Few and Far Between

I used to keep up with the blogs, including updating my own pretty regularly, and commenting on some of those that I read. I also would be sad when a blog was left with no new post for a long time, because I love to read what they all have to say. I must confess, I have been so busy with things here in S.A. that I have neglected my blog, and I have probably lost some of the only few readers I have. So, may I apologize and try harder to get better at updating this blog especially while I am now here in the country God has brought us to. My new occupation as missionary is one of the main reasons for this blog. So here are a few updates from the first few months here.

I have been learning a new language, using a curriculum offered by the company, and along with a fellow national believer I have been learning much in the past month. This has occupied much of my time, as well as keeping the household in order. We hired a national believer to work M-F to cook lunch for us as well as clean the house. We met her during one of our volunteer trips here, and her and my wife really connected. Her sister works for our team members, so we have one big happy family working together for the Lord. During the day, while she works, I am studying my language and my wife and daughter are doing homeschooling. They are also trying to adjust to new way of life, especially since my daughter went to public school. She misses the interaction with other kids, but she has made many friends with the other girls her age in our building.

My son tries to stay occupied with the toys we brought for him as well as the television, but it is difficult being 5 and no one to play with him during the time we are all busy. He has been able to play with the kids in the building also, but only after they come home from school. They come up and ask for him, and he and I play cricket with the other boys downstairs.

We prayed and asked God to not only provide for our needs here, but to provide relationships for us to build to share the gospel. Through the children, we have made some friends with some of the neighbors in our building. There is one older family whose children are grown and moved to America whom we have visited often. We are able to speak with them, as they speak english very well. We were able to share that we are Christ-followers and that we follow only Him. She also said that she follows Jesus along with her other gods. She had been looking for a Bible in her language, but hadn't been able to find one. My wife made a bookmark for her and we gave her a New Testament in her language. She was excited to have it, and she said she would put it in her puja room, where she does her worship. We pray that God's word would be the brightest light in that dark room, and that her and her family would be confused by the worship they do to the other gods and be able to understand that the truth she seeks is in the Word. We have traded food with some of the other neighbors here, and though they don't speak English and our understanding of their language is limited, food seems to be the universal language! Like I said, we are building long term relationships here to gain influence slowly and also share the Gospel along the way.

We have been blessed by God so much here, especially the place where we live. I knew that God would provide a place for us, even felt it was picked out well before we had even decided to come here and follow His lead. It was one of the things that I was worried about the least. It is a short walk to the market as well as to our team-members, maybe 2 minutes walk. We are finally settled in it and have dedicated it to the Lord as a sanctuary for us as well as those who enter and visit with us.

Since I have so much to catch up with, I'll limit this post at this point. Promise get up to date fully by the end of the week!