Please pray…

Posted on May 21, 2015     3 Comments

Please pray for Door of Hope today.  We met with them on Tuesday and are excited to see all of the amazing things the Lord is doing with their ministry.  For those of you that don’t know them – they work in the Johannesburg area and concentrate on orphans.  Over the years we have seen this organization adopt many, many kiddos to people all over the world.  Laws, and regulations are getting tighter and tighter but they are adjusting their roles and continuing the work that the Lord has called them to do.  They are having a very important meeting today (Thursday) to finalize the paperwork on a possible property that would be used as a ‘village’ for all of the children that are unlikely to be adopted.  We pray this goes smoothly, as well as how we can partner with them as they begin this new journey.

Also, please pray for Rob and John to be able to find the correct group of pastors from the townships to begin J-life training.  The above pictures are from their meetings they had in the townships.  This is new ground for J-life and the cultural divide can be very difficult, so we are praying this is something that God will orchestrate.

In addition, Rob has had some very long days as he is also meeting in Johannesburg with 3 other guys as John is going through the J-life training with them as well.  Pray for Rob to fully understand the vision of J-life and for general safety as he is often traveling home in the dark, on very dangerous roads.

Rob has been busy updating some things around camp Eden.  The above picture shows the old picnic table, and the new one that he has made.  It is with maintenance free material, and we are hoping to build several more for the camp.  We are continuing to pray if this would be an opportunity to sell them as a tent making business for J-life.

Above are the guys that Rob is working with on a daily basis.  Please pray for opportunities for the gospel to be shared, as all but 1 are non-believers.  Also, please pray for the language barrier, as most of these guys know very little english.

We have been blessed with 6 Australian guys, who have helped a bunch on our house.  They were turned away at the Mozambique border, as their intentions were to be there to help build a medical clinic.  The paperwork wasn’t sorted out and so they ended up in Johannesburg, and then with us.

They did a lot of painting, set all of the doors, and many other valuable things.  We were also able to do some local ministry opportunities with them too.  We had a wonderful time with them, and so much enjoyed their company.  We pray that their time here was a blessing to them – as much as it was for us!!

Lastly – we are celebrating Austin’s 11th birthday today!!  We have so enjoyed his love for Africa, and continue to watch him grow in the love for the Lord and the people around him.  As most of you know, this is a bittersweet day for us, we thank you for your prayers.

We call heaven our home, but until we are called there – we rest in His peace.

If you get dirty…..

Posted on May 16, 2015     1 Comment

it is a sign of a good day!!

We had a great day playing at the pond (which the South Africans call the dam).  My mom decided that we should take a walk to the dam.   Mom had to go home to make dinner, and so we stayed at the dam a bit longer.  We also found MUD and had a mud fight, and that explains the picture.  As we walked away from the dam we thought how mad mom was going to be.  When we got home, we didn’t even have to tell her what we did, the mud told it all.  So, if you want to have a mud fight in Africa – come see us!!

Siyabonga had his 12th birthday this past week.  We invited him and Thobile over to have a birthday party.  We gave Siyabonga a soccer ball, glow sticks and a small nerf gun.  We asked him if he had a soccer ball because he is really good at soccer, and he said, “No, all of mine have popped!!”  We thought perfect timing for a new soccer ball.

My mom and Thobile tried a new recipe for lunch.  They made pizza rolls for us.

Thobile also made vanilla frosting for our cupcakes, and we added food coloring, and decorated them.  We really like hanging out with Siyabonga, Thobile and Nathan – we see them almost every Saturday.

On Wednesday we went to Cornerstone Family Church in Heidelberg.  This is the second time we have gone, and we were able to hand out a lot vegetables to over 100 people.  The poverty over here is so great.  They are taking vegetables that we would throw out – and they are feeding their families with them.

