You know the saying do not doubt in the darkness what you believed in the light? Well it is true.....this has really been a month of testing for Diane and I, we sensed that we are being tested in the area of our vision, purpose and our physical bodies. Please if you reading this blog and you are considering full time missions.....make sure of your timing to launch, rather delay than making an emotional decision because you will be tested in the field. Remember your call will always increase, in time i.e. it will become stronger it will not leave you, the call will not grow fainter until you make a decision....but timing is so important. Well the testing I talking about is actually what they refer to as “culture shock”. You know on Monday I actually missed my work in Sandton and the rat race...get that? But God is good all the time....He will never leave you and never forsake you....you are the apple of His eye....
It’s during times like these we have experienced how God has raised up intercessors to pray for us and have received sms’s from many of you encouraging us and lifting us up...we cherish those text messages so much, thank you Prayer Partners!! At the end of this blog you’ll find some specific prayer points please ponder on theses in your intercessory times.
I must tell you about a funny incident that happened...it was a shocking experience....you see we heat 2 buckets of water every morning with an element because we do not have hot water supply. Now the only problem with this method is that the top layer of water heats up but the cold water remains at the bottom, so as per usual halfway through the heating process I would emerge my arm into the bucket to stir the water to have an all round warm bucket of water. Normally Diane will continue to snooze while I’m busy with the water warming process which I’ll keep an eye on in between shaving, brushing teeth and so on...well what I least expected to my very sudden and most unforgiving moment in time when I emerged my arm in to a warm bucket of water, found that this water was speaking back to me and only when the shock reached my shoulder realised what was actually happening...pulled my arm back fell over the bed onto the carpet rolling with pain...not quite sure which pain was worse the shock or the pain running through my leg which I bumped against the bed when I pulled my arm out of the bucket....Eish! Now I’ve developed a new method....I snooze and send Diane to check the water...only kidding.
Visas...we have applied in February already and have religiously followed up on these applications...what makes the process a little more challenging is that we stay in Gitega and the immigration office is in Bujumbura about 2 hours (normal driving) away...the road snakes through the Burundi mountains which if done at a fast speed could feel like you on a cobra ride at Retanga junction Capetown...the only difference is this one lasts 2 hours! So we normally stay over in Bujumbura. Please continue to pray for the successful application...as we know the Lord is making a way for us. The normal reply is to come back next week. Honestly every time we followed up some more paper work was required. The paperwork together with our applications have been submitted to the senior person.
Visitors we meet from all over the world for some reason we are very privileged where we stay in Gitega with Ps Charles as we often bump into (divine appointments) people from all over the world. Our first visitor has already come and gone, Theo Burakeye....it was great just chatting to someone from back home although the time was limiting...he always encourages us and awesome leader. Please we would love to have you come visit us...I know Bernice and one of our close friends Natalie Kallmann is braving it to come visit us in July.....can’t wait! Also DJ might join us for a teaching seminar end of August...wow what a privilege!
I did the unthinkable...left my cell phone in a taxi.... we were in Bujumbura and needed the phone to remain in contact with Ps Charles and to make arrangements to drive back to Gitega....what now no phone no numbers....but I have skype...got on the internet checked who was online...only....Trevor, eish what a life saver...asked him to contact Bernice and send us the necessary numbers quickly. Thank you guys this is great to know in a time of need that we can push on some ones number.
Next week we want to start with formal Kirundi lessons in order to be more effective with our teachings. The March seminar went well and God really touched hearts...over all I sense a focus on calling people to repentance to put their lives in His hands and have been doing so over the last week...praise the Lord just this weekend 4 people accepted Jesus!
Whenever I ponder on the Gospel...the Gospel of Grace Paul speaks about..the new covenant we find in Hebrews, which replaces the Law of Moses....I cannot help to think that we are privileged to be in a dispensation(a time) of Grace....Not living under the law but under Grace...that God saw it fit to extend unconditional grace to me and you is so amazing that I cannot but what to find a way to express my love to Him!!! Yes this was not always the case I also once was at a place where my heart was a heart of stone....the law was written on stone so I attempted to justify myself by criticising and pointing fingers at others attempting to exercise my Christianity correctly? Hey is this the Gospel of grace? I had to repent of this critical spirit....and what refreshing and renewal I received from the Lord....this is Grace man! Please write to us if you want to know more.
