Well it has already been answered!

Our first meeting together this year was one of celebration and life in the Spirit and it has set the tone for the year so far. As I have started my degree in theology, I have done some foundational teaching, and have been amazed at how the simple gospel message, preached in a foundational and structured manner, brings such freedom and life! It is also scary to see how many churches have misguided this message and how much clarity needs to be brought to so many ‘Christians’.

We took a day trip with the team to Zinkwazi and after an amazing time of singing and enjoying the presence of God, we had a very powerful baptism service for Sindi. After baptising this wonderful woman of God, and sensing the intimacy and pleasure of the Father, we were amazed to have one of our leaders, and one of the most solid men of God I know, ask to be baptized. Jabs said that he had never done it before, and wanted the opportunity. WOW!! We had a chance for each person to speak and honour him and sindi, and the depth and love seen and shared, was nothing less than heavenly. This walk in the kingdom is worth EVERY second!

We had Darren come up to minister again after his last visit about 6 months ago. His words were that this team is so hungry for the things of God! He shared powerfully and prophetically and the presence of God in our meetings was so tangible, that a deep impact has been made and a deeper hunger for more from God has been left. He confirmed various prophetic words we have had before, and encouraged many with a solid view on how we are called to have faith and be victorious in this life.

We then had Stuart Morrison come up and share, after his last visit also about 6 months ago, on the Love and Grace of Jesus. He has a deep connection with the Holy Spirit and our meeting time was very freeing and powerful. This Impendulo team has an incredible way of singing, worshipping and praising God, and the sense of God’s presence and pleasure, is amazing. We had a whole bunch of harvesters up with us for the day, and we showed the kids the Chronicles of Narnia, as a picture of Christ as a Lion, His love and sacrifice. During the movie, we went on some house visits, and visited and prayed at many houses. We prayed for one of our little girls from Impendulo, who had been burned on her face at 2am by boiling water that her gran accidentally spilt on her. The pain subsided during the prayer and she is now recovering really well. We also visited some who had just lost family members and it was a challenging but blessed day.

The following day, was a funeral for a lady from a family that we are very close to. The Impendulo team was so involved with this funeral, right from digging the grave, providing the sounds and music to sharing the word. I was asked to speak a word, and got up to share directly after a leader of the Shembe church had just preached a burdening message on the Law. I was led by the Spirit to preach a message on the radical Grace of Christ, and on the difference between self righteousness and the righteousness of God. It was the fragrance of life to many, and the stench of death to others. My heart couldn’t have been more full of love, and acceptance of all there, but still I was asked to stop speaking as this gospel can be that offensive. Some of the leaders got angry and offended by the words I shared, but I saw many who felt that this word had washed them with life and freedom. I am not ashamed of the gospel!! My team was 100% behind me, and the report back from the Khuzwayo family was one of such love and gratitude for EVERYTHING the team did at the funeral, including the word, and the mother hwo lost her daughter has asked me to do her funeral when she dies! Sheea, I love this God of ours and His kingdom…

I spent the rest of the week sick in bed, possibly a spiritual attack after having to face the opposition like that, but it was one of enjoying the presence of God in my cave (my eyes were so sensitive to light)….

I preached again at harvest and am enjoying every preach more and more, as I see the love of God more and more every time, and keep seeing Him changing lives in front of my eyes!

The next 2 months will be very busy for me as I am preaching almost every weekend at one church or another, but wouldn’t have it any other way!!

The Impendulo team is FIRING forward, Thoks and Jabs, leading it, with such love and strength, and all just enjoying Jesus!! I have never seen this team so hungry for the things of God, and so full of His love. Our meetings are times of such intimacy and His Holy presence, that I am finding it VERY hard to stay away and do the studying and preparing I need to do for my degree and preaches… It’s not the worst problem to have!

I just got spoke to Thoks and he has just passed his drivers licence! woohooo

I encourage you today, ENJOY JESUS!!!!!

Rich

This is an update from my arrival back in SA from Uganda, until the end of the year.

It is so encouraging as a leader, to come back home after being away for a month, to a vibey, energetic, passionate church, that seems to not be lacking in any way! That was my experience when I got home from Uganda. Thoks had done a great job, and I arrived to welcome home party with cake, sweets, singing etc. It was awesome, and a great blessing. I did a short report back on Uganda, and I know that the stories and testimonies from that trip planted seeds of great excitement in many.

Zinkwazi

As a team we decided to fast and pray for Sabelo, who has been suffering seriously from his epilepsy, on the day that he was going to see the Prof. When he found out what the team had done, he was blown away that people would have taken that kind of love and care for him. It is a precious thing when the body of Christ operates in that kind of love. We trust for his full healing! Sabelo later felt led to be baptised, and so on our team trip to Zinkwazi, we baptised him in the river. It was a special time, and Sabelo believes that he will be fully healed as he responded to the conviction of the Spirit to do this after he read about the healing at the pool of Bethaisda. His faith encourages me so much, and I also believe God is going to heal Him.

At Zinkwazi, we had our round up meeting for 2009, where we all shared testimonies of what God has done and where we are at. We also cast vision for 2010. I have attached these testimonies at the end of the update and you are welcome to read them, because they will give an insight into what God has done here. It truly is inspiring and life changing!

We also had an end of year wrap up with our kids where we did a slideshow of the events. It went down with a bang and the kids loved it incredibly! We then watched ‘George of the Jungle’ with them… Oh my goodness. If any of you work with kids, here is the greatest secret in the world. Show them this movie. Oh my… Haha… the last week with them, we decided to show another movie, and just ‘by chance’ (yea right), the only kids movie in the little movie shop we went to, was ‘George of the Jungle 2’. Haha, I didn’t even know there was such a thing. It was as big a hit as the first one!! God is so great how He loves His kids, and plays with them like a Daddy… too cool.

In His Presence

My last message in Uganda was one called ‘In His Presence’. I wanted to share the same message with my team, and after a fairly long word, (I was thoroughly enjoying every second of sharing it, and it seemed the whole team was engrossed), I sang that same solo that I did in Uganda, of the Jason Upton song, ‘In His Presence’, and I knew God was going to move powerfully. He did!! We moved into a powerful and intimate time of prayer and worship, and then things happened! After some very challenging and encouraging words shared by different team members, and some powerful prophetic pictures were shared, the Lord showed me something. As I shared it, one of our team burst out crying for about 5 minutes. It was however, not at all uncomfortable, as we all knew that the Lord was working. At the end of our time, she stood up to speak and share what had happened. As I had spoken about someone needing to not hold back, and to believe that it really was God speaking to them, she broke down because she had doubted whether it was God, but my word had confirmed for her that it was. She felt the Spirit leading her to wash the feet of the entire Impendulo team, and all the visitors there, and she wasn’t sure if it was God or not. Another then confirmed this by saying that she had seen a picture of Jesus washing the feet of the Impendulo team. This young girl then washed the feet of about 45 people present, one by one, and the atmosphere, and the presence of God in that room, was so thick and tangible. It was a light, joyful, and happy presence. There was spontaneous singing and dancing, there was prayer in one corner, there was laughter in another, and EVERYONE was smiling. I was so humbled, as is was the first time I had ever had my feet washed, and it was by one of the young girls in my own church. I cannot explain the atmosphere that we experienced that day, but I just know that all who were present could testify of the joy of His presence there!

Vidal

To end off the year we arranged a trip to my favourite place in KZN, Cape Vidal. For 2 nights, we had a family camp for 25 of the team with some time in the word, some time in the waves, some around the braai, and some (lots) searching for leopard. One dream of mine was to show my team a leopard. I have been studying and tracking them this year, and in wanting to further my studies in wildlife, have come to know of good places/ways to find them. After an incredible time together, enjoying wildlife, getting up at 4:30am and driving for hours each day, and searching, we came to our last evening. I told the team I was going to spend 3 hours doing a 2km stretch where we believed we would see a leopard. After almost 2 hours of it, many people lost hope, some went back to camp, some locals working there tried to discourage us, we continued. I told the story of my searching for a caracal, for years, and how it finally culminated to an event where we did exactly what we were doing then, and how I was rewarded with a choice sighting of the little cat. On our last 10 minutes, our last hit of that stretch, I said to Jabs, “this is it Jabs, Come on!!” 5 minutes later, the most gorgeous feline stealthily appeared on the road, Jabs spotted it, and we started screaming with excitement! She crossed the road and within 45 seconds, was disappearing into the forest. We called the other 2 cars, which had missed her, and told them to follow us. We headed down another road, and on our way back, had her walking down the road toward us. It was now night time, and we needed to get back to the camp, but she gave us the MOST exciting views, right next to the road, hunting a bushbuck, and then crossing between the cars. I even had to shout to the boys on the back of my bakkie to sit down because she was so close! This was a reward that came from heaven and you have NEVER seen a team so excited. When we arrived back at camp we exploded into celebration for ages!! It united us so much, and also some very amazing and powerful lessons were learned from it. One of the team said that it was a picture of those waiting for Jesus, and how som will get discouraged, some will mock you, but He will come back, suddenly, surprisingly, for those who are looking for Him. Amazing analogy! We now have a prophetic teaching, about how when you persevere, you will ‘get the leopard!’

The testimonies on the last day, showed how much this trip had changed lives, and I was overwhelmed again at His goodness.
Thank you Lord.

Olive Tree

We had an amazing gift from Olive Tree, and they came up on the last Saturday to hand out 140 food parcels to the community!!
100 houses were visited in one day and most of them were suffering households that the Impendulo team had good relationships with through the years of ministry. I couldn’t believe that we had already stretched to so many houses through the home ministry, and again am overwhelmed that God is blessing the people in this community so much. A big thank you to Olive Tree and to the Impendulo team for channelling God’s provision and love to so many!

Umfolozi

Because of my wildlife experience, one of my greatest dreams since I started Impendulo, has been to take my kids to the game reserve to see the Big 5! God finally made this possible and we arranged the trip. I spent a few weeks teaching the kids about wildlife, showing them all my wildlife photos, and some of my wildlife trips on video. They were passionate about learning. So much so, that if you come and ask them things like, “how long is a giraffes tongue?” or, “which cat’s footprints shows claw marks?” Most, if not all, will be able to answer you! It is amazing! So we had them all trained up as little field guides and ready for the trip. We waited on the 5th Dec, from 5:30am, and unfortunately, and sadly, the buses did not arrive…

That’s right. The buses did not pitch. I was heart broken. It was a tough day for me. It was amazing though, because we decided to play with the kids, do some singing, and performances, and through their joy, I was able to deal with the disappointment. I have no doubt that I was the most disappointed kid there. God was teaching me some things, and painfully, I asked Him to reveal them to me. I am so grateful we have a God who is alive, real, and active, and how no matter what happens in life, He is there, close, and comforting. The day turned out really great, and we trusted God for another opportunity.

The bus company claimed there was some mix up, and I won’t go into details, but we arranged again for them to take us on the 15th of Dec.

God’s provision is amazing. I was offered biscuits from Harvest, and when I said I would love some for our Umfolozi trip, they asked me how many kilograms I wanted!! We ended up being given almost 40kg of biscuits to our kids!! Great Stuff.

I was sitting in a Harvest service, and started chatting with the couple next to me, who, when they found out who I was, asked if our kids needed drinks for anything. I told them about the upcoming Umfolozi trip, and they then told me to come and collect 300 drinks from their shop that Tuesday!! Thank you Lord.

So, the day was unbelievable!! Everything went so well, and so smoothly. The buses even arrived, it was fantastic! At the end of a magic day, we had 150 blessed children of God, 3 out of the big 5 sighted, great weather, enjoyed by all, LOTS of food and sweets destroyed, combined with some rally car driving at times, equalled 2 kids throwing up, more great animals, 1 great educational movie, lots of noise, even more excitement and an exhausted group of Impendulo leaders. I want to say a big thank you to all who were involved with this day, and for playing part in one of my dreams coming true: Taking and educating children in Africa’s beauty.

We ended off the year on a very high note, and we look forward to going in 2010 to show our community ‘a New Way’, our theme for next year.

