained as a facilitator of the Veritas material in Gitega, Burundi. In previous newsletters I mentioned that we are praying about this material and have now made the decision to use the Veritas material to train pastors and leaders starting in Burundi. The focus of the course is to impart skills of interpreting the Bible within its context for application today. The organisation, Veritas already sent a missionary couple last year from South Africa to head up the mission for them in Burundi, they are Tim and Jeanette van Aarde and they have just completed training the first team of 12 leaders in Bujumbura. We have been getting to know the Van Aarde’s and have struck up a relationship which has encouraged us in the field. Our monthly visit to Bujumbura for food and supplies always includes a stay over at their place. Diane and I will continue our work and relationships in Gitega and will use the Veritas material from there. Between the 2 couples we have 17 provinces to train and we will have a our first combined strategy meeting on the 7 November in Pretoria, South Africa.

What about Diane, my lovely wife who God is really using in the area of children ministry. She exudes love to children, which I believe she receives directly from the throne room of God. Children flock to her wherever she is, really God has gifted her to be His loving hand of compassion to reach out. From next term Diane will have the opportunity to teach religion at the local primary school. She plans to make the sessions interactive with much practical application aided with arts and crafts.

During our stay in South Africa we have been able to reconnect with most of our friends and family. We made time for a short breakaway to Bela Bela and spend some quality time with Bernice. Diane and I have drawn great encouragement from all, it has really been a privilege and an honour to share about Burundi and God’s success in this country. In the context of South Africa’s economy, most of our supporters have remained faithful and we thank God for your faithfulness to support this work.

We do have some specific needs which we want to share with you.

· Monthly support (require R5000 pm for medical and pension)

· Ministry support (require R2000 pm)

· Cargo to Burundi (items for cargo to Burundi, rooftop tent, camping equipment, books and Bibles computers for resource centre) – looking for a company to sponsor possibly a container.

· Burundi house (stove, guest room double bed, desk for study – estimated total R3500)

· Vehicle (one tyre, and service – R3000)

We want to encourage you with these words that God’s strength only start when we come to the end of ourselves. So often we run in circles attempting to make plan A or B or C to work, but when we finally reach the end of ourselves we find ourselves at the cross roads of which only one road will lead to the foot of the cross. The point of no return...have you reached this place? With the current stresses of the economy on businesses, families and relationships are the prime target for destruction. So many families are being destroyed because we do not take our plan of action from God and we run everyday away from the one who can give you the strength for today. When Jesus surrendered His life, God resurrected Him, when will we learn to surrender our lives in order for God to resurrect us into His ordained life for us. Like a loving Father He waits patiently for us.

Here are some prayer points:

1. Vision – for Gods vision 2 Tim 2:2 – Pray for the meeting 7 Nov.

2. Ps Charles’ mother needs a hip replacement, pray for healing.

3. Course in PTA Veritas 2 to 4 Nov

4. Vehicle – pray for the settlement of the balance of the loan.

5. Bibles – pray for Bible distribution at school. Meeting an organisation to help with task.

6. Health – continue to pray for good health.

7. Protection – in our new house and in Burundi

8. Kirundi lessons – pray for a good understanding of the language

9. Studies – pray for perseverance and discipline.

10. Appointments in SA – God will give us clear direction for our meetings in SA

Much love Diane and Anton

August 2009 - Burundi is Beautiful!

Mwaramutse (Good Morning)
From Gitega province in Burundi. Diane and I are pleased to report that we are well and continue to press on and into God’s plan for Burundi. August has been an eventful month with some weddings, a visitor from America and visit to Ngosi province to visit churches and spy new land for church buildings.




During the month Ps Charles received an American visitor Dr Howard Foreman, it was his first visit to Burundi and was looking to make connection with the local churches to see how he could support them in the ministry. He flew an incredible 32 hours with 4 connections to Bujumbura and was completely exhausted when I collected him in the early hours of Saturday. The Sunday morning Ps Charles asked Howard to minister the word, all went well up until he was concluding his message on repentance, when he fainted....yes fainted on stage...Everybody ran towards Howard to help him not sure what is happening. Howard gain consciousness very quickly but he had a nasty blow on the back of his head and a concussion which is still ringing....we had to take him for stitches for a small cut he had to his head. Howard was suffering from fatigue after the long flight plus jetlag....since then Howard have returned home to California and is doing well. Ps Charles have made good connection with Howard and there is a possibility that they will work together on some pastoral seminars.

