Mommy’s not coming Home!

Those were Caleb’s tearful little words to Michael during the two long weeks that Mommy was away in Zambia for the Entrust Training. Oh my heart! April has been one of those months that has stretched us as a family and reminded us again that ministry often carries both joys and sacrifices.

While I travelled back to Zambia to coordinate the training from 11–18 April, Michael bravely held the fort at home in Cape Town—juggling parenting, meals, routines, emotions, and everything else that comes with suddenly becoming a single parent for two weeks. Whenever I would call home and ask if he remembered to do something he would respond desperately, “Babe, I am surviving here!” We were just counting down the days until we could be together again.

“For I am sure that neither death nor life…
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38–39

Changed Women, Changed Lives

The Entrust Training itself was such an encouragement. We had 38 participants from across Zambia as well as 2 dear sisters from Zimbabwe. We were also blessed with 16 facilitators serving from Zambia, the United States, and Kenya.

One of the sweetest parts of the week was hearing the testimonies. Again and again women shared how the Lord had met with them through His Word. Many said, “I am no longer the same person I was when I came here.” What more could we ask for? God’s Word changes hearts, strengthens weary hands, and equips His people for service. You can read more about the training here: Gathered to Grow

“The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.”
Isaiah 40:8

Drama on the Home Front

Meanwhile, back in Cape Town, life was not exactly quiet and uneventful!

One Sunday morning, Michael called me in a panic. Caleb had a nasty fall against a bench and slashed his little head open, needing two stitches. It was the kind of phone call no parent wants to receive while in another country. Michael handled it all so well—comforting Caleb, getting medical help, and keeping calm in the middle of the chaos. I was so thankful for him.

Despite it being traumatic, Michael and Caleb bonded closer together through the tears and stitches. Thankfully, Caleb’s wound has also healed really well.

Home Again… and Freezing!

When I finally arrived home, we were so thrilled just to be together again. We tried to squeeze in as much family time as possible—although much of it was spent huddled indoors during a somewhat unexpected cold front here in Cape Town.

We have not lived in this sort of cold for the last 3–4 years, and I can tell you now… we were not ready! Layers upon layers, warm cups of tea, fire burning in the fireplace, blankets everywhere… Brrrrrr!

A Sweet Opportunity to Share

We also had a lovely opportunity to minister at a small church in Rondebosch East. They invited Michael to preach a missions message and asked us to share about the ministry of SIM as well as our own work. We had never been here before.

Michael preached from 2 Corinthians 5, showing how it is Christ’s love that compels us to no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died and was raised again. I then had the joy of sharing about SIM and the ministry in Zambia.

What warm-hearted people they were, and what a joy to be with them.

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Family Update

We still have no further updates on Caleb’s visa or birth certificate but we are thankful that we can be busy here while we wait to hear the outcome.

Some people ask us, “How are you enjoying your holiday?”. We wonder what they are talking about because we are definitely not on holiday right now. We have been working remotely to continue the ministries we are working with in Zambia (Langham and Entrust) while preparing for one speaking engagement after the next: Preaching, sharing, and reporting. It has been a joy but we are definitely looking forward to returning to Zambia and getting back to some sort of routine and structure.

This coming weekend, our church Tokai Community Church will be hosting a Missions Brunch on Saturday 9 May. This will be an opportunity for us to share about the ministry in Zambia and how you can get involved. We will have time to share about the ministry and then some time for Q & A from those attending. Please feel free to join us if you would like to hear about what God is doing and how you can be a part of this.