A Word in Season

Many things have changed in South Africa in the last 13 years since apartheid was abolished. It's a new day, new season in many ways. And yet, I notice so many have a "downtrodden" spirit. You can feel it. It has grieved and saddened me. I've prayed and asked the Lord what I can do about it. It seems like such a big, overwhelming need.

The Lord has been challenging me to respond by encouraging and loving one person at a time. A smile, a kind word, an encouragement, an affirmation.......all can bless. It seems like such a small thing for a giant need. But I've realized if I'll do my part, then God can use it and do things I can't do. My small acts of kindness can begin to chip away and break down big walls of hurt, pain, anger, bitterness, and low self-esteem. It's what I can do. I can't change the past, but the seeds I sow now can affect the future.

I had a sweet, practical example of this a few days ago. I was sitting on a bench next to a lady. I could just feel her heavy spirit. My heart ached to reach out to her in some loving way. I looked over and smiled.......and noticed she was wearing a pretty wooden necklace. I told her how lovely it was. In response, she frowned and actually glared at me. I wasn't sure what else to do, so I sat there praying. A few minutes later she looked at me and smiled, and said, "You know I made it myself!" I immediately began to tell her how wonderful that was......how I can't do things like that.......and how I admired people with the ability to work with their hands. She told me how she'd seen one in a store, but it was too expensive. She went looking, found the beads, and made one. We talked for a few minutes, then she went on her way smiling.......with her step a little lighter!

It's just a small thing, but I have a feeling it's a big thing too. If enough people love in these small ways, it'll bring big change. I want to do my part! I ask the Lord daily now for sensitivity to His spirit to encourage those I come in contact with. I was thinking recently of a song we used to sing in church when I was growing up - "little is much when God is in it." I believe that's very true!

God created the universe by speaking things into existence. We can create good things in our world with our words too!

"A word in season, how good it is!" Proverbs 15:23

Our Furry Friend

Floyd loves dogs!  We've had a dog for most of our (soon-to-be 40!) years of being married.  Some I've liked, most I've tolerated....because I love Floyd. :}  Our current dog is "Sossy."  She's a sweet, fun, affectionate Airedale terrier.......not too big, but big enough so that Floyd doesn't think she's a "pretend" dog.  I think I like her almost as much as Floyd does.  She's a real sweetheart.

When we knew we were moving to South Africa, we faced the decision about what to do with Sossy.  She's only 3 years old, so she probably will live a good many years still.  Floyd has trained her well, so we hated to begin all over again with a puppy.  After much thought, discussion, and, yes, prayer......she came with us.  We're very happy about that.  She's like "family"......and is a sweet touch of "home."  Everyone loves her here, and she helps us meet new people.  There aren't many like her here, so people are always stopping us when we're out walking and asking us about her.

Unusual birds called guinea fowl roam the neighborhood here.  They can fly, but most of the time they walk around - in the street, in the yard.  They are funny shaped round birds with tiny little heads - very strange looking.  They can also be very annoying when they peck at your door, incessantly!!, wanting food.  A few times Sossy has been outside when they've been around and has chased them.  Now when they see her, they run. :}  It stopped the pecking on the door problem!!

Sossy loves to go for prayer walks with Floyd on the beach.  She treats the sand like snow.....getting her nose under it and flinging it in the air.  She also loves to run and run on the long beach.......as well as play with other dogs.  But she has stayed away from the water.

We were recently away for a few days, and some friends took care of Sossy.  One morning she fell into their swimming pool.  She was swimming, but crying........when they came out and rescued her.  She was really scared.  Needless to say, she's not a water dog!

She has become a protective, good watch dog too.  We hadn't seen that side of her before we moved here.  When Floyd is away, she steps this up a notch and feels she has to watch out for me!

Our sweet, furry friend is having her own African adventures!  If she could talk, I think she'd tell you that she loves living here.

"Whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name."  Genesis 2:19   I wonder what Adam would have called Sossy!  Maybe something like, well, "dog." :}

Mourning What is Lost - Honoring What Has Been

We experienced a tragedy recently when a pastor, a dear man of God, was shot and killed by a distraught man he had been counseling.  In fact, this man had tried to take his own life a few weeks before, and the pastor had found him and saved his life.

