Visit to Kilmers' Zulu Ministry in Embo

"Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou has laid up for them that fear thee" Psalm 31:19

Last week the Lord allowed us to use Voyager air miles that were going to expire to take a trip to Durban to visit IFM missionaries, Don and Karen Kilmer. Don and Tony first met over 30 years ago in Africa prayer band at Bob Jones University. The Kilmers gave us the opportunity not only to see the work they are doing for the Lord among the Zulus, but also to share in the ministry God has raised up in Embo. The Kilmers' ministry is in Zulu, so we learned what a challenge it is to speak through an interpreter! Tony preached at the Bible study at the sugar cane farm on Thursday afternoon. In the photo above, Tony is seated next to Bheki, who interpreted for him at this study and also at another Bible study later that evening in Embo. On Friday afternoon, Don interpreted for me when I taught at the afternoon children's meeting. That evening, Don and Tony both preached the gospel in the township at a wake service for a shopkeeper. On Saturday Tony and Don hung some doors at a workday at the church building. Bheki interpreted for Tony when he preached from Numbers 20 on Sunday morning and for me when I taught the Sunday School on the crucifixion. Pray for the gospel to change lives in Embo. On Sunday evening, Tony preached in English for Pastor Bill Daniels, who gave him the opportunity to preach to his flock at New Germany Baptist Church. On Monday, Don and Karen gave us our first experience at a game park. We saw lions, hippotami, elephants, a rhinoceros, nyalas, impalas, gemsboks, wildebeests and giraffes. We returned to Cape Town from this very pleasant ministry holiday yesterday, 19 August 2008, making it a very memorable 29th wedding anniversary! God is so good!

Reaping Unexpected Fruit

“Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

In preparation for beginning to teach the gospel and promote morality in the public schools in Eindhoven, we attended a 4-day course in Rondebosch to learn how to use the life skills curriculum that has been prepared by Scripture Union. We traveled into the city Monday through Thursday during the morning rush hour and returned each afternoon between 4 and 5 pm. One of our believers in Delft, Jason Morta, took the course with us and 6 other people from the peninsula. We were thankful for the opportunity to be with Jason for 8 hours a day and learn of more of his heart for the ministry. We believe God will greatly use him in the new church plant.

At one of our workshops during the training course, I was paired with Yulandi, a 21 year old, who was taking the course to learn how to work with the youth in her church. The workshop for which we were paired together was on interviewing skills. I began to interview Yulandi asking about her family and where she grew up. I then asked her to tell me about how she came to know Christ as her Savior. Imagine my surprise, when this very shy, young lady said, “I do believe in God, but I'm not converted.” I tried to mask my surprise and continued with an open-ended question, “What keeps you from coming to Christ, Yulandi?” She said she was waiting until she thought the time was right. I shared some verses with her about the gospel and the Lord’s purpose in her being there that week hearing all the testimonies and about the brevity of life and she began to cry. I shared my testimony and asked her to not delay to give her heart to Christ, but I told her it was a decision she alone could make and that I would not pressure her; it would have to be her own decision. The next day was the final day of the course and I was hoping to speak to Yulandi again, but we had to prepare a lesson and give a presentation and Yulandi wasn’t in my group. After the presentations, at the end of the day, we each had to share what we’d learned and evaluate the course. When the instructor asked Yulandi what she’d learned, she stood up, even though the other class members had remained seated while sharing their thoughts. Yulandi said, “I learned a lot and I’m thankful for this week.” Then she looked at me while she said, ” I learned that I must commit my life to Christ and I am making that decision now.” The instructor asked me to pray with Yulandi and the rest of the class would join in prayer around us. There weren’t any dry eyes as the course closed with Yulandi coming to know Christ as her Savior!
June Louw, another of our believers in Eindhoven, began the course with us, but became ill and was unable to complete the last 3 days of instructions. Please pray for June’s health. She struggles with nosebleeds and severe headaches, likely due to her very high blood pressure. June wants to be trained to begin teaching children in her community and yesterday we taught a Bible lesson in her home to the little girls she is befriending.

Jeremy, June’s husband, (on the left in photo with Heinrich and Jason) continues visiting door-to-door with Tony each Sunday afternoon. Jason (on the right)and Tony have been visiting on Tuesdays or Wednesdays each week. We are presently holding 2 Bible studies or discipleships in Delft. Pray for the Lord to bring many more out to these studies. To date, our highest attendance has been 8. Tony is also holding two other studies each week with the young English couple that was saved last month.