We have been back in South Africa for nearly 6 weeks now and I think it has never been clearer to us that our times here are not just an escape from the British winter but a God given opportunity to serve him in a different place.
All sorts of possibilities open up here. I re-started a Bible study every week for a small group of ladies where we unpick some Scripture. We have been delving into the Psalms and even Psalm 23 opened up to us in fresh ways.
Christopher was invited to share at our home group and he led a discussion on what it means not just to be a Christian but a charismatic, Pentecostal Christian. It lifted the lid on a lot of frustrated Spirit filled Christians, hungry for God to move again in their lives and the in the church. The next time we watched a David Pawson video and shared our experiences which seem to be many and varied. We anticipate letting the Holy Spirit move upon and within us in fresh ways again.
I shared at what used to be the carers group for those struggling to look after relatives who have great needs. It has now evolved into a ladies group who again desire more of God’s presence to be evident in their lives.
I took the verse from I Chronicles 12 about the men of Issachar who ‘understood the times and knew what Israel should do.’ They were part of the army that God gathered to take the kingdom from Saul’s defeated family and establish David as king over all Israel. I used the analogy of the Church taking back our world from the defeated devil and establishing God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
God gave me three suggestions for how we can do this. As a result I was invited to share the same message at a gathering of African ladies at our church one Saturday afternoon. It was a very exciting time with vibrant worship (African style), passionate preaching with many ‘Hallelujahs’ and ‘Amens’ and a ministry time of power and anointing where the sick were prayed for, marriages strengthen and deliverance calmly dealt with.
Ladies had come long distances bringing their little ones but they were hungry and ready to receive from God. It was like Africa had arrived in our midst but it was fun and a real honour to be involved.
It has been good to catch with our friends here and we even had a night away with one couple to do some whale watching and we were not disappointed. They were jumping and leaping and praising God.
 |
| Whale watching - it was freezing! |
In addition God loves to bless with a trip and we have been up in our favourite Kruger National Park communing with the animals and birds. We have seen so many wonderful species but there was a bit of a shortage of cats. No matter how many elephant and giraffe you see, including two elephants having a Saturday afternoon rough and tumble in the river, nothing quite beats a leopard.
 |
| Christopher and friend |
We were sitting on our deck at night, just about to eat when a movement in the bush below caught my eye. A spotted genet had come to the barbecue and stayed around long enough for a photo.
 |
| A spotted genet |
We moved on to Mapungubwe National Park on the banks of the ‘great, grey-green, greasy Limpopo River.’ It has a World Heritage Site there, a civilisation that pre-dates Great Zimbabwe. Very, very hot but very interesting.
 |
| The great, grey-green, greasy Limpopo (that's not water but sand!) |
Now we are back in a much cooler Cape Town. Pastor Kevin and Linda have been on a much needed month’s trip including a cruise in America. Whilst they have been away the wind of the Spirit is blowing gently through church and testimonies, prophecies, even a tongue and words of knowledge have been shared.
There is such a sense of these being days when as Christians we need to step into all that God is calling us to. There is so much evil around in the world but our God is mightier and is calling us to fervent pray and to make ourselves available for God to use us to share his love and good news with a desperate world.
God bless
 |
| Me and a friendly nyala at Pafuri |
 |
| A male Kori bustard trying to impress the ladies! |
 |
| Vervet monkey |
