January News

Dear family and friends,

Can you believe we have reached the end of the first month of 2012 already?
Well A. and I have been holding ‘the fort’ here since roughly the ‘whole’ year so far (J) and have enjoyed many experiences together;
We worked with the casual staff at planting nearly 100 trees along the road-side verge. It is blesses me to think how something so small, vulnerable and seemingly ‘value-little’ might become so majestic, valuable and grand in a matter of time, as these Khaya nyasica tree’s...
this reminds me of sinful man like me; so small, vulnerable and depreciated by sin, can, in the eye of its beholder- God Almighty, be seen as something so valuable, in time to come, that He would sacrifice something of His infinite riches- even His only Son, to gain me as a son-adopted.
“What is man that You take thought of him, the son of man that You care for him?...and You crown him with glory and majesty!” Psalm 8:4,5.

This year my Theological studies have commenced well, finishing one subject long over-due last week and now full steam ahead into my second last one on Hermenuetics before wrapping up my Correspondence Studies in June until full-time starts in 2013 in South Africa- Lord willing.
Language learning will continue up until I leave in June and motivation is high despite a recent set-back this week having lost my Language Nurturer (teacher). (I will be continuing on my own accord.)
A. and I have got a good rhythm of work, study, exercise going and are enjoying the joys of cooking meals together making good use of nature’s best from the home veggie garden.

Visits to the villages will resume shortly, and while last year seemed a bit slow due to many practical difficulties, we are blessed to see how God has continued to work where we did not anticipate, and in wonderful ways. A community of 25 families were relocated from other areas into the villages where we work, and best of all- they are believers and want to start a church and reach out to the same neighbours who we have been trying to for 10-plus years! Who can discern God’s ways? They are higher and wiser than ours! Isn’t it fantastic that He is in charge of His kingdom and not us!
I might have mentioned that I have been meeting fairly regularly with two young men to study the bible together- from  the neighbouring village; well those meetings have resumed and been a blessing to be a part of...they are hungry for God’s word and actively sharing it and discussing it with friends and neighbours of various beliefs. I have just received my first invitation by a teacher in the primary school of that village to go and speak to him and try and relieve some of his anxious questions he has. You can pray for this. A. Will be joining me in this (ministry) and taking it over when I leave, possibly.
Thank you so much for all the prayers and support by many unknown ‘you’s’!
God is blessing me in so many rich and beautiful ways, too much to mention now, but may you know the favour and reward from your Master as you help one of His little(but loved) sons!

Dave.