Dear Loved Ones,
It is hard to believe we are into the last week of February.
Thank you for praying for Devin this week. The medication seemed to not bother his system and he has seemed to have a little more energy this week. He has another day on the meds and then we see the doctor next month again. We thank the Lord for what he did this week.
Several of you have said you are praying for Spencer. He was in church again today and came on his own. We continue to pray for his salvation. Joyce, the lady who was saved two weeks ago stood to give thanks to the Lord today for what He is doing in her life. It’s great to see things like that happening.
There are so many things to thank the Lord for we cannot name them all, but we praise Him. We thank Him for people who care enough to pray for us daily and others as God lays us on your heart.
Every once in awhile we have someone come in from Zimbabwe. So many are looking for jobs and are really destitute. Pray that God will intervene in Zimbabwe and its people can have jobs and food and health care again.
We have three students that are headed for the University of Botswana later in the year. It’s a great opportunity because the government pays for their education, but UB is literally a deadly place for many of Botswana’s youth. Pray with us for our youth that will be freshmen this year, that they will set their heart of God’s ways and His plans and they will be a shining light in a very dark place.
We do not know what this week holds for us, but our God does. We are working on refurbishing the hall where the church is meeting. We hope to have it ready for next Sunday, Lord willing. Pray for our physical strength as well as for creativity and passion in our ministry.
We appreciate your continued prayers for each member of our family. God knows each of our needs and we trust Him to work out His plan for our lives.
Reaching the Unreached,
Steve, Pam, Amanda, Derek and Devin
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Results are in
Dear Loved Ones,
Not many people rejoice over a positive blood test but today we did. We heard from the doctor in Johannesburg where the microbiologist was successful in finding something in Devin’s bloodwork that has defied all other tests. In fact, they found 3 types of bacterial infections.
Q-fever, mycroplasma and rickettsia. There is no indication of how long these have been at work in Devin, but we know that he has been sick off and on for at least three years. There is a treatment prescribed that has been successful in other patients.
Devin will begin tomorrow on a course of two antibiotics along with three other medications. These should work on the bacteria and make him feel pretty miserable. We will see the doctor again in a month and he will tell us what to do from there. From what we are reading, treatment can be anywhere from three months to two years, with most people being treated for eight months. Pray with us that Devin’s body will respond to this treatment. We would, of course, like to see the minimal timing on this, but we will trust the Lord for His direction.
Thank you for praying with us. We had a good week and Sunday 90 people were present to hear a message on God’s love. Please continue to pray with us that Spencer will be saved. He is drawn to the message of Christ and has already brought a friend to church with him.
Reaching the Unreached,
Steve, Pam, Amanda, Derek and Devin
Not many people rejoice over a positive blood test but today we did. We heard from the doctor in Johannesburg where the microbiologist was successful in finding something in Devin’s bloodwork that has defied all other tests. In fact, they found 3 types of bacterial infections.
Q-fever, mycroplasma and rickettsia. There is no indication of how long these have been at work in Devin, but we know that he has been sick off and on for at least three years. There is a treatment prescribed that has been successful in other patients.
Devin will begin tomorrow on a course of two antibiotics along with three other medications. These should work on the bacteria and make him feel pretty miserable. We will see the doctor again in a month and he will tell us what to do from there. From what we are reading, treatment can be anywhere from three months to two years, with most people being treated for eight months. Pray with us that Devin’s body will respond to this treatment. We would, of course, like to see the minimal timing on this, but we will trust the Lord for His direction.
Thank you for praying with us. We had a good week and Sunday 90 people were present to hear a message on God’s love. Please continue to pray with us that Spencer will be saved. He is drawn to the message of Christ and has already brought a friend to church with him.
Reaching the Unreached,
Steve, Pam, Amanda, Derek and Devin
Thursday, February 14, 2008
February 14, 2008
Dear Loved Ones,
I just returned from Johannesburg where we met with a specialist doctor who is doing some blood work for Devin. We will not know the results for a week. The doctor’s specialty is chronic fatigue. He is determining if Devin has some sort of bacterial infection which is causing his immune system to be depleted. Devin says he expects them just to say “we can’t find anything” like they have so many other times, but he is also a little nervous that they might find something! The doctor said those are normal feelings for someone who has been chronically ill.
Steve was unable to travel with us this time. Little did we know that God had other work for him on Monday. One of our school parents had begun attending our services immediately after we moved to the new property. They had been unchurched up until that time. Monday, she came to speak with Steve concerning a problem – potentially very serious- that she is having. In the course of their conversation, Steve led her to the LORD! We are just overjoyed at the fruit God is bringing.
Another item of praise is a long time prayer answered. Some of you have also been praying that God would raise up servants to serve in our church. Sunday after service, a lady who helps to write the budget in Botswana, came to me saying that now the budget has been presented, she is free and ready to serve and could she help in SUNDAY SCHOOL!!!! Oh, I was rejoicing all the way to Johannesburg that day. This is the first time I’ve had an adult volunteer to help in the Sunday School.
It is so wonderful to partner with you in prayer for souls in Botswana. God is a prayer answering God and He is at work here. It is a privilege to join with Him. Please continue to pray for us to have strength, creativity and the heart of God as we work here. Thank you for continuing to pray for our adult children.
Reaching the Unreached,
Steve, Pam, Amanda, Derek and Devin
I just returned from Johannesburg where we met with a specialist doctor who is doing some blood work for Devin. We will not know the results for a week. The doctor’s specialty is chronic fatigue. He is determining if Devin has some sort of bacterial infection which is causing his immune system to be depleted. Devin says he expects them just to say “we can’t find anything” like they have so many other times, but he is also a little nervous that they might find something! The doctor said those are normal feelings for someone who has been chronically ill.
