Preaching, Celebrating, Teaching, Sharing

" . . . preaching and teaching the word of the Lord . . . Acts 15:35"

We often are able to share Christ with relatives and friends when someone dies. On March 12, we attended Sister Sina's funeral. Pastor Kevin preached the funeral which was held at the nursing home where Sina and her daughter, Chantel, had been living. We had first met Sina when we began outreach in her street in Eersterivier in 2003. We are thankful that she made a profession of faith and Pastor Kevin had the joy of baptizing her several years ago.

At the graveside, Tony prayed that God would give life to some who were there who were yet without Christ. We are grateful that we never say goodbye to a believer, but rather "Tot siens!" ("Until we see!")

It is a joy for us to see how God is growing and using Kevin, Tony's "Timothy," a son in the faith!

Sina's only child, 21 year old Chantel, gave testimony that she knows her mother is in heaven. Pray for her adjustments to the nursing home where she will remain, now without her mother.

Eindhoven Baptiste Kerk celebrated its second anniversary on March 13. Some of our youth helped with preparing the tea which we enjoyed after the message.

That same day the new church banner was hung for the first time outside the classroom where we meet for services.

We were thankful for the visitors that came. The past month we have seen first time visitors each week. It has been encouraging to see a few return for a second and third service.

Some of our children enjoyed their "tea" outside. "Tea" means some "eats" and a beverage, not necessarily tea; but if it is tea, it will be hot tea!

That evening, Tony preached at the combined fellowship service in Eersteriver on "Idols of the Heart" from Exodus 20 and I John 5:21. After the message, we had "tea" again! :-)

The Oostenberg Bybel Institute class on Revelation began on February 3 and continues through March 31. Tony has been preparing the lecture materials in both English and Afrikaans, so the work load has been great. The students represent 4 churches.

These men will prepare several projects to submit for their final grade for the course. Pray for the Lord to enable them to do their best and to learn much from the course where they are learning that God does all things, even the execution of judgment, to glorify Himself.

Yesterday, I had a lovely surprise when Lizette and Rhoda arrived for a visit, along with Liz's mom, Charlotte (on left below), whom I had not had the joy of seeing for a very long time! We were able to share several hours together. How I praise the Lord for the joy of the Lord which is Charlotte's strength. Liz and Rhoda need the Lord's grace for their jobs in social work. Pray that they will know God's blessing in their lives.

Cathy's 28 days with Family and Friends in USA

"The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121:8"

I arrived home safely returning to my dear husband and the ministry here on March 8. I am thankful for the visit with my mother.

I also had some time with my only brother, Dave.

Dave and our middle daughter, Clare, are presently living with my mother. On Clare's weekend off from the ER, she kindly took me to Greenville, SC for 3 days to visit our oldest daughter, Amy (below, Clare with her niece, Noelle).

Our son-in-law, Rob, has been reading to his family from Ephesians. Three year old Jake, quoted the verse, "Children, obey your parents."

Amy and Rob had planned to travel to see me in NC, but a complication in her pregnancy presently has her restricted to home. Pray for her and Rob during this time.

While I was in SC, I didn't JUST help Amy with housework! I PLAYED with our granddaughter, Noelle, and

with our grandson, Jake (below, in his South African Springbok rugby jersey!)

On February 25, I flew to Wisconsin to have two brief, but very special days with our youngest daughter, Emily. Just two weeks before I visited Emily, Ethan Crowley had flown to Wisconsin to ask Emily to marry him! Ethan, also an MK (Missionary Kid), grew up in Cambodia, where his parents, J.D. and Kim, serve the Lord. Ethan and Emily are planning to marry on August 13.

During my visit with Emily, it was a special joy to be with her at her first visit to a bridal shop.

Three of my mother's special friends joined us for dinner one evening. Johnie and Margaret Lassiter kindly provide Mama a ride to church three times a week. At the far end of the table is Mama's former pastor's wife, Ruth Evans. She has been a dear friend for over 50 years!

One afternoon, Mama and I visited a friend with cancer. We also got to visit Tony's first cousin's wife, Jennifer, and daugther, Hailey, to meet the new baby, Daniel Wade!

A few days before my departure, I met our friends, David and Ellie Luethy (also a pastor and pastor's wife of a supporting church) for a visit over lunch at Cracker Barrel. David snapped this photo of Ellie and me. The two of us NEVER got finished talking that afternoon!!

Mama and I had lunch with my oldest niece, Amber, and her family the day before I left.

Amber and her husband, Justin, live a few blocks from Mama. They have two adorable children, Jace, 3, and Ava, 1 1/2.

In Afrikaans, we say: "Oos, wes, tuis bes." (East, west, home best!) Although we miss our loved ones, it is good to be home! Tony had a very profitable, but busy time while I was away. The Lord brought visitors every Sunday. God especially helped Tony with the course he is teaching on Revelation. This term, he is writing the syllabus in both Afrikaans and English for his 15 students at Oostenberg Bybel Instituut.