New School

Matthew and his new teacher

Our son Matthew started Kindergarten (Grade R in South Africa) in January and had a tough time getting settled. The teachers were great about letting me volunteer in the classroom for a few mornings and that seems to have helped a lot. Yesterday was his birthday so I got to be there for about an hour as we celebrated and the class had their first 'birthday ring'. Matthew got to sit at the front of the room and choose the songs and games they played. Then he called everyone's name and they came up to get their own cupcakes. This is a lovely group of kids!

Silly picture of the class

new friends and class mates

Matthew's our lion heart. He can be so stubborn but is also extremely soft. Words and actions are taken to heart and he carries them for a long while. We feel strongly that this is the school for him and the right teacher, but leaving him those first few days when he really didn't want to stay was tough on all of us. Our prayer is that he will gain strength this year in character and confidence while never losing that tenderness in his heart.

Matthew, you are the treasure of my heart and I love you dearly.

Me and Matthew, 6 years old!

School Ministry

Several months ago Derek and the YWAM team ministered at a school for troubled kids. They were giving 3 hours to speak to the different age groups in the school sharing mistakes they've made and what God has done in their lives. Several weeks after the event we were told that one young girl was planning to commit suicide until the events of that day caused her to change her mind. Since then a student leadership body was formed to help shape the school into the environment where education can prosper and the students feel cared for and protected. Incredible changes are still happening in the students and staff starting with that one day of ministry. We're so proud of the transparency and honesty of our team and so thankful for the Lord and how He moves in our lives!

Kids Bible Club

Wednesdays are my busiest day of the week. In the mornings I host a ladies Bible study in our home with an incredible group of women I have grown to love and respect more than I ever dreamed. At the start of 2009 two of the moms in the group asked how they could teach their children at home about the Lord and if I would be willing to show them what I do with my own children. From that the Kids Bible Club was formed. The ladies have study and fellowship together in the morning and then they come back in the afternoon with their children and we have Bible study again with the kids. I love it! It's a lot of work, but so exciting to see moms and kiddos growing together, moms gaining confidence to teach their children, and kiddos sharing the Lord together with their friends.

Yesterday was our first day back this year and we started with a review of the Ten Commandments which we began learning before school dismissed in December. We had only done the first 4 and I wanted to see what the children remembered. They did pretty well as far as recollecting the purpose of the law, how it was received, what the Israelites were doing while Moses was on Mt. Sinai and so forth. After reviewing the 4th commandment I said we would begin next week with the rest.

One 2nd grader said, "Auntie Rebecca, please teach us the fifth commandment today. We want to be able to tell you the verse next week." Like I said Wednesdays are crazy with two Bible studies, racing around to drop off and pick kids up, scrambling to prepare dinner, getting my little ones ready for swimming later in the day and Derek and Malachi off to Setswana lessons... but none of that craziness matters. A young boy asked me to teach him God's Word and my heart soared!! Wednesdays are best day of the week!

New Floors

Matt, Lincoln, and Tebogo have completed the tiling project at Martha's House. The floors look great and will be so much easier to keep clean. We are so grateful for the fantastic job they did!

Bible Study

Everything shuts down in South Africa during December and many families go away for nearly the entire 6 week school break. It's our summer time and there is so much to be enjoyed! January is the start of a new school year so life seems to almost pause in December and then come rushing back in full force by mid-January.

Our schedules are nearly back to normal and we've started meeting again for Ladies Bible study group. I have learned so much from these women and pray they have learned from me as well. Over the last few years we've done 3 Beth Moore study guides, worked through God's Redemptive Plan in an overview of the Bible, dug deep into the study of grace, and worked through 4 books of the Bible. This year we're beginning with another Beth Moore study on the life and ministry of Paul and I find myself almost giddy at what God wants to offer each of us in the group. I'm looking forward to every minute!!

Discipleship Training School

Our upcoming Discipleship Training School begins in March and the YWAM base is all abuzz at what God has in store. We're praying daily for the Lord to send the right students in need of what our specific team has to offer. As a group we love teaching, discipling, and mentoring and are so excited about the coming months. DTS for both students and staff is an incredible time of growing in Christ and sharpening our characters to better portray Jesus to the world. This past Sunday I drove a DTS team from Orlando, Florida to Botswana as they prepare to outreach there for the next couple of weeks and what a blessing those two hours were for me. I love spending time with people in awe of Christ, waiting on His commands and ready to do whatever He asks!

Father I pray you would shape and prepare YWAM Rustenburg for the students You have in mind for the upcoming DTS. Bring them from far and near with willing hearts to learn what You want to teach them. It is impossible to study Your Word, worship You in spirit and truth, ponder Your majesty, sit in Your presence, and hear Your voice and NOT be dramatically changed. We ask for deep transformation in all of us during the coming months. We want to experience the depths of You Jesus as our friend and our Savior so we can step out into this world and be living witnesses for You. We love you Jesus. Amen.

Our very first DTS students and staff on outreach.

It's that time again!

New school shoes for all the children at Martha's House!

Joy to the World

We had a wonderful holiday season this year! At the start of December the kids and I sat together and talked about peace and our desire that our home be filled with peace and that everyday we open our hearts to the Prince of Peace. The children started back to school today and on the morning drive we talked about how much peace we felt this season and how excited we are about what is to come.

To my darling three, I pray you learn from an early age to look to Him for all your needs and find contentment wherever He places you. We live in an uncertain world, but we have a very certain King and our place is always with Him. You are my sunshine, treasure, and song and I love you dearly.

Love the One

Derek and I have never really thought about New Years resolutions, but each December we start reflecting on the previous year and seeking God's plan for the year ahead. It is incredibly humbling to see all that God has done for us and through us, taught us or tried to teach us, and quite simply loved us and those around us through His grace and purpose in our lives.

This past year has been an eye opening experience to how we, as the Body of Christ, should truly love one another. In recent months, we've looked more closely at how we and those around us respond to each other. Sometimes we've been overwhelmed by kindness and sacrifice, but all too often we've been disappointed in our own selfishness and fears to be truly abandoned to love as Jesus does.

As we've prayed about the coming year we sense that God is asking two just things from us. To love Him with all our hearts and to love each person He places in front of us. Sometimes missions can get so complicated with strategies, projects, finances and expectations but God has made it very simple. We are called to 'love the one'.

My prayer for myself and those I love and minister to this year is that we learn to love the one. To first love Jesus deeply and then to love freely and purposefully the one He puts before us everyday just as He would. We are expecting that love to cost us in time, money, energy, and emotions but we can sense there is something amazing just beyond our reach and we are desperate to walk in it. Thank you Lord for leading us on this journey!

Clear Vision

A local optometrist is testing the kids in our OVC projects for free! So far two groups have gone in for testing and over the next few months everyone will have this very specific need met. So far, several children have been discovered to need glasses and one child needs surgery to correct a problem caused by a thorn when he was just three.

Lynette, on our YWAM team, is thrilled she was able to set this up. The local doctor is thrilled to be able to use his gifts to help the children. General Motors SA is thrilled to pay. The kids are thrilled to receive a gift that will literally change their view of the world!

Agnes's House Christmas party

What an awesome day this was as we celebrated Christmas with the children from Agnes's House OVC project. Everyone worked hard to prepare a special meal for the kids and the day was as close to perfect as you can get. The children colored Christmas pictures, watched a nativity play performed by the MKs, ate great food, enjoyed popcorn and homemade cookies, and watched a movie! What a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of Jesus!