Praise the Lord

For all of you praying with us:
We serve a mighty God, who can be trusted, always!

Firstly, Carl arrived safely from Zambia on Wednesday night (the 21st). He traveled a long road, and have some funny African stories to tell, of which not the least the beautiful elephants next to the road.

PS. no elephants on the photo. Carl didn't stop to take a picture.

 

Secondly, on Thursday (22 August) Rashelle had her operation to her ear. I was so nervous, it looked like I was doing my drivers license again. But God was so good. The anaethetist made no problem even though Rashelle has been pretty sick, and secondly the operation was an enormous success.

Straight after the operation Rashelle got up and is able to hear. It's not 100% yet, but 100 times better than before. I can jump for joy for a very long time.

 We give God all the honour for taking care of us. We are nothing without Him.

 

"The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them: He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Ps 34:17,18

Water

They came with the drill to drill the borehole this morning. Looks so dry to me, I'm very curious to see what comes from under the earth.

For those of you praying with us. Rashelle's surgery is planned for Thursday morning, the 22nd of August. The medical aid refuses to pay, but thanks to God's provision of family, the operation is possible. Thank God!! Because she can hardly hear me at all anymore. Will you pray for us on Thursday and that the operation will have the desired effect.

19 August

Carl sent some pictures of his work, so I thought to just post it for those who are interested to see the work progress.

Work begins

Carl has been busy in Zambia, firstly with paperwork for the vehicle and for work permits for ourselves. Now finally he has been able to start with work at the Mazabuka site. Firstly he is busy creating us a space to live, securing the building, working on the water issue and whatever else comes along.

He hopes to soon be able to come to South Africa to pick-up myself and the children and a few of our belongings. Here are a few of the pictures as work started:

Would you please pray with us:

• That the work will move smoothly and safely.
• That Carl will travel safely.
• And then for me and the children: since arriving in South Africa the children have been really sick. Simon had double pneumonia, and just can't seem to get over it. Rashelle had bronchopneumonia as well, but the real problem is that she is experiencing hearing loss. It is really hard to watch my little girl frustrated because she just can not hear. Unfortunately we have just changed medical aids since we were suppose to already be in Zambia. This is turning out to be a challenge. I beg you to pray with us, because God can heal her just as quickly as she turned deaf.

Going to a desert

Just over a week now in Zambia. Looking forward what plans the Lord have with us. The first priority is to see of we can get a work permit. The Zambian organization Hope builders got a piece of land behind the sugar cane farms of Mazabuka. This huge area of sugarcane fields seems to be  always green thanks to the irrigation scheme. Mazabuka is called the sweetest town of Zambia.
How confusing it was when we came on the piece of land. Yes we had seen some pictures from the school building en the teachers house. from the relative develop town of Mazabuka did we land in the real bush fields. Thatched mud houses en free grazing oxen and ox wagons are the filling of the surroundings. It overwhelmed me. Is this the place where we have to raise our children? it was like a wilderness with some ruins.
the second time we entered together with my mother in law was it still overwhelming.
I was not sure that this was what I had in my thoughts. that very same night my mother in law came to me to read me a scripture verse from Isaiah 51vs. 3
The Lord will comfort Israel again and have pity on her ruins. Her desert will blossom like Eden.
her barren wilderness like the garden of he Lord. Joy and gladness will be found there.
Songs of thanks giving will fill the air.
And there came the spark to get enthusiast about the project ahead of us.

The old schoolbuiding. We hope to live in the right side after some renovations

The ruins from a building and the teachers house in the background which need quite a bit of repair

The classroom which we hope to turn into a two bedroom/kitchen/livingroom/bathroom
cottage ;) a 9x6 meter space

Please pray with us that the workpermit will be quikly submitted, The work in the place can be done well, For a good relationship with the neighbours,