Dearest friends and family we have just had a great month here in Paarl. As I mentioned last month a team from our home church in the U.S. (Calvary Chapel Tustin) came to minister with us here for two weeks and it was a blessed two weeks. Most of the time we spent doing ministry with the children in the townships and at an HIV/AIDS home for children here in Paarl. Our team brought the CCT puppets along to assist in ministering to the kids and the kids loved every minute of it. It was a great opportunity to serve the children in a tangible way and also to communicate the gospel in a way that they would understand.
We also just got back from the annual Calvary Chapel Africa Pastors/Leaders Conference it was an awesome and refreshing and encouraging time. We were able to meet many other Pastors here doing the same thing we are and that's always an encouragement to know that you're not the only one out there plowing fallow ground. I have posted a photo from the conference.
The Lord never ceases to amaze me in the way He chooses to accomplish His will in our lives. He has opened a door for us here in Paarl that I never expected or even desired (honestly) to see opened, but we cannot deny that its the Lord who has opened it. We have two families who are consistently coming to the fellowship on Sunday nights and they are both very active and passionate about ministering to the farm workers throughout the Paarl valley. The farm workers here are of the colored race (which is what they call themselves) and for many years here in South Africa they had been paid by the farm owners in bottles of wine instead of money, which obviously has lead to a huge alcohol epidemic among their people. Thank God that had stopped some time ago however the alcoholism has not stopped. Alcoholism and poverty has stricken these people for many generations and the need for God's transforming power and His message of hope in Jesus Christ is needed so desperately. These two families in our fellowship have introduced us to a huge scope of ministry here in Paarl that I never really knew existed. So we are praying and seeking counsel on how we're to be playing a role in this great need. Please pray for these people and for God's wisdom to be given to us in order that we can make the greatest impact for Christ.
Our Sunday night fellowship is going great. Please keep praying for God's direction and blessing as we move forward into His plan for the Paarl Valley.
Misty, Michael and I miss so many of you and talk of you often. We would love to hear from you through e-mail so please keep in touch.
The needs here in South Africa are so great and we really feel that the Lord has placed us here for such a time as this. Please consider joining our support team by committing to praying for us and the church plant and most importantly the salvation of souls here in Paarl. Also by supporting us financially as there are many expenses for us to live here. Thank you for your prayerful consideration of this work that the Lord is doing here in S.A. Please know that your support thus far has already produced much fruit in many individuals lives including ours....and that fruit is to you're account as well.
All donations are tax deductible and sent to us through our sending church
Calvary Chapel Tustin
330 w. Sixth st.
Tustin, Ca 92780
write in memo: Portland/South Africa
Thank you for prayerfully considering how you might join in on what God is doing here in South Africa.
God's Blessings to you all.
Serving Him in South Africa,
The Portlands
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