Bible Study in Mentz

Today was our first Bible study in Mentz at Meriam's house.  We picked Jankie up from his job today and drove out to Mentz (around 25 minutes or so) to Meriam's house.  It was a great time and we were excited that 8 people were there.  Meriam along with her daughter Dineo and son Tummi and Tummi's friend France, Meriam's friend Emily, Jankie and his wife Gladys along with Jankie's mom Anna.

We are using the New Tribes;  Building On Firm Foundations book 2.  This book focuses on cross cultural evangelism focusing on God's story of redemption, beginning in Genesis and concluding with the ascension of Christ. 

 As we go through the teaching we hope they will come to a place where they have a clear understanding of ...

God's nature and character

Their own sinfulness, helplessness and hopelessness

Christ's all-sufficient saving work through His death, burial and resurrection.

Today Mark covered the first two lessons.  

1.  The Bible is God's message to all people.

2.  The Bible tells us what God is like and that He alone existed before everything and everyone else. 

Before Mark started, he made sure everyone had a Bible.  As he taught and Jankie translated, they were listening intently and answering questions.  As Mark finished teaching he stopped and said that we would continue next week and Emily, one of Meriam's friends, said it wasn't long enough!

As I was holding one of the babies during the study so Mama Anna could listen, I was remembering back to 2008 when we stayed an extra week in South Africa after our outreach to Mozambique.  During that week we interviewed with Samaria Mission and the Elders at CBC and we also enjoyed dinner with three different families.  I remember being told that if we can at all afford it in our budget, it is good to hire someone to help you around the house and in the garden as it provides a job for someone who needs one to provide for their family.  Honestly, this was so far from anything we could imagine.  After all we were moving here to become missionaries, what do you mean hire someone to help?!?!?!  Well, we went back to the States and we began to pray that if this was what the Lord wanted us to do then He would provide for it AND He would provide the right people.  We also prayed that this would become a ministry opportunity for us as well.  What better way to get to know someone than to have them in your home a few days a week.  Over the last three years, we have developed a great relationship with both Meriam and Jankie (who are cousins) and it has been exciting to see the Lord drawing them to Him!  I have to say that as I held that little girl, looked at the people intently listening while holding their bibles and looked at over the village of Mentz, I was thanking the Lord for opportunity He has given us to serve Him here in South Africa and Mozambique.  I pray that as we meet each week that His NAME WILL BECOME KNOWN throughout the village of Mentz!

here is a little glimpse of our time in Mentz today ... 

When we arrived Meriam wanted us to see where the water is coming up from the ground.  We have had so much rain over the last month that this whole area behind her house has water coming up from the ground.  

this is where the water comes up naturally after all the rain

this is the view behind her house

this is her garden on the side of the house

You can see how they guide the water to drain away from the front of the house

Jankie and Mark going over a few things before class

 

Tummie, Meriam's son (in blue) and his friend France

left to right:  Meriam, Emily, Gladys and Anna

my new friend

left to right: Tummie, France, Jankie and Mark