We visited Ngosi province and went far north towards the Rwanda boarder to go and encourage some churches and Ps Charles bought some land for new church his planning to build. One thing I can say is that Full Gospel Church in Burundi is growing at an astronomical rate. Right now they have 40 something churches and the next 4 is already in construction.



During our visit in Ngosi we visited the church in the Bonogera commune....we arrive Sunday morning and the church is packed (about 1500) and outside the church about another 600 people. As Ps Charles wanted to start the service he decided to move the meeting outside because there was simply too many people outside...everybody stood up with a cheer to move outside. This was a beautiful meeting many choirs singing the traditional worship songs and standing in unity worshipping God under blue sky.....









The long awaited Brick Machine has found a sponsor from Norway.....you might recall me speaking about a brick machine we wanted to buy to use to build schools and churches. Well God is good, a lovely family have offered to sponsor one machine for us which will arrive from Zambia. We are very excited because we would like to buy a few more machines to keep up with the demand of building churches. Also we want to start a kingdom business with one of the machine’s.

Thank you for praying for Diane, she picked a really bad skin rash and I sent a prayer request to a few people...well praise God her skin is completely healed!

Here is much opportunity for short term Teams to visit. Short term meaning 2 weeks or so. I’ve prepared a little presentation which I can mail to you if you are interested. The main areas for opportunity is Holiday club which includes craft activities with children and orphans, building projects of school and churches, maintenance work to existing buildings. I’m mindful of the fact that not everyone wants to come and be involved with preaching and teaching, therefore we will focus our activities around practical missions.

Visit to South Africa, as we said on Face book, we will be visiting SA from the 9th of September to 8th November. The main purpose for the visit will be to connect with our supporters and prayer partners affirming our vision and the road ahead for next year. The training to pastors and leaders will kick in to a higher gear next year where we will start seeing God’s plan unfolding in Burundi. Also we will be making other ministry connections in SA which is key for the momentum we need here in Burundi. I suggest check your email and connect to our Face book account to keep track of what we doing in SA.

Here is some prayer points:
1. Vision – for Gods vision 2 Tim 2:2 – Pray about VERITAS and our formal commitment to this organisation
2. Exit visas – Praise God this is an amazing answer we received, God gave us much favour!
3. Vehicle – pray for the settlement of the balance of the loan.
4. Bibles – pray for Bible distribution at school.
5. Health – continue to pray for good health.
6. Protection – in our new house and in Burundi
7. Kirundi lessons – pray for a good understanding of the language
8. Studies – pray for perseverance and discipline.
9. Appointments in SA – God will give us clear direction for our meetings in SA


Much love Diane and Anton

July 2009 Burundi News - Call me Dusty

Amahoro (peace), to all our friends and family in South Africa, America, India, Norway, UK, Tanzania and other countries not mentioned! God has been so gracious to provide, protect and keep us in Burundi for 6 months now.....thank you Lord! We have realised that God has so much more for His children if we only allow ourselves to trust Him and follow Him, to allow him to be the author of our every day. His agenda His appointments to come to pass.

A very good friend of ours also living in Burundi, Timothy van Aarde said “The only worthwhile reason to live is to live for something bigger than yourself.
You can live for people, to please them, you can live for a cause, many people die for noble causes, you can live for your wife, even your family, but the only thing which fills the purpose for which you were created is to live for the glory of God.” Amen and Amen.......

The glory of God, who, but a few, can really testify to seeing God’s glory and allowing Him to be glorified by their own lives....
We have spend the most part of July continuing our studies with SATS. We have both passed our Hermeneutic courses and I also just received my pass mark on the Doctrine of Revelation. We are pushing ahead and have started with the next two subjects, Book of Ephesians and the Historical books of the Bible.

This is the wedding season in Burundi from July to September there is a wedding every Saturday in the church so being the resident missionaries we invited to most of them. So when Natalie visited she bought Diane a traditional Burundi outfit to wear to the next wedding. Diane decided to visit the local salon (hair dresser) to have her hair done for the occasion and it had to be a Burundi hair style. After the wedding Diane struggled for a week to washout the glue that was poured out on her hair to “style” it the Burundi way, curls and all we enjoyed the wedding and the people were so happy with Diane’s effort to fit in with the local look.

