January Update

February 3rd, 2012 No comments

Greetings From Gaborone,
Feels so great to be back after the Christmas break. We spent our time here in Botswana. We enjoyed learning how the Batswana celebrate Christmas.
The semester as gotten off on an exciting start. On the 11 and 12 January we showed two film shows in Lobatse school of nursing. On the first night we showed Mary Magdalena released from shame. Let me tell you about an interesting conversation I had after the film show with a 19 year Old young lady who gotten through so much as a young person. She related how this film ministered to her and how she was released from shame. We went on to talk about the liberty that is hers in Christ Jesus. Even though she was involved in the Christian activities she said she never felt that she was forgiven and free to serve without guilt. Dudu goes on to say “I am now free and confident to serve God and others on my campus.” Praise the Lord! The time we spent there was so fruitful in that 96 students attended and 12 committed their lives to Christ. One the second night we had 105 student attend with 8 making a commitment to follow Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Coming on the University of Botswana we have started so well with a Leadership Retreat. It was a great time to reconnect and dream together what we are going to be doing this semester. It was very exciting to hear the Students talk about different ways of reaching other students with Gospel. The semester is cut out to be a wonderful semester.
Indeed, great things are still to be done!

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Renewal

September 15th, 2011 No comments

Greetings From Gaborone,

 

As I have been looking out at what God has created I see a new lease of life to all that is around me. The bushes that a couple of weeks ago looked dry and dead are al full of lovely flowers, new leaves and its all green.

For those, like myself who have decided to be a Christian and take Jesus as Lord, there is a marked change in status. One thing I have noticed is this call to renewal.

At one stage, I thought at the point of conversion, everything changes. Well, some things do like your status as a child of God and your confirmation to a place in heaven. But there is a call to renewal.

These are two Biblical references that I have been dwelling, pondering and meditating upon. The Bible verses I quote are all from the NASB version.

1 Peter 1:14-16

14. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,

15. but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

16. because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

Romans 12:2

2. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Additionally there are these calls to be renewed.

Ephesians 4:21-24

21if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,

22that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

23and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

24and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

2 Corinthians 4:16

16. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day

Colossians 3:9-10

9. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

10. and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him

The underlines are my emphasis. The call to renewal is very strong. There is no indication that there is any “magic” involved and there seems to be a process that is there. This, of course, does not mean that we are in this process of renewal alone as God has promised His helper to guide us on this lifelong journey.

But there is a clear call to renewal from:

– former lusts which were committed in ignorance (1 Peter)

– conforming to the world (Romans)

– old self which was being corrupted through the lusts of deceit (Ephesians)

– old self with its evil practices (Colossians)

And there is a clear call to renewal to:

– Holiness in all our behaviour (1 Peter)

– Transformation to know God’s will (Romans)

– Likeness to God in righteousness and truth (Ephesians)

– Daily renewal (2 Corinthians)

– True knowledge according to the image of God (Colossians)

So yes, I journey. Like I’ve said many times before, this journey is not the easiest by any means but it is by far the best decision I have made.

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JUNE UPDATE

June 15th, 2011 No comments

Greetings From Gaborone,

We are enjoying an unusually cold winter in Gaborone. The University Of Botswana Students are now on vacation till the first week of August.

Our plan is to use the time to continue to get to know the culture, make new friends and connecting with other ministries in Botswana.

For three weeks in May I (Taffy) had a great opportunity to attend a meeting hosted by Face The Nation, an HIV and AIDS intervention program of Open Baptist Church. The first week we had training facilitated by Student Leadership University. My major take home from their training was: Leadership starts at the feet of Jesus. I was challenged to saw above mediocrity. The second week of that training: The rally cry was “You are love!” We did a counseling course facilitated by Fresh Start. I got some helpful tools to help coach student on the College Campus. I also enjoyed being helped deal with some of my hang ups and challenges holding back from developing as a young leader. During the last week I enjoyed getting to know some University of Botswana lectures and some ministries on Campus. This time has been a time learning and connecting with those that the Lord is using to transform the nation of Botswana.

On the Home Front: We are so thankful to the Lord for his continued provision, protection and great health. Our Kids are such a delight. Zayne (our youngest) has an internal clock that’s tuned to 6:30 a.m. (Which is a great improvement from his 5:30 a.m. work up time) He is up at this time each day no matter what time he goes to bed. Heidi keeps us laughing everyday. She enjoys music, when she starts to listen to her music, its like a broken record she repeats it over and over again and dances her self happy. We are trusting God to move closer to the office and the University of Botswana some time soon.

PRAISE:

  • Good health—since we came here we have been enjoying good health.
  • New prayer and financial partners who have joined our ministry team.
  • God’s peace that surpasses all understanding.

PRAY FOR:

  • Our work and residence permits that they would be granted soon.
  • Wisdom and discernment as we continue to look for some people of peace at the University of Botswana in the coming academic year.
  • Open doors of ministry within the church and the community.
  • An Upcoming summer project, July-August. Pray for US for safe travels and lasting fruitfulness
  • Thank you so much supporting us through your prayers and financial partnership.

