Friday, May 18, 2007
Newsletter
the Group E-mail
Hi everyone,
We had hoped to write more e-mails while we're in town today, but it's going to have to be short. I forgot the adapter so that I can plug our computer into a 220v outlet here in South Africa
I guess we always keep busy, but life hasn't been quite as hectic as it was for a while. Yesterday was Ascension Day, a public holiday in Lesotho. I preached at a short morning service, then in the afternoon, we drove up into the mountains to Mohale Dam. It was lots of fun. We really enjoyed being together, seeing the scenery, etc. I think the highest mountain pass is just under 9,000 feet on the way there. The road is paved all the way, but there are some really steep sections. Some people were still harvesting corn. I think they got a little more rain than we did, but even in our area some people got fair crops. It is supposedly the driest year in South Africa since the 1930's. On the way back we met some other missionaries driving up to Mohale Dam to camp (i think.) They were going to rent a boat to go out to an island in the lake.
There's not a lot been going on in our lives worth writing about. Steph's been trying to catch up on correspondence. We wrote and sent a newsletter. I can't remember if I wrote that I got a pair of rabbits. So I built two cages for them. I'm not sure how old they are, but I suppose the first litter of bunnies will come while I'm in Zimbabwe. I think Steph probably isn't too impressed with the timing!
In the picture Kaitlyn is a few days over 18 months. It was taken near Mohale Dam.
Well, I guess that's all I've got to say.
Love to all,
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Kaitlyn and Friends
Maybe you've already seen this picture. Kaitlyn likes sunglasses.
So does Thabiso!
Kaitlyn loves to go visit Thabiso. They both enjoy playing together.
We came to Bloemfontein yesterday and today (Saturday). We stayed at a bed and breakfast last night. Kaitlyn loved playing in the cupboard of the bedside tables. She enjoyed toddling through the mall yesterday, too, but the biggest hit was playing at McDonalds. Steph took her into a store that sells hair accessories. She pointed at the barrettes and said "I like it!" Sounds like she's going to be a little shopper.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Just a Quick Note
The VBS went very well. A big thanks to Debbie and Christy for the gre
at job they did. Thursday 192 children came including two truck loads from Ha Motheho. The most Steph has ever had before was around 90. Some of the reasons for so many more children this year include peace between Matukeng and Ha Teko and the tent meetings we've held in Matukeng and Ha Teko. Also we've never brought so many children from Ha Motheho.
Debbie and Christy went back to South Africa Monday, so our house has been pretty quiet for the last two days. Yesterday was a holiday, so we both worked and relaxed. It was nice to spend some family time in the afternoon and evening.
Yesterday I built a shelf or small attic over the door of the new storage room. It's about 6" above the door and 3 1/2 feet wide. I had a couple pieces of 3/4 inch plywood to make the floor, and I had a piece of 3" diameter steel tubing to make the beam. Between the plywood and the steel tubing, it's strong enough to hold several hundred pounds, but I don't want to put heavy things there. We'll put extra boxes, suitcases, baby things, etc. there. It will free up the space under the work bench for tools, parts, etc.
We are hoping to get away for a night in Bloemfontein this weekend. We're planning to go Friday and come back Saturday afternoon. One of the tires on the Toyota was irreparably damaged by a rock or glass. I want to buy a new one while we're there since there are 1/3 less than I can get them for in Ladybrand. I also need to shop for a new camping tent or have the present one repaired. The tent is still in fair shape, but the zippers are shot, and one of the poles is broken. I think repairing it will cost as much or more as a new one, but the zippers they use are much stronger than the originals. (Zippers have proven to be the weak link in all our tents. They seldom last more than 3 years, but the canvas/plastic is still in good shape.) It's kind of a Catch 22. If I repair the zippers, something else may fall apart. We'll spend Friday night at a bed and breakfast and then go to the craft fair Saturday morning.
Well, we need to leave to go to Ladybrand.
Cheers! (as the British say.)
Lesotho Update
Greetings in Jesus' Name!
Hope all is well for you. We appreciate your prayers so much! Here is an update on prayer plus some answers to prayer.
Praise:
- God certainly answered your prayers for the VBS. Debbie Cawman (independent missionary bound for Mozambique) and Christy Contraras (PVBI intern) did a great job keeping the children's attention and presenting the truth of God's Word in a simple, interesting way! Attendance past all of our expectations. On Thursday there were 192 children. The most we've ever had in the past was around 90. It is impossible to measure the spiritual results, but many of the children responded to an invitation to pray and confess their sins.
- Rev. Tsikane Pheko reported exciting results from an evangelistic campaign in villages near his church. They are still following up contacts that were made, but several have clearly gotten saved!
- Please continue praying for revival! We see God at work several places and are excited by the way He is pouring out His Spirit, but there are still needs.
- Please pray that someone from the Matukeng church will catch a vision to continue the children's work at the church here.
- Pray for the Bible School and the students. Attendance has been down for several months. Two promising young men have not come for the last three sessions. Because they live in rural places, we haven't been able to contact them to find out what the problem is.
- We are planning to distribute Bibles in Zimbabwe this year instead of Zambia. Help us pray for wisdom and miracles to make this trip a success. Logistics are very difficult in a country where fuel is very scarce and often only available on the black market. (Usually black market diesel has been stolen from big trucks and buses.) Another challenge is the out-of-control inflation (more than 1000% since the beginning of the year.) We are tentatively planning to be there the month of July.
- Our weather is starting to feel more like winter! This last weekend we had frost and a COLD wind blew all day Saturday.
Glenn, Stephanie, & Kaitlyn Gault
Hope International Missions