Some more visitors from South Africa and other Countries came with Theo, our good friend to visit his ministry here in the Great Lakes. We were blessed with the team of 8 people who came to enjoy a meal and good fellowship in our home. Amazing how God always send the right people at the right time to encourage us.

Our Kirundi lessons have continued and being a “numbers guy”, languages were always secondary to me, therefore I have particularly been struggling with getting a handle on the language but all good things take time. For the future of the mission in Burundi it is more key than ever that we learn Kirundi well.

On the ministry side God is starting to use us more and more to encourage the churches with Ps Charles, every Sunday we make a point of visiting a different church which gives me opportunity to build relationships with the pastors. Last week the whole week the Holy Spirit impressed on my heart to go to Bujumbura for the Sunday....why I had no idea, so I did the human thing and just procrastinated on obeying His voice. By Saturday morning the impression became so heavy on me that I immediately contacted Ps Charles who was in Bujumbura making arrangements to visit one of the churches in Bujumbura for the next day. Wow attack galore, Diane wakes me at 3:00 vomiting and not feeling well, while we are travelling to Bujumbura, I get a sharp paint between my eyes, stop and pray. Arrived at the church and I merely just shared on reconciliation and testified how God had to break racism in my heart before he could start using me. How I hated people and how God had to change my heart of stone to a heart of love for people...We have left the results to God.

On Friday the 17th I had an excellent meeting with about 25 pastors and leaders in the area of Gitega. We invited all the leaders to share with them really what God has placed on my heart about how we need to go deeper into His Word and to really equip ourselves so we can correctly handle the Word of God. So I open the topic of Interpretation of Scripture.....Eish JULLE...I was absolutely astonished at some of the questions which revealed the shallow understanding of the Word. Please I am not attempting to undermine anyone or any church, but understand this is the sole reason we are here. Through my veins are pumping blood the source of life but Gods word is the eternal source of life.....this source is our future and the reason of my passion to push ahead with zero compromise to see God’s will revealed and performed in our lives. So we have work to do, much work.

In the last news letter I shared on a ministry connection with an organisation called VERITAS.....their vision is to teach pastors and leaders in Burundi how to interpret the word of God. They run a 4 module course at 3 months per module on the basis of the training 12 people who will be qualified to train others who will in turn train, train, train.....You see churches are being planted at such a rapid rate here in Burundi that not even the seminaries can keep up with the demand of training pastors! We are more passionate about the call than ever before. To realise this vision we would need to work very closely with VERITAS and are busy praying for God to give us direction in terms of our relationship towards this organisation.

The road ahead will have to involve a more formalised relationship with VERITAS and if we decide to go ahead we would need to receive training on the ministry material, which can be done here in Burundi. The couple who are heading the mission is also from South Africa and we will make more formal introductions once we have a more concrete answer form the Lord. We do not want to run ahead and then having to comeback and undo agreements if this is not from the Lord. However if we do formalise us joining the VERITAS organisation then Diane and I will have to make sure that we have mastered the Kirundi language by December in order to start the formal VERITAS training in January 2010. The 1st module is already translated into Kirundi, now the printing and shipping must be done and we would need to raise finance for the material etc etc....

But we walk by Faith, a word which has come to life for us in the mission, knowing God works in the miraculous and that by faith we only walk to take a hold of that which are unseen but we have a strange confidence, not in ourselves because God is leading us!!

Some questions: How will a move like this affect our relationship with Ps Charles? Good question....however I foresee almost no change in our involvement with the Full Gospel Church here in Burundi. Ps Charles build a big network of churches here in Burundi, in fact our relationship is going to be key to advance the VERITAS program and our call into the whole country. So we would continue to work together. I would need to indeed place a bigger focus on the training though.

We have entered the dusty season in Burundi where the earth are so dry that the sand have turned into powder. The houses and country side is covered in a blanket of dust, so we are reminded that to have rain is a blessing. July has almost come to an end and we are starting to make preparations to go visit South Africa in September, to catch-up with family, Friends, Supporters and prayer partners. Our time in SA will have to be structured well because we would like to make the most of the time there. So we will be on the plane that comes in for a fast landing,.....Also most of the cold weather would have subsided by then and the folks from Scottburgh would have started to migrate back to Joburg.

