We are on a fast track towards next year! I can't believe it is Movember already!)
But to update you on the Versterre's life and happenings:
Jurie's time at Kloofwaters is slowly but surely running out. He's been here for three years now! They are looking for someone new to replace him, but I can only imagine the size of shoes he has created over the years that the next person must fill. Working with him on a couple of camps, I know he has set a standard when it comes to directing and especially ropes/knowledge on ropes (for abseiling & rock climbing). Seeing him work will leave you mouth agape!
But not just him, Kloofwaters is very special to me as well, this is after all where we met...dated...courted and finally moved in after we got married. Although I have to say, we are super excited about next year and where God will take us.
Speaking of next year.
We thought about sharing our hearts about what God has stirred within us.
Riaan (our pastor) told us this one story that changes ones outlook on ministry and serving completely. (if I get the facts wrong, I apologise)
A very rich atheist once owned a whole island and he had 3 000 slaves working on the island for him. He refused to let any Christian missionaries on his island, didn't want his slaves to come in contact with God or anything remotely Christian.
Two guys (can't remember from where?) decided to be sold into slavery to go to this island to minister to the slaves. So they left their families, even though they (he families) pleaded with them not to go, that it was absolutely madness to go. And when they were on the boat, on route to the island, they looked back and shouted: The Lamb that was slain is WORTHY because of the suffering He had.
So, when we decide to minister to someone who hasn't accepted Jesus yet, it's not because we want to see that person in heaven, or because we want to score Brownie points with God.... Jesus, the Lamb, DESERVES it. because of His sufferings.
Jesus deserves Rustenburg (we made it personal for us).
Another thing that God also placed on our hearts was: Truth and Honour.
Now, being married to a man that LOVES cars and how they perform around corners and such...I'm amazed and encouraged by Jurie. He keeps to the speed limit like I haven't seen before. We live 30km outside of Rustenburg, and I've never seen any traffic cops even remotely close...yet, he says: I have to honour God who says I have to honour my goverment.
I know it is something small, but it makes you think about the little things, and do we really honour God, even when no one is watching?
About truth. Megan (a friend of mine from my Service Year for Christ days) came to visit the past weekend. She's working currently at Silverton High School as a youth worker (hope I have it right) and even though she told us some hair raising stories about what's happening amongst the youth, with the youth, because of the youth... it boiled down to: They not just want, I think they NEED: the truth. Speaking from a Christian point of view: Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. And He also said that the truth shall set us free and when the Son has freed us, we are free indeed. We (Jurie & I ) personally know Truth, He is our Saviour, Friend, Father, Counsellor...what an awesome opportunity to be able to go and introduce the kids to Him. I'm sure Jurie will agree with me when I say: Hold me back! Hold me back! I just want to goooooo!
On a more serious note, I realise that our youth grows up in a world where anything good, pure, and holy is smothered by the availability of anything else that isn't.
When I had to decide whether I want to leave my job at the guesthouse before the end of the year, I once confided to my mom that I feel my passion for the industry is slowly dying. She said maybe God is doing that in order to give me passion for what we will be doing next year. Only then did I remember that I wrote in my journal that if God wants to do something COMPLETELY new in my life, I'm open for change (this was even before we were called to the ministry!). And I can feel how God is preparing my heart for new year.
We are still not too sure how many youth we will have, or how we will begin or exactly how everything will work.... but we do know one thing: We want to show those kids God's undying love for them!
Please join us in prayer while we are (sometimes frantically) preparing for next year:
We still need to find a little kaya of our own to live in. We need to be out of our house at Kloofwaters by the end of December.
We need some vital furniture/household things as well (washing machine, curtains, bed....)
We are in the process of raising partners for financial support. God has already supplied some partners (and we are immensely thankful for that!) but we still need to go and see quite a number of people. Please pray for humbleness, that God will lead us to the right people and that their hearts will be open to hear us out.
If there is ANYTHING we can pray for, please facebook/sms/tweet/blog/mail us!
We would love to share in your laughs, tears, joy, victories....
