Updates from the Field

Hello Mission Partners,

Sunday, August 3 was a beautiful day.  We woke to sunshine and drums (there was a local wedding nearby and the drumming had been going for a few days).  After getting a great lesson about Noah we blessed a local couple that had gotten married the previous week (not the drumming couple).  Pastor Petrus gave a message about the sanctity of marriage being a blessing from God.  It was inspiring.  Denise then told the story of Ruth.  “Where you go I will go!”, that made me think of the Great Commission.  If we go as commanded, to all nations, we should be going everywhere.  Whether across the street or across the world, God is already there waiting on us to accompany Him in His work.  

We then spent the rest of the day organizing and preparing for our departure the next morning.  We were able to spend some quality time at the Children’s home saying goodnight and goodbye to the housemothers and children.  It is always bittersweet at this time.  We are excited to come home to see our families, but we are sad to leave our second home and miss our family.  I can confidently speak for the whole team when I make that statement.  I know that is how we all feel.

At 5:00 AM on Sunday morning a local couple came to the gate and rang the bell.  The pregnant woman was having trouble with bleeding and was requesting transport to the clinic in Kolomo (a 50 kilometer drive through the bush).  Jako fired up the Land Rover and made the drive. We prayed that God’s will was done and that there would be a witness opportunity from this tragic event that is only too common in the far reaches of the bush of Africa.  Jako retuned around 10:30 and gave us some sad news.  Unfortunately they lost the baby, and the woman was admitted to the clinic for her bleeding.  Sadly, this is something with which the Joubert’s have had much experience.  We drove off in silence for the 3-4 hour drive back to Livingstone.  

BLAM!  On the highway the Hi-Lux (Toyota) blew a tire (it seemed that the spare we had used in the bush had a bad belt).  Steve did a great job controlling the vehicle and pulled to the side without incident.  But, we had no other spare, so Steve and Denise stayed with the vehicle while the rest of us went to town to get settled into our accommodations while Jako tried to find a spare tire on a national holiday (Farmer’s Day).  The result was an overpriced, poorly made spare, that couldn’t be balanced because the machine wasn’t working.  Jako, Joshua and I loaded the tire and hit the road to go and retrieve the rest of our team.  We got there just before dark, changed the tire, push started the Hi-Lux (did I mention there is need for a starter also?), and began the 100 kilometer drive back to town.  

The next few days were without incident.  Everyone was healthy and enjoyed a few days of R&R with Amber, Jako, Jakob and Jeremiah.  I was informed that those moments of rest are vital to the mission.  The Joubert’s are very isolated in the bush.  At this point in time there are no other missionaries nearby.  The fellowship opportunities they enjoy with other believers from home are rare and they cherish those times.  

His servant and yours,

Ed