Dear friends,
Beginning October, we celebrated our 8th year in Onseepkans. In this month’s newsletter we would like to share some of the highlights of the past years.
When we moved here, October 2011, we stayed in a house on a property that was loaned to us. We were thankful for that we could stay there, but it was difficult to plan and develop the mission for it was not our own property.
The House (2011)
The Property that was Borrowed to us (2011)
We had to get used to the area’s desert landscape in contrast with the green and wet vegetation of the Western Cape. One of the biggest challenges was the extreme summer temperature that varies between 40° to 50° Celsius.
The Tipical View of This Area (2012)
In the first two years we went through difficult times. The irrigation canal ran dry and we had to fetch our house water with a borrowed tractor and wagon with a tank. We had to carry the water with buckets to the bath and washing machine. Then the Lord opened the way for us to purchase pipe and to lay a pipeline from the Orange River (+- 1 km away) to our borrowed property.
Thankfully, thenceforth, we had water for our house, vegetable garden, and livestock which we acquired later.
The Pipe Laying in the Dry Canal (2012)
Since we moved here, we were on the lookout for a place that we can buy to establish the mission. In the end of 2012 the Lord opened the door for us to buy our first property with a vandalized house were the mission is today. We could not move into the house, because it had no windows, doors, and ceilings. The only things that was left of the house was the roof and walls. We saw that on the property next to ours was a house which was habitable. When we phoned the owner and asked if we could possibly lease that house while we fix up ours, he told us that he wants to use the house and built extra accommodation on the rest of the property to house the seasonal workers of his vineyard farm close by.
This was a big predicament for us, because how can you raise your family next to an area were immorality and alcohol abuse prevail during weekends. We prayed and asked the Lord to change the farmer’s heart and to make him willing to sell the house and property to us. At first it seemed impossible that our prayers would be answered. Everything was against it. Then the Lord did a miracle and changed the farmer’s heart that he was willing to sell the property to us.
We moved here, middle of 2013 to our present house. The Lord opened the way for us to also renovate to a large extend the first house that we bought here. Then we also had extra accommodation for visitors.
The New Mission House (2013)
Later on the Lord opened the way for us to buy an irrigation plot close to our house and we could lease another plot next to it in front of our mission house. Then we could start with our agricultural projects. We also began a new garden. We were so thankful that we have our own property, because now everything that we build and invested into the property would be permanent.
Spinich in the Garden (2014)
We started with chickens and milking goats in 2013. Then in 2016 we bought our first cows. Beginning 2018, we also started seed production for a company. It was wonderful to see how these projects have grown through the years.
Some of the Young Milking Goat Ewes (2013)
Some of the Cows Grazing on the Irrigation Plot (2016)
When we moved to our present premises, we came in contact with a family who started to attend church with us on Sundays. We are thankful for the opportunity that the Lord gave us to minister to this family. Now they have attended church with us for 5 years and we are grateful for the friendships that was formed through the years.
Group Foto with Visitors (2013)
As we look back, we stand amazed at the Lord’s faithfulness. We thank him for what He has done for us in the past years. It is our prayer that He may continue to expand His Kingdom here in Onseepkans. Ephesians 3:20-21 says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”
Thank you for all your prayers and support through the years. May the Lord bless you and be with you.
Gerhard, Elmanè and children