Much love and be blessed

Richi

*********************

Testimonies for 2009

Sindi (Leadership Team/Youth Leader) – I want to thank God for what He has done for me. I want to start about what happened on Wednesday. I never believed Cebi, my younger sister, would ever wash my feet. Secondly, I used to watch people praying for the sick, and I never believed I would be able to pray for the sick, but He is now showing me to pray for the sick, and I accept His word and guidance. I have learned that in the team, whatever happens, good or bad, I have learned that I have made a decision, and you mustn’t change your decision but stick to the decision to continue. Perseverence. Lastly, I want to thank God that He chose us as a team to be able to work for Him.

Nu - Firstly I would like to thank the team for being together, and even though difficulties came, even though I was involved in some of them, God told me to persevere and come back. Thirdly, reading the bible helped me a lot, even though my heart was hard, the bible taught me a lot, and even though I thought of terrible things, my heart softened. Fourthly and lastly, I would like to thank God for learning about the 7 habits, and the Cherish course, they helped me so much.

Makhosi – Firstly, I would like to thank you all for the opportunity to join the team. I want to thank Gogo for inviting me to come, I didn’t notice much about what was happening, and I was very busy, but Gogo encouraged me to come and be a part of what was happening here. It also helped me to be full time on the team. It has made a difference to be full time here. Before I used to be a person who didn’t take notice of most things happening, but I have learned to be a person that takes notice of what is going on. The importance of praying, I can now see, I used to go to bed without praying, but now I don’t forget, and it helps me a lot with all the problems I face. God has helped me a lot in my life and I can see a difference. Praying for people, I can now see is so important. I was encouraged to do that by being in this team. I don’t want to go back anymore, and next year I want to be a part of what this team is doing! Even though along the way to a meeting on Wednesday with my bible, people ask me where I am going, and I tell them I’m going to the team meeting and people ask me ‘don’t I read my bible in church on Sunday already?’ Also I know God will help me and I will never look back.

Cebi (worship team/youth ministry) – I want to start with the differences I have seen in my sister Sindi. I don’t remember the date, but I remember I had a problem with my voice, and I couldn’t sing. I asked sindi to pray, and as sindi prayed, i was released and the chains were unlocked, and I can see Jesus is living in Sindi as it was His power in her. The difference I have seen in my life, I used to be moody, most people know, I used to hate being around people, and most of the time I wanted to cry, and I have prayed to God, and now I can sit with people without a problem. I now want to say I’m sorry to people when I have done wrong. I am now able to go to the people to say I have been wrong. Now to humble myself, when I’m talking to people, I used to want to show people who I am, but now I’m able to humble myself when talking to people. Also, being afraid of people and being shy, I used to be afraid even of singing, I used to worry about what people will say about me, but now I am able to sing as I want to, I know who I am worshipping. When we are praising, God now will show me things I need to say, and God often wakes me up to tell me things, and God prompts me to do this. I spoke to Sabelo and we prayed about it, and now I am able to do it and show God the glory as He wants me to do. Before, when I was young, I used to hate playing with kids, and I grew up with it. Now I can sit with other people and have fun, and I love the kids so much now. I am able to share the love of God with people, outside of the team, but people overpower me with words when I am speaking to them. That is my prayer. Also, to love people, I used to choose who I was going to love, but people doing bad things, I used to hate them. Thoks has taught us, that everyone has been designed to serve God. Some scriptures in the word have started giving me understanding and are becoming my favourites. John 14v In my Fathers house are many rooms. I carry it in my mind wherever I go, and that I will persevere, so I will see what God has prepared for me. Impendulo means a lot to me, and God made a way for me to stay here. If it wasn’t like that I would have gone astray a long time ago. It has changed my life, Thank you Impendulo. Before I used to see what other people would share, and I used to long for that gift, that God puts things on people’s hearts, and now I have that gift. God is really here, He is really REALLY here. He has shown me. What I am praying for is that I must not doubt Him. He is here.

Thenjiwe (Leadership Team/House ministry) – Some of you here, will remember last year, when we closed last year, that I said I want to know and learn more about God. I will stick to God no matter what happens to me. In Psalms 119v71, David says, “I am supposed to go through suffering,” This was the same David who was anointed by God to be King of Israel.” I have learned His commands in the most difficult way, but I will always love and serve Him. I just want to thank all of you for your prayers and all your help, from the time Ephraim got very sick, til the time he passed away. It was always in my heart, that even if he died, I worried most about his soul. I asked Jesus Christ to heal his soul. I believe my Jesus did that for me, because by the time he was in hospital, whenever we visited him, he would cry saying we mustn’t leave him behind. I knew he was so scared that he might die, and he didn’t have anyone to accompany him to a better place. He knew he hadn’t accepted the one Jesus Christ. He knew he would get lost and the angel of darkness would take him to the dark. There is a song I love to much, and I can’t sing in front of people, but I do sing it alone. It is a song in Zulu, which says, “We have arrived in the Jordan River, please be with me when I cross the river.” One time we visited Ephraim, he said I have just prayed and asked God to forgive me. I am ready for him. I want you to know that Ephraim hated Impendulo so much, but by that day, he said, even if he is going, Impendulo will take care of us. I couldn’t believe my ears, for the first time when we were praying, he was praying like crazy, and I stopped praying and was listening to his prayers. He was connected with God. From there he was no longer crying when we visited him. In turn, it was us who were crying and he was comforting us and saying he was going to rest. He would always ask for Impendulo and encouraging us not to leave Impendulo, and the afternoon on the 16th of April, Impendulo were the last people he asked for when he passed away the following day. I just want to tell you guys, especially the youth, aids is there, don’t listen to any lies about it! It kills, and that’s why I lost Ephraim. It is not just Ephraim alone. I have lost lots of relatives and friends, and still many friends and relatives ill with HIV. It is so painful, but I put my trust in the Almighty God, and I thank Him that He is always there for me. Just to encourage those who haven’t accepted Jesus in your life, know that it is so painful that you are going away, and there is no-one to take you to rest. Jesus says,” I am the way and the truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” I was in the same place when I had my first epileptic seizure. I am sorry that maybe some of you didn’t know, but I couldn’t close my eyes, because I was so scared I might die. It is so difficult to go to a place you have never been before, especially if there is no one to accompany you. You can ask anyone to accompany you anywhere in this world, but when you leave this place, there is only one who can accompany you, the Almighty Jesus Christ! He is the only one who will take you to the everlasting, hand in hand! I can’t imagine those happy days, but that is what He promises us in Revelation 21. He also emphasises in v 27 that nothing that is impure, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, will enter the city.” Is your name written now? If not, … I will quote John 14v6… I will leave this question to everyone. Where are you prepared to go after this life?

Nonku (House Ministry) – I would like to share about the Purpose Driven Life. I have learned a lot throughout this year. I learned mostly about the part, that there is no one like me, anywhere in the world. People will an amazing voice, etc, I would want to be like that… but now I know that God has created me, the way He wanted me to be. I also learned a lot about serving God with the talents He has given us. We must serve Him the shape He has given me to use. I also learned on the house visits before, I never used to want to go and share with people who are suffering, even though I have nothing I have learned that there is something I can offer them. I alos learned that God has blessed me, and has blessed us, but before I used to wish for everything, I used to wish for a nice house, etc, but I have learned that God has blessed me, with a roof over my house, and that God has actually blessed me. I have learned that Mary was the most blessed woman on the earth, and we don’t hear of her having wealth. During the HIV training, I learned that we, who call ourselves Christians, should love those who are infected with HIV and aids and we must show kindness to them. I want to bless Sindi, gogo and Thenjiwe, for a sisterhood, and they have given her child new shoes. And I saw a huge difference in Sindi and Cebi, and they used to laugh out of the blue at strange time and it concerned me. But now they don’t laugh anymore.

Winnie – God has loved me and kept me. I want to thank the team for what they’ve done in community and Macambini. They are true parents to people of the community and in my life. I have learned a lot about speaking about the Word of God. I thought it was only supposed to happen on Sunday, but here we speak about the word of God, wed Sat, and everyday. I have learned to speak, I used to be quiet, but now I can share about God. I have learned also to not covet other people’s things, and have learned to be satisfied with what God has given me.

Hlengiwe (Creche) – Thank God for making this day possible. I saw in 2008 the love of the team. Learned a lot and God showed me He loves me. Even when I’m alone reading scriptures, or spoken badly about someone, God convicts me and I go to apologise. Most of the time I pray for the team, and relatives, and God gives me pictures and visions. Usually when I’m praying I ask God to give the team strength to carry on through tough times, and in hospital I prayed and saw some things that weren’t good in the team, and also when problems came in the team, and some wanted to go away from team, God showed me that I must persevere and continue to go on. Picture of 2 men fighting, and one offered quick results, I believe it was Satan, and the other said we must press on. I believe that was God. I have learned to forgive. Not to hold grudges. Lots has happened that I can’t explain. When the year started I didn’t think I would end the year with the team. I have learned a lot from Rich and Thoks about forgiving people. God has taught me to always forgive people. I pray that God would continue to give this team power to continue to go all through Macambini. I pray they will continue to soar

Hopewell – I want to thank the team that I have been a part of this year. I was not able to always be here but my heart has always been here. My vision for next year is to be able to teach people in rural areas, who don t have TV and access to information etc, about how to take care of their lives, and HIV and all these things. I want to thank those who are involved in house visits. They are doing a great job, never hold back and look back. No matter what people say, they are doing a great job and must keep doing a great job!! Happy Christmas and happy New Year.

Syabulela – Firstly have to say thank you for this opportunity. I have learned a lot being with this team. I have learned how to sit and socialise with people. I used to be on my own and afraid to be with lots of people. And what has changed is that I used to like to drink a lot and that has changed. I have also learned a lot, my eyes were opened, when I got involved with people who were doing house visits. I used to think I was suffering, and I have sent hat there are people in a lot more need than I am. Lastly I want to say I can now read the bible!

Sihle – I knew about this team before, and wasn’t a member, but now I am, and I can see that this is a team that is doing good things. God loves this team because of the work that this team is doing around the community. I want to thank the members of this team that have been here for a long time, for persevering, and may God bless you for what you are doing. Lastly I want to thank this team for what they did for my house. They came and prayed for my grandmother and gave us a food parcels and blessed us, may God bless you all.

Goodie (Gardening project) – This year I want to thank the team for everything, and all the people who are leading different ministries. They are doing hard work and I want them to continue next year. This year I saw unity, and I saw young people loving old and vice versa. What I have learned individually, is about the 7 habits, and what I have learned to put 1st things 1st and I have to make decisions to make things right and stick with them.
Thank you Rich and let’s go in with the same spirit into 2010.

Sibahle (Worship leader) – This year we said that we want to make a difference. Firstly I said I want to make a difference in myself before I make a difference for others. When we went to white river to learn about leadership, we were taught about godly leadership, there I told myself that I wanted to be a godly leader, and I pointed it towards myself and said I want to be a godly leader. In the Purpose driven life purpose #7 on how we can worship God, made me decide that this year I want to worship God with the lifestyle that I’m living. I am looking forward to next year and I cant wait to continue with what I have started!!

Sabelo (Leadership Team/School ministry) – I thank God that He has been with us all through the year and He shows us how much He loves us through the strength that He gives to us… the same strength that we must give to people in the community. I want to thank Thoksy with the help that he gave to me. I brought an issue to him and he prayed for me, and I have seen God help me with that situation. I thank God that He brought me to Impendulo so that I can learn about the 7 Habits, the HIV training and the Purpose Driven Life. Especially ‘7 habits’ and PDL have helped me so much in driving myself. I thank God that He has given me more strength, and that He has sent me to school to do school ministry, and I have seen Him help me when I’m suffering sometimes, and I have seen Him continue to help me. I thank Leigh and Richi for helping me to try to have a better life, as I suffer with epilepsy, and they always try to make my life better. I thank the whole team for praying for me, at the time when the attacks got really bad, when you came to me at home. I hope to see God helping us to have more strength in the future, not focussing too much on FIFA but more on people. We have shown people how much they need God, and they need us to continue. Thank you so much.

Gogo (Leadership Team/House Ministry) – I would like to thank my lovely God for keeping me to this time of the year. He has taught me so many things that have helped my life. I am thanking God He is great to me!! To have people in the Imepdnulo team that have helped me with so many things in the bible. Thank you for the book called PDL, that book changed my life so much more than before. All that was written in there taught my heart a lot from chapter 20: 2 Corinthians 5:18 ‘God has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships”.
I was also so happy to be at the nature reserve on the weekend at the nature reserves with our brothers and sisters who blessed us with the word of God. People from Harvest came and showed us Jesus and the cross. We learned a lot from them. Goodie our teacher showed us a new way of making gardens. Well done my son. God bless you. Thank you to our leaders, Richi and Thoksy, I am encouraging you for what you did in my life. People came from Pretoria for HIV and aids, thank you to them. Thank you to our women’s leader Leigh, bless you until we meet again next year amen halleluyaah!!!

