We have been in South Africa for 3 months now. It has been a very blessed time with both related and church family members and old and new friends! We thank Father for the opportunities we have had to talk also in new church congregations – telling them about the privilege and wonder of being part of the great work our Father is under the Mwinika people! It has been such an encouragement to go back to those who have supported us for many years to share what He is doing through us all!
Looking back, we realize how far God has brought us, the two NTM families working under the Mwinika people:
• 6 years ago we arrived and started to build our houses where there was nothing before… now we have solar power, running water and comfortable homes made from local materials.
• 6 years ago we could not speak one sentence in eMwinika, could not understand any conversations or much of their culture… now we have been able to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in their own language and were able to use examples that they understand and can relate to.
• 6 years ago we had no real friends under the Mwinika… now we have many Mwinika friends and have been able through His grace to forge long lasting friendships and build trust where there was no relationships before.
• 6 years ago a written eMwinika did not exist, not one word has been written in eMwinika and no books have been printed in their language… now they have a written language with its own orthography (alphabet) and many stories written in eMwinika.
• 6 years ago no portion of the Bible has been translated into eMwinika… now most of Genesis and some other parts and a few small books of the Old Testament as well as many portions of the New Testament have been translated into eMwinika.
• 6 years ago not even ONE Mwinika understood who God is, what they are in Adam or could become in Jesus Christ, what God’s plan is to bridge the broken relationship and give them life… now there are many friends and Mwinika neighbours that understand and some who believe!
• 6 years ago there has been no witness under the Mwinika people… now the first Mwinika has reached out and started to witness under their own people!
• 6 years ago no Mwinika had much of a choice in their way of living, all of them were bound by fear for their forefathers and demons…now some already understand that there is a better way, that their forefathers are dead and gone and that there is One who is stronger than the demons. For the first time the Mwinika has reason to hope.
• 6 years ago all Mwinika died without Christ… now some will live forever!
What an incredible journey! Thank you for being part of this miracle of new Life under the Mwinika people! We are humbled and amazed at the work of His Body – and overjoyed to see how each part has a role to play, also in reaching the unreached!
• If people did not pray and support this work … we would not have been working under the Mwinika; we would not have been able to keep on keeping on even in the face of many disappointments, troubles and trials. And the Mwinika people would have continued to live and die without Christ.
In a way, it is like we are the feet (or a small part of it) and you are the nerves… without people praying faithfully for the Mwinika, for us, we would have been paralyzed. We believe that each one of us has a role to play to make His Body function well. Do you know yours yet? And if so, are you doing your part? Please don’t ever think that your part is small and insignificant! No-one can see the liver or heart or pancreas function… but we all know how useless a body would be without it! No-one can see the nerves doing their job, but without it the Body can’t move or work or reach out.
Thank you for playing your part, doing your “job” in reaching the Mwinika people!
And now? The work has just begun! There are still thousands of eMwinika who have not heard… There are still thousands of verses to translate and many more Bible lessons to develop. We still want to see a strong, mature church planted under the Mwinika people. Please continue to pray for the Mwinika:
• Pray for those who believe – to have full understanding what this new life in Christ looks like in their everyday lives. Pray for their protection and that they will carry the fruit of their salvation.
• Pray for the many who still have not heard or are doubting for prepared hearts and the work of the Spirit in their lives so that they will believe.
• Pray for Phil and Elin Henderson who are carrying the work load on their own under the Mwinika people while we are on home assignment.
• Pray that a strong, mature church will develop and grow under the Mwinika people… so that they too will reach out to the unreached – to the ends of the earth! Thank you for praying also for us as a family during our stay and travel through South Africa. We are living “out of our suit cases” and have already travelled a few thousand kilometres. We thank Father for save travel this far! Home schooling is continuing despite the many changes. Pray too for Nadia’s mom who has been diagnosed with cancer. I came up to my parents’ town a few weeks early to help and be with her. But as my mom says: no matter what the end of this journey: all will be well! Father is in control and we as believers has an eternity with Him to look forward to!
Anchored in Him Francois, Nadia, Franco, Heide-Marie and Waldo