Prayer Points:
1. Vision – for Gods vision 2 Tim 2:2 – Pray about VERITAS and our formal commitment to this organisation
2. Exit visas – pray for favour and that we will receive these in good time
3. Vehicle – pray for the settlement of the balance of the loan.
4. Bibles – pray for Bible distribution at school.
5. Health – continue to pray for good health.
6. Protection – in our new house and in Burundi
7. Kirundi lessons – pray for a good understanding of the language
8. Studies – pray for perseverance and discipline. Praise God I (Anton) passed The doctrine of revelation.


May you receive from the Lord peace and fulfilment in every sphere of your life, living it in a way which pleases Him and causes others to follow!
Much love
Anton and Diane

June 2009 News - Burundi update

The last month was filled with particularity very highs and some lows but never empty....some of the activities were:
· Gospel Outreach in RUHORORO (Burundi)
· Move into house in Gitega (Burundi)
· Visitors from SA, Bernice and Natalie
· Distributing Bibles
· Ministry connections


Gospel Outreach in RUHORORO (Burundi)
June started with a major Gospel Outreach to an area called RUHORORO, Truly we can say that God has send us to this place. Burundi has so many other opportunities for Gospel Outreach.

Geographically RUHORORO, is a zone consisting of three refugee camps, which was the first in Burundi with more than 15 000 persons, with more than 2500 widows and many orphans. In man’s eye this place seem hopeless!

The people were bound by ethnic discrimination and in their own eyes did not have hearts of compassion towards one another but hatred. This is evident in the behaviour of the men, woman and the children. We have received reports that drunkenness is rife, woman abuse on the increase, polygamy the order of the day, youths were smoking drugs and on the radio we heard girls even raping boys because they were not interested in them. Also reports of people consulting witchcrafters.

RUHORORO became famous for being a slaughter house during the war. In fact where the stage were build for the crusade and the grounds the crusade was held was the very spot where many people were slaughtered to death during the ethnic war in 1993, people were left for dead without burial. Really the situation was very sad, bodies lying scattered for wild animals to feed on. Since that time the first refugee camp was settled which have remained until today. The very people who experienced the war and all its fierce attributes were the very people who attended the crusade, then Jesus Came to town, He came to visit the people of RUHORORO to set the captives free!

But God gave us the message of RECONCILIATION (2 Cor 5:18) – this was the main theme of the Gospel Outreach. Praise the Lord because of what happened in Ruhororo during the crusade held by an anointed servant of God, Bjoernar Heimsted. The 1st Lady opened the Gospel Outreach and welcomed the message of reconciliation. During the crusade we estimate about 80 000 people attending and many souls won for Jesus about 40 0000, praise the Lord! Even more people have received healings and miracles. From the testimonies we invited onto the stage, we counted at least 6 people who received their hearing and at least 3 confirmed people who received their sight back!!! Many other miracles happened. We are so so encouraged by what God has done through His Holy Spirit, glory to God!!

Move into house in Gitega (Burundi)
After seeing our visitors off at Bujumbura airport Diane and I rushed back to Gitega to move into our new home. By faith we moved with no furniture, but God provided and we are content with His provision we lack nothing and we are so happy in our new home. We are privileged to have stayed with Ps Charles and Esperance for 4 months having every meal with them, which have really afforded the opportunity to have moulded a very deep relationship and understanding of our cumulative vision (which is really God’s vision). Diane and I have been accepted into the hearts of this family, church and community.

We do our own shopping in the local market which we enjoy so much because we get to practise our Kirundi which seem to always amaze the folk which gives us favour on bargaining the prices down.

Visitors from SA, Bernice and Natalie
Bernice and Nats, what a blessing it was to receive them, the tears started rolling even when we received them at the airport (I still did not receive an answer about the emotional control panel). Exhausted from the trip we arrived in Gitega by which time Bernice and Nats were sleep walking. They were loaded with goodies for us, some from friends and family which we were so thankful for!! We were really overwhelmed to say the least with what came with and every gift was needed, God knew what to send us, we praise God for You! Then it was back to Bujumbura to spend the last 2 days with them and see them off after a week’s visit. We were strong but leaving the airport even brought tears to this boertjie.....writing this blog helps me take stock of the month and by all standards this event was the most toughest of the last 6 months...Please pray for us to be strong. Words cannot explain how a father and mother feels leaving their only child, but we pay the tears forward into the Kingdom because we know God has a plan and the joy that is going to follow will overshadow what we feeling now.