Hudson had a yogurt bath.  Mom and dad went to the daily prayer meeting, and mom told us to get started on breakfast.  We all had breakfast and Hudson decided he wanted some yogurt.  We keep the yogurt on the top shelf of our refrigerator and he got it down.  Austin told him not to eat it until mom got back because he had already had breakfast.  So he tried to put the yogurt back up on the top shelf but the lid and the yogurt came tumbling down.  I took a quick picture, and Austin ran him through the shower and everything was cleaned up before mom and dad got home.

– Tate

Africa isn’t for sissy’s….

Posted on May 2, 2015     2 Comments

is what one man recently said to me as we were chatting about possible business partnerships with J-life, in order to disciple and build some work ethic with the youth.  At times, I would have to agree with him.

The continent of Africa has long been a place of trails.  We are currently living in South Africa, which is arguable the murder and rape capital of the world; genocide, xenophobia, extreme poverty, the orphan crisis, corrupt politicians, dangerous roads, poisonous snakes, muslim extremest, and fires….lots of fires.  Which brings me to my story – Jeanie, Hudson and myself went for a short walk this morning.  Right after lunch, I was planning to go with John to meet with a group of Pastors from the townships, but upon returning to camp John met us and said, “No meetings today, we have a fire to fight!”  This weekend is a long weekend because Friday was another public holiday, which meant, there were not many people around to help.  The few J-life staff that were here were helping with a camp group, so our numbers were even fewer.  There were 4 of us with backpack blowers, and a mountain a blaze.  As you can see from the picture, just to get to the fire was no easy task.

After 4-5 hours of fighting the thorns, the brush, the cactus, and the fire – it had finally gotten the best of me, and I was done.  I was so dehydrated that I couldn’t spit, and all of my muscles were slowly starting to cramp up.  At this point, the fire was mostly under control but there were still a few flare ups which kept us there another 2 hours.  I was unable to continue, as I had not properly prepared for the fight.  Obviously some bodily training and discipline would have helped me – but instead I had to let others finish it.  It is funny the things the Lord revealed to me as I was standing on top of a burning mountain.  He said, (not audible) but clear enough for me to understand….following me is not for sissy’s, but it is for the humble, broken, and weary.

This brought me back to my previous thoughts about following Christ.  For years I believed that God would never ask me to do anything difficult or uncomfortable.  He would also not ask me to do anything I am not naturally gifted at, which would cause me to depend on Him.  He would never ask me to leave my family, my job, and my comforts.  I wanted the things that He could get me but I didn’t want Him. I viewed the church as a place to go to fill my needs, not a body of people to serve and worship alongside.  I wanted just enough of Him to get me to the other side, but not enough to make me look different from the world.

Thank God he didn’t leave me there.  Through a horrific tragedy He showed me His peace that surpasses all understanding.  He showed Himself to me and at that moment, everything changed.  He pulled back the veil – so I could see the battle.  He showed me my neighbors, my enemies, other countries, the guy living on the road, not as the world sees them but as God made them.  My circumstances no longer dictated how I reacted, only His word and His truths.  The church was no longer a place I went, but a family to grow with.  I no longer looked at serving Him as a sacrifice, but understood this was what He created us for, to worship Him.

So here we are in Africa, doing and seeing things I never thought were possible.  It is hard, it takes discipline, sacrifice, and most of all faith.  I would be lying if I didn’t say I sometimes struggle and want to retreat back to the things that are comfortable.  I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, or even if we will be blessed with tomorrow.  But I do know He is a sovereign God and if we stay focused on Him – this journey will be beautiful.

Lord – please wake up your church and show us the battle that is there.  Prepare us physically, but most importantly, spiritually to fight the fight that is at hand.  Please help us as parents to disciple our children to love you and love your word.  It is the most important gift we can give them. Continue to remind us that we are all arrows to be used for your glory.  Let us all see that we have a part in furthering your kingdom whether we are in Iowa, India, Egypt, or Africa.  Please forgive us for our fear, and lack of faith as we look to follow your will for our lives.  Amen.