In His Service,

Taffy

5 THINGS WE ARE THANKFUL FOR

November 30th, 2010 1 comment

Today I have decided to take the time out to think through the year 2010. Paying particular attention at the things that I am thankful for. In many respects the year 2010 was not the easiest, having lost our mother in February and dealing with illnesses in the family and the list goes on and on. In spite of all these, this is what I am thankful for:

1. FAMILY – Gracious, Heidi, and Zayne. I am immensely thankful for such a patient, understanding, kind-hearted, and generous family. Heidi for all the laughs that you give us each day. There are no others who are as loyal as my wife, as tolerant as my in-laws (I still awe them two cows), as supportive as my brothers and sisters, and as trustworthy as my Life Coach. These guys are awesome!

2. OUR MINISTRY PARTNERS – The Lord has raised  a team of ministry partners for us people who pray for us and give sacrificially to make the work of God possible. Without your investment in our ministry we would not have been used of God to impact the World with the Gospel. You are Changing the world through your Sacrificial prayer and financial support.

3. OUR STAFF TEAM – Our team has been such a great source of encouragement this year as we been serving God. The team in Harare has been used by God to encourage us in our times of family crises. The team in Botswana has helped us clarify God’s dream for that nation and what the Lord would have us to.

4. ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES – The Lord has enlarged our territory and given us more ministry opportunities. He has also opened a door for me (Taffy) to  learn and be equipped for greater ministry. This time of equipping has helped me develop deeper roots in my character and ministry skills/competence

5. AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT THE WORLD – The Lord opened doors for us in the year 2010 to reach out to numerous students on our college Campuses. Through the internet I have had 289 conservations in three months, with 186 going through discipleship. These people are literally from around the world. The Lord has blessed with global impact. For Gracious it has been an opportunity to impact future families, two of the ladies she was coaching and mentoring over the past  few years got married this year.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” – Num.6:24-26

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Counting Our Many Blessings

November 3rd, 2010 9 comments

This morning I have just been thinking of the many, many great things that the Lord has done for me. I am so amazed at the Lord’s deep love for me. One of the things that I am thankful for is the coming of our son, Zayne. He came on Saturday at 6:30 a.m. The previous Sunday one of our church members, Mr. Tracey had prayed for Gracious that she would have an easy, and quick labor. The Lord answered that prayer. We also enjoyed the way the lord has been using our family and friends to stand with us. He has been so, so good to us. God has given Gracious and I amazing strength and love for the two children. I just marvel at the way that Heidi and loved Zayne she loves him to bits. Often time she wants to care of him all by herself without anyone’s help. The other day when Gracious was still in hospital, Heidi was carrying her brother on her lap and singing a song for him. After a while we heard some dead silence from her. The next thing we heard was the baby screaming. Sister Heidi was trying to “feed” the baby way too soon.

Please may you:

  • Pray for us to learn to love our children the same and give them equal attention, care and love.
  • Pray for Gracious to be able to balance between the children, studies and her own personal life.
  • Pray for us as we apply for travel documents for Zayne that they will come out on time.
  • Pray for our continued growth in loving and serving God.


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Thankful

September 28th, 2010 No comments

This past weekend had one of the most amazing feeling as one of our key student leaders got married. The Hall was well decorated with glamorous apparrell all colour coded in blue. The Bride and groom were dresssed befitting the day of thier lives.

What I like about this day was the fact that Scholar was a young lady who was part of the Deborah Movement – an outreach ministry to young ladies – at Belvedere Technical Teachers College. Through the movement young people are taught/groomed to be young ladies of integrity. Ladies who will live a mark that is hard to erase.

Scholar has been an answer to our prayers as she embraced God’s principles for single people.

May you pray for Scholar and Ostin that they grow to love one another and to love God.

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175 Students Trained, 70 sent out

June 24th, 2010 No comments

Had a tremendous opportunity to train 175 college students on Tuesday evening. You must have the students as they were sitting at the edges of their sits intently listening and observing the role plays that we had during the training session. 70 of them will be going out to a farm that is just 45Km from Harare to share the Love of God with the farm workers there. This area has so many strong holds, (witchcraft, idolatry, and prostitution)

  • Pray the students will have a break through and be able to help the host Church in church growth.
  • Pray that that the Students themselves will grow as they minister his love to the farm community in Shamva.
  • Pray for our staff who will show the Jesus Film that they would be protected and that they will preach the word in a way that honors God.
  • Pray for those are Going to come to know the Lord this weekend that they would devote themselves to be part of the local church and they would grow in their love for God.

I am so thankful to the Lord for this week. The Lord has graciously provided $2000 towards the purchase of our new vehicle. We are just $3000 short of our target for the vehicle. The Lord just keeps confirming it to us that he wants us to God to Botswana. With our support Trickling in I am confident that He Will do it.

Thank you for taking your time to read this Blog!

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Waiting On the Lord

June 18th, 2010 2 comments

As we ave been raising Support this has been great time of waiting on the Lord. There have been time that I have been so discouraged by the pace of things. Only to be reminded that God is still in control and that we need comes from Him and it will come right on Time. My prayer is that God would give me the grace to hold on to him.