Monday, August 6, 2007

August News

Our winter is slowly turning into spring. Windy season is here, blowing to bring the rains in October. We have had a good month in which a lot have been accomplished.

Village News

Arthur left for Sichili on 24 July for his monthly visit to the churches in West Zambia. This time he stayed in Sichili. We have started building the pastor's house in Sichili and Arthur took a full load of building equipment with the Landrover and trailer. The heavier load made it difficult to get through the thick sand and he got stuck a couple of times, once in the middle of a village. The friendly villagers were eager to help, so "no problem"!

For the past three years, Arthur taught John Maxwell's "Million Leaders Mandate" leadership course in the different villages. The leadership in the 24 villages where we work have completed all six books. The teachings have made a huge impact on a lot of lives. This time Arthur started a new series of teaching on "Righteousness by Faith" (from Mike Petzer's book "Such a Great Salvation") and "Developing the Roots of Christian Character". The Righteousness teaching reveals to us the full impact of the finished work of Christ i.t.o. our new righteous nature that is imparted to us when we receive the Living Word (Jesus) implanted in us through faith. Roots of Christian Character expalins to us from the Word of God the principles God employs, in developing in us the Character of Jesus Christ. Knowing how God is transforming our inner man, helps us to respond in faith!

We found it important to bring these teachings because we have been sowing good seed in the hearts of the church leaders in the last 5 years, and sufficient fruit has been lacking. This is why we have to look at the soil in which we sow: Mark 4:17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. - ESV

We now give them the resources to allow God to prepare the hearts by inner transformation, enabling them to receive the Word emplanted and yield a plentiful harvest to the glory of the Father!

Plans for August

Arthur leaves for The Bush again on Wednesday 15 August. This time he will visit the villages of Machili, Mulobezi Central, Mulobezi Bridge, Nzimba and Namakombwe. Please continue to pray for him and the people who will receive God's Word.

On 25 August we fly out to South Africa. Arthur will co-present an Elijah House course in Lydenburg. Liezl will have the opportunity to attend our sending church's Women's Conference. On 16 September we leave for Hong Kong for a short trip to visit one of our supporters, Liezl's brother and his wife. By 29 September we will be back in Livingstone!


Points of Prayer

Please pray for us! Since Arthur started to present the new teachings at the villages, we have definetly experienced an increase in spiritual warfare. We need men and women of faith to stand with us and intercede with us. Please pray with us about the following:

  • Pray that God will continue to protect us against the enemy - Isaiah 54:17
    "no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
    and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
    This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord
    and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”

  • Pray for Arthur's trip to the village - that every aspect of it will happen as God will it. Pray that God's favor will rest on the Landy. It has to work very hard transporting building material...Pray also for Liezl and the children who stay behind - that God will protect them and keep them.
  • We are at a crossroads in our ministry. We do not have the freedom right now to share fully, but we ask that you will pray for God's wisdom and favour in the situation

Thank you for your continued love, care and support. We appreciate it more than words can say.


Love

Arthur, Liezl, Hugian and Louis

Saturday, July 7, 2007

July News

Welcome!
We are excited to share with you the first edition of our new on-line newsletter! From now on all our newsletters will be available at this site. Please feel free to add your own comments or suggestions!

More about us
Please check out our website http://www.westzambiamissions.org/ if you would like to know more about us!

Livingstone
It is winter in Livingstone. We love the cold season with its mild weather. We can actually tolerate a duvet on our bed! It's great to snuggle up and sweat a little less!! Days are wonderfully mild - not too hot, not too cold, just PERFECT!

Short Term Outreach
Each year, during the winter holiday (June/July on this side of the world!) a team from our sending church (River of Life Family Church, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa) visits us for a short term outreach. We visit village churches that our sending church has planted together with a local ministry, Signs and Wonders. We focus on showing the Jesus film and children's ministry. This year the team (Arthur, Piet, Herbert, Alta, ML, Martinette & Werner together with local translators) visited the villages of Sejamba, Njai, Monyonga, Mungambwa, Kazuzi and Bwina. God used them in an incredible way. We stand in awe of all that God has done! I am working on a series of articles about the outreach that includes testimonies of the wonderful things that happened. It will be posted on this blog in the near future! In short, we saw a lot of people saved, miraculously healed and delivered. Not only was it a life-changing event for the villagers, but also for the team that came. Arthur presented material by Mike Petzer on Righteousness by Faith. This proved to be a life-changing, paradigm-shifting teaching to the team members. You can order Mike Petzer's book(s) at http://www.livinghopefamilychurch.org/ - it is a book we highly recommend!

Birthday Party
Back in Livingstone we're preparing for the boys' "Outer Space" birthday party! Hugian turned six on 25 June and Louis will be four on 30 July. The BIG EVENT will happen on 14 July. I go completely overboard when it comes to birthday parties, and this year will be no different. I'm sure I have everybody in the house excited by now! We will post some photos after the party.

Upcoming Trips
We're planning to go to South Africa end of August. Arthur will help present another Elijah House course in Lydenburg and I will have the opportunity to attend our sending church's Women's Conference. We're looking forward to these events - we're sure God has GREAT PLANS in store for us! After the Women's Conference we fly out to Hong Kong for about ten days to visit some of our supporters - my brother and his wife. It will be our first time to leave the African continent, so that's exciting!

School's Cool!
Our "regular readers" will know that I am homeschooling our two boys, using Sonlight Curriculum. We have a break right now, but it will be back to books on Monday 16 July! Louis still attends Busy Bees twice a week (lots of fun!). Hugian and his three friends have school five days a week, doing first grade. Arthur and I are both amazed and VERY PROUD of how well he and his friends are doing!

Please Pray For Us
We covet your prayers! Please continue to pray for us, especially for the following:


Pray that the seed of the Word that has been planted during the outreach will continue to grow and bear much fruit.

Pray for Arthur's next visit to the village churches 18-22 July. Pray for a safe trip. Pray that the people's hearts will be prepared for the teaching Arthur will bring. Pray for me and the children who will stay behind.

We are trusting God to increase our ministry opportunities. Please pray with us that His will be done.

Pray for the team that has just left Zambia. Pray that the work God has begun in them will be completed.

Until next time then!

Arthur, Liezl, Hugian & Louis