I am now officially in the phase again where one doesn’t “seize the day”,  you just “grab the moment”. So that is what I am doing now…

ALL PRAISE TO GOD for how He has lead us to this point, where we have had our two precious boys in our home for the first night (and yes, we did get some sleep!). We had to go to the court and signed papers at noon. While there, we met another couple who were adopting with our agency. They were also Christians, and adopting their first child. It made for a lovely time of fellowship in the line.

THE MEETING

The girls were so good and had such an exciting day! They got to meet the brothers first! We met the lovely two Christian ladies (called kangaroo moms because they give around-the-clock care to these children waiting for adoption) who had been looking after our boys in one room while the girls went with the social worker and saw the boys so long. We were so amazed at the blessing of being with a Christian organisation. What kindness! These two women, who live in different towns, had actually made time for the brothers to meet each other, even though they live hours apart.  These dear women brought gifts for our girls, beautiful photos of the boys in the first few months of their lives, loads of useful tips re eating and sleeping patterns and so much love. What a ministry!

NAMES

We have decided to call our boys Owen Sam and Miles Nick. The second names belong to Loki and Grant’s Dad respectively.

Grant has Owen on his lap and Loki has Miles.

Owen- Welsh in origin and means young warrior.

Miles- in English means gracious or merciful. Greek original meaning is soldier, the Irish meaning servant and Hebrew renders it as  “Who is like God?”, all of whom we really like!

If you want to see some pictures, please check this link…http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=67954&id=1033282543&saved#!/album.php?aid=67954&id=1033282543

THANKSGIVING!!!!!

We feel a bit like Mrs Bates in the Jane Austen book/movie “Emma” who was rendered speechless by someone’s kindness “and hasn’t stop talking about it since”. We praise God :

! This is the first time in the 12 years of the agency’s existence that they have placed two biologically unrelated children with the same couple on the same day. When we started talking to them about this, they told us “It can’t be done” But, praise God, they have been so open to discuss things and God in His grace has worked that these two boys were available at just about the same time.

! For providing all the money for us to be able to pay the adoption agency. We are seriously humbled by the generosity of people.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THE INTEREST, THE PRAYERS, THE GIFTS, THE BABY SHOWER, THE LOVE. We are so blessed. May God bless you too.

Please join us as we pray that in the same wonderful way that God has added these boys to our family, God will also work so that they would one day belong to Him. 

It was last Tuesday (20 July). We were having coffee and enjoying our week-long break in Hermanus. Then the sms came through.

It read: “ Nothing!” That was great news to us. It meant that the deadline for the parents to change their minds had passed without any queries from them. We  knew then that the boys would be ours.

Thanks very much for all who have been praying and carrying this burden with us.  Please read below to see how you can keep praying for our ministry and our family.

WHAT NEXT?

Off course everyone is asking us   “What next?” . This week we will go for a meeting with the adoption agency, ironing out last details. We are not allowed to meet the boys until the day they are placed with us. We are praying that will be soon.

In the meantime, life goes on and we are still missionaries on furlough who want the gospel to be advanced amongst the  Nomads of Northern Kenya. To that end, we will still be speaking at places and meeting folks as time allows. Needless to say, the whole clan might not turn up at all of the events this month.

We are starting to run out of time, so we need to keep things rolling. Some of what we are looking forward to this month: Bergvliet Methodist church (8 Aug );DRC Plumstead (ladies meeting, 11 Aug);  St Stephen’s Church (15 Aug);  St James Church, supporters’ Breakfast (Sat 28 Aug).

WHEN DO WE GET THE BOYS?

26 July- We meet with the Adoption Agency and get more details

27 July- there is a meeting with Magistrates. We hope that this will result in us being able to get both the adoption cases heard at one court here in Cape Town. If this doesn’t work, we are going to have to travel far and wide to get our boys

29 July- the Adoption Agency attends a  Panel Meeting with the Department of Social Welfare to present the paper work for our boys. This meeting will declare the boys legally free for adoption, God willing.

