Magaliesburg Adventures

We recently returned from two weeks in Magaliesburg, SA for a Family Foundations training. They asked us to come help facilitate some groups and we also benefitted from the change of pace and learning to know some wonderful people from S Africa, Malawi, DRC, Kenya and Nigeria.

I never saw a more faithful dog than this one! He went everywhere with his master.

The event was held at a YFC camp with beautiful surroundings. We hiked up the stone mountain a couple of times and explored the gorge.


The last day a group of us went hiking early in the morning.





We enjoyed spending time with and learning from Leon and Marietjie, the Africa coordinators for Family Foundations. They are an inspiration and have a huge job to get the ministry to all the countries of Africa.


On the weekend we stayed with the camp directors. They asked if we wanted to go see kids swinging from the bridge as they had a visitor with them that wanted to swing. So we went and watched and then got in the vehicle to leave. Then the young man said he wanted to go again, so we all piled out. As he was swinging, I decided I'm not too old for a little adventure so I said I wanted a turn too. Here I am thinking to myself "What am I doing? Am I crazy?"



And here I am swinging away. It was worth it, although it was a bit scary. I never quite got the courage to let go of the rope.


Coming and going we met an interesting group called the Latter Rain Assemblies of SA. Some people call them the Blourokkies because many of the women wear blue dresses. They live very simply in community and eat their meals together. In some ways they reminded us of the Hutterites, although their theology is more Pentecostal. We met some very nice people who are also involved with FFI and who hosted us very well. When they found out we would be on an overnight bus ride they were sure we needed lots of food. We said we don't usually eat at night, but they insisted on being generous.

The Saga of Our New House

One year ago we learned we would need to move from the house where we were living. It is owned by the Wesleyan Church and they had a missionary couple coming that would need it. Since housing prices have risen steadily in Maputo and you can hardly rent anything for less than $1,500 I was a bit worried. First we were told we would need to move in January. Then the time was delayed until it finally became July. God impressed on me that He would take care of it and I should not worry. I kept praying and tried to trust.

In March a neighbor friend whom I walked with sometimes said that they were leaving their house and we could probably have it (at a price comparable to what we were paying, and much less than the going rate). Steve and I went to visit and were pleased with what we saw. The furniture belonged to them, so we purchased quite a bit of it as all our other houses have been furnished.

Things were great until she called one day and told us that another couple from their mission who had originally planned to leave had changed their minds and would now be coming back – to “our” house. Wow, that was hard to handle and we were very disappointed. But I came back to what God had spoken – “Don’t worry, trust Me.”

We were given some small rays of hope that possibly they would not actually return. We kept praying. In June I started thinking I needed to do something, so I started looking in the ads. There was nothing encouraging. We looked at a very small apartment and another house that would have needed lots of TLC and work.

We made a “partial” move to another WR Guesthouse. The lease was ending there so we knew we could not stay more than a month. Now what? Finally at the end of July we received the good news – we could have the house we wanted! We met with the landlady who is a Christian and knows she could rent the house for much more, but says it is God’s house and she wants to bless others. We are certainly blessed and so thankful that God can be trusted and that He is always faithful.