Family in a Far Place
Greetings all at Plett Community Church!
Though the year has already been in full swing  for a while, we  greet you in 2009 and pray that it will be one of your best yet.  Before I go any further,  we would just like to thank all of you for your continued support throughout 2008.  Thank you for making it possible for us to remain on the field for yet another year...
And what a year it was.  It started with a living space upgrade as we moved out of the tent (our home for a year) and into the Wooden cabin ... our home for the next year.  Joined full time by Abubacar and his wife we ventured in. Within a short space of time it became evident that in Abubacar, God had blessed us with someone amazing. ABUBACAR,  a converted Moslem, a man wholly in love with Jesus and who without shame presents Him to others every moment he gets…

The first half of the year was tough as we struggled with government paperwork and other survival issues and towards August we hit one of the hardest times ever as the world went crazy and troubles began to surface globally.  
After taking our concerns to God and battling it out with our patient loving and faithful Father, we were once again able to stand, and knew that God would see us through. And then amazing things started to happen … 
During the difficult months when we did not know if we could stay or not due to extreme financial pressures, Abubacar faced his own tragedy when his wife went to be with Jesus after a lengthy struggle with TB.  Our hearts ached for him and we watched as he, true to form, picked himself up and threw himself even more vigorously into the task of sharing the gospel.  Abubacar has no young children, so after he had tied up family affairs he came home to us and since then has been living in our kitchen tent.  At night when we go to bed we hear him still singing and praying fervently until all hours of the night. When he wakes up he serves us in every way he can think of then he heads into the village and takes God to his people. Abubacar was the leader of the mosque in a large area and his conversion is a much talked about event and well known.  When he shares with the people some mock him, some tell him they know he will come back to Islam ... but amazingly, some listen and turn to God.
We began to see new converts coming in and villages opening their doors to the Word of God. Though it is just in the beginning stages we are starting to see a move toward a hunger for God.  In the village where he walks 20km to share Gods love, the chief has given him a piece of land and asked him to come and teach. This is an Islamic village with no churches and they have invited him in.  THAT is a miracle!

So in an effort to keep things short ... 2008 was a year of extreme challenges but also of great breakthrough.  Verniz continues to minister faithfully in the village where he is working and doors are opening in others. God keeps us strong and allows us many opportunities to continue discipling these two wonderful men as they labour among their own people and we are excited about the year ahead. As a family we have had a difficult year in many ways but at the end of it can only glorify God for His faithfulness.   

There is much that can be said, but we continue with God's vision burning in our hearts. We have an excitement and     continue in this year with expectancy.