An overdue post…

Posted on April 25, 2015     6 Comments

and I am so sorry for the delay.  Our last post was April 1st – and we are almost at the end of the month.  About two weeks into April our data was already gone, and we didn’t get more until this past Friday.  Here is our month of April overview.  Forgive me for sharing details from our day-to-day lives but lately it has been the little things that have made our day.

I figured out how to make monster cookies and homemade chicken noodle soup.  An accomplishment for me, since I have had to readjust to cooking…

I have had a hard time getting our whites really white with all of this sandy reddish soil (or maybe it’s because we have 4 boys).  So, now I boil our whites on the stove with soap and baking soda for 30 minutes and then wash them in the washing machine.  I have grown to LOVE hanging our clothes on the line and am amazed at how fast everything dries!!

We have had the opportunity to invite people over for dinner, which is such a treat.  I really love cooking and preparing food and sharing a meal with friends…unfortunately this is the only picture I snapped with our dinner guests.  This is Sydney and he has been around for as long as we have been coming here, and he works on the farm.  They boys loved showing him all of the things they have made with their magnets.

We were able to meet up with Dudu in Johannesburg.  She is doing well, and working at Waterstone College.  A blessing to reconnect with friends.

Rob managed to grill a huge amount of chicken over charcoal (which is something we have never done).  We made chicken fajita for some friends, complete with tortillas, mexican rice, and the fixings’ – it was yummy!!

The boys are in charge of keeping the pile of sand readily available for the workers.  Many things are made with sand, so Rob runs into town to get a load when the pile gets low, and the boys are shovel ready.

Often we have cows running right outside our door.  In fact, one morning I was hanging laundry and all of a sudden I looked up and a huge herd of cows were running towards me.  Not exactly at me, but the place they needed to be was fairly close to where I was, so I decided to go inside until the farm hands had them where they wanted them.

I remember being Austin’s age and having my mom teach me how to play solitaire, so I have taught the two older boys.  We play cards a lot at night.  With no tv and very little internet, it has been great family time together.  Our David Livingston book is done, and I ordered the rest of the set from YWAM.  We are looking forward to some new missionary stories.  We won’t get them until the 6-week trainees from Iowa arrive in June.

If Hudson isn’t playing war or uno with one of the boys he is begging us for an airplane ride.  I will take this airplane ride over the one we had coming here ANY day…

We found out that Esther was having a hard time doing homework in the evening with her kids, since she is without electricity.  We did some research and found these amazing lights that are charged with small solar panels.  One full charge will last her two evenings.  So, if the sun doesn’t come out one day to charge them, she can still use them that night.

Jubs (a J-life representative from Zimbabwe) was here last weekend.  We picked him up in Johannesburg and decided to make a trip to the Lion Park.  The picture below is really dark, but yes they are petting lions (only in Africa).

Our family has nicknamed South Africa – Seattle.  Everyone here always tells us how bad they need rain, and yet it seems like almost every other day since we have been here it has rained.  Not just an afternoon shower – it has really rained.  But, after a rain storm last week we saw the sun peering in the window, and I told the boys they better go and look for the rainbow.  We found it, and for a while it was a double rainbow.

So very beautiful!!

The house is really coming together.  Rob has been busy putting up ceilings (the main room ceiling will be done this week) and getting things ready for paint.

If we decide to do a wood burning stove, it will go here.

They have half of the house primed and will start the finish painting soon.

Lastly – we would like to include some specific prayer requests.

1. Opportunities for Rob to build lasting relationships with the workers, as almost all of them are non-believers, and for the language barrier with some of them.

2. Direction for our family in regards to helping others.  The needs are so great, and we want to help, but how to know which ones are the ones God is asking us to fulfill.

3.  The right group of Pastors, from the extensions, come together for Rob and John to meet with in a few weeks to discuss discipleship methods.

