My time in Africa

Posted on August 29, 2016     Leave a Comment

My time with Rob, Jeanie, and the boys has been busy and refreshing all at the same time. My time here has gone so quickly, but I’m thankful for the time I have had. This last week has been packed with looking for the “big five”, participating with Jeanie in ministry with the women at the local church, and watching the way Rob and Jeanie love and disciple those whom they come into contact with. It has truly changed the way that I look at what I am a part of in India, and has given me a clearer picture of what is to come there.

Not having been to a game park before, Jeanie, Tanner, and Hudson took me on quite the adventure to Kruger National Park, a game park in South Africa and Mozambique. Apparently, you can’t go to Africa and not search for some wild animals. We spent 3 days adventuring to and from and in the park, averaging about 8 hours in the car each day, and it paid off. We saw the “big five” (lion, leopard, elephant, water buffalo, and rhino), as well as giraffe, kudu, wildebeest, and countless impala. We also stayed two nights in the park, which included grilling beef steaks on the braai and roasting marshmallows for s’mores, two things I haven’t had in almost two years!

Recently, Jeanie and the pastor’s wife from the local church started a meeting for the women in the church on Saturday afternoons. I was thankful to be here on a week when they were meeting, and had the privilege to speak to them. Watching and learning about some of the culture tendencies from Jeanie and my own experience here, I was burdened by the fact that so many of the women waste their time on things that have no eternal impact. I challenged them on this, and as we looked at scripture, they saw that as a new creation in Christ, their lives can and should be compelled by the love of Christ to use their time for greater purposes for God, themselves, their families, and their communities. Below is a photo of those who were able to come.

The way that Rob and Jeanie interact and disciple the local people has been challenging to me. They give so much of their time and resources and love deeply for the sake of the gospel. This has made me look at my own life and work overseas, and has forced me to reevaluate what my life looks like there, and how I interact and view the local people. Our work and the people we are among are quite different, but watching them has reinvigorated my passion for working overseas, and their kindness toward me has brought refreshment, even in the busyness of this past week. I’m excited to get back home and to use what I have learned to live more like Christ in my community, and be more bold for the sake of the gospel.

A sister in Christ….

Posted on August 16, 2016     Leave a Comment

We are so excited to have Elizabeth here with us in a few short days.  I remember meeting her mom, Rose, about 15 years ago at church.  Rose was our wedding coordinator, then a mentor mom at MOPS, and shortly after Avery’s accident she also became our homeschool coordinator, when we decided to homeschool.  Rose has kept me in line over the years, and given me endless advice on homemade play dough, curriculum, math manipulatives, first readers, writing, phonics, etc.

I remember seeing Elizabeth and her younger sister at church in tow with their mom and dad all of those years and now she is on her own, and following God’s call for her life.

I love Elizabeth, her bold witness, her personality, her biblical foundation and her kind heart.  She is a young women after God’s own heart, and I adore her for it.  Please pray that her time with us is refreshing.  Our house is usually always CRAZY, with a few brief moments of quiet as well.

Hopefully she will get to relax a few days, and then me, Elizabeth, Tanner and Hudson are hopping in the car for a road trip.  We will be driving 6 hours northeast to Kruger National Park (map above).  I have never stayed inside the park, but heard everyone rave about it….so this time the 4 of us are staying in the park.  The only thing between us and the elephants, leopards, monkeys, rhinos, and everything else wild is a fence.

I hope to capture more of our daily excitement on instagram.  If you would like to follow us, our name is heavenishomeforus

Love, Jeanie

James 2:15-16

Posted on August 9, 2016     Leave a Comment

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them,  “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

You guys might remember Xolani from a post we did back in April.  It is an amazing story, where Xolani and Thembinkosi gave their lives to Christ.  Since then 4 of us have continued to disciple them, read scripture with them, meet them on the streets and challenge them to greater things.  There have been many, many, up’s and down’s, but that is true with all of us.  Drugs can magnify those up’s and down’s even more.  They have begged all of us numerous time to get them into a rehab program, help them get off the streets, and love them for who they are.

Often times I think we, as believers, are more reserved at helping those in need when we know their sin choices are so obvious and damaging to their lives.  Aren’t we glad Christ isn’t like that with us?  Do we think our sin issues are less damaging to ourselves – maybe they don’t damage our minds and bodies like drugs, but none the less God looks at all sin on the same level.

As we have been discipling these young men, the 4 of us are constantly trying to figure out the best why to help them, walk-alongside of them and show them an abundant life with Christ.  One of my greatest weaknesses, in this case, is when I don’t know the whole story or can’t fit all of the pieces together I convince myself to do nothing.  I tell myself, I don’t want to be a bad steward of God’s money.