Cecilia – Thank you so much. I thank God for these months I have been with you. I have learned a lot. I knew a way of God before, but when difficulties came, I didn’t know how to pray to God, but now I know how to pray to God through tough times. I have learned so much about God in this team.
I want to thank Rich and God, for showing Rich to come and work in our place. He could have gone to any place but he came here. He has enlightened us about the Kingdom of God, and I have learned a lot. I want to thank Leigh because in the past we know what happened between blacks and whites but you guys show us love and a different way. Thank you. I want to thank Imepndulo for praying for me. I was asked to bring a problem to the team, and I told thoks about my son who had no money for tertiary education and the team prayed, and after a few months he got a job and the same thing happened with my daughter. God answered prayer. I would like to thank the team who are doing house visits. When BBC was here they went to Ntuli’s house and we saw the problems and I want to pray for power, so that this team can continue to help the people who are suffering.

Mostly I want to thank Rich for what he is giving to the team, supplying food parcels, and clothes etc to bless the community with. This is helping people so much. I would like to say, my wish for next year, is that we get involved in sharing the gospel in prisons. I would like it if we can organise the team to go visit Shelembe in jail. Lastly I want to thank Rich, for what he is doing, and God for giving him such a wonderful man, who is interpreting (Thoks), who, while Rich was away, did a great job of looking after us and treating us well. Thank you.

Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi – A few things I would like to thank for; things that have changed my life. I used to think that you pray on Sunday only, but now I know that you can pray anytime. I want to see God continue to remove the things that are not of Him in my life.
I can also see a big difference in my life and in my family. I used to think that it was only old people who can talk to God. I then saw people in the team doing it, praying and talking to God, and now I am doing it and the people in my family are blessed, because the team prayed and helped my family, and before we used to get muthi, and now we know we can turn to God and to prayer, and now my mom asks for the boys to come pray for her when she is sick. I want to thank Impendulo for what they have taught me. I pray that next year God will help me to persevere because I used to have a bad temper, and I can also see that physically I am starting to get well, because I used to struggle with stress at home, but God is helping me.

Thembisile (House Ministry) – Thank you so much God for your power. I see the answers of my prayers from 2008 to 2009. I have seen many of them answers. Some lacking but will continue to trust Him. I also will never forget the people who took me into this team. They took me from the craft centre and into this team. Rich and Jabs. Those are the people who made it possible for God to make a difference in my life. I was going to church but there were a lot of things lacking in my life. I didn’t know when they came to tell me they want me to be a part of what God was doing; I didn’t know that this was when God was going to help me. Sometimes there are difficulties and during those times is when you are able to see the power of God, you may think God wants to punish you, but He is moving you from one position to another. I often have difficulties, but they do pass. When they pass I thank God, because I wouldn’t have known the power of God, and that He is able! I thank the team for helping the Thusi family. They had a difficult time but when the team prayed, God answered and the family started to get their hope back in God. I also would like to thank Rich and Leigh. When a young girl of that family passed away, we had a trip to Durban arranged, but they had nothing for the funeral the next day and with the power of God, we managed to arrange something, and still today they are still thanking God. Also being part of the team, I have been involved in house visits and many other things, and even leading a funeral, and the power of God has helped me, and now that family even wants to come and see what is happening in this team. The other guy from the same family was in hospital and we went to visit him to pray for him. He said he wants to meet us again. Maybe he will come to the team. I also want to thank God for the op to be in the reserve with different people, and from JHB, and to welcome them and get to know them. Also the courses of Habits and PDL, have taught me a lot and have helped me a lot. I have been able to share them with another guy from another church, and I have been able to pass on the knowledge that I have been given. Thank you all my brothers and sisters, all of you, for the life of my sister here, Zama. I used to pray for her, and we lived by prayer, and every day we prayed, and right now you can see the power and the results of prayer! I would like to thank God for Sindi and Thenji and for what they are doing. One day I was praying and I saw a vision of them and me in a relatives’ home and we went to pray. Then I didn’t understand that vision, but now I have understood. As we now see they are a part of the leadership, God has blessed them, and is raising them, and we can see God doing his workl. Sindi used to laugh out of the blue, but I thank God for what He is doing now raising her as a real leader and I bless these women. Lastly I would like to say that I would like to see the kids doing drums, and many other things.

Gogo Miriam (this woman is a classic!!) – I am so happy. ‘Sit down Thoks.’ No translation from you. I told my husband I’m going with Rich. He asked why? I told him that his food is ready at home and now I can go with the Impendulo team.
So I have learned a LOT in this team. I have learned that I have a gift, and I know I can sing, and I can pray. Rich asked us if we knew our gift, and taught us about spiritual gifts.
Impendulo, we are the answer! I am a full member now; last year I was with you only a few days, now I am a full member. What I want now is to come over to 2010, I have 76 years, and I love you all here. Everyone must open their hearts, so that God must come inside. In my church I don’t go sometimes, but I know that it’s ok because Rich has told me that every hour, not only on Sundays, we can be with God. I am now talking to God more than just Sundays. I am very glad and very pleased to be a member of this team. I also thank you for what you have done for me. You came and planted a garden for me. I just weed them, and now I’m eating. Through you! Your work is very good. Next year I must get another garden. When I’m at home, I’m praying for the house visits, even if I cant go on them because I’m old. They are very good. I heard the other day, you took the people from Khuzwayo’s house to Stanger. Without money. I thank you. Many houses don’t have food, and now they are getting food. It is very good.
Rich, who told you to come to this place in Macambini? Thank you very much. God bless you!

Leigh (Leadership team/women’s ministry) – Last year Dec/Jan I wasn’t in a good place. 2008 was a very hard year. I was in a place where I felt the house in my life had been broken down to the foundations. I didn’t understand God anymore. I had walked with him for 30 yrs but I didn’t understand him anymore. I didn’t know how to pray. I had no answers. I knew He was with me and that he loved me but knew nothing else. Through this year, I look back and I am amazed at what God has done. I am so thankful because He has restored so much. I am now starting to have new visions, new dreams and a new hope. He has showed me who I am in Him. It’s been a hard year, but a good year, and I know that I have come out of the desert. It has been a wonderful privilege for me to work with this team. So thankful not in Kloof at a desk but I am here. To the ladies I want to say thank you to each one of you. I have learned so much through watching each one of you. You are the hardest workers I know I have seen God through the course of this year work in each one of your hearts. Through very tough circumstances you have let God work in your hearts and with difficulties with other women you have worked through that, I am very proud of you. My prayer for 2010 is that we keep this unity in the team, that we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus no matter what happens, and I am excited because I see God is doing deep work in this team since Richi started and I sense God has some Big things for us. God has been laying the foundations and now there is a new thing happening! Thank you all of you!

Sdu (Leadership Team/Youth Leader) – It did not start as an easy year for me as my dad passed away at the end of 2008. We are told as Zulu men not to cry, but it affected me in a big way and affected my work a lot and was really hard. Also working with the team and kids, it affected the work I am doing, as I acted as if everything was ok, but when I was alone, there was no peace, and the way I dealt with it, was not right. I used to get angry a lot of the time, and it was not easy for me. I would like to thank the team, and especially Sabelo, because he spoke to me about the tough times coming so we can go to the next level. Not to crush us, but so we can grow to the next level. Also Rich came and spoke to me, that I must take this time and let go, and not act like everything is ok, and I can cry, and from there on, things started to get better, and my work started to get better, and I started to grow again. Also, I thank God, because there are a lot of things He has done. I hope he has used me to change a lot of the kids and to teach them about Him. I also got baptised this year which was a great blessing to me. I want to thank God for the friends I have, like Thoks, because even when we are playing, they challenge me when I’m not doing things right, because they help me a lot. I also thank God for everything that has happened this year, all the places we have been, and all the courses we have learned., and I hope that next year, we are really going to show people a NEW WAY, as God has showed us a new way. Lastly I would like to thank everyone who kept praying for the team because their prayers are doing a great thing even if they are not noticed.

Nsizwa – I want to thank God for the opportunity He has given me. I want to thank you all for what you have done in my life. Firstly I thank God for preparing a family like this to come into. I did not know I would come into something like this. Thank you to people for loving me despite the things I was doing. Thank you for people who persevered with me through tough times. I want to thank Thoks for always encouraging me in every way, even if I am going astray and I don’t feel like going to church, because I used to want to be alone, but by him encouraging me I have been able to meet with guys like sdu and sibahle. There is a lot that I have learned being with this team. Before I used to believe in ancestors, but being with this team, and with the guys, I have learned that it is not what we need in our life. Also I used to only love people I know but I have learned to love people even that I don’t know. Also I have learned to put God first. Before, I used to only worry about soccer on Sundays, and now I want to go to church and I have seen that putting God first is something I want to do in my life.

Brenda – I would like to thank God for being able to be a part of this team. I am a shy person but I have been given the opportunity to be with these people. I really want to thank Sindi, she helped me a lot. It was my younger sister who used to talk to her. One day she asked me how I was and I explained to her, what was happening. Sindi is now a part of my life and she has helped me a lot when I have had difficulties, and I ask God to bless her for what she has done in my life. I would like to thank God for what He has done for me in difficult times. I started to seek help for my younger sister’s grant in June, but only when I moved from one that place I was living in, because He saw that if I stayed under those circumstances things would not get better, and then when I moved from there, everything happened so quickly. Thank you God! I want to serve him with everything… Rich shared on wed we must give ourselves completely to God, and I have decided I want to do that. Even when tough times come, I want to serve him with everything…
I want to thank the whole team of Impendulo, may God bless you and continue what you are doing…

Xoli – I would like to thank God for everything He has done in my life. I used to worry about a lot, but since I joined this team, I have learned not to worry. Thenjiwe came and gave my family clothes, and God has blessed us with a grant for our kids, and everything is happening in my life!
I want to thank gogo for encouraging me to come on Wednesdays and Saturdays to Impendulo and God has done so much in my life… I want to keep coming…

Thoks (Elder/Leadership team) – So much has happened in my life individually and also in the team. So I’ll give highlights and a summary:
This year started and I said to God that I am all yours, do whatever you want with me. From there God started an amazing journey with me with a lot of challenges along the way. But I can see now that He was preparing me for His purpose for my life and it was not easy for me but there were things that needed to be cleared out of my life so that there could be a space for God.

I remember a couple of times talking to Rich with tears running down my face because of the things I’ve done and I wanted to do no more. That’s what happens when you give God control in your life. He shows you the things that are not pleasing to Him and then it is up to you to decide whether you get rid of them or not.

But when you do, there is a blessing that comes from it. You become alive and God starts to nurture your gifting. That is what happened to me. This year God unlocked something powerful in me, a deeper understanding of His word. And He gave me direction in my life. If you think you have heard enough of me preaching to you, you haven’t heard anything yet. I’m going to be preaching to you all the time, even when you are sleeping, because that’s what God has showed me is His purpose for my life.

This year for me is the year which, from being with the team, God has been preparing me for. His ultimate purpose that He formed this team for; THE NEW WAY.

In this team I have got to see God doing amazing work in the life of the individuals. There are so many things that could take me the whole day to mention. That we have learned and done together. Like the leadership training, HIV & Aids training, soccer and dancing with Sean and Jillian, days in Zimnkwazi and lots LOTS of other good things. And we had a lot of groups coming to work with us here, the olive tree guys built a house for mkhulu, the crawfrod kids doing gardens, the BBC beauts, and the Harvest Champs.

I’ve seen God using this team to make a difference in the lives of so many people in this community and other places. This team means a lot to many families and kids. We’ve been the answer to so many problems they have faced. Lastly, this team means a lot to me. Through this team I’ve come to know what it means to be truly loved. This team has become more than a family to me and through this team I have found life in Jesus Christ. I just want to say all of you guys have had a BIG impact on my life whether you know it or not. I love you all!!

