Encouragement

On Saturday, May 11th, we loaded the China Bus along with the Hixon family and William and headed to Joburg to pick up Merrit and her husband Luke, Mendi, Kirt, our Pastor from PaulAnn.  (We are grateful for Julia who stayed home with the two youngest kids.)

This was Mark's first time to drive the bus since getting his license and PDP (which allows him to carry people and goods). 

 

We are so thankful the Lord made a way for Luke and Merrit, Mendi and our Pastor Kirt to come to South Africa to be with the Hixon family during this time.  

Kirt made a decision to extend his stay here and go to two South African villages with the mission staff.  We were excited that he was going to be able to experience a little of the ministry work that we are involved in.  Wednesday they went to Mashushu and Friday they headed to Malamulele.  I kept thinking how much Jill would love the fact that Kirt was getting to see a little portion of Africa and the ministry that we are all involved in.

William, Member, Doug, Kirt and Mark heading to Mashushu

visiting with Pastor Lazarus Matlala in Mashushu

Pastor Lazarus and Pastor Kirt

On Friday they headed to Malamulele to visit with Pastor Kenneth 

Chauke, Derrick and Aaron.  They spent some time sorting out details for the outreaches that will be in the surrounding villages, Dinga and Xigalo.  (side note ... since Mark went to Malamulele on Friday we were not able to have our weekly bible study in Mentz.  We are planning on meeting this coming Friday.  Our time in Mentz will be limited during the next two months as we will be busy with the teams during the outreach season.  We will make sure the times that we are in town, we head out to Mentz and then we will pick back up with the regular weekly meetings again in August.)

Kirt with all the men on staff (except Sean who was in the States)

Brad and Kirt

meeting in Mchipisi Baptist Church

After they finished in Malamulele, Gordon and Brad headed back to Polokwane and the rest of the guys took Kirt into Kruger (only about a 30 minute drive to the gate) and stayed one night.  

Kirt taking pictures of the warthogs

 They had lots of time to visit.  Our staff was sharing today how the Lord used Kirt to encourage each of them while he was here.

That is Darren's vehicle

Kirt, Doug and Darren

Beautiful

Here are a few other pictures from our time with Kirt.

One afternoon Mark, Kirt and Luke headed to our Game Park here in Polokwane for a bike ride.  Another day Brit, Julia, Merrit and her husband Luke headed out for a ride. 

We took Kirt out to the mission farm to see the big vehicles we use.  

 

Kirt checking out Sean's SAMIL

 The Lord blessed us all so much during this time by sending a few people from San Angelo to Africa to celebrate the life of Jill.  We praise the Lord for her life and for the time we were able to spend with Kirt, Mendi, Merrit and Luke. 

Again, we ask that you would please pray for Brad and the kids.  Also, their oldest daughter Merrit and her husband Luke along with their three children.