Please pray for the following Prayer Partners:
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 – continuous 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. Visas – for favour to receive them soon.
7. Relationship – pray for Ps Charles and my relationship that it will grow even stronger and that we will not give the enemy a foothold.
8. Kirundi – for us to learn Kirundi
Blessings, from
Anton & Diane
It’s during times like these we have experienced how God has raised up intercessors to pray for us and have received sms’s from many of you encouraging us and lifting us up...we cherish those text messages so much, thank you Prayer Partners!! At the end of this blog you’ll find some specific prayer points please ponder on theses in your intercessory times.
I must tell you about a funny incident that happened...it was a shocking experience....you see we heat 2 buckets of water every morning with an element because we do not have hot water supply. Now the only problem with this method is that the top layer of water heats up but the cold water remains at the bottom, so as per usual halfway through the heating process I would emerge my arm into the bucket to stir the water to have an all round warm bucket of water. Normally Diane will continue to snooze while I’m busy with the water warming process which I’ll keep an eye on in between shaving, brushing teeth and so on...well what I least expected to my very sudden and most unforgiving moment in time when I emerged my arm in to a warm bucket of water, found that this water was speaking back to me and only when the shock reached my shoulder realised what was actually happening...pulled my arm back fell over the bed onto the carpet rolling with pain...not quite sure which pain was worse the shock or the pain running through my leg which I bumped against the bed when I pulled my arm out of the bucket....Eish! Now I’ve developed a new method....I snooze and send Diane to check the water...only kidding.
Visas...we have applied in February already and have religiously followed up on these applications...what makes the process a little more challenging is that we stay in Gitega and the immigration office is in Bujumbura about 2 hours (normal driving) away...the road snakes through the Burundi mountains which if done at a fast speed could feel like you on a cobra ride at Retanga junction Capetown...the only difference is this one lasts 2 hours! So we normally stay over in Bujumbura. Please continue to pray for the successful application...as we know the Lord is making a way for us. The normal reply is to come back next week. Honestly every time we followed up some more paper work was required. The paperwork together with our applications have been submitted to the senior person.
Visitors we meet from all over the world for some reason we are very privileged where we stay in Gitega with Ps Charles as we often bump into (divine appointments) people from all over the world. Our first visitor has already come and gone, Theo Burakeye....it was great just chatting to someone from back home although the time was limiting...he always encourages us and awesome leader. Please we would love to have you come visit us...I know Bernice and one of our close friends Natalie Kallmann is braving it to come visit us in July.....can’t wait! Also DJ might join us for a teaching seminar end of August...wow what a privilege!
I did the unthinkable...left my cell phone in a taxi.... we were in Bujumbura and needed the phone to remain in contact with Ps Charles and to make arrangements to drive back to Gitega....what now no phone no numbers....but I have skype...got on the internet checked who was online...only....Trevor, eish what a life saver...asked him to contact Bernice and send us the necessary numbers quickly. Thank you guys this is great to know in a time of need that we can push on some ones number.
Next week we want to start with formal Kirundi lessons in order to be more effective with our teachings. The March seminar went well and God really touched hearts...over all I sense a focus on calling people to repentance to put their lives in His hands and have been doing so over the last week...praise the Lord just this weekend 4 people accepted Jesus!
Whenever I ponder on the Gospel...the Gospel of Grace Paul speaks about..the new covenant we find in Hebrews, which replaces the Law of Moses....I cannot help to think that we are privileged to be in a dispensation(a time) of Grace....Not living under the law but under Grace...that God saw it fit to extend unconditional grace to me and you is so amazing that I cannot but what to find a way to express my love to Him!!! Yes this was not always the case I also once was at a place where my heart was a heart of stone....the law was written on stone so I attempted to justify myself by criticising and pointing fingers at others attempting to exercise my Christianity correctly? Hey is this the Gospel of grace? I had to repent of this critical spirit....and what refreshing and renewal I received from the Lord....this is Grace man! Please write to us if you want to know more.
Please pray for the following Prayer Partners:
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 – continuous 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. Visas – for favour to receive them soon.
7. Relationship – pray for Ps Charles and my relationship that it will grow even stronger and that we will not give the enemy a foothold.
8. Kirundi – for us to learn Kirundi
Blessings, from
Anton & Diane