This pastor was a wonderful elder in the whole community of Masiphumelele, a township near where we live.  He was a servant to the people, highly respected.  He had lived and served in "Masi" for 18 years.  When there was a need or crisis, he was often the first one on the scene to help and minister.  He had touched many lives in the community.  The loss was widely felt.  The community responded with a quiet dignity and mourning, a sense of honor and respect for the leader they lost.

These events have caused me to think about how we grieve what has been lost. God cannot comfort us if we yield to the temptation to "spiritualize, rationalize, or criticize" when there is a loss. Giving into any one of these temptations, as a way of trying to help others through their grief, is a huge mistake. I have learned in my journey to avoid these three pitfalls. Let me explain why.

1. Don't over-spiritualize the loss of a great person or something precious to us with Christian cliches and superficial jargon . It is better just to say, "It hurts. I'm sorry. I will miss him." Commonly used phrases like, "The Lord understands," or "It was God's time," or "all things work together for good," are not only hurtful to those close to the one that we've lost, but can also denigrate the wrong choices of others who caused someone's death. These cliches lose their meaning by repeating them without thinking. They often reflect bad theology. For example, "all things do not work together for good..," but "in all things God works for good." There is a world of difference.

2. Don't rationalize or intellectualize someone's loss. There is a great temptation to find answers, to understand with our minds what must be responded to with our hearts. I have struggled this last week with why God would allow a great man to be killed tragically. There are times we should not try to explain what is unexplainable. There are aspects of our life on earth that do not fit into neat theological boxes. Even if we have the correct insight, it can be profoundly insensitive to speak it out. Far better to hold those thoughts and ponder them in our hearts.

3. A third way to respond to loss is to blame it on the enemy. Some people don't feel happy unless they have someone or something to blame. But the blame game will definitely hinder grieving. I get the impression that people believe Satan has more power than God.  Satan cannot do anything that God does not allow him to do. He is a created, fallen, finite being. He is a liar. He is limited. God does not cause evil to happen. God is not responsible for people's sinful choices, but He is greater than evil and sin. He can take the evil of this world and bring good out of it. The Bible says that God will cause even the wrath of sinful men to praise Him (Psalm 76:10).

On a natural level my human mind can't help but ask, "why him, Lord? He was one of the really good ones!  We need him." Though we shouldn't rationalize with human reasoning a serious loss, God does give insight and revelation. My heart has ached for this pastor's family (he left a wife, children, grandchildren), his congregation, and the community.  The need is so great.  Losing a life is always tragic, but losing this man has had an even greater impact.

As I have pondered this for the last couple weeks...... I was reading in Job and was struck by the words in Job 32:8 - "It is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand."  When Job reached a depth of humility and surrender to the gracious sovereignty of God, he was able then to receive wisdom and insight. "I have heard of you with the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes see you..." (Job 42:5). Spiritual wisdom is revealed to the lowly of heart, not the mighty of mind. While I don't think we will ever have all our questions answered here on earth, I do believe God wants to give revelation and understanding to our hearts when our motive is to understand His ways .  It's His spirit in us that does that......for all the questions we bring to Him.  I continue to pray and seek God's perspective on these recent events.  While my heart grieves with those who mourn, my prayer is to respond with God's heart and with Godly understanding.

I've also prayed that many will be raised up to take this dear man's place!  His ministry was deeply rooted in the community, and now his very life has been sown into it.  Although I didn't have the privilege of knowing him personally in the short time we've been here, I honor him for the spiritual foundations he laid in the community.  I pray that there will be an abundance of eternal fruit from Pastor Phillip Mokson's life.

A New Year

I can't believe we're already a month into a new year!  Where did 2006 go?  It seemed to fly by!  Of course, I guess making a big international move had a little something to do with that.

We've had major things happening in these few beginning weeks of the year - wind, heat, fire, death.  There haven't been many "quiet" days.  It's felt at times like living in a war zone - certainly spiritually, if not physically.  You can almost feel the battle raging for the hearts and minds of people.  The enemy is at work, but God is the victor.

When the year began, I found myself praying and asking the Lord about what this year held in store.  There seemed to be lots of possibilities, a few certainties, and many questions.  I felt He spoke the verse at the bottom into my heart.  What a comfort to know that He's with us, and He doesn't fail.

