Forever God is Faithful!

 

These are the words that continually go through my mind in these weeks.  There is much uncertainty in the air, from the resignation of the President of South Africa, to the Economic Crisis in America.  I am so thankful that we can fall upon the Rock during these times, and that we are part of an unshakeable Kingdom.  Know that here at Generational Ministries South Africa, our thoughts and prayers are turned toward you as our family and our friends.

 

I (Jody) wanted to catch all of you up on the latest news from the ministry here.  A lot has happened since I last wrote in June.

 

For those of you who remember my sharing about Litha the last time we were visiting USA, I wanted to let you know that she passed away.  Litha had spent the last 1 ½ years at the TB hospital with Extreme Drug Resistant Tuberculosis.  We are thankful she is free and out of pain.  Her children are being raised by her mother and sister in Port Elizabeth.

 

For our family, August and part of September were nearly consumed with paperwork and trips to PE (Port Elizabeth) to apply to Home Affairs for our extensions on our visas.  Home Affairs has really tightened up their regulations and by the time we finally received our extensions we had made seven trips to the Home Affairs office.  Now the Allens are in the midst of that same process.  Please pray for them.  Currently Home Affairs is demanding R57,500 (about $7,000) from them “to hold” in case they should need airfare back to USA.  We all are sure they are supposed to be here, they are not going anywhere, so we are praying for God’s answer to this big hurdle.  Please pray with us!!!!

 

On September 20, Mark and Nadine were married.  What a joyous and fun celebration.  Those of you who have visited here will remember Mark as a “foundational” part of GMSA.  We have known Mark since early 2003.  He basically “attached” himself to Dallas from that time and has been an intimate part of GMSA since.  We are thrilled for Mark and Nadine.  To see pictures of the wedding [Click Here].

 

Babies, babies, babies……the first one will be born to Pastor Leon and Joey the end of October, then Markham and Sintelle in November, then Pastor Marshall and Martha, and Keith and Marillien in January.  The count is three boys to Leon and Joey’s one little girl.  We are all waiting expectantly!!!

       

 

As well as our nursery and childcare overflowing, the church is also overflowing with people and life.  God continues to grace us to build a beautiful multi-ethnic church including Xhosas, Coloureds (they call themselves that), Zimbabweans, other Africans, and now some beautiful Afrikaner families.  It is so much fun!!!!  Africans love to dance you know so we are blessed with some very fun and lively worship services.  We are trusting God for a Tent for a temporary solution to our space problems on Sunday mornings.

 

The Youth ministry has exploded with many youth taking over the front of the church each Sunday worshipping and seeking God with all of their hearts.  We currently have 17 young adults interested in our new Nation Builders School of Discipleship which will begin in February 2009.  One of those is our very own daughter Natalie.  We are so thrilled for her and know this is God’s purpose and provision for her at this stage of her life.  She turns 20 next week!

 

Also in September we said goodbye to the Boman family.  They came to the end of their year serving with us and headed back to USA to do further schooling and to be with family.  They were such an incredible blessing to GMSA during their year here.  And upon leaving they left all of their furnishings, the clothes off their backs, their bakkie and any Rand they had left.  They truly left a blessing behind them.  We all will miss them.

 

Last of all, it is with incredible gratefulness to God that we approach November 1, 2008, the sixth anniversary of GMSA, and the start of our seventh year here in Africa.  We will be hosting a celebration service and braai here on the farm November 2.  Wish you could join us!  We wouldn’t have made it this far without you. 

 

With lots of love and blessings from Africa,

Jody     

 

PS There are some new and awesome messages  on our podcasts. You can get to the Podcast page by clicking this [Podcast] link or the Podcasts button at the top of any of our web pages.