17 September 2012

“God’s timetable may move slowly, but it does move surely.” RBC

Life an ministry can be so frustrating when we continue to work according to our own agendas and wanting results in our own time. But God has His plans and His timetable for His work. The challenge is always for us to get connected with Him to discover His plan and His timetable. Not always easy when life is so busy!

The irony is that many times life is so busy because we are not connected in with God to discover His plan and His timetable as He knows exactly what we are capable of. We burn ourselves out by trying to do things our way. I need to keep learning this lesson!

This first half of the year was pretty hectic with travelling. I had not been to the USA for 5 years and felt that I needed to visit the lovely folks that daily support us in prayer and the resources that we need to stay here in Mbala ministering for Him. This was the first time I planned everything from Mbala. I obtained my USA Visa in Lusaka, which was far easier and less intimidating than the last time in South Africa! I booked all my flights through an internet based travel agent at a very good price. Granted I was a bit nervous as I paid the company R 21 000  ( US$ 3000) without seeing a face! You are always hearing about these scams and so I was very nervous when I took my first flight out of Lusaka to Johannesburg. But plane sailing or flying should I say.

I had to renew my credit card in the Johannesburg before leaving for a direct flight to the States and finally got it about 3 hours before I boarded. I little nail biter as you can do nothing in the US without this precious piece of plastic. The Lord kept saying to me through the week as I waited that I only needed it when I flew and not before. I just needed to trust in Him. It was hard!!!!

before we boarded the flight we went through the usual security and then you go through another physical check at the gate. I mean you are searched completely for anything that may be remotely sharp or dangerous!! Then it is onto the plane and into the air and with our first meal we are given a metal fork and knife. Now that’s ironical. I guess the FAA want you rather to hijack planes with their utensils rather than have to bother trying to get your own through all the security.

First stop was wonderful Washington DC. had an awesome time staying with the Pinckney's and ministering at Good News Baptist Church. Lovely weekend of sharing and catching up with good friends. It was then onto Atlanta, Georgia.  I always feel intimidated in these mega cities. Especially this time as I had to drive down to Charleston, SC. I had my directions in hand and promptly got lost 30min into the drive. So I pull over and sit for about 20min trying to play with this gismo GPS. Wow for technology!! A pure breeze after that.

Charleston is always beautiful and it was great staying with Tonya and Leah. It was great speaking at Leah’s school and sharing about missions and our ministry. You never know how God is going to work through that precious time. It was then back on the road to Atlanta and onto Birmingham, Alabama. It was awesome staying with Jason and Kelly Hill who served with the International Mission Board in Zambia and did their language study down the road from us. Ok relatively speaking, they were 167Km away but close enough to see each other quite often. Great time catching up and ministering among the folks he leads.

It was then back to Atlanta and out to San Antonio, Texas, where I spent a lovely evening with the McCombs. They have been such wonderful friends and supporters for almost all the time I have been in missions. It was so good

  A sight from the Sky of Vegas

to see them!! Well as they say you can’t go to the USA without a visit to Las Vegas! Ok but my reason may have been a little different. Vegas is not just about Sin City. There are many many great Christian folks there. I so enjoyed staying with Keith and Brittney and catching up. We were really privileged to have this couple stay with us for about a month some years back. Always willing to help out no matter the task at hand. Did awesome work for city slickers. It was also fantastic staying at the Hart’s place. Mickey also visited us when we first moved up to Mbala. i think that it is a trip that he will never forget. There were 6 of us in a 4 seater,two door Isuzu Trooper short wheel

                                                       The famous Strip, Las Vegas

base vehicle for 14 hours of drive one way without aircon. Yep, what a man! It was so good seeing the folks at Hope Baptist Church again, many many new faces, but also the familiar ones. Vegas is a City with incredible contrasts. Set in the Nevada desert, yet you see huge water displays, like at the Bellagio Hotel. Very wealthy folks and then also your homeless. all living together in this bowl of civilisation surrounded by nothingness.

After the glitz and razzmatazz it was off to a rather bleak looking Chicago where I was able to spend a few days with the Carlson's. They have been long-time friends who moved to the States a number of years ago and are doing a wonderful work in their Church. Great emphasis on restoring the family to a God designed family where each knows their tasks and responsibilities in the home. How we so need this in our societies today.

  By this stage I was so ready to head back to my family. Away for a month!!!! A great flight again and then a not so great 16hour bus ride, but HOME SWEET HOME.

I do thank the Lord for a great time being able to see good Christian brothers and sisters in

Lusaka Intercity Bus Station.

