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Msindisi Monthly - July 2007
"For from the creation of the world the invisible things of Him are clearly seen, being understood through the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. For when they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God, nor were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and to birds and four footed beasts and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies among themselves. They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Romans 1: 20 – 25)
The Latest News
This month has had its shares of joys and trials. I have personal known God's grace in a way that has smoothed over the challenges of the last few months. But there have still been challenges for other people. Dave had to go to the UK early this month because he got wind that his grandmother was dying and his father was in a critical condition in hospital. His father had an operation and now is out of hospital but his grandmother has died and Dave is going to do the funeral. Here is South Africa a gentleman, called Rolf, who had attended numerous of our bible studies, has passed away. We know he was saved but our prayers are with his family. Sue Lym who came to help for a month had to go back early because her father had to go to hospital. There have been other less critical problems but the great thing for us as believers in Jesus our Messiah is that the scripture accounts for everything that happens and gives a real, yet sometimes painful, explanation as to why. We had a real answer to our prayers which was concerning one lady who is planning to stay till February, next year. Di has a bond on a house but the people who were renting have decided to move to Australia. It is a bad time of year to look for possible renters in her part of New Zealand and just recently after our church offered to cover a months rent for her, this news came through. But this new month of July we see the departing of Susie and Becca from Starbeck on the 17th and I will be visiting the UK in August. When I come back we have Jacob Prasch coming to speak who heads up Moriel and following him Calvin Smith will be visiting us who is the Principal of Midlands Bible College and Divinity School. My Hebrew teacher is leaving at the end of this month to join her husband in America while he is doing his training with Jews for Jesus. This will mean I will facilitate the class while she is gone starting in September after I come back from the UK.
Evangelism
I have been keeping my relationship with John in Tsakane albeit though I haven't been able to keep up the evangelistic enterprise there. It is because John recommends us visiting in the afternoon but this has been near enough impossible because that is when I have been studying Hebrew and Mike has been using Hebrew time for other pursuits. But when I come back from the UK it will be a different matter altogether because I will not be doing Hebrew at that time and so I will be free to go to Tsakane. Then we will restart maintaining a strong presence in that community, supporting John in his Gospel sharing. However some good news this month has been the money given by certain people to buy poor pastors a good study bible. So we have bought the first bible for John which was an archaeological study bible full of maps and articles of archaeological artefacts from the various periods that the Bible accounts are set in. There are many photographs of these artefacts and will help him get an historical context of the scriptures in order to apply it to his situation in Tsakane. We take stuff like this for granted in the UK; we have so much Bible material to get our hands on and all sorts of study bibles but in the African languages there is hardly anything. The Zulus only have two bibles one is old Zulu, that uses Xhosa words, and the other one is modern Zulu usage. These bibles have cross references but very few.
Aside from this there has been the usual preaching in Springs albeit it getting cold here. But there hasn't been any meeting up with students at Springs College. I reckon over the next few weeks, with Dave and Morne having been away and preparing for the UK I will aggressively pick up our efforts in September when I get back from the UK. Something to pray for is concerning Mike, who is planning on going to the UK in November. With his leaving it would be great to see someone else at Aletheia to work alongside in Evangelistic enterprises. Please pray for this to be the case. But our continuing presence in Springs leaves an impression with people. Last week a guy was on a cigarette break from ABSA bank and initially seemed to smirk and show little interest but then he really listened and Mike was able to have a great chat with him. It is people like him that we are surprised about. We have also handed out leaflets in another area and through it I was able to speak with a Moslem from another African country called Faro. Initially he claimed that he believed that Christianity and Islam were very similar and although I acknowledged that there were superficial similarities, I explained how fundamentally they are different. I also explained how the Bibles promise of salvation is more substantial than Islam's because it is not dependant on how many good works we have done but on Jesus taking the punishment for our sins. Initially he didn't want to take a tract but after our tract he took a couple. Meanwhile Mike was having a lengthy chat with a Mormon. Just this week I phoned up a Jewish Rabbi to get the specific meaning of an ancient Hebrew word, 'Sig'. He asked me why I was studying Hebrew, so I honestly answered him in saying that I was a believer in Yeshua (Hebrew form of our transliteration of Jesus) and because the Tenakh is written in Hebrew I wanted to learn. He said he would look for me and phone me back. I don't know if he will phone back but I am hoping he will ask questions about why I follow Yeshua. I only got his number in order to get an answer for my question but if I am asked questions then I will have to honestly answer him and hopefully cause a little jealousy that this 'Goyish' person has an interest in his scriptures.
Prayer Requests
- For the possibility of more witnessing opportunities and the sensitivity, guidance and courage to proclaim God's gospel. Please pray for the individuals that we speak with, which ever names God lays on your heart.
- For our own devotion to Jesus. For that reality to be apparent in our own lives as we attempt to practice what the scripture tells us in love and humility.
- For guidance for direction now and future.
- For the Royle family and kids at Ebyown as those various illnesses come up frequently.
- For our relationship with Pastor John in Tsakane and the door and opportunity for more rigorous evangelism in Tsakane.
- For Mike's plans to go to the UK and for someone to take his place here.
Contact
PO BOX 10807,
STRUBENVALE 1570,
GAUTENG,
SOUTH AFRICA .
TEL: +27 (0) 72 831 1008
EMAIL: msindisi@gmail.com
WEBSITE: http://msindisi.googlepages.com 
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