The third week of March found us in Magaliesburg, South Africa teaching Bible to the National YFC TeamBuyela. Buyela is Zulu for return. Their mandate is based on Malachi 4:6 which sees the hearts of the fathers return to their children.

This team will be conducting ministry in churches, schools, public venues and some of the World Cup coming to SA in June.

They are a very talented team who loved digging into God’s Word and seeing Him move in their hearts in a powerful way.

 Cathy spent time with the girls and I spent time with the guys. You can imagine how crazy that was.

We will mentor them on Facebook and have calls on Skype. Rolf and I are discussing them coming to American next fall. People in America need the reconciliation they teach.

On Saturday March 6th I drove three hours to Leroro, South Africa to meet with a number of pastors and leaders from several village churches. Ken Scrimnger is the pastor of five churches in the rural area and he asked me to teach some Biblical leadership principles for his people. I was more than happy to do so.

That small beginning blossomed the next Saturday March 13th in another rural area called Bushbuckridge.

Israel, the pastor who started ten churches in Mpumalanga Province, brought in nearly one hundred pastors and leaders from around the northern province. One pastor came with six leaders from three and a half hours away to be present. I was amazed! I was also deeply humbled.

Both Sundays saw me preaching in four different churches around Mpumalanga. The last Sunday I preached in two seperate churches and I didn’t even know about the second until I arrived at the first. God is full of surprizes. The hunger for God’s Word is very prominent. People wanted more. In fact they have asked Cathy and I to return next April for Easter weekend to preach to all their churches.

People seeking prayer at the Word of Life Bible Church.

This training experience birthed the Kingdom Leadership nuggets which will be available on the Donkey Stable.

The second week of March found Cathy and I again at Kruger National Park, but this time with Sonia Oosthuizen a missionary who we are mentoring from Nelspruit. This was our second get away with Sonia. She stated that she still doesn’t have this relax thing down very well. It took her two days to unwind and feel released from ministry pressure.

Sonia lives at home with her elderly parents and we actually stayed with Pieter and Sara during our weeks in Nelspruit. Finding solitary time is a major difficulty for Sonia. Our talks went deep into the heart, mind and soul of Sonia. She also ministered to us.

Later in the week I met Ronas in White River to meet with David Manzini an elderly pastor in the rural areas of Mpumalanga. What a humble servant of the Lord. We had a great time together and are praying that God will provide 350 Bibles for his churches in the next year. 200 in English and 150 in Zulu for the older people.

I consider it a privilege to serve along side such a Godly man.

The first week of March found us at Kruger National Park with Ronas and Busie Marule for some time of rest, refocus and renewal. They had never spent a five nights away from home in twenty-one years of marriage. They lived only a few kilometers from the park and had never spent the night in the park. It was exciting to watch them relax and see God’s creation that was right around them.

We prayed constantly for God to bring specific animals our way and also for Him to give us insight into spiritual lessons from those animals. They first wanted to see Rhinos and God brought seven the first day. They were astonished! 

Busie shared her struggles with the ministry in her quiet and gentle way. I just don’t feel valuable to the Lord. I seem small and insignificant.

She and Cathy bonded and began to see the value God places on such qualities. (see 2 Peter) Busie lit up when she realized the great value God places on a quiet and gentle spirit.

Ronas talked of the years of struggle in churches, YFC and other ministry settings. As we watched the leopard jump from his tree Ronas opened up and talked about some wounds he experienced in the ministry. Their are so many people who leave the ministry believing they are honourably wounded with burnout and depression.

What a powerful week of bonding and seeing the Lord in so many ways in so many places. Thank you Lord for this time.