God had a different plan.

After church on Sunday we had to drive into Johannesberg to pick up a few things.  On our way back to the farm, we saw Xolani laying on the side of the road, with very little clothes on.  So what do you do?   We know his heroin addiction is overwhelming, and we have no idea how to help with withdraw.  Do we find a place for him to sleep, or take him home with us?  We often give him food but know that is temporary.

That night Jeanie and I weren’t able to get him out of our minds.  We felt like the priest and the Levite in the familiar story of the good samaritan.  We didn’t cross over the street and completely ignore him, but our attempt to help were far from the efforts of the good samaritan.  The next morning I was very excited to continue organizing the workshop at J-life that we have waited a year and a half for but I was unable to get Xolani out of my mind.  Often times when Jeanie and I are discussing hard matters, and deciding when and how to help Jeanie will say, “This is someone’s son….if this was one of our son’s what would you do?”

I called Nathi, and after chatting for just a few minutes, we both knew today was the day we needed to find Xolani.  After tracking him down to an abandon house that he was currently living in, we took him to lunch, got him a haircut, and some supplies that he would need.  8 hours later Xolani was checked-in at a local christian rehab program.  We won’t have any contact with him for his first 4 weeks, but the excitement (and a bit of fear) in his eyes gave Nathi, Thabiso and I both the reassurance that he is right where God wants him.

Please keep Xolani in your prayers these next 4 weeks.  Also, please prayerfully consider if you would like to help us.  We had the resources to pay for Xolani’s first month in rehab, as well as his clothes and supplies.  We are hoping to allow him to stay there for 3-6 months.  Each month is approximately $500.  We are also looking to get Thembinkosi in as well.  Currently we are working with the agency to get Thembinkosi in as a government sponsor, but these sponsorships are few and far between and the waiting lists are endless.  None of this is too big for God, so we wait and see how the Lord will lead.

KID PERFECT 2016

Posted on July 22, 2016     Leave a Comment

We arrived safely back in South Africa on June 30th. Currently it is around 40 degrees at night and 70 degrees in the day, buurrrrrrrrr. Our house is still standing, and Siyabonga and Thobile were really happy to see us again. 

Annie, from our home church, came back with us to see what South Africa was really like.  Sports Camp was just about to start, it is a camp that takes place at the farm every year. There were around 125 kids and leaders this year.  Annie was asked to be a counselor and she really enjoyed the first few days so she asked Siyabonga, and myself if we wanted to join the camp too. We did, and we had a blast!! Sports Camp is open to anyone over the age of 12 and is a christian camp, so there were open debates at every meal about the Bible.  Most of the time we did sports (as the name implies). There was soccer, (which they call fútball)  basketball, (which Annie taught) baseball, netball, hokey, rugby, chairball (that is like ultimate frisbee but you sit on chairs) ultimate frisbee, and a volleyball-type game called nucum.   We also had a devotion time in the evening and on the last day we had to do a lip-syncing contest (my song was “Do you want to build a snowman?” by the way, not my choice, they had it already picked out).

After Annie said goodbye to her new friends at Sports Camp, she joined the 6-weekers and helped plan a full week of Holiday Bible Club in Extension 23. Each day more and more kids showed up, and by Thursday there were over 200 kids.  My brothers and I started back at school, since we had 8 weeks off.

On Friday, our family, Jilly (that was her nickname we gave her), Siyabonga, Thobile, Karabo, and Nathi went to Pilanesberg National Park. We saw impala, wildebeest, elephant, rhino, baboons, hippo, giraffe, zebra, warthog, kudu, jackal, banded mongoose and buffalo (which people who have been going there for 30 years have never seen).  The 11 of us had such a great time.  We also did dinner one night in the bush, with a lot of food, and a big fire. Annie left a few days later, and we cant wait to see her again.  she was very easy to get along with and fun to be around. 

But back to the title of this post KID PERFECT 2016.  Have you ever heard of Dude Perfect? When we were back in the states, and had free wifi, we watched a lot of their videos. It is a group of guys that do cool trick shots, so we decided to make KID PERFECT 2016 trick shots. Below is a youtube video that Austin, Siyabonga, Nahti, and myself made. Please keep looking for more of these, we intend to post again!!!

Thank – you,

Tate

Homemade Bags from Malawi

Posted on July 18, 2016     Leave a Comment

We have bags made by a young girl in Malawi, if anyone would like them.  The proceeds to these bags support ministry work being done in South Africa.  Two of the designs come in three different sizes.  The last pictures only comes in the size shown – but it is very cute, with a button on the front.  Annie will be leaving us tomorrow and heading back to the states, I can send the bags with her.  E-mail me at heavenishomeforus@gmail.com TODAY if you would like one, and payment can be made to Amazon Charities.  Thanks for considering!!