29 July till ?????  A week, 10 days or 14 days later? The adoption agency will receive a letter from the Department that will officially declare the boys legally free for adoption.

Mid-Aug?   We go to court for both adoption cases and then the boys are handed to us on that day.

MINISTRY- Our main ministry is still to raise awareness of the needs for ministry in Northern Kenya.  To that end, we hope to get people to think about

GOING- Are you the one to come and help us??? For a week? A month? Long-term ? Sign here:)

PRAYING-Do you want to commit to pray for us every day? week? Month? Year? Decade? If you want to receive our updates, write to nomadspulpit@gmail.com  If you want to pray for a Nomadic Pastor or Christian by name write to the same address for more details.

GIVING- We still need to make up a deficit in our monthly support before we will be allowed to go back on the field. If you want to know more, please speak to Jill at our office (finance.sa@aimint.net)

A LITTLE THING CALLED LAUSANNE

Well, actually it is not a little thing at all. It is going to be huge. We trust that most of you know that the next congress for World Evangelisation is happening here in Cape Town come 16 Oct.  The theme is “God reconciling the World with Himself through Christ” and many of the world’s leading Evangelicals will be there. Grant has been volunteering  a bit at the organising office in Cape Town and has been bringing home some exciting news of what this is going to look like.

If you can help by hosting a Congress  participant or want to serve as a steward or are just interested to check it out, follow this link  http://www.lausanne.org/cape-town-2010

SEVEN MONTHS..

since we last set foot on Kenyan soil! A frequent comment in our home is ..”Daddy, Mamma, we miss Korr!”.  We are counting the days till we can return, trusting God to bring us back to Kenya in time for a fruitful year of ministry in 2011.

FOUR MONHTS..

till a possible US trip. We would still love to make it to the States as a family, before going to Kenya. It would be great to see Loki’s brothers and we have had numerous invitations from various friends. It will depend on paperwork and finances, whether we can pull it off or not

ONE WEEK..

till we finally get away on holiday.We hope to spend a week away and have time to really focus on our girls, who have been valiantly following us, meeting many faces and seeing many different places. We’ve been meeting with folks all over the show and it has been wonderful to see others with a heart for Theological Education in Africa.  A particular highlight was us visiting  (and Grant preaching) at Strandfontein Baptist.  Such warm fellowship and enthusiastic singing we haven’t seen for a while.

EIGHT SLEEPS..

till we will be sure whether the two Xhosa boys we have been waiting for and praying for will in fact be part of our family in the near future.

PLEASE PRAY

1. For Grant to gain entrance into the Masters programme at BI. His application is being sent this week to North West University.

2. For the meetings that we have lined up for the next few months. For wisdom in getting all the preparation done for our travels and return to Kenya. There is a still a lot more paperwork to wade through, but we have come a fair way.

3. For the boys- that if these two Xhosa boys are the sons for us and the brothers for Abby and Caity, that God would hide them under His wings and keep them for us. The due date for the final word is 19 July. If all goes well with subsequent official hurdles , they could come to us around mid-August.  We won’t be allowed to actually meet them till the day we are  to bring them home. Pray for us for the financial implications involved in the adoption process.

PRAISES!

1.   Thank God for a wonderful week that the girls had at Holy Trinity Church, Gardens, attending their holiday club. The girls love attending this multi-cultural church and have made some great friends. They ask a few times every week  “Is it church day yet?”.

2. For God providing two substantial sums of money for the Tirrim Schools! This is a huge once-off provision and we are so thankful for the relief it will bring, while still trusting God for more on-going regular sponsors for the school.

 3. For God providing a new cell phone for Grant! If you want to book a speaking engagement, you can reach him at 0713 790 226.