Rich (Elder/Leadership Team) – wonderful year – look at the difference God has made in our lives, and what we have done to so many. God has rewarded our hard work, and we are seeing the most amazing results. Those who have been here from the start, and those who have committed to being here through the good and bad, are going to see God doing the most amazing things in our lives, and in our community. When God builds something, nothing can stop it. Nothing! Get ready for God to show you more than you ever dreamed of. Jesus’ death on the cross was for this, for us to see His kingdom come, on earth. This is what we have started to see, and as long as we persevere, we will always see it. Unity, truth, family, relationships, the power of the Holy Spirit, will bring His kingdom.

Honoured Thoks for being reliable and solid in God, Leigh for making so much happen, ministry leaders for great work, home ministry team for being such a blessing to community, kids club leaders because its been my dream from the start of this ministry to raise children of God, and God’s dream too and we have trusted them with this massive task because we love them, believe in them and they have been placed there! They will change thousands of kids, and will be known around the world for their work.
Spoke over gogo’s heart being softened, over Sabelo with a heart of David, over Sya that 2010 will be the most significant year of his life spiritually, over Cebi, Sibahle and music ministry to dream big, and team to travel.

I want to see all our ministries growing, and getting stronger and deeper. The leaders looking at raising others to help with their work. That we would continue to be true family, full of fathers, sons, mothers daughters, brothers and sisters. I want each member of Impendulo to be a leader, and raising up at LEAST one person, in the ways of God.

Let’s not get silly this season but come back overflowing so that there is a Holy Spirit explosion when we return in Jan. This season we are the light, and next year, our word for our year of showing them ‘A New Way’, is that we are the very light of Jesus to this world.

I love you all, my heart is here. God showed me in Uganda that this is my home. I will be changing my life next year as I get more onboard at Harvest, so 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off, but this is where my heart is at, and we must get ready for great things!!

My dream for 2010 is that we will walk in the fullness of God, unashamed, bold, and ready for anything, speaking only life, trusting only in God’s goodness and grace, and allowing Jesus Name to be glorified through our lives.

I think every Christian should visit Uganda, to be inspired and encouraged to see that for “His Kingdom to come, on earth as it is in heaven” is possible.

For those who don’t want to read this very long update and just read a few testimonies, I will put some stars *** at the beginning of the paragraphs that will probably be the most impacting, and you can enjoy that, else, bear with me and I trust you will get a picture of how amazing things are here. It is a very long update, but I can’t withhold from sharing in detail what God is doing, it’s too good!
(Don’t skim read though, either read it in portions over some time, or just read a few sections properly, I pray God is going to minister deeply to you through this)

There is a strong sense of God’s presence everywhere and His Spirit is working and moving powerfully. Wherever you go, people are walking around with bibles, speaking and sharing the word of God, and having prayer meetings. All the children at school aspire to be pastors more than anything. Most Ugandans are a gentle people of love, and of wisdom. MANY of these poor families have taken in and adopted many children, out of the Father Heart of God. So many of these people live lifestyles aimed at serving the poor, even though they are poor. I have never been served better, or treated better in my entire life and it’s incredibly humbling. They are so friendly and respectful, welcoming you wherever you go, kneeling to serve you, in joy, not in fear or obligation. They have bought most of my drinks, and meals, given me the best room and bed, daily heated up water for me to bath, offered to wash clothes, and shoes, and more. This is God’s desire for this world. People living in love.

Since I have been here, I have never preached, taught, prayed, prophesied and worshipped so much in my whole life, as I have in the last 5 days!!! It’s been one constant church service wherever we go.

For the first 3 days, I was sent by Wilson, to his brother’s church, to minister for 3 days. His brother, Pastor Edward, said they were going to get everything they could out of me in my time there. They did just that. We started off with a 5 hour service on Sunday, Spirit filled, and the anointing of God over the meeting was so tangible. This church was planted 4 months ago, but already has 60 members, a large number who have only been saved in these 4 months! Amazing.
The following2 days, we did house ministry, where God took me to another level in the prophetic. We were all amazed at what God did. I was able to speak accurately into many lives, and many people were completely overwhelmed at God’s goodness, as He spoke directly into their situations. Some were brought to tears as the Holy Spirit did His work, intimately, touching the inner part, and how encouraging for me that God used me to do this. I would like to share a few examples:

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As we were speaking with one lady, God revealed to me very clearly that there was an issue in her life. I knew it was with a man (quite hard to describe how I knew). I told her that she was facing some kind of difficult situation with a man in her life, and there was a real problem there. I told her it was a burden and that God was saying that she needed to make the harder, but the right decision. That this situation was only going to get better if she did what she knew was right. It took all the faith I had to say this. What right did I, this white boy from South Africa, who knows NOTHING about her, sitting in HER lounge, have to say anything to her about her choices in her life. She was a woman in her 50’s, and I wasn’t even sure exactly what the word meant. She also did not respond in ANY way, and I thought the word missed the mark, and that I had not heard clearly from God. About 5 minutes later as we were walking down the road, both the pastors turned to me, as I was sharing (a little despondently) how sometimes we can get it wrong in the prophetic, but then they asked how I knew what had spoken to her about. They told me they got very scared as I shared that word, and were very worried that the woman was going to think that they had told me about her situation. They said that the word had been deadly accurate, and that they both been so worried that I would continue deeper into the problem because there was no way that she would believe that I was not told about this. They both smiled and were so stoked that God was at work there and both were laughing at what they went through. I must say I was very relieved as they confirmed the word to be from God.

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At another house, as we ministered over about 20 people, individually, praying for each one, God gave me a very clear picture for one woman before she even came forward for prayer. I saw her trying on many shoes, and wanting all of them, but not being able to decide which ones she liked. It seemed she want them all, not just one pair. I felt God said she must choose one, and trust that they are the best, and they will be. I had no idea what it meant. As the one pastor spoke with her then prayed with her (all in Luganda), I then shared the picture. They again were surprised, because they explained to me she was not born-again, and was saying she was deciding and considering the Kingdom but did not want to make a decision today but felt that she might soon. As I shared the word, we could all see it impacted her deeply. As we left, we left some money with the woman of the house, a member of Eddie’s church, and asked her to find out the woman’s favourite colour, and buy her a pair of shoes as a gift from God. We all know she will choose to follow Christ and are so encouraged at the Lord’s ways.

In another house, while we ministered over some people, a young married girl came in, and told us she wanted to be born again. We asked if she truly knew what it meant, and after what she shared, we had no doubt. The conviction of the Holy Spirit in her as group of believers ministered over one another in a house, as well as the testimony of the woman of God who owned the house, had brought her to that final point, of deciding she wanted Christ. We prayed with her, spoke life over her, and celebrated as another one entered the kingdom of heaven!!

We also prayed over a young girl who is crippled from a surgical procedure. I encouraged her with the testimony of Joni Ericson Tada, and then also had a prophetic word for her. She came to the conference the next day, beaming from ear to ear, and said that God had encouraged her incredibly through our ministry.

There were so many others like this, but I’m trying not to make this too lengthy!

I was asked to speak with the children of this church, about 40 of them, and I taught them that because of the cross, we can be best friends with God.

I then spoke with the youth, shared my testimony, and shared some ideas about the creativity of God, and how He wanted to use them in exciting and different ways in the community.

I had a chance to speak to the ladies ministry. God had put on my heart very strongly, to speak to them about their identity in Christ, about their beauty, and how God sees them. I shared that a woman who has her identity in Christ, is truly a woman of God’s power. I also knelt down in front of them, and repented and asked for forgiveness on behalf of all the men in their lives that had ever hurt them, or broken them in any way. It is so powerful what God does in moments like this… I got to see God speak right into the lives of some of these women, who clearly had been hurt, and got to see God restoring something in them.

After another powerful celebration on the last night of the conference (this conference was held with me as the guest speaker for 3 days, into all the ministries… no pressure Rich) where I taught on living a Spirit-filled life, I had a time with the leadership of the church. There are 10 elders, men and women, and we sat and I shared what I felt God had for them as a family. This leadership has a spiritual depth and wisdom as solid as any I have ever seen in my life. Such love, humility and godliness. I shared on vision, accountability, relationships within the leadership and other churches, strategy, creativity, and leadership development. It was a great time together, and then they gave me gifts, and prayed a wonderful blessing over me before I left.

Wherever I have been, I have become family with those I have visited. I stayed with another family, whose house was so clean and well kept, and I was so moved, as they even had late night bible readings with the whole family, little children too. It’s hard to explain the feeling of sitting with a child, perhaps around the age of 10, talking about the Love of Jesus, the cross, the Holy Spirit, and the life we are called to live. These children know the Lord. And wherever we are, there is prayer and true fellowship, in every way.

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I am right in the middle of a township, just like you would picture an east African township. It is very dirty; it’s sometimes very noisy, and the streets have a thick cloud of black smoke from MILLIONS of old cars and bikes in sometimes worse than JHB traffic! I have had to trust God with my chest, as it really does affect my asthma badly, but we press on.
I am used to pit toilets, and bucket baths, so that has not been too much of a challenge, but they are all so surprised to see a white man accepting and joining in their living conditions. Sadly, they are only used to the whites who stay in the fancy hotels, then come preach in the poor communities, and disappear back to the hotels. The food has been a challenge at times, and at others it has been some of the most delicious I’ve ever tasted. Some of it is very similar to the Zulu food, which I love, but some is not as easy to enjoy. A lot of it is also fried: breakfast, lunch and dinner. So that is a challenge for me too, as I generally eat fruit and grainy food. Its nothing like our western comforts, I have to admit, but the joy of serving the Lord, makes it very easy to tolerate, and the love and humility of the people, gives such a desire to honour and love them and these times here are some of the deepest times in the presence of God I have ever experienced.

We then visited Kiboga, a very rural area, and also known as a very despised area because of the people that come from there. We were there last year, and were touched so deeply by God that our lives changed, so I asked Wilson to arrange a visit for us there again. The ministry we visited is led by a pastor, Joash, who has a heart for orphans, and they had been in a bus accident last year when we visited. We sat with them as they worshipped God and our hearts broke in their cries of desperation for their Father. When we arrived this time, I discovered that Joash, the pastor, had arranged a church meeting, and little did I know, that I was the guest speaker. I had spent the last 4 days preaching and ministering, and had not prepared a thing! I also couldn’t believe that people had taken off work, and school, to be there. The place was PACKED, with a LOT of people, adults and children. Well, God did something amazing in me, and I shared a word on the pearl, that the Kingdom of God is, and spoke for about 45 minutes, feeling the anointing over me, as I spoke on the joy of the Lord, and how we only truly find it, if its what we want more than anything in the world; to have a deep desire for Him over all things. I don’t know if you can relate, but maybe you will know that there are times when you can sense the presence of God so much, that you almost see in a 4th dimension. There is a quiet ‘holiness’ over the place, and in people’s hearts and eyes, you can see the Father doing His work. I watched as the Spirit of God spoke, challenged, convicted, encouraged, and blessed those whose hearts were seeking Him. Wilson shared a strong message after me, on how Abraham giving Sarah to pharaoh, is like a believer who uses the church for his own good. It was very profound. The place ended off with a joyful worship with everyone in the place jumping and dancing and singing for our King. It was fantastic.

God has really been using us (Wilson, Edward, myself and a few others), in connecting churches, speaking to leaders, and ushering a new move of God in bringing unity within the church here. This is Wilson’s heart, and it’s a privilege to take part in this. It has been challenging for me though because:

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God is definitely showing me that He wants to use me in an apostolic ministry here. I have been brought in to minister and work alongside many church leaders, and for some reason, they have been very challenged but encouraged by what I have brought. Wilson is seen as a spiritual father to many of the pastors here, and he really feels that I have much to share with the pastors that he works with, so he is using me to do just that. Wilson and I see heart to heart in the most incredible way. He reminds me so much of my late Pastor, Ian Gourlay, whom I loved, admired and respected so deeply. Wilson has the Father’s heart, and together, we have been sharing in excitement as God is giving us vision together for the future of the churches of these communities. I know I will be back again. (Probably more soon and more often than I had planned. These amazing men have already asked me if I would come back, if they could raise the funds for my air ticket. It was one of the most honoring, and humbling things I have even been asked)

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Today we experienced the heart of the Father, again!!
Wilson felt led to go and visit one house in particular, and we went to meet the guy along the street, and then took him to his house. As he first arrived at the car window, God spoke to me so clearly. I felt this guy had never felt what it REALLY feels like to be a son of God, that he lacked all confidence, and that he did not know his identity in Christ. I had no idea what God was going to do. We arrived at his house (he is a born again believer), met his beautiful young wife (Wilson had told she was not a born again believer), and went inside. I asked him to share his testimony. Wilson called the man’s wife in to sit and share in the ministry time. Real wisdom as we found later. As he shared, God started speaking to me about the mysteries of His kingdom. I got another picture of the guy, taken from the kingdom of darkness, placed in the kingdom of Light, but still bound and unable to mobilize. Like a car with the keys in the ignition but not turned on. He later went on to say that he was in spiritual bondage, that he had a fear in his heart, and that all his dreams to do great things in the kingdom were completely immobilized because of this fear and bondage. I all of a sudden felt a spiritual attack come over me, and anger, and the desire to lash out. It was bizarre, but thank God, I immediately recognized it was from the enemy, and in intense prayer in my spirit, overcame that, and was then bubbling with excitement as I knew felt the enemy was trying to stop the kingdom of God from advancing… but failed… BADLY!! He was utterly shamed in this situation as you will now read. As soon as the guy finished sharing, (he was in tears now, and very heavily oppressed), I was smiling from ear to ear. I couldn’t believe the joy and love pouring out my heart. You see, the enemy only attacks us when we are on the verge of breakthrough, so I knew that because he did not get the better of me, that we were about to see God move in power! Shame, for a few minutes, the poor guy couldn’t understand why this idiot was smiling at him, when he was so broken, but later he understood. I told him his life was about to change forever. I started to speak to Father’s heart over him. I explained true sonship, and how that revelation will flood in and overcome the spirit of fear. I started to speak to him about receiving God’s love over him, God’s acceptance of him, God’s grace over him, and that he no longer needs to fight to get through this. As I spoke about receiving; receiving sonship, receiving God’s grace and love, and receiving this gift from God, the Spirit of God hit him in power!! He started to weep, as God loved his son. He was crying, as God just ministered deeply into his heart, and we watched true spiritual deliverance as God just loved over him. His entire appearance changed and the joy of the Lord hit him. He looked at us in amazement, and said he knew he needed to be delivered, but thought he would have to fall to the ground, as a pastor ‘did deliverance’, but then he told us, that he had just been delivered and was free from spiritual bondage. God wasn’t finished. (I hear some of you saying C’MON!!)…
I then told his wife, that God was about to touch her life. That she was going to feel God in her heart for the first time. We explained the cross to her, no holds barred, and told her about salvation. She repented there and then, and asked Christ into her life. She was genuine about it, and we watched her husband, who had been praying for 2 and a half years, watch his wife enter the family of Christ then and there. God wasn’t finished. (AMEN!!)
God then wanted to restore this marriage. Wilson and I spoke life over the shame that was in the marriage. I spoke about one of the most impacting things I have ever seen, on the passion of the Christ, when Jesus, bloody, beaten and disfigured, is carrying the cross through the street. His mother, watching from an alley, sees Him fall and the cross crashes down on His head. She screams and runs up to Him, wanting to care for Him. He gets up, a picture of absolute pain and torture, and in a situation that seems to speak only of death says to her,” see mother, I make all things new…” BAAAAM!!! Our King sees the future, and knows that He can breathe life into anything, even His own body that met death. We spoke this heavenly principle over their marriage and took authority in His Name over it. Christ broke the enemy’s power, strongholds, and work over their marriage, and a new wine started to pour into them. We were able to watch, almost seeing the spiritual realm so clearly, as God raised the sun on a fresh spring morning of their marriage. We saw a man life change for eternity, in 3 different ways, and we walked out, feeling like we had touched heaven. In about 2 hours, God delivered a man from spiritual bondage, saved a wife, and restored a marriage. Jesus…

When we got home, one of the pastors was there, with a woman who needed counseling and prayer and they wanted me to do it. As I sat and listened, I think I panicked the most since I have been here in Uganda. Her husband had left her for another woman years ago and was living with her. She wanted him back, but did not know what to do. I stalled, as much as I could, crying out to my Father for wisdom, as this amazing, honorable woman, cried and trusted me with her heart. As I ministered the word, and God’s heart for her, He came through for me. After about an hour of counseling, prayer, advice, and ministry, God delivered this woman from this incredibly heavy burden, and she literally walked out with joy and laughter. She amazed me at her honour, forgiveness, faithfulness and her inner beauty. I desire a woman just like that and if that man does not repent, he will end up losing a true treasure from heaven. I was so grateful that God spoke over her. I had to give her some very tough advice, but in humility she received it, and I was blown away. These people walk with the Father like I have never seen anywhere else in the world.

We then went for fellowship and the breaking of bread with Wilson’s children at a cell group nearby. We ended around 9:30, an early end compared to all the other nights, and another FULL day of intense ministry.

We now have a few days ahead of home ministry, working with some new and developing churches, drawing alongside the leaders, and sharing God’s heart on the church as a family. Then I will be ministering to Wilson’s church, then in some schools as well, and will do another update mid week.

Please pray for my health, for my strength, that I will have wisdom, that I will continue to be so close to my Father, and that I hear His word and feel His heart clearly.

I love you all so much

In Jesus’ Name

Richard

We finished the Purpose Driven Life course and it had an impact on the team for sure.  It gives us 4 main purposes for being alive, and no doubt spoke into and challenged each one of us.  A great thanks to all those who donated the books to us!

We are also almost through our course on ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.’  This course has had a profound impact on the team and Sabelo Ndlovu in particular.  Because of this course, he followed a calling from God, and his life and ministry have catapulted in every way.  He is on fire for God, consuming the word daily, walking in such joy and grace, and has begun an incredible ministry in the schools in and around the village.  He has been preaching weekly at the schools, given us a great link with them, and is planning on setting up an SCA for next year at Somshogo High school.  Very Exciting!

Cebi, one of our youth leaders and part of our worship team, has also just exploded and has a great vision next year to show the Jesus film in schools, followed by a message and the Impendulo worship team leading in song.  She also is going to start a teen girls group at the school and will be teaching on purity, sex and identity.  Go God!

Olive tree church on Florida road recently came up for an outreach and donated and built a house for our very special (and a laugh a minute) Mkhulu, our old man in his wheelchair that we have been visiting and ministering to for years.  He is so grateful and constantly points up to Jesus thanking him for his gift and for what God is doing in his life.  Thank you Olive Tree!!  Go God!

We had an awesome experience taking some of the young adults away on a youth camp with harvest to the south coast.  God did powerful work there and our guys are starting to catch the vision of being carriers of the Holy Spirit and being able to release His power over one another in ministry.  Awesome.  Go God!

We had a woman by the name of Ruth Israel, working alongside YWAM, come and teach a 2- day course on a woman’s identity in Christ.  The course is called Cherish, and the women have been going through the course for the past few weeks and we trust that they will all come to know their beauty through this.  Go God!!

The Lord laid it on my heart to teach through the men of the old testament, to contextualise, and to draw out new testament truths from it, and I’ve been teaching through the life of David every week for the last 3 months.  It has been an incredible time and I have learned that when you really put your heart and mind into preparation, God honours that with the fruit that comes.  He honours commitment, and enjoys when we seek to do things with excellence.  Thank you Lord for this wonderful privilege.  I have also been asked to preach a few times at Harvest over the last season and have loved the opportunity.

We had the passionate, excited and joyful BBC crew come down for an outreach, and God met and far exceeded our expectations.  From our morning devotion times, and times in His presence in song and prayer, to the house visits, to the family time on the beach, to sundowners at the river, to having people from about 7 different churches working in unity, to the fun, to the vegetable gardening, to loving the kids, we were all amazed and inspired at what our Father did in and through us all. 

Scotty Sims in particular, carried such fire through that weekend, and alongside Thoks, played an integral part of ushering in God’s passion, fire, and joy, as we served in His Name and in His love.  Many of the first time BBC’ers also made a profound impact on the Impendulo team, as well as those who had been there before, were as always a massive encouragement to all of us here!!

I know all who came on that trip were touched deeply, and impacted eternally, and we also know that much was sown through the outreach!  Go God!!

At the beginning of October, we had Harvest come out on their first outreach.  We had been preparing for this for a while, and decided to trust God for great things.  During the house visits, the Harvest team did a beautiful work of washing the feet of the people we visited.  A beautiful picture of Christ’s love and humility.  We then geared up for the grand finale on Sunday where we invited the whole community to the peace centre, picked up bakkie loads of people from all the surrounding villages, and showed the Jesus film.  During the movie we served all the people soup and bread, followed by a message on how the cross brings salvation, healing and deliverance.  We then prayed for the people who responded to the word.  God moved in power as the body of Christ in Harvest and Impendulo worshipped God, and prayed for God’s love over the people.  We saw God do mighty things, and some were healed!  One of our favourite old men in the village, who has one leg, and HAD some really bad eyes, receiving injections weekly for his deteriorating eyesight, was given his sight back!  He no longer wears glasses and this has blown our minds.  He has been so excited, has been attending all our meetings, and keeps speaking of the power in the Impendulo team.  We keep reminding him that there is no power in us, other than that of Christ.  We have seen amazing results after this weekend and we are still enjoying the wonderful things God did that weekend!

Go God!!

Food parcels

House visits

Washing feet

The Impendulo team has taken incredible shape.  We have leaders of the following ministries, who are taking their positions very seriously and we are enjoying the fruit of good stewardship more and more:

Leadership – Thoks, Rich, Jabs

Worship team – Sibahle (playing keyboard and leading us through meetings in power and anointing), Cebi (with her angelic voice) and Sabelo

Youth pastors – Sdu and Sindi

Home care ministry – Gogo, Thenjiwe, Thembisile and Nonku (who report back to the leadership regarding the situation in the community and houses)

School ministry – Sabelo and Nondumiso

Garden project – Goodman

A quick testimony about some friends of mine:

By God’s appointment, I ran into an old wakeboard friend of mine in Kruger in January.  God reignited the friendship, and opened up the chance for me to speak into his life, spend a weekend with him and his girlfriend, and share about Christ.  Sadly, his father passed away 2 months ago, and since then, as our loving Father has his amazing ways, God has spoken to them, and they are now reading scripture, praying, and seeking to know God in spirit and in truth.  He no doubt is walking into a true relationship with Jesus, and I am so blown away again, at how our Father works.  He is love, and all we need to do is point people towards this amazing Love!  Go God!!

Finally, I am about to leave, actually by the time you get this will already be, in Uganda for a mission trip.  The crew that was originally going with me all pulled out, but I had the peace to know God wanted me to still go, so am going alone, to connect with Wilson and his church again.  I am going to be living in Wilson’s house in the township, and doing some intense ministry for 2 weeks.  I know we will be preaching daily, ministering in the communities, orphanages, maybe prisons, schools and so on.  I ask for prayer, and know that God will do great things.  Trust and believe with me, and I look forward to sharing some testimonies with you all!!

Much love in Christ!!

Prayer requests

• Please pray for the Impendulo team, we have been encountering some real spiritual oppression and opposition, and have seen even some demonic manifestations in our team.  We ask for you to stand with us in prayer that God’s love and power, will overcome all!

• Please pray for this trip in Uganda to bring such fruit, fire, and love to the people we are going to be ministering to, and that I learn even more about Him, and His kingdom.  Pray also for protection as I will be in some challenging areas, both physically and spiritually.

• Please pray for Sabelo, our very special friend, who has sadly suffered a very serious epileptic attack, and has been hospitalised and we do not know the prognosis.  We ask that you stand with us, asking our Father to bring him back with FULL healing, in Jesus’ Name!

• Please pray that Impendulo continues to find favour in the community and with the leaders.

In His Name

Rich

Kids club

Thoks has grown so much in the Lord. He shared such a powerful message on Saturday that really challenged us all there. He has a gift of wisdom, and God has been sharpening us all in the team, to tie up loose ends, and have everything together. We are tidying up and rearranging everything in the team and it’s exciting to see such progress.

I have been walking with Thoks and one of my desires and I know it is his too, is to see God impact his family. One of his older brothers helped and did most of the building for Thoks and my house, and so as a thank you, we took him away to Cape Vidal as a gift.
He doesn’t speak much English, but we had an awesome time connecting with him and deepening relationships there. God is slowly breaking through in so many areas.

We had the OM team doing HIV and aids training and the week spent with them was fantastic. We got to then teach in the schools and churches in the area, and a great impact was made. They were phenomenal in their approach and blessed us unbelievably!

We had the very special privilege of baptising Sdu, on a special day trip to Zinkwazi. He has really grown in the Lord too, and I believe God is taking him through a real season of maturation.

We had the interesting experience of being connected with Jaco Swart, a man who after nearly losing his life, and hanging on to a branch for 27 hours, made a promise to God that he would walk the entire borders of SA sharing what God had done, barefoot. He is better known to the public, through various newspaper and magazine articles, as Kaalvoet. See www.kaalvoetsolo.co.za

He spent 2 nights with us in the village and shared his testimony. It was very cool and special to be a part of his journey.

God has placed Impendulo on the map. He has strategically placed us where He wants us, and only time will show how incredible His plan really is.

Our men’s meeting in the village is going really well. It has changed many of the young guys’ lives and they all look forward to it and take it very seriously.

I was recently connected to another ministry in Shaka’s Head just north of Balito a little while ago, and immediately knew God had something planned. Impendulo was asked if we could take in 2 of their young people for a week of training and discipleship in working with the youth. The week has just ended and it was fantastic. The young people learned so much from the Impendulo team and the one guy did not want to go home because he was enjoying himself so much with the team. They will both be back in a month for more training. It’s amazing that the team now has so much to offer that other ministries are coming in for training!

I’ve been connected with another awesome young guy, Daniel Smither, from USA who is living in Umlazi and doing amazing work with the kids and schools in the area. We had him come and share in the village quite a while ago and he had a big impact on us. This last weekend we had arranged a soccer match for his boys vs ours. He arrived with 40 people and we had such a cool day together. Sdu did a great teaching, and Dan did a classic puppet show that had the kids glued to it, and the day was phenomenal! I’m proud to say that the Impendulo boys won 2-0! Haha… Pride being the key word…

We finally started the Purpose Driven Life course and I believe this book is going to do an amazing work in our hearts. We start our first teaching today, and already I have been challenged unbelievably! It is worth a read if you haven’t yet, and if you have, it’s worth another!!

This weekend we have Dr and Mrs Mckibbin coming to do a preach and the continuation of the 7 habits course. Really looking forward to that.

Please pray for God to continue this deep work in the team. We are definitely in a new season of purpose!

Please pray for continued unity.

Please pray for Jabs and his exams.

Please pray for favour in our community.

Girl Teens Bible Study

Teens Bible Study

Gorgeous Girls

Spinach

I’d like to start off with a quick story of something that happened a few weeks ago.  In my spare time, I monitor a crowned eagle nest here in Umhlanga.  I spend as much time there as I can and have become known around the birding community as the crowned eagle guy.  I was asked to do a tour to visit the nest.  (I am a qualified field guide).  On one of these trips, I made good friends with a wonderful Christian guy, Don Charles, from Ballito and we go birding together now from time to time.  He then brought his grandson with, and we got on great.  He is a cool young guy who is also passionate about wildlife, and we are mates now and go birding together sometimes.  Anyway, Don phoned me a few weeks ago and said he had to share this story.  His grandson, James, was with his brother and friend and they got into an argument.  The argument turned into a discussion about Jesus.  Don then watched how the discussion turned to James then asking Don to walk him through accepting Jesus into his life.  They had an intimate time together and James met Christ.  Later on, Don asked James what the reason was for him wanting to accept Christ, and James said it was from spending time with me, and that he wanted to do something similar with his life one day.

I was very moved by this, because I don’t remember ever talking to James about Christ, and know that it was not me, but the Holy Spirit Himself who had performed this miracle.  The exciting thing for me though, is that through this wildlife ministry that I dream of doing alongside Impendulo, I am seeing fruit already, even in the very little that I get to do.

Back to Impendulo, we had our very own Andrew Crole and his 7th Grade crew in the village last weekend from Crawford Preparatory North Coast, come to the village for their outreach experience.  Funnily enough, young James happened to be on this trip.  Amazing how God works…  I was unfortunately sick, and missed Carol West, spending the day with the Impendulo team on the Friday, but fortunately got to see some of the Saturday morning program with Crawford.  They did some vegetable gardens, played with the kids, and watched the Impendulo performance.  It was an awesome day and we look forward to having them back in future.

Crawford and Impendulo kids

Andrew Crole

Papalazi girls performing for Crawford

I had a break and went up with my parents to Botswana.  I was the tour guide of a 4 car 4×4 convoy and we had an incredible time driving through rivers and surviving hippos, elephant, buffalo, hyenas, and snakes in our camp.  I got some awesome photos, logged in some good hours for my touring level 2, and spent quality time with family.  God taught me a very valuable lesson on this trip and I am so grateful that He speaks to us at all times, even when we sometimes are not disciplined to take time to listen.

Impala Male

Lioness Drinking

Impala Leaping

Joe and Beth

He also showed me, through one of my photographs, that we can be people who go through life seeing a branch, or we can be people who are able to see worship at all times.

I returned from the trip and had to conduct the first wedding of my life.  I was a bit nervous but also very excited as a number of my old wakeboard friends would be there.  The same friends, who I used to get drunk with, or encourage them to do even worse, would now have to sit, without choice, and listen to me preaching a sermon on this Mighty Christ whom I love with all my heart!  Haha, what a privilege and a responsibility for me, and I loved every second of it.
It was quite an amazing God moment too.  The rain came, on the outdoor wedding, just before the bride was due to arrive by boat at 3pm.  We waited 20 minutes, then decided we needed to just go ahead with it, so the boat came.  As she pulled up, the rain stopped.  It was amazing.  As we started the service, there was such a sense of God’s presence.  AS the couple said their vows to one another, the sun came out and shone on their faces and showed God’s joy and His smile over solemn vows of love.  I preached on covenant, and mentioned Noah and God’s covenant with him with the rainbow, and amazing as God is, He gave the couple the most amazing rainbow, with a sunset, on the beach for their wedding photos.  (you gotta be kidding me!?!)…

After the wedding, a few people approached me saying various encouraging things, but one that stood out, was a woman from JHB, who said that the word I had shared, had made her want to come back to God, that very moment, after over a year of being away from Him.  She also hoped I was from JHB because she wanted to be a part of my church.  It was very powerful and I got to encourage her to RUN back to God’s loving arms.

I had various opportunities through the evening to witness in truth to many of my wakeboarding friends, and I know many seeds were sown and God’s work started in many lives.  What a blessing!

One of our boys who we took in from the street in DBN, has really become a special part of Impendulo.  He has been given the nickname ‘nsizwa’ which means ‘young man’ and it is hilarious to see even our whole kids club calling him with affection by this name.  We had an incident last week that I want to share.

He unfortunately did something quite bad at the school, and after being beaten (corporal punishment, though illegal, is still very common and accepted in Zulu culture), was told to bring in his parents.  He comes from a very troubled home and that obviously wasn’t possible so Thoks went in their place.  They then told Thoks he needs to exercise discipline in front of them and they told Thoks to beat him.  Praise God, Thoks refused, much to their disappointment, and they told him they could not accept Nkululeko back at the school.

I went in with Thoks and ‘nsizwa’ and had a meeting with them.  We prayed for God’s favour over our meeting, and after dealing with the narcoleptic principal, who literally kept falling asleep half way through sentences (no kidding!), we got him back into the school, took full responsibility for the bad behaviour, asked for a chance for us to continue working with him, and wrote out our own form of discipline, which was 1 hour a day for 20 days, working and cleaning up on the school property.

They accepted, and a valuable life lesson of discipline, but more importantly, love acceptance, and having ‘fathers’ who care for him, was learned by Nkululeko.  As weird as it may sound, I am grateful this thing happened, and my love for this young guy has increased greatly.

Lastly, my good friend Darren spent 2 days with us in the village and did a teaching on the prophetic.  Darren has a prophetic gift, and he taught well, and ended up speaking quite powerfully into a few of the team members lives.  Thoks and I, knowing the team well, were able to see that the words were accurate, and the main focus of the teaching was, falling in love with God, and hearing His voice.

This weekend Leigh is having a women’s conference and has planned an exciting program for the ladies and young girls.  They will be focussing on identity in Christ, having a sleepover in the crèche, making delicious food, eating cupcakes, getting gift packs and more.  It is very exciting and we are praying and trusting that these girls will learn their worth in Christ!

We have the OM team arriving in the village next week and are very excited about that too.

Thoks does his drivers licence on 20 May and I ask that you pray it goes well!

Please keep praying for unity, for our projects to take off, for protection, and for the lives of the many suffering to come to know the fullness of Christ!

Rich

To my dear brothers and sisters in Christ

I can’t believe how long ago it was since I did an update. Sometimes you just get so swept away in the whirlwind and then look back and say, “what just happened?”

So much happens in such a short time, that it’s hard to know exactly what to write, but I will just pick up from where I left off in my last mail that I sent out in November. I am going to start sending updates more regularly again, so that they are not 3038 pages long, but what I suggest, is that you print this out, and read it at times that are convenient.

Well since my last update in November, I entered into a very tough season. It seemed that God allowed me to go through a season of His silence. It was incredibly challenging, and in amongst the silence of God, we suffered many more traumatic events. Over the course of last year, I experienced 24 deaths. 4 family members, my pastor, very close friends’ brothers, fathers and sisters, many in the village young and old, to sickness accidents and so on. It was a year of deep sorrow, but God has used it to give birth to a depth in my spirit that I never had before. Through a season of doubt that I never thought I would go through again, I had to wrestle with everything in me, seeking Truth, and after crying out to God in pain for those I love, and crying out just to hear His voice, I received nothing. Sometimes we wonder why God does these things to do, and allows His children that He loves so much to suffer, but He is an all knowing God, who is seeking worshippers who seek Him in spirit and in truth, in good and in pain, in pain and in joy, and who are willing to fight with whatever they have left, to believe in the truth of His love.

It took a long time for me to walk through that season. At the end of the year, the team shared their view over the year of 2008, what had happened, and what it had meant to them. They also shared their individual visions for 2009. Had I been in a different place spiritually, I may have been too overwhelmed with emotion and joy, and perhaps the encouragement would have almost been too much to handle, but because of where I was, I was barely even able to enjoy the fruit of what the Lord had produced. It was very encouraging though, and I recorded all that was said, and looking back at it again, it is INCREDIBLE to see what God has done in the lives of this team. He is taking individuals to a depth and maturity that can only come from having interaction with the Almighty.

We ended the year off on a very positive and faith filled note as a team, and I took a much needed break with friends and family.

(Just a quick note on how much God cares for us)

*** Most of you know how passionate I am about wildlife. I had been through the most painful year of my life, and was hanging on to what felt like the last little thread of faith I had, and the droplet of what I felt was left of His grace in my life. Back to the point, I have been searching all my life for a small cat called a caracal. Close friends and family were well aware of this obsession, as every game reserve, national park, and wildlife lover was questioned, interrogated and investigated and every last bit of information about this cat was obtained.

In the Addo elephant park, I found a section of land, with rugged terrain, and all the right signs and elements for the cat, and having being told of one or two residents in the area, I set out on a quest.

In the last 10minutes of a 4hr search in the right area, at the right place, at the right time, 1km before the exit gate, the most gorgeous caracal walked out onto the road, gave us the most incredible sighting and a lifelong search was rewarded with such beauty that my heart was blessed beyond compare.

I believe this was a gift from God, and can only be so grateful, believing that God sent me a small ‘voice’ and something from His heart.***

The beginning of each year is always a test for me. It feels like a lucky packet waiting to be opened, with ‘how will the team be?’ weighing heavily on my heart.

Well, 2009 started with fire! It was such an amazing blessing to return to a faith filled, fired up team, ready, excited, motivated and fully committed to the cause of this family.

We are strong, we are blessed, and we feel God more in the team than ever before.

My mom, being a very gifted psychologist, with an incredible understanding of the human heart, and very good at group work, has committed to teaching the ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Steve Covey, through the course of this year. We have been through 2 of these teachings as a team, and they have both impacted us powerfully.

In March we participated in the BBC leadership camp up at Ella Combrink in White River. It was a very powerful week of good teaching. The focus was on being a godly leader, having the values of Christ, and planning and leading well. We prepared a lot for this week, and were so blessed by the unity that we experienced in the team, and the wonderful way in which Impendulo interacted and bonded with the Thembalethu team.

