Hey everybody! Sorry that we are a little behind on this blog, life has been pretty crazy over here in South Africa recently. We are finally starting to slow down from our sprint that started back in June before our summer mission project came from the US. We have been busy following up with people and also trying to set the ministry up for success and cotinuation when we leave in just a few months. We have started to miss home recently quite a good bit and are getting really excited to go back and continue serving at Georgia Southern, God has REALLY been at work while we have been gone which has been great to hear about and encouraging for us over here on the other side of the world. We know we still have a lot to do here in South Africa before we leave but it has become increasingly difficult not to think of home, of things that are familiar to us, friends, family, food, our dog Skye, and it is starting to wear on us. We do have a mid-term break coming up next week which will be great because at this point we are feeling pretty emotionally exhausted and worn out, but we are sustained by Gods unending and amazing grace. We have really been learning a lot about joy in Christ, rejoicing in him even when things are tough, and it has been great to see God growing both Ashley and I more into seeing how our joy comes from Christ alone regardless of circumstances.
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Anyways, enough about us, now onto the ministry updates
Nick's Ministry Updates
-One thing I have been really excited about has been a guy named Fabrice. Fabrice became a Christian when summer project was here with me and a guy named Mitch, and he is growing like crazy. Fabrice is from the Congo and will return to that country when he graduates but it is so great to see him grow in his love for God and others and to experience God more and also to think about how he will be taking the Gospel back to his country and influencing others for Christ when he does.
-Another one of the guys I meet with named Aya has decided to intern with Cru next year and in doing so take my place at westville campus!!!!! I am so excited about this, that God is using to raise up people to work for CCC over here and continue the work that we have been doing
-Our westville Mens Bible studies (One of them pictured above) have been going really well, and we have seen a lot of new guys coming and growing in their relationship with The Lord. From the frustrations of having very few guys involved at the beginning of the year to now it is so cool to see what God has done in such a short time, he truly works in mighty and awesome ways!
Ashley's Ministry Updates
-My student leaders on campus have really been engaged in discipling other students and leading bible studies. Two students on Howard campus have been leading a bible study for law students. I just visited their group last week; it was very encouraging to me to see my disciple, Nyasha, leading this group and just how far she has come this year in her personal walk with the Lord. Another student, Nondumiso has been leading a small group of social work students as well! Trushka is also a student who is discipling two younger students. So cool to see students taking ownership!
-I'm currently leading a bible study group of psych students (pictured above) on Thursdays and the girls have been really faithful to come, which has been awesome!
-I am extremely excited about a student of mine, Mthabs (pictured on the far left above) who is only a first year student. We meet every week and its amazing to see her love for the Lord at such a young stage. I know she is and will continue to be an incredible blessing to the Kingdom! Please pray that God really uses her among her friends and among the geography department in particular! She is the type of student who keeps me going and reminds me of Gods goodness!
Praise items
-9 of our students are now leading groups of their own and discipling other students, which is a huge answer to prayer as 0 were doing it at the beginning of the year
-We are seeing a lot of fruit from the summer project, with students we met through SP getting involved, students who became Christians growing in their faith and coming to Bible Studies, all of which has been awesome!
Prayer requests
-We need energy haha. We have felt very run down recently and we need the supernatural energy to finish the year strong that we know can only come from God
-Pray for me as I am currently dealing with a couple of guys who are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. My goal is to get them both into Christian counseling as I am not equipped to help them in the way that they need. Pray for the right words to say and to correct the negative thoughts they having going through their minds, and pray for them both that God would grant them freedom from this.
-We have a life directions seminar coming up where we will be helping graduating students on how to have ministries in their workplace where they will be and how to live missionally wherever God calls them
-Pray as the year winds down that we will be able to cast vision for our students as to what the ministry will look like next year and how they can continue to take ownership of it.
We cannot thank you enough for supporting our ministry and helping us to do what we have the privilege of doing. God has been changing countless lives through your faithfulness to support us and pray for us. You will meet South African people in heaven one day that will be there as a direct result of your faithfulness to support our ministry, and that is so awesome and we are so incredibly thankful for your continued financial and prayer support. Cheers and Sala Kahle (keep well)!
-Nick and Ashley
-One thing I have been really excited about has been a guy named Fabrice. Fabrice became a Christian when summer project was here with me and a guy named Mitch, and he is growing like crazy. Fabrice is from the Congo and will return to that country when he graduates but it is so great to see him grow in his love for God and others and to experience God more and also to think about how he will be taking the Gospel back to his country and influencing others for Christ when he does.
-Another one of the guys I meet with named Aya has decided to intern with Cru next year and in doing so take my place at westville campus!!!!! I am so excited about this, that God is using to raise up people to work for CCC over here and continue the work that we have been doing
-Our westville Mens Bible studies (One of them pictured above) have been going really well, and we have seen a lot of new guys coming and growing in their relationship with The Lord. From the frustrations of having very few guys involved at the beginning of the year to now it is so cool to see what God has done in such a short time, he truly works in mighty and awesome ways!
Ashley's Ministry Updates
-My student leaders on campus have really been engaged in discipling other students and leading bible studies. Two students on Howard campus have been leading a bible study for law students. I just visited their group last week; it was very encouraging to me to see my disciple, Nyasha, leading this group and just how far she has come this year in her personal walk with the Lord. Another student, Nondumiso has been leading a small group of social work students as well! Trushka is also a student who is discipling two younger students. So cool to see students taking ownership!
-I'm currently leading a bible study group of psych students (pictured above) on Thursdays and the girls have been really faithful to come, which has been awesome!
-I am extremely excited about a student of mine, Mthabs (pictured on the far left above) who is only a first year student. We meet every week and its amazing to see her love for the Lord at such a young stage. I know she is and will continue to be an incredible blessing to the Kingdom! Please pray that God really uses her among her friends and among the geography department in particular! She is the type of student who keeps me going and reminds me of Gods goodness!
Praise items
-9 of our students are now leading groups of their own and discipling other students, which is a huge answer to prayer as 0 were doing it at the beginning of the year
-We are seeing a lot of fruit from the summer project, with students we met through SP getting involved, students who became Christians growing in their faith and coming to Bible Studies, all of which has been awesome!
Prayer requests
-We need energy haha. We have felt very run down recently and we need the supernatural energy to finish the year strong that we know can only come from God
-Pray for me as I am currently dealing with a couple of guys who are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. My goal is to get them both into Christian counseling as I am not equipped to help them in the way that they need. Pray for the right words to say and to correct the negative thoughts they having going through their minds, and pray for them both that God would grant them freedom from this.
-We have a life directions seminar coming up where we will be helping graduating students on how to have ministries in their workplace where they will be and how to live missionally wherever God calls them
-Pray as the year winds down that we will be able to cast vision for our students as to what the ministry will look like next year and how they can continue to take ownership of it.
We cannot thank you enough for supporting our ministry and helping us to do what we have the privilege of doing. God has been changing countless lives through your faithfulness to support us and pray for us. You will meet South African people in heaven one day that will be there as a direct result of your faithfulness to support our ministry, and that is so awesome and we are so incredibly thankful for your continued financial and prayer support. Cheers and Sala Kahle (keep well)!
-Nick and Ashley
No comments:
Post a Comment