Steve was unable to travel with us this time. Little did we know that God had other work for him on Monday. One of our school parents had begun attending our services immediately after we moved to the new property. They had been unchurched up until that time. Monday, she came to speak with Steve concerning a problem – potentially very serious- that she is having. In the course of their conversation, Steve led her to the LORD! We are just overjoyed at the fruit God is bringing.
Another item of praise is a long time prayer answered. Some of you have also been praying that God would raise up servants to serve in our church. Sunday after service, a lady who helps to write the budget in Botswana, came to me saying that now the budget has been presented, she is free and ready to serve and could she help in SUNDAY SCHOOL!!!! Oh, I was rejoicing all the way to Johannesburg that day. This is the first time I’ve had an adult volunteer to help in the Sunday School.
It is so wonderful to partner with you in prayer for souls in Botswana. God is a prayer answering God and He is at work here. It is a privilege to join with Him. Please continue to pray for us to have strength, creativity and the heart of God as we work here. Thank you for continuing to pray for our adult children.
Reaching the Unreached,
Steve, Pam, Amanda, Derek and Devin
Monday, February 4, 2008
February 3, 2008
Dear Loved Ones,
Today we had to do the “slide over some” routine so everyone could find a seat! We had 80 chairs out and we think we had 75 today. Wonderful! One lady called this morning from the school where we used to meet to find us. When she arrived we discovered she was someone who had first visited with the TIME team was here a few years ago. She had been working in another city and now that she is back, she wanted to get back to church!
Best of all, Mookeetsi who has been here from Northern Botswana visiting his cousin, was saved during our youth meeting today. Our lesson was about God’s one rule. Love Christ and obey him in every area of your life. After the lesson, each person was saying how things were going in their life. When it came Mookeetsi’s turn to speak, he said, I really want to follow Christ. I was excited but wondering to myself exactly how to handle it because we always like for Steve to deal with the men, young men and boys. Almost as soon as that thought went through my mind, Steve walked in the room. He grabbed a Bible and led Mookeetsi to the Lord. It was so exciting for all of our youth to see that happen.
Our friend, Larry Davis left this past Thursday with a heart full of Africa. We were so thankful he was able to come and join in what God is doing here in Botswana. He led our chapel service on Wednesday and did a wonderful job.
Please continue to pray for all our loved ones in Kenya. We heard again from Isaka this week. Thankfully, where he is things are not as bad as in the town where we used to minister. We heard on the news yesterday of another church burned down in that area.
This past Friday, we were back at the Botswana Baylor Clinic for children living with HIV/AIDS When we visited there earlier in the week, they invited us again to be a part of their camp in April. Pray with me as I prepare for this opportunity. It’s just amazing to us how God placed us in that place and gives us the opportunity to witness as we are there.
We are so blessed to have such wonderful financial and prayer support, we thank you always for your faithfulness to us. We are thankful for your prayers for our family, Amanda, Derek and Devin, as well as for our ministry to reach the lost in Botswana. Someone asked us why we include the names of our grown children in our letters. They still remain a part of our ministry. The boys are with us and they often help us in the day to day things, and Amanda is on that side, helping with supplies, etc., but mostly mobilizing prayer for us. They are a vital help to us, each in their own way.
Reaching the Unreached,
Steve, Pam, Amanda, Derek and Devin
Today we had to do the “slide over some” routine so everyone could find a seat! We had 80 chairs out and we think we had 75 today. Wonderful! One lady called this morning from the school where we used to meet to find us. When she arrived we discovered she was someone who had first visited with the TIME team was here a few years ago. She had been working in another city and now that she is back, she wanted to get back to church!
Best of all, Mookeetsi who has been here from Northern Botswana visiting his cousin, was saved during our youth meeting today. Our lesson was about God’s one rule. Love Christ and obey him in every area of your life. After the lesson, each person was saying how things were going in their life. When it came Mookeetsi’s turn to speak, he said, I really want to follow Christ. I was excited but wondering to myself exactly how to handle it because we always like for Steve to deal with the men, young men and boys. Almost as soon as that thought went through my mind, Steve walked in the room. He grabbed a Bible and led Mookeetsi to the Lord. It was so exciting for all of our youth to see that happen.
Our friend, Larry Davis left this past Thursday with a heart full of Africa. We were so thankful he was able to come and join in what God is doing here in Botswana. He led our chapel service on Wednesday and did a wonderful job.
Please continue to pray for all our loved ones in Kenya. We heard again from Isaka this week. Thankfully, where he is things are not as bad as in the town where we used to minister. We heard on the news yesterday of another church burned down in that area.
This past Friday, we were back at the Botswana Baylor Clinic for children living with HIV/AIDS When we visited there earlier in the week, they invited us again to be a part of their camp in April. Pray with me as I prepare for this opportunity. It’s just amazing to us how God placed us in that place and gives us the opportunity to witness as we are there.
We are so blessed to have such wonderful financial and prayer support, we thank you always for your faithfulness to us. We are thankful for your prayers for our family, Amanda, Derek and Devin, as well as for our ministry to reach the lost in Botswana. Someone asked us why we include the names of our grown children in our letters. They still remain a part of our ministry. The boys are with us and they often help us in the day to day things, and Amanda is on that side, helping with supplies, etc., but mostly mobilizing prayer for us. They are a vital help to us, each in their own way.
Reaching the Unreached,
Steve, Pam, Amanda, Derek and Devin
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