4. Overall safety – as we aren’t in Kansas anymore.  There is tension in the bigger cities throughout South Africa with refugees coming from all over, looking for work.  Also, business opportunities to help J-life ministries and to be used as a discipleship and training tool.

5.  Walking daily in obedience with Him.

  We are blessed, and thank God each day for His plan for our lives.  Thank you for lifting us up, and joining with us on our journey.

Abnormal…

Posted on April 1, 2015     5 Comments

that is a good way to describe how we are feeling.  Odd enough that nothing feels normal, an overall feeling of inadequacy because we seem to barely be accomplishing the simplest of tasks.  I think all of our brains are on overload all day long.  The climate is different, the water taste different, the showers work different, all measurements are different, and the list could go on and on.

We all chuckled at this truck as we passed it today and decided this was a perfect word for how we are feeling.

On the other hand, we started school on Monday.  We are doing a lighter load this week, but we have all felt good about accomplishing something that is familiar to us, praise God for that!!

Last year, during Holy Week, each day we read a post on Desiring God and studied what happened leading up to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  I decided to revisit it again this year, and it has been a good reminder to all of us, that our current circumstances don’t hold any weight to what we have to look forward to in eternity.

Tuesday’s blog post titled; The King We Needed, But Never Wanted 

had something that really caught our attention,

If we come to the crucified one expecting him to make life easier and more comfortable, we’re not listening to him. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

That has really caused me to search my heart, and make sure I am not just always looking to “feel” comfortable.  So often in our awkwardness, the Holy Spirit is alive, and the gospel is advanced.

Also, every evening (after the kids are ready for bed) we listen as Rob reads us one chapter from David Livingstone (Africa’s Trailblazer).  One chapter is about all we can handle, as everyone is so tired from our daily activities.  As you can see, Hudson didn’t make it last night….the chapter was too long, or Hudson was too tired.

It has given us such perspective of what it must have been like for people years ago, traveling to places that have been unreached up to this point, and encountering things that are so hard for their minds to grasp.  Honestly, it makes me feel like such a wimp, but keeps us all on the edge of our seats.

We went to church on Sunday and that was exciting.  It took us a bit over an hour to get there, but we enjoyed it and look forward to visiting another church this Sunday until we can find one we can call our own.  Below is a picture that was taken outside of our silo.

I have a feeling we won’t post again until next week.  Rob has high hopes that our family will be working on the house all weekend.  Hopefully we will have some new pictures of the house to post next week.  Happy Easter – and enjoy time with family and loved ones.  Thanks again for all of your prayers and support, we are so blessed to have so many people loving us from a distance.

Love, The Kochan’s

Adjusting to South Africa

Posted on March 28, 2015     1 Comment

I met a new friend as all of us were playing outside a few days ago.  His name is Siyabonga (pronounced C – YA – BONGA).  He is 12 years old and in 6th grade.  He is one of the farm hand kids and his mom is Esther.  Siyabonga is on holiday (off of school) for 2 weeks.  Since Esther works everyday in the kitchen, we will see him everyday for the next two weeks.  He shows up at our door at 7:30 in the morning and leaves at 5:00 when they go home, so we get to play with him all day.  He has a sister name Thobile (TOE – B – LAY).  She is very shy and won’t talk to us yet, but we keep trying to talk to her.

Here is a picture of Siyabonga and us going swimming.

After swimming we were all walking to the obstacle course, and we were talking and none of us noticed that we almost stepped on another snake.  It is called a puff adder.  They don’t move much, they are thick and not very long.  Once we realized it was a snake, we all jumped back and Tate yelled for Sydney.  Sydney was the one who killed the spitting cobra, so we knew he would help.

We found out later, it is the snake that kills the most people in Africa.  Many local South Africans have told us that the puff adder can strike you twice by the time you say the number one.  Thank God none of us got hurt, and we all know to watch where we are going, and never touch any snake.

The other thing that I wanted to tell you about is that we were playing outside yesterday and all of a sudden it started blowing, and in less than a minute, it was pouring down rain.

Mom and Dad are still adjusting to the driving, and when we went on our walk tonight this was the sky.

Love, Austin

We are here….

Posted on March 19, 2015     6 Comments

and trying to find our feet (as the South Africans say).  I will recap the past few days, so everyone can understand why we are walking around still looking for our feet.

We left North Liberty Monday morning at 7 AM – to Chicago with a van load.  It was a great trip, and even better company.  Marky, Rob, Hudson, Me, Tony, Jake, Rosemary, Tanner, Austin, Monte, and Tate (including 13 suitcases, and 6 backpacks).

We had plenty of time to get checked-in, get through security and find some lunch.  We boarded our plane for Atlanta around 2 and got there around 5.  The kids did wonderful all day, they were in such good spirits.  We grabbed a few more snacks, and got ready to board our longer flight to Johannesburg.

About 2 hours into this flight, after Tanner was finished watching one movie, he took off his headphones and said, “Mom, we have been on this plane awhile – how much longer?”

Chuckling to myself, I said, “Honey, we have about 12 more hours to go….get settled in.”

Right after that, I got up and went to the bathroom and as I was coming out of the bathroom, Austin came running to me and said, “Mom – hurry, Hudson is puking everywhere!!”

I moved Austin back to my sit and Rob and I spent the remaining 12 hours on each side of Hudson, watching his every move.  We thought it could have been motion sickness, but as the flight went on, he got warmer and warmer.  I had his head on my lap, and Rob had his feet.  No sleeping for us.  It was really brutal – we felt so trapped with a sick child, and there was really nothing we could do.

Once we landed and got through customs, we could relax a bit…we had bathrooms, and we were no longer stuck in a plane.  We got all of our luggage and headed to J-life.  Our temporary home was ready and waiting, complete with a warm dinner for us.  I had told the kids to stop eating, after Hudson got sick because we wouldn’t have been able to manage multiply kids throwing up at once, so they were hungry.

We got everyone fed, tucked in bed and called it a night.

The past two days we have been walking around J-life, seeing some old friends and getting acquainted with our surroundings.  We have practiced driving up and down the driveway (the driveway is about 6 miles long).  The kids love the obstacle course, the jack terrier dogs (Chutney and Tess) and have really enjoyed the 80 degree weather.

Tomorrow we are heading to town.  We need to get a refrigerator, and washing machine.  It feels really good to be here.  Despite the rough flight, we are anxious to see what the Lord has in store for us here.

THANK YOU for all of your prayers and support, we couldn’t be doing what we are doing without the help of so many great friends and family.  Love to everyone back in the states.

South Africa….HERE WE COME!!

Posted on March 6, 2015     3 Comments

Well, we officially have our visas and we are approved for 2 years!!  Our plane tickets are rescheduled for Monday, March 16th.

From a few of our prior posts, (as all of you know) we have been on a roller coaster of emotions.  Up’s and down’s, high’s and low’s.  But, I have been thinking of all the times I get ahead of myself and step out in my own strength and end up failing miserably.

When will I ever learn?

When will I take a deep breath and know that our plan seems great, but God’s plans are always better.

I am not so sure what transpired this past month, and why we saw so many unexplained situations, but it was in God’s perfect plan for us.

Did I always have the best attitude?  Nope.

Did I enjoy the little moments, like looking at all of the downtown Chicago lights as we were tucking all of the kids in bed?  Nope.

Did I ever think that there were other things going on around us, while we struggled to get a few documents?  Nope again.

I pray that God continues to mold and shape me as we transition into another culture.  I know our trials seem minimal to what other people are dealing with.  I pray that we can minister to people who are put in our paths, and give them hope in the midst of their trails.  Only God can change my attitude, my contentment in the little moments, and my own selfishness.

God, please change me, so people see You and not me.