Please consider to come and visit the need here is big, we have enough room for at least 6 people. Pray, hear and go!

Distributing Bibles
We have been serving at the local school and started building a strong relationship with the students, we identified a big need to provide Bibles to the students 350 students. June was the end of the Burundi school calendar year, which means that June was really a month for exams. Well we were able to hand out 71 Bibles last week Monday after our 3rd attempt to call a meeting with the Senior class which was cancelled twice due to bad communication. Well praise God, Bernice and Nats joined us to go and hand out Bibles which was a privilege. We asked the students to write a 50 word essay to answer the question: Why do you want a Bible? This left most scratching their heads for 30 minutes but well worth the effort.

This was great to be able to have sowed the Bibles and we are asking God for provision to buy Bibles for the remaining 279 students. We have many Roman Catholic students and I heard through the grape vine that they were warned by their Priest that they should not come to this school where the missionaries are working because they will lose their salvation.....? But most is now more determined to come back !! Praise God.

Ministry connections
The last 3 months Diane and I were chipping away at our theological studies with SATS, really what a blessing it is to be able to study online (via the internet). Yes the internet is a challenge because we have a dialup equivalent connection, but still running at 230kbps which is fair for the price around R8 per hour. We studied Hermeneutics and I was brave enough to tackle a 2nd subject at the same time, Doctrine of Revelation. We do not have a TV so at night we have time to study. Hermeneutics really is the core of Theological studies, in fact I’ll be as bold to say that it is the primary subject to gain understanding of. Hermeneutics is really the study of interpretation of scripture and help you to understand Exegeses tools to evaluate scripture to formulate and test Doctrine. We learned many big words but most of all, we sense and even closer call to God’s plan and purpose for us in Burundi.

2 Tim 2:2 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others”

Really here are so many Pastors and church leaders who are all echoing the same thing I’ve heard the Holy Spirit say, training, deeper training in the Word of God. Now we (Ps Charles and I) have an opportunity to Partner with the VERITAS program which is brand new course, here in Burundi, initiated in many countries and have trained many Pastors. The program consists of 4 lengthy modules. The primarily focuses is on teaching Pastors how to exegeses scripture i.e. interpreting scripture within its context for application today. This means we will not teach Pastors doctrine but rather how to test and formulate their own, from scripture which means we will not impose a “western” or “secular” worldview, but rather allow the ethnic to discover how to praise God from within their own culture and provide a platform for self correction of culture and traditions where required. I’m very excited about this venture and looking to God for direction.

On a personal note, for the first time in my LIFE do I sense that I “fit” into what I’m doing i.e. that I am self-actualising into God’s primary call for our lives, and I can almost see the eternal effects our little bit of effort will have on the nation of Burundi. However this is not a “self” effort, oh no! This is only God, leading by His Holy Spirit, leading every prayer partner, every financial partner into a Kingdom purpose which can only be accomplished by men and women who are focussed on the charge which Jesus had left His disciples......and it is only because of you that we, together, can push the envelope and make our time count NOW...I call this the NOW moment, the time in space which we have been created for!!!

We love you guys so much, so many people praying and supporting us for which we can only say thank you Father God, Bless these special people and we pray God’s most precious love and peace over you and your families.

Prayer Points:
1. Vision – for Gods vision to materialise through his obedient servants here in Burundi. The vision is to train leaders 2 Tim 2:2 – thank you for your prayers God has made some divine appointments for us and divine connections.
2. Vehicle – pray for the settlement of the balance of the loan.
3. Bibles – pray for Bible distribution at school.
4. Furniture – pray for God to supply all the furniture we need – Thank you Lord you have provided once again!
5. Health – continue to pray for good health.
6. Protection – in our new house and in Burundi
7. Studies – pray for perseverance and discipline – Praise God, both passed Hermeneutics! Pray for the next round of subjects starting on Friday 10 July.

Love
Anton and Diane

Arise and Shine BURUNDI !!

The VANS are great In Christ!! We wait in anticipation for our visitors from SA to who will be the 1st to stay in our new home, Bernice and Natalie, they arrive on Friday for a week!