I am a detailed, organized person.  I like to have "my ducks in a row."  I like to know what's around the corner so I can get ready and be prepared.  The last two years have been full of change, new beginnings.......and uncertainty. Uncertainty is hard for me, but, through the years, I've learned to be more flexible.  And I can be secure because of trusting the one who is our Rock!

A whole new year with lots of possibilities - and one absolute certainty........He is with us!!

"It is the Lord who goes before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you."  Deut. 31:8

Sally McClung

Every Day is an Adventure When You Live in Africa

Every day is an adventure for me in Africa. I never quite know what might be in store for my day when I wake up . There is, seemingly, never a dull day....and, I must say, I enjoy it a lot.

Fires - Recently, we've had a terrible fire blazing in our part of Cape Town. It was huge and continued burning for two days. We are house sitting for a friend in a home on the side of a mountain overlooking a valley. It has been both incredible and sad to watch the powerful destructive force of this fire. Sadly, there are also many fires in the townships that are destroying hundreds of homes of the poorest people in the city.

Snakes in the shower - On a more mundane, but certainly not boring level of life, my next door neighbor found a snake in her shower. It came up the drain. Needless to say, I look more carefully when I walk into the bathroom these days! I had seen a much larger snake just outside the door of a house we were looking at a few weeks ago. It was at one of the houses we were considering to buy. After seeing the snake, I wasn't very interested in that house!

Sad sounds - While I was doing emails this morning, I heard some rather horrible sounds. I listened and realized a wild animal was killing a cat! The wild animal was probably a lynx, a smallish wild cat about the size of an American bob cat.

And then there is the wind - Cape Town is known for its winds. They are powerful! We had heard about them, and now we're experiencing them. They have now been blowing for 6 days straight. I've expected the house to blow down a few times.

Summer during winter - December, January, and February are the hottest summer months in South Africa, when I'm used to it being winter. It's full-blown summer in the southern hemisphere, and it's been hot! I've had a few days when I've longed for nice, cool, air conditioning. A friend has lent us her car for a couple months. It has air conditioning. I've even been tempted to just go sit in the car to cool off!!

Strange bird sounds - I am awakened most mornings by the sound of very unusual bird calls. They are unlike any I've ever heard before. I don't even know what the birds look like, but I enjoy their morning concert.

Wild African animals - Many days we can see beautiful, wild African game in a small game reserve on the mountain behind us - springbok (playful), blesbuck (handsome), eland (majestic), and cape buffalo (ugly/beautiful). I love grabbing the binoculars and looking at them.

Driving on the left - I'm still getting used to driving on the left - quite a switch after 42 years of driving on the right (I started driving when I was 16, for those of you who are counting!). There are lots of pedestrians along the roadside, and the mini-van taxis are notorious for their speed and daring. I pray a lot when I drive.....and constantly remind myself to "think left"!

Tragedy in the townships - The past few days we have had some sad and tragic events take place. A pastor in the township near us was shot and killed by a distraught man he had been counseling. The pastor had served his community for 18 years, and had been a real servant to those in need. The loss of this dear man is being widely felt. We grieve with and for his family, his congregation, and the community. A day later, in the same township, there was a terrible, massive fire. Many homes were destroyed, and many people lost all their belongings. Some of these were people from the same church as the pastor who was killed. They lost their dear pastor and their home in two days.

Learning to love Africa - I can't say I understand life here, and my heart is heavy because of some of these recent events. But, yes, this is life in Africa - a wonderful place, and a place filled with need, sadness, and sometimes tragedy. I am learning to love Africa because God loves Africa. It's a new and different life from the one I've lived before. My heart is touched with its beauty, and broken with its need. It's my new homeland.

"The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land....." Deut. 8:7

Yours,
Sally McClung

Should We Love Muslims or Pray Against Them?

One scholar is predicting a clash of "Christian" and Muslim civilizations in the future, with inevitable victory being won by the more "dedicated" and persistent Muslim forces.

Others see Muslims as our enemies right now: "They are all terrorists at heart," they say.

Conservative Christians believe Muslims and Christians pray to different Gods, and that the true God does not hear a Muslim when he prays.

What do you believe?

Many followers of Jesus believe a proactive way to respond to the growing influence of Islam is to fast and pray during the month of Ramadan, the 30 day period each year when Muslims around the world fast and pray from sunrise to sunset. Learn how to be part of this world wide prayer movement at 30days.com. If you would like help thinking through these issues, or just some practical advice on how to reach out to Muslims, I recommend you check out this link today.