Christ who have a passion for missions and who have paid a price to ensure that the Gospel goes out into all the world. Lovely to  be able to thank you all personally and to be encouraged and spoiled by you.

May the Lord bless you!!!!

More coming soon!

 

 

Organised chaos as the neighbouring bus is being loaded.

10 September 2012

 

“Friends are flowers in the garden of Life.’ RBC

Beautiful isn't she!

Hey I am back! I can’t believe that it has been over a year since I last penned any thoughts. Since having to relocate farms we have had such a struggle with our internet connection, but thanks to a 10m pole and an internet dongle we are reconnected.

A lot has happened this last year which has brought both highs and lows. Sometimes I have felt that I was trapped in a vortex that just kept spinning me around and around. Really just trying to get through each day. But at the end of every vortex is an opening and I feel that I am about to pop out the end. Kind of like the proverbial saying, “ I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Well it has been two years since the “Old White man” passed away. In his kindness he left me all that he had in a last Will and Testament. A really kind gesture! The only struggle is that it has so far caused me more headaches and heart aches than joy and peace. You may be asking why so I will tell you some of the struggles.Firstly, we cannot look at this challenge through a logical processes of cause and effect. That does not work that well up here. In fact you have to throw all your ideas, thoughts, processes into a big 3 legged pot, give it a big stir and another for good measure and pour it out. What comes out is the result to the challenge. man a very different way of thinking.

Now that we have the process lets look at the scenario. Before Chris, ‘ the Old White man’ passed away he subdivided his farm selling 80 of the 170Hect to a local businessman. A contract was drawn up and signed by all relevant parties. Within the contract was a penalty clause for not paying on the time stipulated. Great nothing can go wrong!! Well the guy pays the last amount 4 days before Chris passes away and about 6 months passed the final date of the contract date.

Well I am given everything in the will. I then seem to embark on the road of no end!. Last year I am informed I have to go to the High Court to apply to be the legal executor of the Estate. This I do. Hurdle one arrives. The Will is invalidated as it misses one witness signature. However, the High Court reviews all the documentation and sees that I have been dealing with all Chris’ admin for the last 8 years. So they go ahead and appoint me the Estate Administrator. But because the Will in invalid he died inter-testate, so off to the Local Court for them to decide what to do regarding the estate. After 4 visits to the Local Court he decides to keep the desires of the Will .

I now start the laborious task of sub- dividing the land. I load up the surveyors and with contract in hand off to the farm we go. Now these guys charge about R 1000 , US$ 120 ,for a few hours, so the clock is ticking. We arrive and proceed to start measuring when the business man, who paid for the sub-division shows up and promptly chases us off the farm. well cash down the tubes, off I go to the local District Commissioner for help. He calls the guy in and attempts to explain to him the legalities of the whole thing. So back we go. I even concede to moving the line slightly in his favour in the hopes to make the guy happy. Another pop and we have the line demarcated so the relevant site plan can be drawn.

A couple of months later of trips back and forth to Kasama (100 miles away) to the lands department and they inform me that I have all the relevant documentation, so now off to Lusaka ( 600 miles away). At the counter I am i8nformed that I need to go back to Mbala and get some papers from our local council approving the sub-division. The guy at the counter is so polite and informs me with such a big wide grin, that you just can’t blow your top. So guess what! That is it we are back in Mbala and the papers are with the local council. It has been a cool 8 months of waiting.

Wait there is more. A few weeks after I am back and about to leave for SA on my deputation trip I receive a call from the Clerk of the High Court in Kasama that this business man is taking me to court so that he can get, no not his sub-division, but the whole farm! talk about giving a finger and your then your whole body is wanted. So on my way down I stop off and give the Clerk of the Court all the relevant documentation that is requested. I am then informed that the High Court needs to visit the said farm and I need to pay half the costs. Logic, don’t ask! So I cough up another R 1300 US$ 200 . Well the case continues. It should only come to court next year sometime.

While this is all going on the owner of the farm where we are staying gives me a call and informs me that we have 3 months in which to move. He needs the farm , wait for it!! ‘URGENTLY”. A year and a half later he still has not done anything with the farm. Well we moved and for the better in the long term. Word under the proverbial mango Tree has it that this businessman and our owner of the farm are the best of mates and so by kicking us off the farm he thought that we would just leave and then he could take the farm. Logic?

So please pray for us as we attempt to negotiate a maze that in essence is non negotiable. Only God’s wisdom can help us.

 

More coming soon!!