"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness....they shall be filled"

The Lord has been opening my eyes recently to a new understanding of what it truly means to hunger and thirst for God and His righteousness. This past Wednesday I had the opportunity to share the Word at a shelter here in Cape Town called "The Haven" it is run by a brother who attends the fellowship here in Cape Town, a really dear brother named Richard. Pastor Demetri asked me if I would start a bible study there and just sort of see what the Lord does. I went on a Wednesday, it is a very interesting place, a home full of people who have just been beat up in life by the enemy, at the beginning of the service there were trouble makers, a loud skeptic, and a guy who smelled like he just crawled out of a bottle of booze. I was a bit nervous, just praying that the Lord would make me to be understood and effective. I had planned sort of a bible study type thing out of the Beatitudes, but I realized quickly that wasn't what the Lord wanted me to share. So I opened up by introducing myself and sharing a little bit of my testimony and then went to the scriptures and shared about the "Two roads" in Matthew 7. I really sensed the Lord was there and working in many of their hearts so I just kept going and speaking whatever the Lord gave me at that moment. At the end I gave an invitation for anyone who wanted to receive God's forgiveness and the free gift of His Son and many responded, I noticed the first to raise their hands were the ones I mentioned to you earlier who were the most distracting and irritating. There was this one woman who I believe God wanted me to notice who was very like mocking and skeptical, she was now in tears just weeping with her hand up in the air. The Lord was teaching me something (perhaps reminding me). That is the fact that God has not called me to do anything that my own ability is sufficient to do, you see....I had spent many hours wavering back and forth on what I should teach on and what I should say to these people and to be honest with you I really felt by the time we got there that I had nothing to share and I should probably let someone else do this study. I know what it is to prepare for and teach a bible study, but the Lord was showing me like never before that whether I am prepared or not...He is still God! and He wants to reach those who are lost more than He wants me to feel well prepared and studied up and confident. I am realizing in a new way that people don't just need Jesus in their hearts...they want Jesus in their hearts. I think so often we can get caught up into thinking that we have this Christian message to give out and some want it and some don't. NO...I am finding that more people want Jesus than we think...though many don't know it's Him their seeking. That has given me a new look on evangelism to realize that as much as I might think I want people to get saved it doesn't compare to the longing heart of our Father to reach His own creation with the message of love in the gospel. What that means for me is that I never have to be fearful to follow His call and that I must preach Christ every time I can.

Thank You so much for your prayers...please keep praying, and those of you who are supporting this work financially as well. Thank you and know that God is moving here in South Africa and you are partakers of this fruit.

Also please pray that the Lord would open up a place for us to live in Paarl or nearby, please pray that we would be able to pick up the language here (not necessary to preach, but definitely an open door for one on one ministry). Please pray for the people of South Africa and imparticularly in Paarl , that God would just pour out His spirit here and bring revival to this land. Please pray for the Sexton family as they are preparing to come over in May of this year.

(Table Mountain)

Again, Thank you all who are supporting us, and may the Lord continue to bless these resources for His glory.

(Calvary Chapel Cape Town)

Here's a few pic's and we love to hear from you guys so e-mail us...mmportland@sbcglobal.net

(Michael at Milnerton Beach)

Serving Him in South Africa,

The Portland's