The message which has been running in my heart over the last two weeks is the (2 Cor 5:17-18) message of Reconciliation to both God and man.....we have been ministering on this theme over the last 2 weeks and God is calling by the Holy Spirit Burundi into a new level of commitment!!

Last week I heard the Holy Spirit say to me, “ Television, International” God is busy preparing a net for his Kingdom in Burundi, Congo, Tanzania etc, a network which will bring many “fish” into the fold. Jesus instructed the disciples how to fish John 21:6.....

Yesterday I sensed the Holy Spirit was saying that Burundi is growing up spiritually and that it is time for this Nation to stand up, a call is delivered to stand up in Reconciliation to God and to one another.....Since the ethnic war in 1993, many has come to repentance and reconciliation has been ongoing between the two ethnic groups - hutus and tutsi’s. Next year in anticipation of the elections some people have fear in their hearts that there might be an outbreak of violence as a sign of non conformance to the new President (if he changes). The Christians need to stand up and shout and live the message from the Holy Spirit, to be Reconciled.....Why? Again The Holy Spirit repeats that the reconciliation and peace which prevails in Burundi today is a work from God! And God has given this message to his people which has changed this country into a witness for Him! God is calling Burundi to be a witness of reconciliation to DRC! It is time to stand up......Burundi has received the answer to healing the people’s hearts and which must be delivered to other nations. Stop looking at your resources and look to God, he multiplies what you have in your hands!

Now Last night I shared with Ps Charles about the above and he said you know Anton, I have an appointment this week to be interviewed with the Burundi television!! Need I say more? God is good.......

People we must pray...please do not take this opportunity lightly...let’s grease those knees and let’s pray, for God can use Burundi to spare Congo!!
Yes I know by grace we have been saved no works involved....grace, praise God for grace!!! Now I can pray even more because I have an attitude to please God not work for my salvation!

Prayer Points:
1. For Bernice and Natalie, for safe journey and for their stay in Burundi.
2. Our appointment on Thursday morning with Burundi television journalists
3. The plan is that I’ll give a testimony on what God had done in South Africa in the 1994 elections. Where apartheid was abolished.
4. Personal testimony how God had worked in my life to change my heart from racism to love for all people.
5. Protection during our travels and stay in Bujumbura.
6. Holy Spirit to give the words to speak that Jesus may be glorified.
7. Prepare the hearts of all Burundians to receive this message from the Holy Spirit to reconcile to one another.
8. That Burundi leadership will stand up and reach out to DRC....
9. Anything else the Holy Spirit is leading to pray....

NB: Please send us any scripture the Lord gives you during this time. His word is a lamp to our feet!!

You might have noticed a slowdown in the sms prayer requests we have sent, we prefer to rather use email as we can be much more expressive and elaborate on prayer points....

Love you guys have an awesome week.....watch this space God is at work...and when He opened the Red sea nothing could stop HIM!
Anton and Diane

Ngosi in Burundi Gospel Outreach June 2009

Hi Everyone

Well we are back from the Gospel Outreach, but not quite home yet!! Let me explain...we have had an awesome time with God in Ngosi....from Thursday until this morning...the schedule changed slightly we stayed with the team at the Gospel Outreach until today and accompanied our guest speaker back to Bujumbura to help catch his flight back home.

Really many many people have received salvation over the last few days in this province, even more people have received healings and miracles...I counted at least 3 people who received their hearing and at least 3 confirmed people who received their sight back!!! Many other miracles happen, we are so so encouraged by what God has done through His Holy Spirit....so many people have helped and worked together with the crusade that not ONE person can take the “glory” but the person of Jesus Christ!!! Our guest speaker the evangelist was Bjornar Heimstad from Norway who we come to know and has really blessed Diane and I with his visit.

Someone was praying for me!! Remember I asked for prayer specifically for the flu I had...well on Friday night I was suffering, I felt that my chest was filling with fluid and that I was not able to breathe properly...I knew this only can mean one thing, hospital case.....through the night I prayed Holy Spirit I commit my life in your hands please fight for me....well I’m sure someone prayed for me and Diane during Friday night!!! SO thank you for your obedience because come Saturday morning my chest was cleared and I was strong enough to continue with the team...Praise God!

