God is Moving

Fall revival started at our church today (yes, we're entering the early part of fall here), and it has already been quite a reminder that God is always moving and calling his people to move with him. He is putting his fingers on some areas of our lives that we need to work on and we are being challenged spiritually.

This week has been a good week, we are all getting over our colds and life is getting back to normal. It was a busy week at work for Jeremy as he continues to manage the office remodel project for the church and is also selling one of the Region's cars in addition to his normal duties in Finance. Also, Tricia is now beginning to get to work on her assignment as well. She will be coordinating the "3D" program (Discover, Develop, Deploy), which is designed to prepare people for missionary service and is pretty much what we just went through in KC. There is not a program currently in Africa, so Tricia will be developing one so that Africans who are called to missions can be properly prepared to go into missionary service. She will also be coordinating the "guest flats", which are apartments for church visitors to South Africa.

Please pray for the revival that is taking place at our church. We believe that it has the potential to be taken across the entire continent of Africa by all of the pastors-in-training that go to our church. These are exciting days for Africa!

We pray that revival will come to your heart as well this week. Use this time to hear what God is saying specifically to you. Is there anything he wants to change in you? Something he wants you to do? We have discovered that he is faithful in every detail, and pray that you feel that this week.

Until next time,

Jeremy, Tricia & Jake

Life on the Mission Field

One of the things that we have discovered in our short time on the mission field is that one of the only constants is change. This weekend we had a party to say goodbye to two of our missionary families, the Barkers and the Mellingers. The Mellingers are leaving this coming Saturday for home assignment, after which they will be headed to Kenya for a new assignment. The Barkers leave for home assignment in April and will be heading to Ethiopia thereafter for their new assignment.

Though we are sad to see them go (it’s amazing how people can become such a part of your life in such a short time), we are happy that God has chosen to use them in new and exciting ways. We know that they will impact the lives of others, just as they have ours. Please pray for these two families as they travel and begin their new assignments soon.

As for us, we have all been sick this week. Jake is starting to get over his, but Tricia and Jeremy are still not feeling that great. It’s just a bad cold, but Jake is bringing home all new germs for us from nursery school, so we’re susceptible to things that we probably wouldn’t get in the U.S. We’ve been told by the other missionaries that the first year is especially bad for getting every little virus that comes your way. That was something we really hadn’t even thought about when we came.

Well, I guess that makes the prayer needs pretty obvious, so I won’t rehash everything down here. We really appreciate you stopping by and appreciate all of your friendship and prayers!

Until next time,

Jeremy, Tricia & Jake

God's Blessing

This waterfall, which is about 150 - 200 ft high, is the centerpiece of one of the national botanical gardens here in South Africa. This garden, which is the one for the Joburg area, is only about an 8 minute drive from our house and was the site of our outing last weekend (more pictures from that trip to follow). It was just another reminder of the beauty that God has blessed this world with.

Jake had a blast seeing a few assorted animals, the various trees and flowers, and of course, his favorite... sticks. He found a few really good ones that he and Daddy carried around during the walk!

Jake is not feeling the best today, he has gotten his first little bug since attending nursery school (sure didn't take long!). He was feeling much better this evening though, so we're hoping he's through it. However, please keep him in your prayers.

This week was the Africa Region Nazarene Compassionate Ministries conference, which attracted missionaries and church leaders from all over Africa. We got to see Donna Lovett, who worked in the registrar's office while we were at Olivet (and her husband Russ, was both Jeremy's and Tricia's academic advisor), and who is now a missionary in Rwanda. It was great to see her again, and a blessing to be able to meet everyone else that was here for the conference.

Another wonderful thing that happened this week is that we finally received our shipment of our household items from the U.S.! You never want to feel to dependent on material things, but it was so nice to see useful and familiar things that can make our life easier here and also remind us of home. It was like Christmas for Jake to get some of his toys back as well!

Well, our primary prayer need this week centers around Jake's health. Things just don't feel right when he's not running all over the house, getting into things and making us laugh. So please pray for him, and also for these other things as well:

-- That the effects of the NCM conference would positively impact the way that the Church of the Nazarene ministers in Africa
-- Safe travels home for all of those who attended the conference
-- Continued wisdom and blessing for Eugenio Duarte, our new Regional Director, and his family

Thanks for stopping by, please check back again next week!

Until next time,

Jeremy, Tricia & Jake

First Week of School

As promised, this week you get a full report on Jake's preschool adventures. Well, as you can see from the first picture there, Jake was not too excited about going to school anymore when he was woken up early on Monday morning and found out that unlike the tour, Mommy was not staying at school with him this time! :)


However, as you can also see in the second picture here, by Friday, he was all smiles, especially when Teacher Sharon took his whole class to a park for play time! By the end of the week, Jake is loving school and talks about it a lot. Plus, he is one of the younger kids in his class, so he is being challenged physically, socially and intellectually, which we are thankful for. Thanks for the prayers for Jake this week!

This week has been a busy week at the office, with the Field Strategy Coordinators (used to be called Field Directors) from all over Africa coming in, as well as Dr. Louie Bustle from KC. Jeremy has had a few meetings, but they have all been great and have really encouraged us that we are exactly where God wants us. Next week is the Africa Region Nazarene Compassionate Ministries conference, which will also give us insight as to what's going on out in Africa, and how we can help here in our roles in Joburg. Should be exciting!

Also exciting was the inauguration service this past Friday. Rev. Eugenio Duarte was officially installed as the new Regional Director for Africa, marking the first time that an African (Rev. Duarte is from Cape Verde) has held this position. It is an historic moment that we are proud to be a part of, and we have the utmost confidence that Rev. Duarte is going to do a fantastic job.

Please continue to remember the following needs in prayer:

-- Safe travels for everyone flying to and from Joburg this week for the various meetings and the conference
-- That God would reveal his will for the ministry of the Church of the Nazarene in Africa at these meetings (and that we would be listening to his guidance)
-- Jake, as he goes back for his second week of nursery school

May God bless you this week!

Until next time,

Jeremy, Tricia & Jake