We have been in Pretoria now for just over two years and it has been such a sweet season. We have witnessed first hand how God in His faithfulness rewards those who seek Him and live out their faith! Joel and Ruty James (Joel is the Senior Pastor of Grace Fellowship where Izak serves as an associate Pastor) are such a tremendous example of His faithfulness and enablement of faithfulness in the lives of believers. The more I learn about them, the more I love them!
One of the big ways that He has cared for us, has been living in Pretoria and witnessing this couple in action. It has changed my life for the better. I am so thankful for them both and their example of loving our God and King.
Joel and Ruty have been serving in Pretoria (they are both originally from the US) for over twenty years and I love to hear them talk about South Africa because it is clear that they love it as their own country. I have found it so easy to long for what is familiar and to be where your family lives but this couple are 100% committed to South Africa and its people and it really convicts me to see this in their lives!
Izak and I have been blessed to serve in the Young Adult or University ministry at Grace Fellowship and one of my 'take-aways' from this time has been the impact that the James' have had on the parents and therefore the young adults. The maturity in the lives of the young adults because of faithful preaching and teaching over the past twenty years is very evident. It is so great to see His faithfulness in such a tangible way! During a discipleship time with the young ladies recently, I asked a question that John Street had asked at a TMS counseling class that had stumped me! Well, these young ladies knew the answer! It just blessed my heart to see how faithful preaching and teaching bears fruit and that His word does not return void.
The church here in Pretoria bears such fruit and it makes my heart so thankful! One of the things that really encourages me is to see how many people turn up to things like work days, classes being run at the church and other ministry opportunities!
Another thing that has encouraged me about Joel is his heart for the church in South Africa. He is so committed to training believers for the work of ministry and also has a heart for training pastors at a seminary that began in Johannesburg in 2018. When we returned for Izak to serve as the associate pastor at Grace Fellowship, it was clear that this position was not intended to be a long term position. This associate role was to serve as a 'soft landing' for us and then when we move on, other incoming TMS graduates could then benefit from starting out here too. It has been such a blessing to have the protection and direction of the elders at Grace Fellowship while we have begun finding our feet in full time ministry.
Izak has recently received a call to be the Senior Pastor at a church in Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It is really more accurately a church plant but I will post more about that shortly! I want this to be a post about the LORD's faithful provision in our two years since being back from California.
There is something about flinging ourselves wholeheartedly on the Lord and living for Him that I find exhilarating! I remember reading about missionaries who have done it and envied their commitment to the Lord but couldn't imagine being that 'brave'. Turns out, as much as it isn't easy, it is SO exciting and He proves to be faithful again and again!
We have so many stories to tell of His faithful provision! I'll highlight a few!
I remember praying that the Lord would enable us to be a family that is always at church (with small children in the States it was so difficult to be as faithful at attending things as we would have liked).
I chuckle at how He answered that prayer. We quite literally live on the church property. It has been a blessing beyond my imagination. We have been able to take liberties with naps and it has had all sorts of other advantages. Also, we get to have the young adults over at our home quite a bit too! He is so kind to us!
Another thing that has encouraged me to be more faith-filled in my prayers was how I remember thinking that my kids would not get to ride bikes on gravel roads like I did as a kid. When I was thinking about life in a city like Pretoria, I accepted that bike riding on gravel roads really doesn't have to be THAT important. Well, I couldn't help but gasp for joy when I saw how big the church property that we get to live on is and how much gravel road there is for bike riding! An answer to a prayer that I didn't even think to pray! What a gracious Father.
Growing up in South Africa, everyone remembers the Advertisements with David Kramer and Volkswagen's Kombi's! Izak and I had made peace with the fact that having a larger than average family (especially in South Africa) would likely mean that we would be driving a vehicle that is as outdated as the one in this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYX2AbYjJBg Hehe. The thing is, they are so reliable that you do still see VERY old models all over the place in South Africa. I am still thanking God when I pray with the kids on the start of trips that He gave us a new Volkswagen Kombi that is still under warranty! Yet another example of Him providing us with a blessing way beyond our hopes or expectations! It is such a safe and reliable vehicle and truly big enough for our family and two additional passengers!
I need to stop myself! Hehe! I keep having more and more examples of His kindness pop up in my mind... like planning to save for furniture that we needed over the next twenty years and getting all that we need the very next week or the time when I was so down-hearted and the song on the secular radio station was one that declared His faithfulness and reminded me to look up to Him! Our God is so good and kind and worthy of our trust.
To end off this post, here are a few recent pictures of the boys:
