Dear friends,
During this Christmas season we would like to request your special prayers for an elderly lady in our community.
In 2015 Steve Evers, Jon Dekkers, and Steve Lee from In Touch Mission International visited us. One afternoon, while sitting on the front porch, an elderly lady walked past. We invited her in and she started to chat with Elmané. She was an alcoholic and hardly went to church. Her life was falling apart to the extent that she even contemplated suicide. Over the years our hearts really went out to this lady as she crossed our path again and again.
Elmané with the Lady
This past year the Lord really did something great for her. She started to attend the Sunday services regularly and also brought her young grandchildren along. Recently, she shared with us that she decided to stop drinking because of her young grandson. Her small grandson of 4 years old would say to her,” Grandmother, you must not drink. It is not right and I do not like it if you are drunk.” Amazingly, after abusing alcohol for the biggest part of her life, she stopped and through the months we could see how she changed. Every Sunday she and her grandchildren attended church and attentively listened to what was preached.
Recently we observed that she had a health problem with one of her hips. She could not walk properly and had a lot of pain. She even had to stop work. We took her to the doctor in Kakamas for proper medical treatment. They took an x-ray and diagnosed her with arthritis. They prescribed medicine to help with the pain. The next week because of the medication she felt so much better. Her face was full of joy and she was very thankful for the great relief that she felt.
Another thing that troubled her deeply was that she had no control over her finances. She was in debt at the local shops and did not know how to come free. We advised and guided her and she could settle her account. She was very happy to have control over her finances again.
In a previous report we shared how amazed she was when she went to the shops in Kakamas. She was so used to the local shops and the expensive and limited items that was available. Now, every month she goes with us to Kakamas and she draws her Social Grant. Then she buys groceries for the month at a big grocery store at affordable prices.
Christmas is approaching and with the festive season comes a lot of temptations. People from the settlements working at different farms come back home for the holiday season. Usually it is a time of drinking and partying. People around this lady’s house will also be drinking. It is our prayer that she may experience the Lord in a special way. That she may realize that she has Him and that He will help her not to give in to these temptations.
We thank the Lord for what He is doing for this lady. It brings joy to our hearts as we experience Him in such a way. Please remember this lady in your prayers.
Christmas Greeting
As Christmas is fast approaching, I am reminded of the words of the well-known carol “Away in a manger, no crib for His bed…” Joseph and Mary was rushing to Bethlehem, the Bible tells us in Luke “While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Imagine that! The Creator and Savior of the World humbled Himself and came into this world and yet there was no room for the baby Jesus.
It is that time of the year again, Christmas. People are rushing off in all directions to be with family and friends. Shops are frantically doing business, trying to gain the maximum profit from the last bit of sales before Christmas. Christmas decorations, Christmas trees and Father Christmas is everywhere to be seen. People are taking a well-deserved holiday after a year of hard work. Liquor sales skyrocketed as people are celebrating the last few days of 2019. Other people feel it is their moral obligation to debate whether Christmas is biblical or a pagan festival. All kinds of pagan meanings are attributed to the Christmas decorations. There are heated arguments on both sides of the debate.
As it was 2000 years ago, it is still today. The words of another hymn come to mind: “Have you any room for Jesus …”
We wish you a joyful Christmas and a blessed New Year. May you experience the Lord in a very special way during this festive season.
Thank you for all the support and prayers of the past year. May the Lord bless and prosper you.
Greetings,
Gerhard, Elmané and children
