Graduation Day

Today was Graduation day for the 4th year students at Christ Seminary.  This year we celebrated with Aaron, who is one of our translators with the mission, and Gideon and Benson, who are our "adopted students" from the student care program at Christ Baptist Church.  We also hosted the Wives Tea for the graduating students wives and fiance's.  Just wanted to post a few photos to show you a little of our day today.

Wives Tea ...

 

We went to help serve dinner this evening.

 

Aaron and Ntwanano

Julia and Ntwanano

Gideon and Chilesto

 

 

Benson and Gideon - our "adopted students"

 

 

Brit and her friends Shannon and Abby

Ongoing Leadership Training/Church Development ...

We returned a few weeks ago from our annual Pastors Conference in Mozambique.   There were 49 people in attendance!  It was a great week and we encourage you to check out our blog as well as the Crawford's blog and our mission facebook page for pictures and updates from our time in Dumela at the conference.

A major part of our ministry within Samaria Mission is our monthly leadership training for the pastors and leaders in Mozambique.   We travel to two training hubs within Mozambique and expound on the Bible using Building on Firm Foundations by New Tribes Mission.    Since 2009, several people from Zimbabwe have been attending our monthly trainings our a regular basis.  Some of the people coming walk from 25 km up to 100 km to attend the training.   Those Zimbabweans have been asking Samaria Mission to consider doing ministry in Zimbabwe.

During September 2011, Samaria Mission traveled to Zimbabwe to meet with the leaders and discuss possibilities of furthering our ministry into Zimbabwe.   Please check out the Crawford's blog here to see a report from that trip.  Then this year, September 2012, we were invited back to Zimbabwe to speak at a conference in Malipati.  Check out our blog for a report from that trip.  Both trips were well attended and there was an excitement from everyone in while studying God's Word. 

This past week during our conference in Dumela, William had a conversation with Simon, one of the leaders from Chikombedzi, Zimbabwe.  Simon, feels that having Samaria Mission come to Zimbabwe on a regular basis to hold ongoing training with them would benefit the local church by encouraging them to maintain a Biblical understanding and growth in their Christian walk.  He said that there is a good group of like-minded people there with a desire to learn.  Simon has shown interest to be involved in the planning and arrangements for us to start the trainings. 

We want to bring this great opportunity to you and ask that you would please pray for Samaria Mission as we seek the Lord's wisdom and plan the details to expand our training to Zimbabwe. 

Each year during our outreach season, we take a portion of the ground costs for each team member and apply it towards our ongoing monthly leadership training and Church Development.  Costs are increasing and each month we spend around R6,000 ($750) for the training to Dumela and around R6,000 ($750) for the training Xicumbane.  For us to go into Zimbabwe each trip will cost around R12,000 ($1,500).

How can you help fulfill this great calling and invitation?
As of now, the funds in the Samaria Mission Church Development fund for our monthly discipleship trainings are decreasing and will hamper our ability to continue this important ministry unless we have more funding.  In order to be able to add Zimbabwe into our monthly trainings, Samaria Mission needs to raise more funds for ongoing monthly training (Church Development/Discipleship ministry). 
Teaching and training the local pastors and leaders is KEY to spreading the Gospel throughout the areas in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. 

Please prayerfully consider supporting Samaria Mission's ongoing monthly training (Church Development/Discipleship Ministry) either with a one time gift or a monthly gift to help us continue with our monthly training. 

                               
                                 2012 Pastors Conference in Dumela

If you would like to be a part of this ministry by financially supporting Samaria Missions Church  Development Ministry, you can send gifts to :

 



                                                                            In USA
                                                                  PaulAnn Baptist Church
                                                         Please mail the check to:
                                                 PLEASE ATTACH A NOTE STATING
                   SAMARIA MISSION CHURCH DEVELOPMENT MONTHLY TRAINING

PaulAnn Baptist Church   

attn:  Codi Craddock

2531 Smith Blvd.

San Angelo, Texas;76905

           
or
         

You can also give online at www.paulann.org 

                                                                     How to give online:
                                                 www.paulann.org; give online(bottom left of screen);                                                                                 select "give" then follow the instructions on the screen.

                                                                                 or
                                                            M.E.E.K.
                                                                          M.E.E.K. Inc.
                                                                          P.O. Box 1043
                                                                       Denver, NC 28037

                                                                         In South Africa                                 Samaria Mission, ABSA, 1210152845, Current Acc.