Jesus is still King, He is still on the throne and no-one can remove Him because the Father crowned Him!!
Hallelujah!! Tell somebody today what we have is more precious than gold and you know that He loves you! The Gospel today still has the same power and grace as God has intended His plan to have for His Children...pray now with us....Lord come now inter our hearts, break into our lives...we love you, we adore you...You are the First and the Last...Jesus is My King who paid for me, Oh How favoured I am in your sight that I may receive your Grace IN ADVANCE....almost 2000 years before I was born.

Maybe you are sick in your body right now, lay your hands on that part of your Body and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is bigger than this problem, the power and authority released through the Holy Spirit is present as charged by Jesus Christ with the authority to heal. Jesus Christ paid for my salvation and my healing, I (your name) charge that whatever is inflicting pain, whatever is causing you suffering whatever is not from God...to leave now , to let go now to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ, we accept the healing in Jesus Name!

Love ja
Anton and Diane

May 2009 News Letter - Stadig oor die klippetjies

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Dear Friends

Mweriwe (Kirundi for Good Evening)
Well good evening from a very moderate maximum temperature today of 25c which remained steady until dark when the thermometer dipped to around a comfortable 18c, had some cool showers in the afternoon, brining relief to the dusty roads and dry ground. Yes we are really enjoying the excellent weather here and think of all our cousins back home who are facing the rather cooler temperatures, of cause not all can be as fortunate as some in Scottburgh but we will mention no names.

The month of May started with a BIG BANG, we were invited to a 4 day and night prayer concert in Bujumbura, specifically praying for the country. This was a real treat for me as I preached at just after mid night on the 1st of May....the outside premises was packed to capacity, praise God there was such and expectation to receive from God. Many Christians are praying for continued peace in Burundi specially around the election next year. The feeling in the streets are really this, that peace will remain!

The teaching at the local school is going well and the students started to open their hearts to us which is very touching. I continue to minister there every Tuesday. We had one donation towards the Bibles we want to buy, so we have a total of 24 Bibles of 350 needed by end June. I know God is in control and sees our desire to give each child their own Bible. The school year in Burundi works the same as for Europe, the school year ends in June and then they have a long brake until beginning August. We are very open minded in the classes and encourage the children to ask any questions....this is where I really sense the Holy Spirit operating...amazing how He gives me scripture as the questions come and most times I’m amazed at how the conversation always turns to Jesus as being the answer!! Last week I made a point of making an alter call in each class, and praise God for the children that have made Jesus their Lord and Saviour!

I must tell you about the vehicle which I asked you to pray about. During April I called for some money from SA to buy a vehicle....we test drove about 2 vehicles in April during times we were in Bujumbura but these were really frot! The vehicles in Burundi which has travelled the roads for some time sounds like a 1 year old child’s rattle!! So many people have advised me to rather go for a 2nd hand vehicle which has been imported from Japan. Well easier said than done. However all along we have been confessing by faith that God will bring us a vehicle at the right time. So 2 weeks ahead we plan our program to be in Bujumbura for 3 days to view vehicles...I even phone one of my local fiends, Ps John Gahungu, to be on the lookout for something. We arrive Wednesday 29th and while having breakfast with John at around 9:00 he explained that the vehicles he had seen is not worth us looking at....I “jokingly” confessed, My Brother don’t worry God will send us a car where we are, don’t worry. My words was not even “cold” when John’s phone rang, hi I’m a driver for a business man and are passing through Bujumbura right now with a 2nd vehicle I have collected from Tanzania which were shipped from Japan, would you like to view it? So this is where the prayer request went out to all you folk. The vehicle was registered in one day and the importer paid most of the licensing fees which were almost $600....God has been amazing in this deal and rest assured all your faithful prayers were answered, thank you Lord.....I even received a comment from one of our supporters that this looks like a “Monster Truck”, I must agree that looks can be deceiving, some specs for the guys, I know this a guy thing so Girls skip to the next paragraph, This is a 1993 Toyota Surf, 4Runner this vehicles is not available in SA, but based on the Toyota D/C chassis, 3.0 turbo Diesel same as the Prado 1995 series, with 188900kms, but the engine does not sound like a tractor!