A helpful book on Islam is written by Carl Medearis, titled Pillars and Prophets. Carl lived in the Middle East for over ten years and offers insights into Islam without fear or prejudice.

Fire!!!

No, not the Holy Spirit kind - the natural kind!  Fire has been blazing in our valley for 2 days.

We are living (house-sitting for a friend) in a home on the side of a mountain overlooking a large valley.  Part of the valley is made up of what they call the "vlei" - a brush land nature preserve with a few scattered small lakes.  This area leads on out to the ocean.

A fire started in the afternoon in the vlei.  Two helicopters with huge water buckets battled the blaze for several hours, but had to stop when night came.  Firetrucks stood guard over the blaze during the night.

When I awoke the next morning, it was bigger than ever and spreading.  I told my neighbor that if this was a Calif. brush fire, they would be evacuating us all.  She calmly replied, "Not here."

The fire kept burning and spreading throughout the day, moving closer to the main road and to structures.  In early evening it turned into a big, bright orange ball as it hit an area of thick growth.  I watched it through the evening - almost like a fireworks display.  I again went to bed with the fire brightly blazing.

By the second morning, it was smaller.......and, thankfully, by that night it was only smoldering.  On the third morning I could plainly see the huge scorched area that had burned.  Wonderfully, no one was hurt.  I haven't heard the final report about structures.

Watching this fire was amazing - so large, so powerful, so fast, so all-consuming!  It was riveting.  I wanted to just stand and watch it's might and power.  I long to see that same thing happen with a spiritual fire in this land!!  May God light South Africa on fire with His Spirit.

"The flame sets the mountains ablaze......"  Psalm 83:14

Fire and Violence

A massive fire has been raging around one of the townships we are working in, just minutes from where we live in Cape Town, and then last night one of the pastors was killed. The township is called Massipumelele. Last night when the fire was blazing, there were emergency vehicles coming......we thought it was for the fire, but they turned into Massaphumele.The pastor who was shot and killed - Pastor Phillip Mokson - is a very good man who has done much good for the community of 18,000 people. He was a real elder in the community. There was a man in the church that he had been counseling. He was struggling with depression. He came into a prayer meeting with a gun, and shot the pastor in front of his family He just lost it. The pastor's family, his grandson, daughters and others - were there and saw it. The pastor has daughters with young children - he was the family patriarch.

Word has spread and people are all gathering at the church from the community. Members of our project team are helping to serve tea and snacks to people gathering at the church from the community.

This kind of violence hasn't happened in the community in a quite a while, so it's really shaken people. Please pray for God to bring good for the community out of the loss of this dear man's life. With the fire burning for 2 days (it's still going this morning, but smaller), there has been an uneasy "spirit" here.

Please be in prayer for the pastor's family and the community.

The Mighty Winds

"The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it."  John 3:8

That could have been written about Cape Town!!!  They told us about the winds when we were preparing to move here.  They call them the "Cape Doctor" because they blow so often that they keep the air quality clean and clear.  The air here is lovely and fresh.

We've been here long enough that we know what they're talking about now.  The wind blows and blows and blows!  And then it blows some more.  It blows loud!  It blows so strong you think the house will blow down.  It blows away everything you don't have anchored down outside.  And if you're outside, it blows you too!

Dec. and Jan. are supposed to be the windiest months, and we hadn't had much wind yet.......but then... wham!  It blew enough the last few days to make up for it.  In the summer the winds blow one direction (from the southeast)......in the winter another (from the northwest).  People build their houses (and decks for warm weather use) accordingly.

I actually quite enjoy all the different weather patterns here.  The weather changes continually - sometimes several times a day.  The variety is fascinating.  The home where we're house-sitting right now is on the side of a mountain overlooking the valley.  I love watching all the weather patterns move through the valley.

When I hear the winds begin to blow........I just think of the creator of the winds, and rejoice in His goodness in bringing us to this land of mighty winds.  I pray, too, that the winds of His Spirit will blow mightily across this land!!