Team at Leadership Camp

After looking at the team sharing their vision for the year, we have definitely seen individuals taking steps toward having more impact for the Kingdom. It has been such a blessing to see our Childrens’ Ministry leaders presenting their vision to the team on how they will be moving forward with the kids, and what they feel the Lord has planned for them. It is so evident that the Holy Spirit is at work through them and they are being led by His beautiful way.

We have started a men’s meeting in the village, with the leaders of the Apostolic Faith Mission church. It is pretty much the only church in our area that is not mixed up with traditions and cultural practices. Our vision is to establish a strong core of men, a safe place for men to grow and be discipled and then to reach out and draw other church leaders in. So far it has been incredible and all involved have loved being a part of this group.

We had an American team come up a few weeks ago for about 8 days. I had a lot to do so was not able to be with them for most of the stay but the feedback was amazing. At the end of the week I asked them to share about what impacted them the most, and what they shared was so encouraging for the team to hear. Their comments were as follows:

“Incredible hospitality”

“amazing watching the team work together”

“I LOVE spending time with you all here”

“you have amazing love for one another, since the last time I was here, I have seen so many more people pulling their weight and being a part of things. You guys are starting to spread far out through the villages”

“a real eye opener being here. You all have such joy and fire for God. I feel so at home”

“it is great to see all the different ministries in the team”

Etc

I was very encouraged.

We were able to send 5 or our youth on the Harvest youth camp, and I was able to go along on that trip. It was a real blessing for me to watch the Impendulo youth integrate and have such a good time with the Harvest guys. The harvest youth leaders are very keen to get more involved with our youth and we are setting up a lot of exciting stuff for the future. This is what it is all about. Building relationships.

Gogo has had a leaking roof for a long time, and we have finally been able to replace her old roof with a new one. She is so blessed and is so grateful and it is special to be a part of changing someone’s living conditions. We have also added a water tank that will collect rain water.

I used to do a lot of work with a group of street kids in Umhlanga and through that time I built a relationship with the leader of the gang, called JJ. Tich Smith, a very close brother of mine, has also been walking with JJ, and through last year, decided to send him off to Shekinah, a Christian rehab near Greytown. JJ’s life changed quite a lot, and when he returned, TIch tried to integrate him back into the community. After a while he realised it was not working due to bad relationships and bad contacts for JJ. After some prayer and meetings, in December, we decided we could take JJ in at Wangu, and have Impendulo as his covering and as an interim for him to finish his rehabilitation. It has been such an amazing blessing to be a part of this. He really has fitted in well with the team, and has become as much a part of the family as anyone else. We love him, and love having him with us, and are watching God make his life beautiful. This is also what its about: Watching God make a life beautiful.

Sindi, Cebi, and Hlengiwe moved into our storeroom opposite the crèche toward the end of last year because of issues at their home, and since then, there has been such a sense of community established at our crèche. It has been a daily meeting point for many in the team, and really shows how daily fellowship builds the church in a strong way. Many of our team stay over in the crèche on a daily basis and its like a church house now.

A few months later, Jono, a friend who has been involved in Impendulo over the last 6 months, and who also visits another group of street kids once a week, asked if one of his guys, Kululeko, could come stay in the village, as he was left out the shelter and had nowhere to go. We decided to take him in, and he has also become such a dear part of our family. I just love how God brings people in and makes them family. Kululeko, our newest member of the team, is now going to school again, and is so involved with our work. When I left this weekend, and said goodbye to him, I couldn’t believe what God has done in this man’s life in such a short time. I am taking 2 weeks leave, to spend time with my parents, and then I am doing my first wedding on the south coast, so I said goodbye to the team for 3 weeks. When I said goodbye to Kululeko, I told him, he better be there when I get back, because I love him, I need him with us, and he is now part of our family. When I told him this, he walked away in tears, overwhelmed, as he has never felt so loved and such a part of a family before this. It is just so beautiful. Thank you Jesus for how you love us…

Tich then kindly donated a farming tunnel to us, and we have set it up, and JJ and Thenjiwe are now running the project there. Our spinach is growing beautifully, I got to eat some 2 days ago, and Thenjiwe has already sold a small bit of it. We are trusting that this project can eventually be something that she can start to make some money from. That is the direction we are going; wanting to set up our team members with projects that can bring income. It is not easy though.

We had a cell group from harvest, led by a very special brother of mine, Craig, spend a weekend in the village. For most of them, it was their first time to do something like this, but they did great, and loved it. The kids club ended up with mad face painting, a lot of chocolate eating and lots of fun. Good work Craig and team!!

We have just seen off 2 very special visitors this last week. Sean and Jillian from Portland, Oregon. They met Norman Wilson on a plane, recognised one another as being Children of God, and started to share about their lives. They told Norms they were doing a world trip, and he told them they should come visit Impendulo in South Africa, and there and then on the plane, they decided they were coming. It is amazing. If I get the story right, they then forgot Norm’s contact details for a while, and searched on the web, and found my website, and then contacted me through there, and since June last year, we have been setting up this week. They have since also built a deep friendship with Norman. Their visit was every bit as successful as we could’ve hoped. 2 days tour guiding them through Kruger, then led into a week in the village where Sean, who works for Nike, trained our soccer boys daily, and Jillian taught the girls cheerleading and hip hop dance. Our kids LOVED it! We were also welcomed by the team in a very special way and arrived at a very well run birthday party for both Sdu and Sindi, our childrens’ ministry leaders. The team is on fire, starting their own youth groups, being much more effective, and more on fire for God than ever!

Girls Cheerleading

Guys Nike Soccer Kit

Guys Soccer

Team Gardening

Sindi & Sdu Birthday Party

Sisanda and Sindi

We encountered some real issues when people in the community heard international Nike soccer gear had arrived, and Thoks and I had to deal with some very unfortunate stuff, where our visitors, present and future, were threatened somewhat, and Thoks was accused and treated quite harshly by one on the members of a soccer team. He showed incredible patience, and fortunately the situation did not get too intense, and we are trusting that God will use this situation for good.

Thenjiwe’s husband is sadly very sick. We visited him in the hospital, in Richard’s bay, as Thenjiwe asked me to share the Word of God with him as he is not a follower of Christ. What took place in that hospital was quite amazing:

Ephraim, Thenjiwe;s husband, told us that last week he thought he was going to die on the Friday, and while semi-conscious, he had a dream/vision of seeing God, and God took him to see his parents. Up until this point he did not really believe in God. He saw his parents on the other side of a fence, and he wanted to be with them, but they told him he could not go where they are. He later woke up in the hospital, and has since been questioning why he is still alive, and what that was about. We then arrived, and during a really special visit, of talking about our lives, having some laughs, looking at photos of the team etc, I then was given the chance by the family to share what was on my heart. I asked him if I could share the gospel with him, and started to speak from my heart. It was incredible for me to feel what God did. After speaking about the cross, and the love of Christ, I then started to speak into his life, almost prophetically, and the next thing I knew, I literally had the love of God for this man overflowing in my heart. I found myself holding his hand in mine, in tears, speaking love and life over him. He started to weep too, and said he wished he had been given more time, to change, and to finally join our team, as he had always felt something stopping him from being with us, and was not very happy with Thenjiwe being with us. He said he wondered how things would have been if he had come and been a part of what we did. We left after praying God’s peace, blessing and also asked for healing over him, and could sense that God’s Spirit had done deep work. We are trusting God for the miracle of him coming to know God’s love, even in his last days.

We press on to achieve what God has for us…

We have some very exciting plans coming up in the near future. My mom will return soon to do Habit number 3, we have a team from Zambia heading here soon, a women’s conference for 20 of our ladies at Harvest, we have a very exciting weekend planned with Crawford Preparatory School North Coast, led by our very own Mr Andrew Crole on the 9^th May, where these kids will be exposed to some aspects of true South African life, we have an OM team coming to do some teaching on HIV/AIDS and how to care for the affected, we have the Olive Tree church doing their annual mission outreach to us in July, as well as many other exciting plans. God is really keeping us busy, and blessing us immensely through it.

I am now taking a 2 week break with my parents, and then I return to do a wedding for an old wakeboarding friend, followed by a test for my marriage licence, and I have also finally registered for SATS, and should be starting my Bachelors of Theology soon.

Prayer requests

• Please pray for the team to continue to grow together in love. Pray that all the issues we have been dealing with will be used mightily by the Lord to bond the team in true unity and love.
• Please pray for protection both spiritually and physically over the team.
• Please pray for Ephraim, Thenjiwe’s husband, for his healing, but mostly for him to come to know Christ. Please also pray for Thenjiwe to stand strong in Christ through this difficult time, and to know His love and comfort.
• Please pray for all our projects, outreaches, and events to run well, and for our projects and small businesses to prosper.
• Please pray that through the busyness of all our work, we never lose focus, that it is all about loving God, and loving people.

Thoks' room in his new house

Rich's room

I have received loving rebukes to get me act together and write another update.  I am grateful for people who speak out!  I would be nowhere if people left me to myself!  Haha, so here is a long awaited update, and I am grateful that God has given me the opportunity to do this.

I am awed by our God. He is my Father.  I am deeply moved, that I have a Father. A Loving Father.  A Good Father.  My Father.  Say that to yourself… it is an amazing thing to be able to say!

There is no way I can get too detailed on too much in this mail, as it would take me an entire week, but I will give you an update of where we are at, and some of the amazing things God has done, as well as some struggles, hardships and trials.

(some people print out the update, and read it at times that are convenient, just a suggestion if you are at work now)

Some of the events and happenings at Impendulo over the last approx 8 months!! :

The young men of Impendulo visited the mighty mens conference hosted by Angus Buchan.  It was a really good experience, and I really believe that it created a bigger vision in the eyes of the guys, and we had a lot of fun, and saw God moving powerfully through that meeting.  It was a great blessing to have Graeme, my brother, some of the BBC guys, Graeme my old roommate, and his brother Sean there.  Very sadly, Graeme’s brother was killed in a motorbike accident quite shortly after that event, and the trauma that the family suffered was immense.

The following week, the father of Sindi’s children Sisanda and Sanele, also passed away, and was a very testing time for her and her family, and we hurt deeply with her through that.

The BBC outreach was then held in Wangu.  It was an incredible time, felt a bit short, but we were very blessed, and encouraged by the guys that came down.  They did a FANTASTIC job!  The crèche was painted, gardens were created, a soccer competition was held, houses were visited, and lives were changed!  The trip was a real success.  The community were all given a free lunch, after the soccer competition which was a big excitement, and then the gospel was preached to all who came.

We really love having the BBC crew here, we are very grateful for them and we look forward to having many more times of fellowship and ministry with them!

The team was visited by Willow Creek Methodist church in JHB.  I was unfortunately away for that visit, but the reports I got was that it was a great experience for them.

Impendulo were involved in Easter Camps, one with BBC, and Jabs went along with the Mustard Seed Easter Camp, to assist with the kids there in the Drakensberg.  Both trips were great, and we saw significant growth in their lives.

The Impendulo team was invited to take part in Candice’s wedding to Bryan.  They sang a wedding song before she came down the aisle (as in the Zulu culture, the women sing as they give the bride away), and our precious little Sisanda was the flower girl.  It was very exciting for the Impendulo team to experience a western wedding, and also a wedding where God was truly given glory.  Being the MC was quite a task, but fortunately I think it went ok, and we were grateful to be a part of such a great day.

We have really been getting more and more involved in the lives of the people in the village.  We have visiting the old and the sick often and spend a lot of time praying and sharing our lives and sharing in the pain of many in the community.  It’s hard to believe how many funerals there are in this village, and so often the Impendulo team are alongside suffering families, seeking God’s heart to comfort them.

We had a great team from America, who came and lived in the houses with the team.  They formed great friendships, had a great time, and we hope to have them back again.  When they left South Africa, they had some left over money which they decided to leave with us.  We had been praying for God to provide funding for an amazing old lady who lives high up on a hill, has 4 children that she looks after, and works harder than anyone I’ve ever seen in my life, to bless the family.  We dug a vegetable garden for her last year with the St John’s boys, returned months later to see that she had been inspired to increase the size of the garden we had done by about 6 times!!  We then visited her months later with a gift of clothes and blankets, and God laid it on our hearts to pray for a new house for her.  The strong winds shaking the roof, made of cardboard and tin, and the evidence of what happens in heavy rains, really put pain in our hearts, and we believed God would answer this prayer.  The amount of money that they left for us was almost the EXACT amount that we needed to build the house.