Now for the girls...Diane has had her first bath in months, actually 3 ½ months, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. We visited a guest house in Bujumbura last week, whilst doing some business in Bujumbura and thought that we can spoil her for a night or two. So it was extremely hot, and bright spark Anton, thought I had a plan. No honey when I grew up in Pinetown we used to wet the sheet under the tap, wring it to a pulp and then cover ourselves with the cool sheet for a good night’s rest....Only to find when we returned to Gitega that Diane had the flu, she has been down for 5 days and only starting to recover now, so I really had to apologise to Diane.

Cutting hair in Burundi can be very challenging specially if your haircut is abruptly interrupted by the erratic supply of electricity, so I find myself this week having to walk the streets with a half a haircut. I asked the barber to follow me home in order to finish his work of art. It is not very difficult to spot the only white man trapping down town at a very fast pace followed by a hairdresser with a cutting tool and extension cord waiving in mid air. Only Diane thought this was very funny, but somehow I did not see the humour in my misfortune.

The last two months we have really considered to move into our own house, a lekka mission house where we can receive friends and family and have good coffee around the fire talking about God’s work. We have not been striving for this opportunity in any way. In fact when we shared our hearts with Ps Charles and Esperance it was well received...the only condition was, “My Brother it will be good if you could stay close by”. Well not knowing at the time we are in eyesight from Charles’ place. So again because of you faithful prayer partners who prayed, God has answered our hearts desire, thank you Lord, the 1st of June we will move into God’s Burundi Mission House. Well we have 3 rooms, 3 bath rooms, study, lounge dinning and servant quarters and of cause the fire place for the cooler rain season which is normally between February to April. Now this might sound like a fancy place but trust me it is amongst dusty roads and no comparison to the SA homes, however we know that this newly renovated home will bring us much joy. Thank you Lord! We continue to trust God for furniture but we confess by faith that by the 1st of June we will have all we need, we (all of us, God’s sons and daughters) are Kings in His house so expect Him to bless you!!

The title of this news letter is “Stadig oor die Klippetjies” this afternoon while I was walking through the rows and rows of cassava plants at the Mother’s Family Project, of about 14 hectors, I was really just speaking to the Holy Spirit. My conversation was focussed on getting more clarity on God’s plan and purpose and why can we not just getting all the detail from Him at once like Moses did and Gideon and Jeremiah.....I sensed the Holy Spirit said son, I’ll show you the stepping stones you make sure you step on them, then you will not slip. As you walk so you will receive clarity on the next step and the next etc.....I really received the assurance that the Holy Spirit is guiding us and that great things are ahead that we must TRUST God because we are walking and standing only because of Him. Clearly I could see when I look back over the last 4 years how God has placed the stepping stones for us which has lead us to today. The stay at the guest house with Ps Charles, the car, the move to the house is all good......next is really the focus on more ministry, connecting with an organisation for material to train leaders, the actual start of the training of leaders, new Bible school facilities and so the Holy Spirit is even showing me business opportunities here in Burundi possibly during 2010, I ask the Lord for one favour please Lord, let the ministry and business be big, big enough to Glorify You!!!

We are very much looking forward to our next visitors, who we will welcome in our new Burundi Mission Home, none other than Bernice and Natalie. Also during June we will see Ps Theo and, God willing, DJ will visit during August. I’m expecting a visitor from America a dear friend who we have met through email via Ps Theo, he is scouting for a place to start a Bible School, now is this coincidence or God’s way of remaining anonymous?

Well we would love to extend the list of visitors with your name on it...pray and seek God...and always know He is in control!

Prayer Points:
1. Water – running water for Gitega and the guest house where we stay as well – water at the guest house have been restored thank you Lord.
2. Vehicle – pray for the settlement of the balance of the loan.
3. Vision – for Gods vision to materialise through his obedient servants here in Burundi. The vision is to train leaders 2 Tim 2:2
4. House – we are looking for our own little house in Gitega – thank you Lord for answered prayer!
5. Furniture – pray for God to supply all the furniture we need.
6. Health – continue to pray for good health.
7. Protection – in our new house and in Burundi
8. Studies – pray for perseverance and discipline.


Love you guys
Anton and Diane (AnD)

Some pictures

Ps Charles reachingout to a community of ex combantons who have started a bee project. This financial gift was so well received that it was broadcasted on the radio. Praise God!!

The 1st lady comes to church....yes this is the presidents wife who visited Ps Charles church in Gitega. Praise God for He is Lord.

April News 2009 - Emotional Control panel

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