A Southern Hemisphere Christmas

I love Christmas - not just a little, but a lot! It's my favorite time of the year. When I was growing up, it was the time of the year when it seemed like the whole family came together. It was also the time of year when I saw my dad's true, soft, generous heart. He often kept it well hidden the rest of the year. Every year he would vow and declare that he wasn't going to give any gifts. He didn't have enough money, people didn't need more stuff, prices were too high, etc. And every year, at the very last minute, he'd come to me quietly and ask me if I could help him shop - after everything was picked over, sizes were gone, and many shelves were bare! After awhile, I learned to look for "his" gifts early and ask the shop keepers to save them for us until his last minute shopping. He really had a sweet, tender heart, but I think he just didn't know how to show it.

I'm a sentimentalist. I love the decorations, the big tree, outside lights, the old songs, brightly wrapped gifts piled up under the tree, making cookies and candy, cold weather, snow when we were lucky, the fire roaring in the fireplace, hot chocolate, caroling, the stockings - you probably get the picture.

And now I find myself in a warm climate where everyone is barbequing and heading to the beach for the Christmas holiday season! Quite a change! I wondered how I would do. I was afraid I would be terribly homesick.

But I wasn't. The thing that made it very special was being with dear friends - friends we've known for 20-25 years - and new friends we've just met. It was such a treasure to be with them, to do fun things together, to laugh, talk, remember! The celebrating was different, but the richness was there because of the precious relationships. We all decided not to give gifts to each other, but I felt I was given a special gift - their love, welcome, and acceptance as we make our way in our new homeland. We had many invitations from other new friends here, too, who wanted to make sure we wouldn't be alone. I couldn't have been homesick if I'd tried!

I still like all the cold weather Christmas stuff, but I think I'll be okay in my new warm weather home! I'll find new ways to still be a Christmas sentimentalist!!

"A friend loves at all times......" Prov. 17:17

Responding to the HIV/AIDS Crisis in Africa

Let me explain what we are planning and praying about as our part to in responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. The closest "township" to us is just a two minute drive away - this is where we will train workers for planting churches in Africa and learning to work in the African context. It is called Massiphumelele. There are about 20,000 residents. 27% of the people are HIV positive, the highest rates of HIV of any community in this region of South Africa. Most of the people in Massiphumelele live in very small tin shacks.

One of the greatest challenges facing young people here in South Africa is hopelessness. There are three things that cause hopelessness in Africa: disease, poverty and not knowing Jesus. One teenage girl from the township, age 14, told a local pastor this story when he asked her how she felt about being pregnant at the age of 14. She told him she looked around at other peoples lives and saw that the only work available was being a servant to a white family. She had no hope of not living in a tin shack or to escape the poverty. She said she didn't want to spend the rest of her life being a domestic worker earning menial wages (being a servant for a white family). She heard that sex made you feel good, so she decided she would have all the sex she could, then get AIDS, with the "hope" she would die before she was 20. Why? So she wouldn't have to live in a tin shack and work as a domestic worker all her life.

I am deeply passionate about responding to this type of poverty, disease and hopelessness. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by it, but we must respond. We know it is what Jesus would do if he was here.

We are developing a sustainable model for responding to the AIDS crisis. We run a baby house for AIDS orphans in Mozambique, and are planning on starting a second house in '07. We have decided not to multiply an indefinite number of baby houses, even though they have an important role in helping in crisis situations where a baby will probably die if we don't take in the baby.

What we are going to do in the future is identify the African "grannies" who are the care-givers for AIDS orphans in the villages and townships of Africa, and work with them. When the parents die, the "grannies" are the ones who end up caring for the babies and children, often their own grandchildren. We will come along beside them and train them about HIV/AIDS, how and why it is important to give the ARV drugs (ARV's = anti-retro-viral drugs), make sure they have access to the drugs, provide them with food to feed the babies and children, and then work with the village and community leaders as they help the grannies. We have plans to develop a micro-lending bank and start small businesses to create jobs as well. Three young entrepreneurs who volunteer with us are giving the next ten years to develop small business models to under gird this strategy.

A key to sustain this strategy is to start small, simple churches beside the grannies to support them and carry on the care our full time workers will give. In this way we will be working with African social structures that are already in place, instead of creating Western models that are dependent on outside money and finance, like big orphanages.

The greatest need to implement this strategy is for dedicated workers and finances to start things rolling. Please pray with us as we seek to put this strategy into practice. Perhaps you would like to help?

