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)
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)
