"Repositioning Ourselves" in Ovambo-Land

Under the theme “Reposition Yourself,” Foursquare pastors and leaders from cities in Namibia met for five days of praise, preaching and fellowship. John and Xavier were a dynamic team, demonstrating the prophetic gift and leading the pastors in stirring up their gifts.

On a scorching Friday afternoon I shared my wisdom booklets with the women. In an interesting sensation, I felt the idea pass from me to become their own. I haven’t experienced anything like this before—an impartation of grace, John says. The concept of mothers teaching their children wisdom is powerful in itself, but I’m hopeful that leaving the booklets in their hands gave it endurance.

Tomorrow I’ll tell you about our trip to meet with a group of Himba believers last Monday.

Onward to Namibia

Tomorrow we travel to Ongwediva, Namibia, to speak in a pastors and leaders conference. To learn more about the booklets I will use in teaching the women there, click here.

Traveling "The Missionary Road"

Did you ever wonder what it was like to be a missionary 150 years ago? On our recent trip around Southern Africa, we traveled to the homesteads of the first missionaries to evangelize the interior of “The Dark Continent.”

In 1820, Robert and Mary Moffat established a base south of the Kalahari Desert, now a town known as Kuruman. After nine years, Robert baptized his first eight converts, whereupon he began building a church building to seat 800. It wasn’t long before the building was full and the ministry thriving. He was joined by various missionaries over his 50 years of ministry, including David Livingstone, who married his oldest daughter Mary.

From the Kuruman base, Livingstone and other missionaries began to spread the good news of the gospel to Africans. As the sign on the property indicates, from this place began “The Missionary Road to the Interior.” If you’d like to see more photos of the Moffat Mission, please click here.

Where the People Meet

What a trip! We’re back home in Tableview now, praying and planning for the next ministry season. Your prayers kept us healthy and safe.

On our six-week trip to Southern Africa, we preached in village churches and city churches, stayed in homes and inns, tried tasty foods, prayed in unusual places, and met many old and new friends. Here you see several of the churches where we ministered.

Healing Mass

Saturday night John spoke at a Healing Mass at Jubilee Christian Fellowship in Johannesburg. This is a service to reach out to the sick by means of traditional forms, including a dynamic choir, communion, a sermon on Jesus' power to heal, and prayer for the sick.

John preached from Mark about the man whose son was possessed by an evil spirit until he came to Jesus. Here's how the text explains what the father asked and how Jesus responded:

"...if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Christian School at Dynamic Namibian Church

The thriving Foursquare church at Ongwediva, Namibia, is pastored by Festus and Laina Negumbo. This photo shows their primary school, where they educate over 300 students. To read more about this church and an interview with Pastor Festus, please click here.

You can view an online album showing more photos of us with Pastor Festus and Laina, along with photos of the school here.

To see albums of the countries we have visited, please click here. In each album, you can view a slideshow by clicking on the box with the green arrow over the first photo.

A Day in Zimbabwe

Traveling the shortest route to Botswana meant crossing the entire country of Zimbabwe in one day. We filled two containers with gasoline and set off. A total of twelve police check-stops slowed us down, but our papers were in order, so on we sped.

We weren't able to visit our pastor friends in the capital city of Harare. Our presence might have threatened their safety, and we felt it best to avoid further scrutiny. When we stopped to fill our tank with the gas we carried, this boy with his donkey cart came along, and we gave him the enpty jugs.

We saw many donkey carts in use, because fuel is in short supply and expensive. With inflation rising by the hour, many people have lost their jobs. How do they survive? We saw people lining the city streets, standing hopelessly by the shops. Those who earn money from working and are able to find transportation run to the borders of the country to buy necessities.

God rescue the people of Zimbabwe!

Worshiping God

We enjoyed this youth choir that sang and danced yesterday at the Sunday morning service in Chimoio.

Here's a story that Simone Chen, one of the missionaries here, told us today: She was visiting a remote village in northern Angola. During the worship service, she watched a man writhe on the ground. Was it witchcraft in the church? After the service, she asked him why he did this during the worship. He said, "I used to do this in front of the witch doctor to humble myself and show respect, wriggling in the dust before him. Now that I serve Jesus, why should I not do this and more to honor Him?"

Three Missionaries at Work in Mozambique

You should have seen the road to Zimpinga! Our Toyota Verso impersonated an SUV today when we drove 15 miles by pavement, 15 miles by dirt road, and 10 miles by grass trail to the village of Zimpinga. Traveling along with us were Pastor Neva Meque and Missionary Fabio Chen. John preached in English, Fabio translated into Portuguese, and Pastor Neva translated the Portuguese into Sishona.

Pastor Neva is actually a missionary from the Chewa people, who with his wife Cita came here from the northern part of Mozambique four years ago. They learned the local Shona language and started a strong church here in the city of Chimoio. He now serves as District Supervisor of this region. Read about what the missionaries face in African traditional religion in Mozambique here.

Fabio came to Chimoio as a missionary from the Thousand Oaks Foursquare Church about a year ago. Here he met Simone, who had been sent five years ago as a missionary from Brazil to this Portuguese-speaking country. They married in December of 2007, and currently serve together as missionaries. You can read more about them on their blog.

See an album of our travels in Mozambique so far here.

Sunday School in Swaziland

In the capital city of Swaziland, Mbabane, Joseph and Gladys Botti are planting a Foursquare church. A church bus collects children from the neighborhoods. Here are some of the children singing with their teacher, Lola.

Compassion for the Needy

First stop on our southern Africa trip was to see Donna McDonald, a missionary sent out by our Arizona home church, Grace North. Donna ministers in the seaside village of Paternoster just north of Cape Town. The poor fisherfolk of this fishing village have been displaced by the tourism industry, which has transformed this lovely beach by building quaint guest houses and cafes on its shores. On the link above, you'll be able to see some of the development along with the houses and boats of the remaining local families, who still make their living by fishing.

Donna serves with Ian and Carmel Chalklin, who have devoted their lives to ministering to the poor. Here you see Carmel cooking pots of cabbage, carrots and meat to serve to local school children and elderly shut-ins. Ian and Carmel also manage a warehouse of donated clothing and household items, host a home group, and are planning to start a church soon in their warehouse. You should see Donna labor tirelessly with Ian and Carmel. The Lord will return blessings manifold on these workers in His field.

On the Road

Car serviced, bags packed, maps consulted, and ready to go! But not without a good prayer meeting to send us off. Friday we met with African friends for loud and effective midnight prayer and praise to God.

On Sunday morning our church prayed for us and blessed us with an offering. Pastor Xavier told the congregation that the offering represents a seed planted for our church to expand its missions vision. They will be interceding for us during the entire trip. We hope you will too.

On the Road (Soon)

Winter arrives in the Cape with rain showers interspersed with sunny days and temperatures mostly in the 50s and 60s. While Capetonians enjoy the balmy Mediterranean winter, it’s time for us to get on the road. We’re planning a trip by car to visit pastor friends throughout southern Africa, including these possible destinations: Swaziland, Mozambique, Malawi (not labeled on map), Zambia, Nambia, Botswana, Lesotho, and parts of South Africa. We will stick to paved roads, but the quality of travel conditions may vary.

You can help us by imagining us traveling in our little silver Toyota Verso from village to city. Then pray for us on the roads, for border crossings and security. Watch here for photos of our travels and stories of our friends along the way. We hope to find internet cafés here and there to keep you updated.