Three Incredible Days

It's hard to put into words what has happened in the last three days. But I must try!

Sally and I just returned an hour ago from three wonderful days with our All Nations leaders from around South Africa and Mozambique. There are are a little more than 50 staff and volunteers working with All Nations in this part of the world. They are involved in 21 different church plants and some amazing ministries to the poor. The churches range in size from a new church in Maputo, Mozambique of three young men who are being discipled in a "simple" church, to a thriving house church that has just sent out four teams to the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent.

We came away from these three days tremendously encouraged because of the unity between our workers, the vision they have for discipleship and reaching the nations, the maturity level of our leaders, and the passion they carry for Jesus. After the team that went to Lebanon (there were 32 people on the team divided up into five locations around the country) gave a report on their time of ministering to children, counseling and praying with parents who were traumatized by the war, doing construction on a lone church building in the Hezbollah dominated south of Lebanon, we had an awesome time of prayer for that war torn country. There were many tears shed, and some people who made commitments to go back full time. We have been invited to start a full time leadership training program (CPx) in Lebanon and we are taking steps to accept the invitation.

We also spent time discussing and strategizing how to respond to the AIDS crisis in Africa and how that works with our vision to build church planting movements. We agreed that we must respond to the widows and orphans who are left behind when mothers and fathers with AIDS die. This often means there is no hope of work, food or medicines for those left behind. We have adopted a new strategy as our main thrust of caring for AIDS impacted widows and orphans. That is to support the grandmothers and grandfathers left behind who are caring for their grandchildren, to train them about AIDS, get them food, and help them qualify for ARV's (anti-retroviral drugs). We will train long term workers to equip the "grannies" who are left to care for the children, enlist the help of the village heads or local social agencies and humanitarian organizations, and follow up with church planting teams to win and gather a supportive community of believers who will gather around them. In this way we are working through the existing African social structures, co-operating with the village and township leaders as they seek to care for their own people, and start small churches in each community that will carry on the work of loving those in need.

We will continue to operate baby houses for crisis situations where there is no one to take care of an orphaned child, but we feel in the long run we can do much more by working through the existing African social structures instead of creating new structures (orphanages) that are totally dependent on outside money and expertise.

Of course, the key to all of this is mobilizing and equipping workers who will lay down their lives to bring the good news of Jesus in word and deed. Pray with us for those workers, will you? Our commitment is to train them, partner with local churches to send them, and coach and care for them as they serve on the front lines.

Thank you for your interest in our work on this wonderful continent. God loves Africa... and so do we!

Yours,

Floyd and Sally McClung

Similar, But Different

Living in South Africa now, I've found that many things are similar......yet they're different.  There are still traffic jams - but they're on the left hand side of the road.  Floyd is doing great at driving on the left.  I'm still adjusting!  One very big difference is the unusual items, or large quantities of items,  you'll see strapped to the top of cars.  It sometimes looks like a whole household of furniture, boxes, mattresses, or animals are on top of a car.

There are grocery stores, but things have different names - or they're in a very different place in a store.  Several times I've thought I was buying one thing, but it was actually something quite different.  I looked and looked for poppy seeds one day, and was finally told they are with health food!

There are similar looking electrical appliances, but they have HUGE plugs.  I'm talking 3 or 4 inch square plugs!!!  And then there are 2 sizes of prongs on these huge plugs.  I seem to always be searching for the right plug and right place to plug in.

Many homes have a pool, but they're quite small.  They're called "splash pools."  You jump in and splash when it gets unbearably hot!

We live in a valley - and the clouds keep changing directions.  I'll look out and see them moving east.  Then, an hour later, they'll be moving west.  It's confusing to me......I just hope the clouds know what they're doing.

The home where we're house-sitting is near a game reserve.  It's fun, but very different, to look out the window each morning and see Cape Buffalo, Impala, Blesbuck, and other African animals.  I love it!

The money, of course, is different.  I'm still getting used to all the coins.  Once or twice when there's been a long line behind me, I've just held out my hand and let the clerk take the coins that were needed.  That seemed easier than having the people in line behind me all irritated as I tried to figure it out.

Similar, yet different.  All these different things sure make me glad that "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

We Speak the Same Language?