Like so many others, we are “freezing” in Cape Town! The winter cold is wreaking havoc with us Desert Dwellers, but we are enthusiastically following the World Soccer Cup. Painstakingly writing up the scores for each match. Figuring out what work can be done in front of the TV. Looking up places on the map that we haven’t heard of for quite a while. Waving our flags and cheering for Africa.  This is our continent and we are  proud to live in it! We are still sold out to the vision God has placed in our hearts: “Advancing the gospel in Africa through applied Bible Teaching”.

To this end, we hope to soon welcome two little Africans into our home. We have had more talks with the adoption agency and have officially said  “Yes” for the two Xhosa boys we have mentioned before. Right now they are known as Baby M and Baby D. We are thinking hard of good names. Suggestions are welcome:) They might be placed with us in the middle of August, provided the one Dad doesn’t change his mind. He signed late and his 60 days’ period (required by law after a parent sign) will only be over by the 19th of July.

While we are waiting for this, we are working our way through our list of “Things to get done before we can go back to Kenya”. We are making progress! Our biggest news is that we have been able to go and sign at Wynberg Magistrate’s Court for the girls’ South African adoption! God provided a Christian Presiding Officer who helped sort out the legal deadlock. The adoption order will be issued and the papers sent to Gauteng. The girls’ names will be entered into the Register. With this completed, we can then apply at Home Affairs for them for South African passports.

PRAISE GOD WITH US FOR:

1.For continued encouraging meetings with supporters and friends. We had a great visit to St James church on 6 June and really enjoyed their family service.

2. Providing a very understanding Magistrate and clerk of the Court and for how far things have progressed with the girls’ adoption.

PLEASE PRAY WITH US FOR:

1. 19 July to come and go without the Dad of the one boy changing his mind about the boy being free for adoption

2. Getting ready for the big event- we are anticipating being a bit busy after middle August, so we are trying to fit in as many meetings before then as  possible. (If you wanted us to come and speak, now is the time to speak up:)

PLEASE NOTE: Sadly, Grant’s phone has been stolen this past week, so he can no longer be reached on 0794 683 383. Please use his e-mail address grantsmind@gmail.com to get hold of him or our landline

021 797 6228

It has been a busy time the last few weeks.

P- Preaching

Grant had some valuable chances to bring the Word  at BI, our old Alma Mater and at St Marks church in Plumstead. Something that has been gripping our hearts lately is the great privilege we have to read God’s Word in our own language, a privilege that many Rendille don’t have since the translation of the New Testament is not done and many of them are illiterate.

PRAY THAT God will bless the Rendille translation and litercay programs and that WE WILL BE FAITHFUL to read and study God’s Word for ourselves in ever increasing manner.

H- Hermanus

We took a few days’ trip to Hermanus. There were opportunities to speak at a United Church, who is already involved with the REAP, the Rendille School Sponsorship program. We also shared with some CESA folk about the work of Tirrim School of the Bible. Grant emphasized again the many unreached or barely reached people groups we have in Northern Kenya. We explained our vision to train local leaders of the fledgling church in to reach their own people and their unreached neighbours.

E- Excitement!

We had a meeting at St Stephens church which was very encouraging. They have a “Pudding and Prayer” evening once a month to pray for Missions and all their growth groups attend! We were blown away by all the people present. Everywhere we go we see older folk praying for Missions, so it was wonderful to see so many young people interested in Missions too!

W-Wisdom???

We have heard in the last month of a) someone who might pay for us to go the the States to do some support raising (we have had several invitations to speak) and see family( Loki has not seen her one brother in 10 years and b) a possibility of two Xhosa boys, born in March who will be available for adoption on the SAME DAY at the end of June.  They were born 5 days apart, but their Moms signed off on the same day. It is highly unusual to have two children available on the same day and this is what we have been praying for, if we could not find biological twins.

In the meantime we have heard that ticket prices around the World Cup time are soaring, so this person WILL NOT be able to help us at this time to go to the USA.  If we don’t go soon to the US though, we will be locked in in SA, because of the boys we want to adopt.  But, if we do go to the States now, the boys will have to stay longer with their ‘cangaroo’ Moms and we will miss a part of their lives!

