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Contrasts…some contrasts are beautiful, like bright red and yellow cannas growing side by side, or like a red, orange, and blue sunset in the Kalahari Desert. But other contrasts are disturbing or perplexing or bewildering. They leave one with more questions and answers.
These past two months have been filled with contrasts. One example would be the untimely death of a dear 29-year-old friend, Okanyi Omot, or Ojullu as we knew him. Ojullu was one of the most promising students at St Frumentius Anglican College and one of the rising leaders in the Anuak community. He believed he was called to reconcile people from different ethnic backgrounds and to be a disciple maker…and he lived out his calling. His sudden death caused by an untreated form of bowel cancer has shocked us all.
Then a week ago in our community here in Villiersdorp, another very powerful witness to Jesus, a wife and mother and active believer, was found unconscious at home and rushed to the hospital in a neighbouring town. She remained comatose and was transferred to a larger hospital when her kidneys stopped functioning. At that hospital the doctors discovered that there was no brain activity and counselled the family to consider turning off the life support system. So many people from all the different churches and communities were praying for her and her family. As her husband sat by her bedside two days ago, agonising over the decision he had to make, she opened her eyes and spoke! She has been recovering remarkably ever since. Even the medical staff unashamedly confess that this can only be a miracle…there is no other explanation.
We are thrilled, of course, for her and family…but we still grieve over Ojullu. Do we have any answers or explanations for this contrast? No, but together with Job we confess: “The Lord has given, the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.”
Another contrast is differing responses to our disciple-making ministry. Bishop Mouneer Anis of Egypt, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa has sent us an amazing letter of endorsement. In it he not only invites us to continue training the clergy and laity in his Dioceses, but he affirms the training as something that will help grow the church and expand God’s Kingdom. Contrast with others who reject this training out of hand, sometimes in total ignorance and an unwillingness to learn. This is something to grieve about, but as Jesus taught his disciples, there are times when one needs to shake the dust off ones feet and move on. Sad, so sad.
On a very positive note, our year has filled up with trainings all over South Africa, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg area, Pretoria, Angola, Namibia, and perhaps northern Mozambique. The possibility of training in a North African country remains a possibility and we also hope to complete the final module in Gambela before or after their graduation.
We had a wonderful, up building retreat with other SAMS Missionaries at a stunningly beautiful place called Waterval (Waterfall) in Tulbagh, South Africa. They had an amazingly godly speaker who called himself Padre Richard Copeland, but we rena med him Umfundisi, a title of respect given to revered teachers, missionaries, or clergy. It was not only his teaching, but also the testimony of a life dedicated to the cause of the kingdom that touched us deeply. Thank you to SAMS-USA, Stewart, Denise, and all the others who made this such a memorable event!
Denise Cox stopped with us before the retreat and Mary Chowenhill stopped with us after the retreat...an extended blessing in so many ways. Thank you to both of them too for their encouragement and support.
A supporter has graciously offered to pay for our air tickets to Israel in September. After the study tour, we will continue on to the US to attend the SAMS Retreat and New Wineskins Conference. Then on to see our children and grandchildren in Alabama…our youngest and his family have moved to Stockholm, Sweden, and we will be winging our way over there to see them today! Can’t wait to hug them all. Face Time is great, but it doesn’t beat a warm, loving hug! Thank You Jesus for making this trip possible.
We have had three days of steady, soaking rain…some places nearby even experienced some flooding…and we hope and pray this indicates a good rainy season lying ahead.
The Queen is struggling with getting old…I don’t know how else to state her present state. She does need 24 hour care, but does not want to admit that. “What to do, what to do…what to do indeed”, as Pooh would say. Or “stuff and fluff” might be more apropos. Please keep her in your prayers.
Louise and I have a group we meet with on a regular basis when we are in town for mutual encouragement and Bible Study. We are planning on taking them through the disciple-making course soon. I preach at our local Anglican Church every other Sunday if we are in town.
With Bishop Mouneer’s letter of endorsement in hand, we are praying about travelling beyond our current borders to train in other southern and central African countries in 2020. We already have open invitations to Rwanda and Uganda, but we would like to train in every country in between them and us too! Pray that we will be able to raise sponsors for this trip as well as obtain permission from the Archbishops and Bishops of the different jurisdictions.
It seems Africa is becoming our parish…and we love it!
And we love and appreciate you all! Thank you for faithfully walking with us in this ministry and for supporting us financially and prayerfully. We really could not do this without you and we are ever mindful of that fact.
Much love and blessings.
Johann and Louise
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