It was a true honour to be able to build the house, which the Impendulo team did without help from any bricklayers, and our very own Thoks, did a great job of leading the project.  I was the ‘manual labour’ department, and worked harder than I ever have in my life and loved every second of it.  Who needs a gym contract when you get to carry 1000kg of cement in soft beach sand from a truck to a house, as well as 2000kg of stones, 1000 bricks, and all between 4 guys, in one morning.  Get the picture?  It was fantastic!!
One of the most powerful moments in this ministry to date, was sitting with her before we built it, and telling her about God’s gift to her.  After praying and singing, Thenjiwe shared the news, and she sat in absolute silence.  She closed her eyes and tears started streaming down her face.  She put one hand on her heart, and with the other, pointed towards the sky.  We then worshipped and sang together for sometime, and gogo grabbed her and made her dance.  Classic!

We took some of the team camping in Amatikulu, as they had never done it before.  It was great.  It is amazing the think of God giving people opportunities and experiences that they have never had before.  He is a good Father, loves to bless His children, and this is the message a lot are experiencing for their first time in their lives here.  Its beautiful.

During some of our house visits, we recognised the need to take some of these people out for an excursion, to give them some excitement.  One guy, S’bu, is a middle aged man, who is crippled, and spends all of every day, in his bed.  Occasionally he is taken out to sit on the lawn of his garden.  Our hearts were really moved, as we saw the joy he had when visitors came to his house, and when one day he asked me to travel the world with him, I felt it was right to make a plan to get him out of his house from time to time.  We arranged a big picnic down at the lagoon.  We piled S’bu, our old Mkhulu in his wheelchair, Promise’s mother, an old gogo, and Zama, Thembisile’s sister who is bedridden with HIV, into my bakkie, gathered the whole Impendulo team, and hit the lagoon for a big braai and party.  Maybe it was because it was the tastiest boerewors I’ve ever had before, but the day was a real party, and all who came had a LOT of fun, and it was fantastic to see these guys out and about, having a new experience, without being bound to 4 walls all day.

I was called into the tribal authority quite suddenly one day, and went with Thoks, and our induna, to a meeting one morning.  I had prayed and fasted to prepare for what may come, but still ended up feeling bruised and battered.  Thoks and I were drilled with questions, accused and judged, interrupted during answers, and then very quickly dismissed.  It was not pleasant.  We were told to return with some information and a committee and were sent on our way.  We then had to try to figure out what God wanted us to do with what had happened.

We then decided it was important for all on the Impendulo team to be on the same page.  We found out that there had been some sending ‘bad report’ about the team, and trying to plant seeds of disunity.  We felt the Lord leading us to take a stand as the leadership, about who we really are and what we believe, so that all involved with Impendulo, would know exactly what we are about.  After a lot of prayer and time, Thoks and I put together a Statement of Faith.  It was intense and we had to include some very difficult stuff.  We then had a session with our team, and went through the entire statement.  It was good for all involved to hear it, and we know that God has already used what was on our mission statement, to challenge some on some deep issues.  What has happened since then, is that we have seen that our team members, our family, are truly committed to the cause, and to our God, and we will stand by one another from here on.  God has done a deep work in our lives, and I never knew that planting a church, would be more like starting a family, than anything else.  It has been the most life-changing experience, I would not give it away for anything in the world, and I have grown a love for my people here that I never knew was possible.  I was driving home last night, thinking, how on earth do you cope, falling in love with so many people, and knowing that there will be so much to have to go through in the future, and there will be so much pain.  But I wouldn’t give up this love for anything.  Not for fear of pain, or loss, or death.  God is love, and when we learn to love people in this way, we are learning who God is.  I think I am only starting to understand how deep God’s love truly is.

We have had some unfortunate acts of the enemy trying to break into the team, break relationship, and destroy God’s work.  We have sadly had Siya, Thok’s brother, leaving the Impendulo team, and we are praying God’s love over Him, to bless Him, and restore Him.

I then went away for a month to Uganda on a life changing mission trip.  I have sent that update out to a lot of you, but for those who didn’t get it, I would love to send that to you, if you mail me at richardmckibbin@gmail.com I will get it to you.

I returned to the team, absolutely longing to be back with my family!  God had spoken to me so much in Uganda, and I came back very fired up, with a very clear vision and a new passion for the way forward.  The team was incredible to return to, and I need to quickly explain how I was sent off before Uganda and welcomed back.

On the last day with the team, they stood around me in a circle to pray me out.  They laid hands on me and prayed, and the power of God’s love through that team, made it quite difficult to keep standing.  After praying, they then started to sing “walking in the light of God”, and they spontaneously started to walk around me in a circle.  It was such an honour to stand in the middle of this lively, loving, Spirit-filled church, and be blessed in that way, and it was such a wonderful picture of how we walk around one another, how our love and prayers protect one another, and how we support each other.  I could not ask for a better way to be sent off.

On the first day back, I was sat down on a chair, and then prayed over.  The entire team started to pray over me, and one by one, individuals walked up to me, laid hands on me, and prayed over me.  I was given such undeserved honour, that the emotion was overwhelming, and I sat in tears, feeling the greatest desire to pour my life into these beautiful people.

Since I have been back, I have seen a significant growth in the team.  There is much to work through, but more than ever, I can see God’s heart to show this community the truth about His love, and He wants to use His church to do that.

Just last week, one of the team members who has been with us for almost 3 years, during a very intimate time of worship, felt the Lord finally get through to her heart.  I walked over to her, as I could sense there was something happening, and asked her what she wanted to tell me.  She asked for Thoks to be present to interpret, and then she shared her heart.  She said that she had been wrestling in her heart for long now, and that she wanted to finally surrender and give her life to the Lord.  She wanted to accept Him as her Lord and Saviour.  When someone has been with you for this long, and you know them so well, and they come to you with this request, it is hard to explain what it feels like.  After telling her how blessed my heart was, she then said that she was not doing this for me.  It was great to hear, because it just showed the depth of this decision, and that it was completely between her and the Almighty.

She has already in the last week, seemed like a different person, with a deep strength that has already been used to encourage others in the team, including a powerful time of ministering life over Thoks, who has been under severe trial from many angles, and found such comfort in the Lord through her and the others that came around him to lift him up.

Thoks is really walking through fire.  When discussing with his family about getting a piece of the land to build his own house on, the situation turned for the worse.  His older brother wanted Thoks to do things in a way that would compromise Thoks’ faith in Christ.  Thoks then explained to his brother that he does not want anything to do with ancestral communication.  His oldest brother, being the head of the house in Zulu custom since the father passed away, then told Thoks that he would no longer be regarded as part of the family and that he must move on with his life if he wanted his own place, and that he is going against tradition.  Thoks has such a gentle and loving heart, has been so honourable and walked in such wisdom, and it is hard when he is made to look like the one at fault.  There were other dynamics that made the situation that much worse, and his other brother started making Thoks look like he was trying not to be involved in taking care of his mother and family.  There is so much to reconcile through this, but Thoks has found true comfort in Christ, and has peace that He will bring him through this.  He is making every effort to establish peace with them at all costs.  Fortunately, his mom knows his heart, and is not happy with how things have turned.  Thoks has spent some time in my house with me, and together we are waiting on God’s guidance.

Last Saturday, we did our annual trip to Durban with all our kids and adults.  We arranged for a day at the Wavehouse at Gateway, a Pizza boyZ lunch, and Kung-Fu Panda on IMAX.

As usual, the day had many challenges!  The buses were 2 hours late collecting the team from the village.  Almost 180 people finally boarded and arrived in Durban to start the activities just before 10am.  The weather was not desirable for outdoor activities, and time was running out for all the things we wanted to do before the pizza arrived.  The kids split into 3 groups of about 50 each and literally ran off to their sites.  They climbed the largest indoor wall in the world, (I think), and loved it!!  I thought they would be afraid, but in seconds, like little spiders, they were scrambling about 30 meters off the ground, absolutely fearless.  The other group played soccer on the mini field outdoor, in the rain.  Soccer is always a hit, and they loved it.  The third group, were lining up, and while screaming in fear and excitement, they rode on the flowrider. For those who don’t know what that is, it is a stationary wave, where water is pumped over sponge, similar to a water slide, and you can bodyboard or surf on it.

The kids loved it, so much, too much, as some left their activities, and joined the flowrider team.  This caused a slight concern for those of us trying to manage the kids, and after some confusion and panic thinking we had lost kids, we finally figured out what had happened.  Eventually after everyone had finished all their activities, we gathered for some really good pizza, provided by Pizza boyz.  20 1-meter long pizzas arrived, and every kid and adult got their fair share of the tasty stuff.  I’m hungry now.  We then headed off for the IMAX, which is always a fantastic treat.  We watched kung-fu panda, and the kids loved it.  Sdu has already used the movie as a teaching tool, in following up on our dreams, and having belief in what God wants for us.

We were also able to take S’bu, the cripple who never gets out, and wanted to ‘travel the world with me’, to come along for the day.  Some really beautiful hearted people took the time to take care of him for the door pushing him around in the wheelchair, and he couldn’t believe he was given such a special day and was so blessed.

The team jumped back on the buses to head home, slightly behind schedule, and 10km before the village, one bus broke down.  They all piled into the one bus for the last 10km.  Let me tell you, to have 180 of your own people, in one bus, your entire ministry, all the people that your pour your life into, in one bus, overloaded, in the rain, with a frustrated bus driver behind schedule, is not a comfortable uplifting situation.  I think that is the reason I spent the next 3 days in bed!!

All in all, the day was a success!!!  Everyone lived.  The kids had a great time.  Gogo, LOVED the pizza, S’bu travelled the world, and some of us stressed ourselves into illness!  It was worth it.

Lastly, the Lord had put it on my heart to take the movie Antwone Fisher, to the team and watch it with them.  It is a very powerful movie, about a young troubled man, who had a very difficult childhood, learning to deal with his painful past, through the love, mentoring, and ‘fathering’ of his psychologist, Denzel Washington.  If you haven’t seen it, you should, as it is a picture of what I believe God is doing in the church around the world, teaching us about loving, fathering, mentoring, and caring for one another.  Anyway, so after the movie, I sat with the team, and started to share what I felt the Lord was saying.  All of a sudden, I could feel the Holy Spirit, putting it very heavy on my heart that He wanted to do work.  I had other plans and was going to end the meeting to move to the next thing on the program, but I knew God wanted to do something.  I was then led to speak into certain things, and felt there were some who needed to speak out, about pain in their lives, and that they needed healing.  What happened was so powerful, and words cannot really do justice to situations like this.  Some of the team started sharing about some pain from their past, and one by one, found themselves in tears.  God started to move through the room, and some approached others, to go and sit and share their pain and struggles.  We started to sing and pray, and lift up the Lord’s Name as some continued to speak about pain from childhood.  God showed us prophetically, that today was the beginning of a journey, for many in the room, to find healing, from deep pain that was caused even from childhood.  It was truly a holy moment, as God revealed Himself to some in a way they had never experienced before.  One of the first to share was a member of our group at almost 70 years, sharing in tears how she had been beaten as a child, and it was overwhelming to see God reaching deep into hearts to bring healing, even after so many years.  God is never finished working in us.

We are truly blessed here, and we know that we are only at the start, of a MIGHTY work that God wants to do here.  I ask that you please pray over our team. That the love of God, that the truth of His love, would be deep in our hearts.  We know that He is showing us His heart and what He desires for us as His church, and we want to always remain in Him.

Prayer requests

• Please pray for Thoks, to find strength and comfort in the Lord, and that God would bring resolution to his tough situation. Pray that Thoks would know that even if family abandon him, he is loved and accepted in the heart of God.
• Please pray for all who were so deeply moved by the Lord in our meeting after the movie. Please pray that they would allow God to take them on this journey of healing, and that they would believe that there is fullness in Christ, available to them, and that God will use them to bring healing to others through all of this.
• Please pray for our kids to continue to grow in Christ and in His love. Pray for their protection and well being in such difficult lives and situations.
• Please pray for Siya to have a revelation of God’s love over him. Please pray for a softening of his heart
• Please pray for our situation with the tribal council, that we would have honour and wisdom, and that we do hear God’s will for the way forward.
• Please pray that we continue to grow us a family in unity and Christ’s love.

Much love in Christ
Rich