Whenever we've moved to a new country or location, I've learned that there are always cultural adjustments.  I was expecting that in our move to South Africa.  But I am surprised at how many English language adjustments we've had.

I was grateful in our move to Cape Town to know that English is the predominant language spoken here.  Some parts of the country speak mostly Afrikaanse, and in the smaller towns there are many tribal languages spoken.  I've never been good at learning new languages, and at age 58........well, let's just say I wasn't jumping up and down at the prospect of starting over and learning a new one!

So, knowing we would be speaking English was a relief and blessing.  But here I am, in English,  learning a "new" language.  Here are some fun examples:

- robot: a traffic light

- waitron: the new p.c. word for waiter or waitress

- to let: for rent

- lounge: not a sleazy bar, but the living room in the house

- braai:  to barbeque

- bond: a mortgage

- garden: the yard

- is it?: instead of "really?"

- wendy house: a small shed in the yard

- scullery: a "2nd" kitchen for washing the dishes

- bakkie: a truck

- just now: later

- taxi: a minivan crammed with, seemingly, as many people as possible

- lilo: an air mattress

- pleasure: "you're welcome!"

I'm sure there are many more.  I'm discovering new ones every day.  Please pray for my learning of this new language. :}

Sure makes you glad that God understands us all!!  "The Lord has heard......!" Psalms 6:9

Searching for a Home

A week ago I wrote to quite a few friends about a possible house for us to rent or buy here in South Africa. We asked for wisdom and guidance about a particular house. We received a clear answer the next day. The owner of the house we were interested in called us and said she wanted more money, so we said no thanks. We were disappointed, but we had asked for God's direction, and we trusted that he was guiding us. The day after that we heard from two of the people we asked to pray with us. They said they didn't feel at all peaceful about that particular house, so that encouraged us.

I feel very conflicted searching for a comfortable house when so many people in South Africa live in tin shacks. But when I pray I feel God's pleasure and peace, especially when I pray with Sally in mind. Sally is on a journey with the Lord about which home we live in. She takes this process very seriously and has a deep sense of God's desire to provide a home she likes and can live in happily for years to come. I agree with her.

She has prayed for years for the opportunity to live by the water. Sally grew up on an island so it would mean a lot to her to have that blessing from God. She doesn't make demands of the Lord. She is not testing God in any way. Just honestly expressing her heart to her Heavenly Father ( to follow Sally's journey here in South Africa please visit her page on the tab above - her most recent entry about God's care for the "little things" will give you insight into her heart, and more importantly, insight into God's heart for the "little things" in our lives).

We would like to find a home that we can rent with an option to purchase, a home that we can live in long term. Actually, we would like to purchase a house now, but we don't qualify for more than a 50% mortgage until our permanent resident permit is granted. So that means renting.

Unless God does a miracle

What Was Lost Is Found

On a recent ministry trip to Port Elizabeth, on the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa, I lost something.  It wasn't a valuable thing, but it was very special to me.  It had sentimental value, and I had worn it for many years.  It was just a small, inexpensive, not very significant to most people thing.........an earring.  But I was just "sick."

I didn't cry, but I felt like it for days.  I looked and looked.......had our friends in Port Elizabeth look......and no earring.  I wondered why it "hit" me so hard, and why I felt so sad over something so seemingly trivial.

As I was praying about it one day, I began to get understanding.  We have gone thru so much change in the last few months - in fact, for the last couple years.  I guess my heart was beginning to get overwhelmed with it.  The small, simple, little earring was the symbol of all that has been "lost" - things that we have laid down, given up, and left behind.

I was able to pray into these things, and come to a deeper level of peace and security in my heart.  It was actually a very precious process and time of communicating with the Lord.  My heart was strengthened.

But I still missed my special earring that I wore very often.  A couple days later, I found it!!  It was caught in the lining of a piece of clothing that had been in the same suitcase with my jewelry.  The tears I didn't shed when I lost it, I now shed because I found it!

I've always believed, and taught, that God cares about every aspect of our lives.......that nothing is too small or trivial to bring to Him.  The awesome God, creator of the universe, cares about me, my daily life, the ups and downs I go thru, and all the little details that are important to me.  This was just another personal, very special example of that.  It made me love Him even more.

I know God rejoices over the lost sheep that was found (Luke 15:3-6) - something of great value!  And I kinda think He rejoiced with me over finding the lost earring.......and what He did in my heart in the process......too.