• Large yellow, red and green bag – $10.00 SOLD
• Medium yellow, red and green bag – $7.50
• Small yellow, red and green bag – $5.00

• Dark blue, light blue bag – $10.00 SOLD
• Dark blue, light blue bag – $7.50 SOLD
• Dark blue, light blue bag – $5.00 SOLD

• Purple and yellow bag – $10.00 SOLD

Getting back to normal…

Posted on July 3, 2016     1 Comment

we had two great flights and some unusually long lines at customs, but after 24 hours of travel, we arrived at our final destination.  It is so great to be back.  Thabo and Nathi picked us up from the airport.  We had a warm crock pot of stew waiting for us when we got home (YUMMY!!).  Siyabonga and Thobile have been with us since we arrived, and we even got to see Nathi and Karabo for the weekend.  Our dinner table is full, and there is a lot of laughter between all of us.

We picked up right where we left off.

Annie jumped right in, and got involved with Sports Camp less than 24-hours after we got here, and is really enjoying herself.  We love having her here, and we are praying daily that God reveals himself to her in new and big ways.

We have a busy week ahead of us, and challenges only God can handle, but we are getting back into our routine and loving it.  Thank you to all of the people we were able to chat with while we were back in the states.  It was encouraging to be encouraged and we look forward to what the next six months, 2 years and beyond will look like for us.

I have done a few minor updates to our site.  We have also decided to post on Instagram too.  Now I have the ability to capture what we are doing in the community and post instantly.

*If you would like to follow us our Instagram, our name is heavenishomeforus

Happy Birthday Siyabonga!!

Posted on May 7, 2016     Leave a Comment

Today we celebrate Siyabonga’s 13th birthday.  What a joy to have Siyabonga in our lives regularly.  We adore his calm and easy-going personality with looks and funny faces that always make us laugh.  When he is with us, you will often find him with a soccer ball, a pile of legos, or riding a bike.  His favorite meal is rib burgers and chips (fries), and he requested cinnamon rolls for dessert.  We love him to pieces and always enjoy having him around.  We are anxious to see how God will use Siyabonga to further His kingdom.

Happy Birthday Siya!!

Cow heads….and intestines

Posted on April 25, 2016     Leave a Comment

The first time we met Andrew, he was filling-in as the Pastor at our church over Christmas.  He was also in my dad’s 5-week Bible study, and has become our friend.  While he was in prison he came to know the Lord, and now he has a passion to minister to the people he works with.  About a year ago he started cooking cow heads, cow brain, and cow intestines and selling them as a small business.  We wanted to see how he cooks all of these things, so we woke up at 5 AM this morning to meet him.

When we arrived, his helper Isaac, had the fire started and he was chopping wood and gathering water.  Andrew showed up a bit later with two cow heads in a bucket.  He took the first one out and put it upside down on a slab and chopped it in half.  We could see the top of his mouth, the teeth and then he pulled out the brain with his hands.  He also took the rest of the meat on the head and put it in a bucket of clean water.  He cleaned all the pieces again in another bucket of water and then placed everything in one of the pots.  The other pot was going to be for the intestines and the other pot for porridge.  Tate helped chop some more wood for the fire, and Tanner and myself fetched more water with Andrew.  It was great to see how Andrew is making a living and also sharing his faith with his community.

See you soon.

Love, Austin

6 days a week, Andrew starts serving the food around 10 in the morning, and by 1 everything is gone.  We would like to purchase more pots for him so he could continue working through the day and sharing the gospel with his customers.  We LOVE seeing the locals embracing their culture, starting small businesses and most importantly, bring God’s word to their neighbors.  While we are back we will be able to share more stories, and also give people the opportunity to invest into the people of Africa, to make a lasting impact.  Love ~ Jeanie 

cow head

cow head chopped open

cow brains

starting to cook everything in the pot

fetching water

gathering wood to help keep the fire going around his 3 pots

Isaac, the 4 of us and Andrew

Today’s news…

Posted on April 22, 2016     Leave a Comment

After watching the prices of tickets, looking at different options for renewing our visas, and checking our schedules – we decided that sooner would be better to come back then Christmas, as flights were $600 cheaper/person.

So, as you can see we are excited to come back for a break, and catch up on doctor, dentist, eye, and other appointments.  We will be landing on May 11 until June 29th.  We are also very anxious to share with everyone all that is happening over here.  We have some exciting opportunities and projects that we are working towards.

Hope to see you all soon!!