The Msindisi Monthly - September 2007

The Latest News

What I love about the Bible is it's sheer realism. It is not a fairy tale book covering over the evil with just grotesque creatures that are separated from ourselves and who we are as human beings. The Bible gets right under the skin and exposes ourselves to be those grotesque creatures or the bad wolves or the witches that we wag our fingers against and with the Bible the happily ever after is not presented in this life but when all the wrongs will be eventually righted. At the mission we have had much to deal with, me less than others since I have been away so much. But amidst three people having pneumonia, one of which had a pulmonary embolism to boot life continues. My time in the UK was refreshing and a real God send. I have known God's guidance personally with some news that I will write at the end of the News letter. Visiting Churches was a pleasure and encouraging as certain people remarked that the message touched on things that God was showing them at that time. One of the churches was a gypsy church in Dartford. The gypsies are experiencing a revival with many of their ethnic group being convicted and starting to follow Jesus. On the evening I spoke there about 4 or 5 people came to commit or recommit to Jesus with the pastor praying so that was humbling. It was a amazing to visit my family and to see my ever growing niece, who although is 2 and a half comes up to my hip in height. We recognise how much sense the bible makes concerning the way we are. Why do we need companionship, family and identity? Because we were made by an infinite personal God who after he made the man, made a woman for him and that they would be one and they would create family. It is the way we were made. Since I have been back in South Africa, Jacob Prasch has visited us and given us a few good teaching sessions that really hit at the heart of what we are supposed to be following. Not an 'ism' or a person but the Lord Himself according to how He has revealed Himself to be in the Bible. Next we look forward to seeing Calvin Smith of Midlands Bible College and Divinity School, speak and while Calvin is here I will be having my old friend, Phumulani, visiting from KwaZulu Natal who is pasturing after my friends Caleb and Sophie have moved to the US of A. While I was in the UK I looked forward more to his visit. He is so gentle, humble and yet strong in faith. They have such a purity and simplicity in their fellowshipping. I have also started teaching Hebrew, or rather facilitating the lessons. So today I set them a test just to see where the group is at and we will move on from there. I have a bible study for next Wednesday but preaching and teaching will pick up after Calvin has been.

Evangelism

I am about to go to Tsakane today to meet up with John and hopefully do some preaching or handing out tracts. While in the UK I was able to go out to Manchester on a couple of Saturdays with my dad and my brother Miguel, where we preached the Gospel and spoke with people. I managed to meet 2 Moslems, a Romanian and a few Brits. My family go out faithfully every week and do this despite threats or people laughing at them. And even in the midst of that they still get people listening to them and talking. They have made friends with a couple of guys called 'Ex-Catholics for Christ' who will sometimes join them. Back here in South Africa, my friend called Mike is having a personal struggle due to a something that has happened to him. Our evangelism together is affected by it but he does need to get back on his feet. Please pray for him.

Some Great News

I am very pleased to announce the engagement of myself to Dianne Vincent from New Zealand who is here on mission. We have the same desires and the same heart for the people of South Africa. When I left to the UK we had become honest with each other after being great friends since Di had come here. But we decided we needed to pray, especially because there is an age difference between us. But when I was in the UK we were both lead to accept the potential relationship quite independently of each other and yet quite simultaneously of each other. Since I have been back we have both seen this confirmed by advice of friends that we both trust and the number of people that had been secretly praying and also hoping that it would happen. We even see God's hand in the purchasing of the ring which at a price I could afford has great symbolism for us in its design. We hope to get married this year and we will keep you posted as to how our plans develop.

Prayer Requests

• For Di and myself as we plan our wedding and that we would keep our eyes on the Lord, that He would lead us in our future together.
• For Mike to overcome in his valley of the shadow of death.
• 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.

Contact

PO BOX 10807,
STRUBENVALE 1570,
GAUTENG,
SOUTH AFRICA .
TEL:            +27 (0) 72 831 1008  
EMAIL:        msindisi@gmail.com
WEBSITE:   http://msindisi.googlepages.com