NEWSLETTER - EASTER BLESSINGS

January , February and March 2008

Still battling to get proper internet connection – everything is Africa is so slow! Here’s our news up to date!

EASTER BLESSINGS
This is to send you special thoughts and prayers at this very important time of our year. Christ came to earth for the Salvation of us all. Thank you Jesus for the sacrifice you made for us.

Start of the year
We had a huge start to the year with Troyden’s FIRST BIRTHDAY. It was a great time of celebration – we had his friends and their moms around for a party our theme was Noah’s Ark. The party was followed by open house tea for all the church family to stop in wish the little man on his big day. It was so fun because he had just started to walk and was enjoying trying to be on his feet all the time.

Troyden with Jack having fun with the "Arky Cake"

Ministries at church
Ministry got off to a bang and were have been busy busy busy with all that is going on at the church.
Friendly Circle Granny’s Meeting
Tan had the opportunity of speaking at the Granny’s Valentines Day meeting and they had a wonderful time thinking on “Love”-ly things, singing some love songs and learning our Hearts are to be in Christ!
Church Getaway
Mark together with a committee planned the church getaway to a camp site in the foothills of the berg (mountains). 70 church folk joined us at the conference center for a weekend of fellowship, fun and getting back to the basics of our Christian Faith. We had a session on Prayer, one on Personal Devotion Time and Mark lead the one on Church and the importance of it in our lives. Tan helped plan the children’s ministry. We all had a very blessed time together.
Preaching Gods Word
This New Year has more opportunities for Mark to be in the pulpit as our senior pastor has taken on the President position for our Natal’s Baptist Association (our States Association). This position will require him to visit many of our region’s churches and preach for them. At the moment he is preaching through Colossians in the morning services and Jonah in the evening services.
Young Adults Bible Study
Our young adult’s ministry is up and running for the year and our group is loving the study of God’s word each week.
Guitar Lessons
Tan has been teaching on the side some of the young adults from church to play the guitar. Is has been a fun time to fellowship and sing together.
Ladies “Treasures and Gems” meeting
The ladies of the church had their quarterly meeting and the theme was Treasures and Gems we had 4 church members share their own personal testimonies of how God is their treasure. It was a huge blessing and such an encouragements to us all. We had a time of worship and made some gem salvation bracelets together to end of the afternoon.

Friends from the USA
We had the best opportunity to take some time off after the busy festive season and holiday down the coast with Terah, Nicole and Matt – good friends from USA. We made many memories and enjoyed the beach house a few meters from the crashing waves. It was very relaxing and a most enjoyable time was had by all.
We did some fishing – and everyone caught something. We swam in the African ocean which proved to be a huge experience as our waves are stronger and wilder. Some of us got stranded on the sand and boy did we laugh. Shopping and a little pampering at the “All African experience” Spar were also some of the things we added to our holiday time.

HOLIDAY FUN OUTDOORS

UPDATE ON TROYDIE
Walking
Well we are well on our way by the first party the little man was up on his feet and thought he was the greatest been able to walk around on his little feet. TOO CUTE!
Personality
Troyden is developing his little personality. He is outgoing, friends and very smiley. He will go to anyone at church and is quite comfortable to walk about by himself. He is like Tan’s little shadow and goes everywhere with her as she does the grocery shop and runs errands.
Soccer
He has become our little soccer player. He loves to kick a ball and run with it. At the moment it is his most favorite toy.
Counting our Blessings
We are so blessed to have such a content and happy child and true blessing from the Lord!!

March BIRTHDAY time
We took our weekend off over the Easter Weekend and traveled up to visit Trent in Johannesburg. It was lovely to spend the weekend with him. Tan celebrated her 29th Birthday on the Saturday; we went shopping to some of the big malls in Joeys and watched a Rugby game at one of the local schools. Easter Sunday was Trent’s 31st Birthday and he preached to God’s glory we so enjoyed sitting under his teaching as a family. We celebrated our birthdays with a big roast dinner as the weather was a little chilly with winter on its way. It was a lovely weekend of family and fun together. We so miss him living so far from us but praise the Lord we are all together in Africa for this season of our lives. Troyden so enjoys playing with his Uncle T they get along really great. Our Easter had extra blessings of being together as family.

Prayer Requests
Thank you each and everyone for your special prayers, God is Good all the time.
· Knowing God’s will and leading in our own lives as we continually seek direction from him especially in the leadership of ministries.
· Tracy (Mark’s older sister) pregnancy has gone really well and her little boy will be born: due date 20th June.
Ministry at Durban North
· Marks preaching – we are praising the Lord for his continual stretching teaching and guiding. Mark has so grown in this avenue of ministry please continue to pray for him as he ministers in this way one Sunday morning a month and 3 Sunday evenings a month.
· Sunday school involvement we have gotten involved there to over see the ministry to the children and are planning our first holiday bible club for April 2008 – The Lion King.
PRAISE THE LORD WITH US!!
· Praise the Lord for a church family that has welcomed us and made us feel part of their ministry in South Africa, Durban. We also thank the Lord for much space to minister together with the senior pastor and his wife and for their leadership and guiding in our lives, they have allowed us so much opportunity to grow and we thank the Lord for them and all the members at Durban North Baptist Church.
· For our finances – our challenge to make the pennies stretch continues but we continue to praise the Lord for his provision in all things.

FROM GOD’s WORD
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty - Psalm 91v1