May Prayer Letter

It is almost time!  I leave for South Africa in just over a month and it feels like things are getting down to the wire.  I’ve currently in North Carolina at the Center for Intercultural Training attending a three-week course on Equipping for Cross-Cultural Life & Ministry and then a one-week training on Facilitating Global Church Multiplication.  Since I’m just getting started here, I’ll have to tell you more about this training program in next month’s update.

Last month, I attended the 2^nd of a three weekend course by Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries. What a wonderful time of diving deep into God’s work to flesh out His advice for those struggling with grief, depression, and sexual sin.  I won’t be able to attend the final weekend scheduled this month, but I’ve already got copies of the lectures. 

If you ever find yourself wishing you knew what to say and how to help friends or work colleges who are struggling with emotional or family problems, consider looking into this biblical counseling training.  They have a regional conference in Seattle yearly and a big conference in Indiana each February.  I am taking the Foundations course, but then you can also take multiple advanced tracks and even become certified as a counselor by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors.

Before I head back to my studies, I wanted to share a reminder on exactly what I will be doing in South Africa.  As part of North-West University in Mafikeng/Mmabatho they have an animal health technician training program.  As part of that course, all students must spend several weeks in the small animal hospital learning skills that will be needed in practice once they graduate.  I will be working as a veterinarian in that clinic seeing whatever clients and patients come for appointments. 

During appointments and surgeries, I will have a group of 6-8 students with me learning things like handling animals safely and humanely, taking blood samples, looking at the blood to identify tick borne disease (very common there), dispensing medication, caring for hospitalized patients, monitoring anesthesia, and numerous other practical topics.  Also, and more importantly, there will be many opportunities to share with them the love of Christ and his grace and mercy.   

                                                                                                

Once these students complete their studies and graduate as an animal health technician, they will likely go on to get government jobs in animal health or work with veterinarians in private practices as pet nurses.  Since many of these students come from a poor, rural background this is a great opportunity for a good paying job.

Finally, if you are in the North Carolina area (I’m between Charlotte and Asheville) and would like to get together sometime this month, please give me a call  or send me an email and we can connect!

Questions and Answers

Over the last few months I’ve answered a lot of questions about my move to South Africa so I thought I’d post a few of them here since many of you have probably been wondering about them as well.

When do you leave?

My tickets are booked to leave Seattle on June 10^th and arrive in South Africa on June 12^th.

Are you worried about safety?

Although I will take basic precautions, my life is not ruled by fear because I know my God is sovereign. 

Thankfully, although Mafikeng is a reasonably large city, it does not have the same crime problems for which Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town are famous.    Also, I will be living in a 2^nd floor flat (apartment) with surrounding walls and a gate. 

Since it isn’t wise to walk on my own, I’ll have a car to travel to and from work and run errands and most shop’s parking lots have “attendants” to watch over cars and, hopefully, reduce theft.

Will you be treating exotic/wild animals?

No.  The clinic where I will be working/teaching is a small animal clinic for cats and dogs.  There is also a farm animal side where I may help out with small ruminants, but no lions and tigers and bears, oh my! J

Where are you going?

I will be living in a city that is actually two towns side by side that were combined in the 1980’s, Mafikeng and Mmabatho. Mmabatho was formerly the capital of the Bophuthatswana, an independent state set up within South Africa as a homeland for Tswana speaking people.  In 1994, Bophuthatswana was reintegrated into South Africa and Mmabatho became the capital of the North-West Province.  A few years later, the capital was renamed to Mafikeng and Mmabatho became just a suburb.

Mafikeng was founded by the Barolong people in the early 1800’s and was the location of the Siege of Mafikeng, during the Boer War.  The British colonel at the Siege of Mafikeng, Robert Baden-Powell, held the town with 1,100 men against 8,000 Boer (Dutch) troops for 217 days until finally relieved by additional British troops. Colonel Baden-Powell went on to write Scouting for Boys and formed the youth scouting movement that became the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts we know here today.

Mafikeng is located just a few miles from the border with Botswana and is on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. As such, it is fairly dry (~21 inches of rain/year) and the average high temperature ranges from 68-88 degrees year round.

How can I be involved?

You can pray!  Your prayers will be even more important the first few months as I adjust to living in South Africa and develop friendships and relationships there.

You can keep in touch!  Although I will be living thousands of miles away, email still arrives just as quickly.  Snail mail will also be greatly appreciated once I’m settled.

You can support me financially!  Although I have met my anticipated budget, there will doubtless be many unexpected expenses over the next three years and current supporters who may become unable to continue their monthly support.  Also, as I get involved, extra support can go to setting up projects in the community or with the students.

Three Months to Go!

Only a few more months left before I move to South Africa!  I’ve turned in tons of paperwork to CVM, bought my flight, sent in my South Africa visa application, and have one more month to work at Banfield.  Dr. Emery, already serving in Mafikeng, has been out scouting cars for me so I can purchase one as soon as possible after I arrive.  And, although the packing hasn’t really started yet, there are piles of various items in my spare room ready to start the process.

In the midst of all the stress, excitement, and multitude of errands, I was recently struck again, during worship at church, by the song “Words of My Mouth” by Tim Hughes.  This has been one of my favorites since it came out and always serves to reorient my thoughts in the correct direction – towards God.  Songs can so often capture our heart and thoughts more beautifully than we can express on our own. So, once again, why am I moving to South Africa?

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart

Bless Your name, bless Your name, Jesus

And the deeds of the day and the truth in my ways

Speak of You, speak of You, Jesus

For this is what I'm glad to do

It's time to live a life of love that pleases You

And I will give my all to You

Surrender everything I have and follow You

I'll follow You

Lord, will You be my vision, Lord, will You be my guide

Be my hope, be my light and the way

And I'll look not for riches, nor praises on earth

Only You'll be the first of my heart

Play the YouTube video below to hear the original recording.

