Phil and Elin Henderson For Occasional Updates... FROM OUR RECENT EMAIL UPDATE…
Bible Teaching: We thank the Lord that people continue to show interest in the Bible teaching each week. Many are coming to ask for media players, enabling them to listen to the lessons over and over again. We received an additional 40 players over the past month and already they are out in circulation! Many new faces are coming to the teaching because they have heard this “talk” on the media players and have become interested. At the same time others who were coming faithfully have quit coming and so we covet your prayers for those people as well.
We continue to teach through Acts focusing in on the issues that are keeping many from putting their full trust in Jesus as their Savior. Slowly but surely the truths are sinking in and lights are coming on! Continue to pray that more people will hear and understand these life changing truths!
The Wednesday believers meetings are also moving forward. They have decided to study through Genesis together and talk about the different things they have learned. It is encouraging to hear them state again and again their full dependence on the Lord, both for salvation and for strength to live the life God would have us to live. “We, on our own,” one man said, “we can’t do it! We must look to the Great Owner God. We must rely on His power and His Spirit to help us!” Pray for the believers, that they will continue to grow in their desire to know Him and His Word more. Pray for us as we work to disciple and speak into their lives. Pray, first of all that we will be faithful in our own lives and secondly that God will cause His life to overflow from us into their lives.
This Friday was the first meeting for those interested in becoming Bible teachers themselves. A group of about 10 men and women came to discuss how they can have a part in reaching out with God’s Word. We discussed how there are many ways to reach out, helping with literacy, Bible teaching, Bible reading, even supporting those who go out to do those jobs. It was neat to see their enthusiasm and desire to be a part. Pray for us as we work with these men and women. Pray that God will give us wisdom and direction. Pray that God will give them opportunities to put into practice these things they are learning.
HOME ASSIGNMENT PLANS
(Also from our recent email update) After a 5 year term, we are feeling ready for a time of “home assignment/furlough”! We are excited to be able to come back and share in person the things the Lord has been doing in and among the Mwinika people. We plan to be back for a total of 15 months (from June 2012 – August 2013), travelling in the summer months and staying put for the school year for our kids in Sanford, FL. Our first summer we hope to visit our family and friends in the Western US/Canada. We have stops planned in Texas, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. From there we return via Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Georgia until we get back to Florida. It is amazing how quickly our schedule is filling up. If you would like to know dates and times for our visits please feel free to contact us. Our second summer (June-August 2013) will be concentrated mainly on the East Coast. We have yet to make any set plans but if anyone would like to ensure a visit, feel free to contact us and we will pencil you in now! Praise the Lord with us that we have funds for our tickets back home. We will end up having to buy one-way tickets because of the length of our home assignment. Pray with for provision of a vehicle as well as housing from August to May in the Sanford FL area.
WHAT’S NEXT?
(More from our recent email update)
The next month will be a busy one with a potential translation consultant visit sometime either in March or April. Phil continues to work on getting Scripture translated so our partner Francois has some material ready when he takes over the teaching when we leave in June. We are also working on getting several of the completed Bible stories and other small booklets printed before we leave.
Between now and June we have a LOT of work that needs to be accomplished. Please pray for strength for us as we push forward. Pray that we will finish strong! Pray also for our partners, Francois and Nadia Hattingh as they begin to wrap up their home assignment and make plans to return in April.
CRIPPLE BUT FAITHFUL
Cripple but Faithful One of the believers that meets with us is a very old man who walks all bent over with his cane, literally in a permanent “L” position. His neighbor had been coming faithfully to the teaching and took the time to share and explain the truths with him using the media players. He came to know the Lord and whenever he is able he comes to the teaching. During the meeting on Wednesday afternoon we were talking about how so many people just come up with excuse after excuse as to why they “can’t come” to the teaching. He shared the following story. (Keep in mind that it is at least a 2 mile walk at the hottest time of the day for him to hobble to the teaching.) He said: “One day I started off walking to the Bible teaching. I was going slowly along when I passed some younger people who were sitting in front of their house. They started laughing at me and asked me where I was going. I told them, ‘I am going to hear God’s word. I am old and crippled and yet I am going. What about you?’ Suddenly they stopped laughing. They are young and able to go but they wouldn’t go. I am old and crippled but God gives me strength and so I go to hear.”
TEACHING UPDATE
Not much going on with the teaching. The last two meetings have been canceled on account of pouring rain. But, here is a picture of a little one who was at the teaching 2 weeks ago.
BEEF – IT’S WHATS FOR DINNER
During the recent storm the local river flooded its bank. It does this periodically and over the preceding centuries a vast floodplain has been developed. This is the second time the floodplain has completely flooded since we have lived here. (This picture was taken from the yard of a nearby house)
In the middle of the water you can see a row of trees. That is the tree line within which the river normally flows. With the river flooding the animals that live in the river (namely the hippos and the crocodiles) have had to shift their operations to the new riverbank which is much closer to the local population. This has been causing some conflicts with those who live closest to the flooded area.
A local businessman has a corral where a herd of cattle are kept close to the edge of the plain where the cattle can graze on the plentiful grass. Well, guess where the displaced crocodiles have decided to congregate? Yes, right next to the corral where the cows are kept. Beef, it’s what’s for dinner!
ELIAS AND NELITU
Here is a picture of Elias and his best friend Nelitu. Nelitu is an orphan who lives with his uncle , one of our neighbors. He and Elias spend most of their days together. Here they are building sand houses for their favorite game “bomba” (bomb). One person builds the house and the other uses the soccer ball as a bomb and tries to destroy the house. The process provides them with endless fun. The game has caught on, yesterday there were about 30 boys in the yard playing “bomba.”
PINEAPPLES
Here is today’s pineapple haul from the garden. We are getting a whole lot more pineapples these days than we can eat. Our neighbors and visitors are benefiting greatly.
FALLEN PAPAYAS
Here is a picture of some of the unripe papaya casualties that fell during the recent storm.
THE SUN WILL COME OUT…
Praise the Lord, the sun did come out today! We had forgotten what it looked like. With the sun out we were able to do some much needed laundry and it all dried. Our water tank filled and our battery power was also topped off today for the first time in over a week. Amazing how much help the sun is.