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|| Newsletter Archive ||
October 2006
Dear Partners In Ministry,
The little African girl got off my leg just before I preached during our Sunday night candle-lit church service. My leg was all wet - “What a blessing”!
The picture you see attached to this letter shows some of those who are attending Kopano Baptist Church. We had a work day at the church this past Monday and had about 25 adults and youth show up to clear out accumulated junk, cement the floor holes, sweep down the walls, repair the benches, build a pulpit, and paint the entire inside of the church building. We had fun - and we are thankful for the older believers at Rosettenville Baptist in Joberg for donating the paint just because they saw a need and wanted to be an encouragement. We ended early afternoon with a lunch “Celebration” of hot dogs, buns, chips, apricot bars and cold drink.
God has opened a door of ministry in the government school Onderstepoort Primary in Boikhutsong, not far from where we live. Kevin will be sharing God’s Word each Thursday morning and, for all of you who wonder if those Samaritan Purse boxes you help with ever actually get where they are destined, we will be passing out 225 of them at their last day of school before Christmas break. We have about 400 of those boxes stacked precariously in my office right now waiting for an avalanche. What a joy those boxes are to so many, and be assured that the Gospel of God’s Greatest Gift accompanies each one.
Krista Smith has been staying with the Zak-Pak assisting with the schooling of our children. Here is a brief excerpt from one of her recent letters:
Greetings from South Africa:
I never imagined that I would experience Africa in the way that I have in the past two months. I have been blessed to visit and experience life in Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa. My most recent adventure was a trip to Zambia, with the Zakariasen family.
Last month, Kevin Zakariasen was asked to be the speaker at a teen camp in Choma, Zambia. He accepted the offer, and decided to bring the whole family along, including myself and Amy (a girl who was here in South Africa for the summer). In the early morning hours of August 17th, all eleven of us loaded into the family van and headed for Zambia, via Botswana. We drove for approximately 20 hours over a two-day period, and finally pulled into Choma, Zambia on the evening of August 18th.
The highlight of the drive was definitely our stop at Victoria Falls. It was a breathtaking sight, and one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. What an awesome God we have, to give us something so incredible for our eyes to behold. After seeing a sight such as Victoria Falls, you cannot help but be filled with awe toward our great and wonderful God.
While in Zambia, Amy & I had the privilege of ministering as camp counselors. This was a very challenging task, but God used it to do a powerful work in my life. . . . Life should now slow down a little bit and that is okay with me. I am really looking forward to helping the kids with their schoolwork, teaching piano lessons, and simply working around the house.
My time in Africa has already exceeded my expectations. God has given me many opportunities that I never even dreamed of, bringing to my mind Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think…” So often, we have a picture in our mind of something that would be incredibly awesome, and God chooses to bless us “far more abundantly” by surpassing those dreams. What an awesome God we serve!”
Serving the Lord in South Africa,
Krista Smith
P.S. For current updates and pictures, please visit my website: www.journeytoafrica.org”
A few words from Josiah and we’ll wrap this letter up.
Special Message from Josiah
“Kobi, our dog, goed to the doctor. His neck is hurt. I think he’ll be okay. I am this tall. We saw a turtle and Jacob and Cortney and I touched it. I’m gonna do a puzzle. Bye.”
May God be your Exceeding Great Joy!
Serving the King with Gladness,
Kevin, Sarah, Benjamin, Nathanael, Caleb, Luke, Cortney, Jacob, & Josiah
P.S. A BIG "Thank You" to Krista for helping us with our newsletter's new look. What took her 30 minutes would have taken us generations to figure out.
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African Churches Rooted and Built up in Him. - Col. 2:6,7
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