Over the next few months please continue to support me though prayer.  Pray for peace for my spirit in the midst of chaos, time and energy to accomplish everything that comes up, and wisdom in making decisions.  

The goal is in sight!

Praise the Lord!  Barring any complications, I’ll be living in South Africa this June!  By the end of December the Lord brought in the extra monthly support I needed to meet my budget.  I’ve turned in notice at work and registered for my final missions preparation training course so now the form filling-out marathon begins.  Please pray that my visa application process goes smoothly at the South African Consulate.

Please also pray that my search for a home church is resolved quickly.  I’ve been attending a church on Cameno Island recently that has been very welcoming and already has missions connections in South Africa.  It would be wonderful to be settled in a church here before I leave.  Please pray that the Lord would confirm my membership in a church that will be willing to take an active sending roll in this ministry.

100% Support Reached!

Have you heard the great news!  I'm fully supported!  Now I get to hand in my resignation at work and start working on all the details I'll need to wrap up before I leave.  I will be attending one final missions training course at Center for Intercultural Training in North Carolina in May and then hope to be on my way to South Africa by mid June.  So excited the time has finally come!

January Prayer Letter - The good and the sad

Did you have a great Christmas?  Our home is undergoing a bit of a remodel at the moment so Christmas occurred while flooring was ripped up, wallpaper torn down, and a bathroom was redone.  Thankfully the meaning of Christmas is not in the decorations! Soon everything will be fresh for the New Year.

On a sad note, the church I’ve been attending the past few years, Sedro-Woolley Community Fellowship, closed its doors mid-December, although many in the church hope to still meet together at times for fellowship.

A good church community is so important for support and fellowship and to keep one spiritually sharpened :).  I can’t wait to see where the Lord leads next!  What new friends will I meet?  How will I be able to serve? How will the Lord use this event to help pave the way to South Africa? 

For now, I’ve been visiting other churches in the valley and hope to be settled into a new church home soon.  Please pray the Lord will lead me to a church that is willing to support me spiritually, with prayer, and hopefully financially, over the years I serve in South Africa.

On a happier note, the Lord provided and brought in over and above the 15% I’d set as a goal for the end of 2014! The year end giving is not all in but it looks like I'm just about fully supported and should be able to set my departure and training dates soon. It is exciting to reach this phase and I am looking forward to being in South Africa soon where I have been called to serve.      

Finally, I’m looking to intentionally put together a team of prayer supporters over the next few months.  Prayer is key to getting to and accomplishing God purposes in South Africa.  If you already are, or will commit to, praying for me regularly, please drop me a quick email or otherwise let me know. My goal is 100 active prayer supporters before I leave.

May the Lord bless this New Year for you with joy, peace, and love.  I’ll look back to my time in Glasgow, Scotland for a quick Celtic blessing for you:

May you have

Walls for the wind

And a roof for the rain,

And drinks beside the fire

Laughter to cheer you

And those you love near you,

And all that your heart may desire

~ Celtic Blessing

December Prayer Letter - Malva Pudding Recipe

Geseënde Kersfees (Merry Christmas)!

Christmas is coming!  The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year.  But, as I drink my chai-nog and make chocolate covered cherries I wonder what Christmas will be like in South Africa.  During December, the university where I will be working closes down for several weeks, but the clinic stays open to see patients.  It will be summer there with temperatures in the mid 80’s and also the wet season with an average of 2 inches of rain a week.  I am used to evergreen boughs, pinecones, and holly symbolizing the Christmas season; what will be the decorations of choice in Mafikeng?  Tune in next year for the answers!

Hopefully you read the challenge put forth in my last prayer letter to bring in the final 15% of my monthly support by the end of the year.  If we achieve that goal I should be on my way to South Africa by May or June!  I’ve reached out to everyone I know over the past year and to reach this goal we now need to reach out to people YOU know.  Please talk to your friends, pastors, neighbors, and relatives to help bring in the final 15%.  All gifts are tax deductable.

And don’t forget about your thank you gift!  When you commit to at least $30/month, or yearly support of $360, I’ll make you a few custom paracord bracelets or a dog collar or leash in the colors of your choice.  For $50/month or more I’ll make a matching set of a collar and leash or a belt.  These make awesome Christmas presents!  Examples can be seen at www.etsy.com/shop/GoSpeakLiveBoldly.  Just send me an email with your pledge or donate online at www.cvmusa.org/quam.

If you want to add a bit of South Africa to your own Christmas celebration you might enjoy baking a Malva pudding for your Christmas Eve dessert.  Malva pudding is actually a spongy cake with a custard sauce and is a favorite in many South African homes.

Cake

3/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon apricot jam (or preserves, chopped very finely)

5 ounces all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon butter (a generous tablespoon)

1 teaspoon vinegar

1/3 cup milk

Sauce

3/4 cup fresh cream

3 1/2 ounces butter

5 ounces sugar

1/3 cup hot water

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat or whip the sugar and eggs, preferably in a food processor, until thick and lemon colored. Then, add the apricot jelly (or jam) and mix thoroughly.

Sieve together the flour, soda and salt. Melt the butter (do not boil!) and add the vinegar. Add this mixture, as well as the milk, to the egg mixture in the processor, alternately with the flour. Beat well.

Pour into an oven-proof dish, and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. In a pot, melt together the ingredients for the sauce. When the cake is halfway baked, take it out of oven. Make holes in cake and pour the sauce over the pudding. Return cake to oven.

Sound good?  South Africa has quite a few delicious desserts and some very unique cuisines. I’ll share more recipes as I discover them! 

Finally, please continue to pray for individuals and churches able and willing to support me both financially and with regular prayer.