PRAY FOR WISDOM please. That we would know if and when we are supposed to go to the States and also whether these are the boys that God intend for us to take.

Many people have asked us how we as a family have adapted to South Africa after being away for so long, or in the case of our kids, as first-time visitors to SA.

Well, there have been interesting days:)

Many new and wonderful things to explore and to get used to. New friends to make.  Abby and Caity has had a lot of “firsts” since coming to Cape Town. They went to their  first ever birthday party (Birthdays are not a thing at all in Rendille,so their birthdays have been small family events).

They went to an aquarium and saw all the “fishies”- we live in a desert town where there are only wells with no fish. They got their first sleeping bags – (Mommy gearing up for winter to keep them warm)- we don’t really use blankets where we live.

They have discovered the joy of going with Daddy and Mommy to a coffee shop and having a ‘Babychino”- a small cup with lots of frothed milk and chocolate sprinkled on top . Bless the person who thought of it, now they are not taking all Mommy’s foam off her Cappuccino!

Off course, it has been and continues to be a huge upheaval for a family to uproot to a very different place  for a whole year. The kids keep asking “When are we going back to Korr?” “Is this East Africa?” or “Are we in South Africa”?”. The constant stream of new faces and new places do take its toll.

All this to say: “We do appreciate your continued prayer

for our kids as they deal with all the changes and for us as parents as we deal with them.”  Pray that we will have much wisdom from the Lord on how to raise our kids for Him and how to guide them while facing all the new hurdles.

just a reminder…

that our hearts are in a different place.

We are still committed to

advance the gospel in Africa through applied Bible teaching….

We’ve been explaining to the kids that this year Jesus wants us in SA. We are here to tell people about the Nomads of Northern Kenya, where all the people groups have less than 1 % Christians. We want to go back there and next year get a residential program off the ground for the Tirrim School of the Bible. TSB wants to train church leaders for this fledgling church.

As we have been going through the adjustments we have been so blessed by those who have opened their homes and hearts to us, befriended our kids, advised us and encouraged us. You have made the transition for us as a family so much easier in so many ways. Thanks so much!

We’ve been here in South Africa for almost four months!

Our glorious ocean!

You haven’t seen anything of us on the blog, because of a very dead computer, but by God’s grace, I (Loki) now have a spanking new one and I GOT IT FOR FREE!

We look back on these few months and praise God for..

A CHANCE to share our vision with folks!  We (mostly Grant, with Loki and the kids sometimes in tow) have already spoken to hundreds of people about our vision “Advancing the gospel in Africa through applied Bible teaching” and our dream to hope to have a viable and well functioning Bible School for the Nomads in Northern Kenya.

A PLACE of our own. It has been a wonderful provision to have a house that we could rent and we are so thankful for those who are contributing specifically towards carrying the extra burden financially. It has been such a blessing to have a home from home.

A TIME to catch up with family, friends and supporters. We have my (Loki’s) parents with us for Easter and the kids are getting the most out of the Ouma and Oupa time.  We have been to churches all around, but have spent  more time in one of our supporting churches,CESA Holy Trinity.  It is a very diverse church culturally speaking and there are a number of other families who have adopted,so we feel very at home there with our girls and they love the friends.

We are looking forward now to and trusting God for…

A BUSY time after the Easter break. There are lots of different chances ahead to represent the Rendille and other people groups of Northern Kenya to the church folk here.

A BIGGER family, some or other time soon. We hope that the boys we have been praying for with Abby and Caity will be coming???

A BIBLE time. We have been thoroughly enjoying some of the resources available to Christians here in Cape Town. We trust that this will make us better students and teachers of the Scriptures and more ardent followers of Christ.

A BONDING time with old and new partners to our ministry. We cannot do this work alone. We continue to pray that God will bring those that He wants to be part of the team reaching out from Cape Town to Northern Kenya by being a part of our work there.

Oupa and Caity

We give God the glory! Today we dedicated our children to God, as He gave them to us, we gave them back to Him.

