Beep, beep

I finally have my South African license. Took my leaners test with 24 other South Africans and the whole group passed. We kept waiting for the tester to return and it was taking so long because he had so many permits to register and print for us. Was a great moment when he came back with the results that we all passed.

On March 12th I took my driving test and passed the first time. In South Africa it is common to repeat the test several times over and through God's incredibly grace, the prayers of many, and a week of parallel parking practice I passed!!

I'm free!!! And better yet, my sweet hubby has his life back!!

This morning, I took Martha to the testing office to submit my temporary license and pick up my real one! To say I'm thrilled with this news is a huge understatement!! Now, it's Martha's turn. She's got her learners license and will be taking her driving test soon!!!

Update to Freedom Park Strike

This strike was a great concern for the city as with it comes violence and rioting in seemingly any area with disgruntled employees and we know many people here and abroad were praying. Here's an update from my friend Abby,

"Yesterday we found out that the strike in Freedom Park only lasted 2 days. It was over almost as quickly as it started. The ladies at the clinic said it was completely peaceful with no incidents. We are so grateful! Thanks for praying!!"

Wednesday morning date with Daddy!

Striking in Freedom Park

Please pray for the families and workers in Freedom Park. This squatter camp has both formal and informal settlement areas and is home to thousands of workers on the platinum mines. It has already been a difficult year with striking and violence in the area and it has an immediate effect on the children's church in Freedom Park, their families, and the missionaries who work there each week. For those of you who love Annah please keep her in your prayers!

That's a lot of vegetables!

Yesterday, I did my first round of shopping for the orphan care feeding programs in almost 2 years. We've added food for nearly 80 children to the weekly buy and I barely managed to get it all in the back of my car. The drive back to Phokeng felt like at any time I was either going to pop a tire or tip over backwards. But my oh my how wonderful it felt! I'm so grateful for the support to purchase all this food and for the kiddos that are daily blessed by it. Next week I'll try to remember and take a picture of the loaded car!

Dead in our sin... alive with Christ!!

It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

I love the message version of Ephesians 2:1-6, but the NIV says it even more plainly when it states, "We were dead in our transgressions and sins... but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ!

Right now Derek and I are walking a road with several people enslaved to the bondage of addictions. We are heartbroken for them and the pain they cause themselves and their loved ones. We know we are no better and no different than they are. We too were dead in our sins, but by God's love and grace we find ourselves now alive with Christ! Alive. Living. Free. In His love. That's what we want for these people.   Please pray the Lord will open their eyes to Christ and the life He alone offers them! And pray for us to have His patience, wisdom,and grace. Thank you!

New life

Several months ago, Derek was sitting with his group at Foundations and it seemed the guys at the table just weren't connecting with the teaching. Derek prayed for each one trusting God to reach their hearts with the message He wanted delivered. One of the guys left the class frustrated and somewhat angry, but he called Derek a day or so later with the joyful news that he was now assured of his salvation. After years of believing himself to be a Christian, during the class God asked this man to give his life over to Him in a very real and different way than he had ever done before. Only God knows the heart of man and when salvation really occurs, but what a joy to watch how He works and leads us to Himself. Derek's walking a road of friendship and discipleship with this individual and is continually blessed by God's work in his life. We celebrate in the life God has given him and wait expectantly for the amazing things to come!

Gotta love this lady!

There's a great deal of work being done at Agnes's House right now. We are so grateful to Chris and Amy and their team from the US, Matt and Angela and the STAK club for their generous support, Lincoln and Jenny for all their hard work, GM South Africa for their continued support of the monthly programs, and especially Mama Agnes for the love she pours out to the children in her community. Derek and I have had nothing to do with this building project other than to watch it all take place and absolutely marvel at what God has done for this woman, her home, and the children involved. Derek and I have been so privileged to be apart of this grass roots work from the beginning, but truly God does what God does like no other and we are floored by His heart for Agnes and the children in her care. We are celebrating today and praising God for Agnes!!

Wednesday Bible Studies

Right now my Wednesday morning Bible study group is studying Esther and the evening study is doing Breaking Free. Both studies are by Beth Moore and are amazing. I love them so much and what they inspire the women to seek from God in their own lives as well as the lives of those in their sphere of influence.