YWAM Missionaries

First, I have been busy trying to find a post of facebook status to help me remember when we first went to the US Embassy and I can't find one.  Shocking that I didn't write about it!

Ok so on to my post ...

A few years ago either 2009 or 2010 we made our first trip to the US Embassy.  While sitting there for several hours waiting to take care of our paperwork, we met another family who were having to take care of things with passports as well.  We started talking and one thing led to another and we found out they were missionaries in Rustenburg, South Africa serving with YWAM.

Rebecca is from Katy, Texas and her husband Derrick is a South African.  Anyway, we visited for a while and exchanged emails and blog info.  We then added each other to our newsletters and have kept up with each other over the last few years by reading newsletters, following blogs and occasionally leaving comments.  They have been through a lot lately especially after one of their friends and team mates was suddenly killed in a car accident last month.  Please pray for them as they continue to grieve.  It is always an encouragement to see what the Lord is doing in and through their lives and even in the hardest of times they continue to trust and praise The Lord! 

Derrick and Rebecca

They have a love for the Lord, a heart for the lost and a desire to see this nation turn to Christ.  They wrote, "One day every knee will bow. EVERY KNEE will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."  AND their prayer is that "our nation's leader and the people of South Africa will bow now and not later."

Over the past several months several of the mines have been involved in layoffs, strikes, and riots.  In early October the news reported that 12,000 workers were laid off  and another mine shaft has been shut down.  They have really felt the affects of this in Rustenburg (as there are several mines in the area) where they live more than we have here in Polokwane.  I encourage you to please check our their blog especially back in September and October to catch up on what has been going on.


I know we have not been good at posting what is going on in South Africa especially where the government is concerned and showing you how you can specifically pray for this nation.  Rebecca recently posted another update with an article showing the reality of our government here.  We ask that you would join us in continuing to pray for the nation of South Africa and the leaders.  That they will truly see THE ONE TRUE GOD!!!!

Below is the article she recently posted showing the reality of the government here.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2012/11/26/zuma-calls-on-the-spirits

Thanksgiving in South Africa

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING 

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.   Psalm 100: 1-5 

It is 11 pm and we just finished cleaning up from celebrating Thanksgiving at our house here is South Africa.  What a great day, this morning I got to Skype (for two hours) with my friend Mendi and then the rest of the day was spent preparing for our dinner. Meriam came to help get the house ready and Doug spent the afternoon getting the braai ready for the turkeys and Debbie decorated the tables.  Gordon came by later and helped keep an eye on the turkeys.  Julia was the potato queen as she peeled 22 lbs of potatoes!  Brit ran last minute errands with Mark and Luke helped Jankie clean the tables and chairs we borrowed.  Everyone pitched in money to help cover the turkeys and the gammon (hams) were donated!  Everyone also brought side dishes and cold drinks.  Gideon, one of the 4^th year Seminary students and his new wife are staying this week and next week with us and they were a huge help today especially when it came time to clean up.  We also invited Jankie to stay and he and Luke are busy playing games as I type.  They have already played SWAP!, Stare and now are playing Connect Four. 

 We had 50 people over tonight, 5 turkeys, 3 gammon (hams), lots of traditional American side dishes and several South African side dishes, great desserts and most of all great fellowship.  Mark summed it up well before we thanked the Lord tonight and ate … he said if we can’t be with our families in the States celebrating Thanksgiving the next best thing is to celebrate with our friends who have really become family to us here in South Africa. 

On to the photos …

Meriam and Mmputhego

Luke keeping an "eye" on the baby for a few minutes

homemade pumpkin cake with butter cream icing

Julia tackling the potatoes

 

Debbie and I are trying to figure out what to do with the turkeys.

Gordon came to help with the turkeys

Gordon checking the turkeys

Chiletso setting out things for tea and coffee.

Doug was ready to eat!

Mark, Sean and Doug carving the turkeys

Gena making the gravy for the turkeys

visiting before dinner

time to eat

so many choices

girls table

Luke and his friend Steven

Member saying hello to everyone

So thankful for this house the Lord has provided for us!!!!

I didn't even have room left for dessert! 

guys choose the lapa

Vaughan's visiting with Jankie, Handsome and Julia

Mark and Jankie

Game Time (yes, it is 11:45 pm but there is no school for us tomorrow!)

 Every Thanksgiving needs a good football game.  We just finished watching the Texans vs Detroit Lions.

We hope that you all are having a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Thank you so much for your prayers, love, support and encouragement for our family.  We are truly THANKFUL for each one of you!