This was our chance to thank God and also to thank the Rendille believers for standing with us during all these years as we waited on God

Caity and Daddy,Mommy and Abby

Oupa did the dedication

What a time to be leaving Korr. All around us things are green! We have not seen it like this in the past 6 years since we first came to Korr. And, praise be to God, the grass and trees are not the only things showing signs of new life

We have been so encouraged by recent attendance at church. Every Sunday one elder announces how many people – adults and children- attended the previous Sunday’s service. Last Sunday the announcement said that there were more around 480 and over 200 children in the service. The big church building that we thought would take years to fill, is getting fuller and fuller.

It seems that the recent severe drought has left many people with the realisation that animals are but a slim hope for the future.  Some goobs (nomadic clan villages) have even started coming recently to our church with these words “Those people from the … church have been lieing to us for so long, we have had enough. We are now coming here where God’s Word is preached”

PRAISE GOD WITH US FOR THESE SIGNS OF HIS BLESSING

Best of all, our house will be looked after while we are away. The two Texan girls who are currently working as volunteers at the Secondary school have asked if they could stay in our house. They will be joined by two other girls, so while we are away , our house can continued to be used for the community.  They girls have lots of plans to invite the school kids over etc.

THANK GOD WITH US FOR THIS PROVISION FOR OUR WORKERS

We thank God for bringing us safely back to Korr last Sunday ( 1Nov).

We are also very grateful to God for the first meeting of Tirrim School of the Bible Board. We now have a Board and a executive committee who will be able to run things on a day-to-day basis.

We are praying that we will soon have an answer from the sponsor who is looking at our proposal for the first phase of the Bible school.  We still haven’t heard anything, but trust that we might have an answer.  It  would be wonderful if Jim Propst our residential builder, could start working on this when they come back from furlough next April.

Since the trouble that we experienced with the previous site for the Bible School, the tribe elders in Korr have indicated another site that could possibly be used for building TSB. This is right next to where the Primary school is being built at the moment. One of the big bonuses of this site (Even though it is fairly uneven and sloped) is that we would have access to water from the Primary school site. There is water in abundance and they are willing to let us use it, so if funds are approved, building would be greatly helped by such a close water source.

PRAY FOR A POSITIVE ANSWER, IF IT BE GOD’S WILL, TO COME SOON FROM THE SPONSOR

We praise God for provision, plans and possiblities

It was just wonderful to come back to Korr.   Our girls showed Oupa Nick and Ouma Lynne their passports with great joy and pride. Rendille has been coming all the time to rejoice with us. Especially the believers have been such an encouragement.

Here are some of their comments..

”  We are so encouraged. We know that Kenya’s courts are corrupt, but we have seen how God has answered your prayers” and

” When you went down to the court, I was praying for a miracle for you, God has done a miracle” and

” We have seen again that what no man can do, God can do”

Somehow that makes all those years of waiting worth it. We are humbled that God has used this in many lives to His glory.

This is goodbye!

When we travelled back from Ngurunit on Wednesday, we had an unwelcome visitor on board- a tummy bug!  Please pray that we will all get better soon, because next week is the great pack and goodbyeThe week after that, the tears are going to really flow, because we are saying goodbye to our dear friends and co-workers the Knowles.  We are  joining them and some of our  other of our colleagues in the North for a camping trip close to Gatab mountain the week of 15 Nov.  Straight after this, we are planning to travel down to the south, attend the Aim conference  at Kijabe  (27 Nov- 1 Dec) and then  FLY DOWN TO SA!

Thanks for those who prayed for wisdom re how to travel down. We have thought long and hard and flying seems to be the best option for now.

Then it will be hallo!

We are aiming to arrive in Cape Town early in December (2-4 th?). We hope to touch base with as many as possible before Christmas.

God has provided a car for us! We are so thankful. There are also some housing possiblities on the horizon, so thanks for all who are praying and helping.

Pray that we will finish well and also that God will really use our year in Sa for His glory and His kingdom.