Good News From Prison

I received this wonderful testimony concerning Earl, the brother who chose to follow Jesus last February in the maximum security prison:

"A quick testimony is that Earl lead someone to the Lord in his cell on Sunday night, and then another 11 guys at a bible study he lead yesterday morning!! I had the privilege of being there and it was simply amazing. There were 11 unbelievers and 7 believers in attendance. The lesson was about the nature of the wide road vs the narrow road, and at the end when he asked if anyone wants to give their lives to Jesus, all 11 unbelievers stood up as one... Earl was almost speechless at God's goodness and so we left with everyone in the room being saved!!"

Please pray for Earl and the new brothers in the Lord, and for Maritza is discipling Earl.

Creepy, Crawly, Wormy Things

I'm not a fan of bugs! Creepy, crawly things give me creepy, crawly feelings. Someday I'd like to ask God exactly what He had in mind when He created some of these things.

So I wasn't exactly thrilled when I found we'd arrived in South Africa in the "season" of a very creepy, crawly little worm. They are everywhere! They're dark colored, wiggly little things. We are house-sitting in a home built on four levels. They are on the lowest level.......and all the way to the top. I often wonder how something so little can crawl up so high. Our dog, Sossy, has eaten a couple of them and promptly threw up. I have the same feeling just looking at them!

And then there's snakes! We heard they were around. We were looking at a house for sale the other day. I looked out in the back yard, and there was a good sized black snake crawling across the yard. I'm told it was a puff adder. Needless to say, that certainly put me off that house!

Floyd keeps reminding me that this is Africa. I keep saying I don't like creepy, crawly things.

"God made.....everything that creeps upon the ground. And God saw that it was good." Genesis 1:25 I think God and I disagree on this one!

A Different Thanksgiving

While our friends and family were eating turkey dinners, watching Macy's parade, and arguing over football games.......we had a different kind of "celebrating" here in South Africa. There was nowhere to go for turkey and dressing, but we decided to take an American friend to lunch. We went to a quaint cafe at a vineyard nearby.......nestled up in the hills with a view of the ocean. We enjoyed the fellowship, and agreed that we have so much to be thankful for!

It's only been 8 months since we returned from a visit to South Africa and made the decision to move here. We would have never dreamed that our home would sell in less than 24 hours, that we could sort everthing/get packed up/sell things/and be out of our home in about 5 weeks. We would never have thought that we could get everything done for moving internationally......including the very involved visa application process......and be back here in South Africa in 7 months.

After we returned from our lunch, a neighbor called. She's an American lady married to a South African man. She had made pumpkin pie and had 2 pieces for us. Such a special touch to our first Thanksgiving away from the U.S.! We enjoyed every yummy bite. :}

I couldn't help but think with nostalgia about previous family Thanksgiving celebrations, but I couldn't be sad because my heart was filled with such gratitude. God is so good and has been so faithful to us!

"I will magnify Him with thanksgiving." Psalms 69:30

In the Middle of a Maze

I've always been a little claustrophobic. I don't like small, closed-in spaces. I like bright, cheery, open, airy spaces. I've never panicked in a small, tight space (doing an MRI was challenging!), but I feel like someone is squeezing and pressing me when I'm in one. We've sometimes lived in very small spaces (especially in the inner city in Amsterdam), and God's grace was there for that season.......but it wasn't easy on my sense of space.

We are on a journey to find a home here in South Africa. Houses are expensive to both buy and rent.......so we've looked at lots of them, trying to find a bargain, and trying to find what the Lord has just for us.

We've looked at so many that I'm beginning to feel like I'm in a giant maze of houses!!! They're all around me......pressing in on me. It's hard to see the way out of the maze. I realize we're making a decision that will affect the rest of our lives. This will be our home for a long time. So many options / decisions / questions / concerns....... the maze just twists and turns. It's hard to see the "answer," the end of the maze.

As I was praying about this earlier in the week, the Lord gave me a special scripture from Isaiah 42:16:"I will lead the blind in a way that they know not, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them."

How precious when the Lord lights the path, and shows the straight way ahead. I'm trusting Him to do that in the maze we're in. I'm confident in His faithfulness. He is so good! He never forsakes us.......and He doesn't get claustrophobic!