Without sharing names I thought I shared some of the praise reports we've had lately: New houses, healthy children, sleeping children, healing in children & siblings, new jobs, spouses seeking Christ, eyes being opened to areas of bondage, awareness to addictions, healing in marriages, salvation of immediate family members, new ministry opportunities, and many, many, many answered prayers!

It is a privilege to lead and teach these groups and I love my time with all these women, but my greatest thanksgiving right now is for the prayers of the people and the response of God. Thank you Lord for each woman in these groups. Bless them Lord and pull them even deeper into your presence. Give them the faith and courage to trust you with their whole lives.  Thank you Father for Beth Moore and all who produce these Bible studies. Hold them tightly in your hand and continue to pour out your grace and favor. And thank you sweet Lord for caring so much about every aspect of our lives and your constant readiness to hear our hearts and lead us into our destinies with You. You are a Blessing like no other!

Wisdom and Love

As God brings us into deeper relationship with people we are discipling it is so hard to know how to write about it on a blog. I mentioned that to my aunt recently and she told me to rather focus on what God is doing in us and what we need from Him to do the work He gives us. I thought it was a great suggestion and this is my first attempt.

As sinful beings we can easily get trapped in areas of bondage and strongholds meant to keep us from living the abundant life God has planned. Jesus died to set us free from all areas of captivity, from every stronghold, from slavery to sin. Every day we are teaching and praying with people wanting to be free but stuck in the same old patterns and that makes it pretty easy for God to show us a few of our own areas of captivity.

Lately, He's revealed issues in us we thought were gone but aren't. He's revealed things we thought were still there but we now realize are under our feet and Praise You Jesus for that! And He's revealed things we hadn't seen or were afraid to look at. We know what He's doing and the grace and love we feel for Him because of it is precious. There are people in our life who are hurting and broken and lost. There are people in our life trying to hold onto God but who spend 24 hours a day in a ungodly household with an ungodly spouse. There are people in our live struggling to cast off areas of sin and walk at peace with God and themselves. There are people in our life wrestling over the issues of forgiveness and love and sadly bitterness and anger are winning. But all of that, ALL of that, falls under the shadow of the cross. Jesus lived that we could follow His example and be able to talk to Him about anything. He died to take all our sin away and free us from the bondage it creates. And He rose again and defeated every enemy we have - sin, death, and the devil.

We're not afraid to dig into our issues. We're not afraid to tackle the issues of those we are discipling. However, we are terrified of attempting it in our own strength or understanding. We need Jesus. We need Him everyday to fill us up and teach us about life and how to live it. We need Him to speak through us and bring deliverance to His people. And we need His love to overwhelm us for the people He places in front of us. And you can imagine we need prayer. Lots and lots of prayer. And the people we are working with need prayer. I can't name them here, but God knows their names and we ask for you to please lift them up to Him. Much love! D&R

Wow, it's May! When did that happen?

I know the expression "time flies" but seriously, is it truly May? How did that happen? We started this year with what felt like a shotgun start and having been racing ever since. However for those of you who know us best, I am thrilled to say we've also rested in between the laps! We've learned the hard way that without the rest we aren't worth much and this year we've grabbed it when we've been able. Some things have fallen by the wayside and that includes this blog, our taxes, lots of admin, snapfish updates for family (so sorry Mom), and a bit more.

So for today I just wanted to say thank you to our friends and family for praying for us and remembering us. God is awesome! Ministry is awesome! Family is awesome! God is busy. I have no other understanding for what is happening around us other than our God is jealous for the hearts of His people and jealous for the lost to come home. He's doing something constantly in so many different areas and lives and we are standing in shock at how it's coming to pass. We are amazed by Him. Salvation is here and salvation is coming for so many in our midst and we are absolutely delighted. I've got lots of pictures and updates to add to catch us up for the year, but in the mean time please keep praying for us and for the lives He touches through us. We need His grace, His humility, His love, and His wisdom every single day. Much love, Derek and Rebecca