Wow...Christmas time already. Misty and I can't believe that we're going on a year over here already. It's been a great adventure with Jesus so far and we're really excited to see what's around the next corner and in 2008. Next week we start our first VBS for the children of the three farms we get to minister on. We are excited to see what the Lord will do with these three days of ministry to about 100 children and their parents. Please pray for this event...that the Lord would do a fresh work on these farms with these people and for the souls of the children who aren't saved and their parents. Also pray for all who are involved with serving and set up/clean up etc. We would love to see the parents get involved but we do realize that therein lies one of the biggest reasons why these children grow up the way they do. There is a real and
noticeable lack of hope on these farms and it's our prayer that we will be able to just give them above all things tangible a clear understanding of the love of Christ and the hope of heaven.We are currently looking for a venue to meet in that would accommodate the people who are coming to the bible study on Sunday nights...please keep that in prayer. The Lord is really blessing and it's been one of those things where we really just don't know whats going to happen next, Up to this point nothing has gone the way we've expected it to..praise the Lord.
Whatever He wants is what we want too and sometimes He fills us in and other times He doesn't but no matter what He is good and He is faithful and He is love. We are just continuing to look to Him and trust in Him and know that He who has began a good work will be faithful to complete it.
We had a unique opportunity last week to connect with a ministry here in Paarl called Miqulat ministries and more specifically with a group of young people called "the Dream Team". They are an awesome group of Christians in their late teens early twenties who have come from some of the worst conditions in South Africa. They have been rescued literally by this woman Hester who oversees the ministry who herself is a wonderful woman of God, and these young people have been radically transformed by the grace of God and power of the Holy Spirit working through this ministry. Please pray for the Dream Team and specifically how the Lord might want us to be involved with them in the coming year.
Misty, Michael and I miss you all very much and we pray that you have a great Christmas and a blessed new year. Feel free to send us an email as you get a chance just to say hello.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
The Portlands
