A team from St Matthews is joining the Churches for Namibia mission to Namibia from June 26th to July 13th. The team consists of Attie and Karrie Botha, Lauren Douglass and Traceylee Shuttleworth. The objective of the mission is to partner with local churches in sharing the gospel and training existing believers on how to be disciple making disciples. This mission usually results in changed lives by the grace of God.

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 082-994-3860 if you are interested in getting involved.

Prayer Diary for Churches for Namibia Trip

Week One; 12th -18th June
Praise God: for all the provision of needs for the trip
Thank God for: the vehicles that have been offered, donations of gifts, finances, prayer partners
Ask that He: preserve the health of the team members as they prepare, prepare the hearts of the Ovambo people
Pray for the team: Some writing exams, Some planning the menu, Arranging the logistics of travel, Arranging for care of ministries, businesses, homes and families whilst away, Those who are still preparing teaching materials
Prayer focus church: Christchurch, Ondangwa

Week Two; 19th -25th June Countdown week
Praise God: for allowing us to partner with Him in His work.
Thank God for: The way He provides for our needs, His gift of salvation to us
Ask that He: goes before us and prepares the way for His Word, prepares Tish Hanekom for our arrival
Pray for the team: Packing, Obtaining last minute items, Planning final details for their absence, Thinking through any extra needs before leaving, Economy of packing to allow for extra ministry materials, Well rested drivers on the 25th June
Prayer focus church: St Johns

Week Three; 26th -2nd July D-Day
Praise God: for a safe and timely departure from Piketberg at 02h30.
Thank God for: His omnipresence, He will be with the team as they travel, Reliable vehicles to transport us
Ask that He: Keeps the team safe on the road, Allows for a speedy and event free border crossing, Unifies the team as we get to know each other, Provides suitable translators for ministry
Pray for the team: Energy levels of team and alert drivers, Have opportunities to witness even as we travel, That the drivers manage to get good rest at night, For health and energy as we embark on ministry from 29th June
Prayer focus church: St Peters, Onanambili
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Week Four; 3rd July- 9th July
Praise God: for a full week in ministry
Thank God for: Providing for our needs, Open hearts, Opportunities to speak to Ovambo people, Good fellowship with Tish
Ask that He: Continues to provide for unity amongst the team, Allows for Gospel to soak into heart of locals, Helps us to communicate clearly, Helps us to minister effectively to locals and Tish, Allows a special time @ Eluwa special school
Pray for the team: As we say goodbye to GWC contingent, Safe travels for GWC teams’ return journey, That team are gracious as exhaustion builds, Continuing love and patience with each other, That team remember to spend personal time on devotions in a busy schedule, In case temptations arise, As they adjust to cultural differences
Prayer focus church: St Lukes, Omungwelumi

Week Five; 10th July – 13th July
Praise God: for a wonderful time of relationship building, privilege of being co-workers in His mission.
Thank God for: Changed lives, Special times with Tish, Once in a lifetime experience
Ask that He: Grows the seeds we have planted and watered., Helps Tish as she bids the team farewell, Finishes the work He has begun using us, Strengthens the local church
Pray for the team: As we say our goodbye’s, For safe travels, For debriefing on our rest day, Alert drivers

Prayer focus church: St Pauls, Ohangwena

Itinerary:

• 26th June — Depart from Piketberg 02h30 — Arrive Okahandja evening (total 1560 km)
• 27th June — Rest day
• 28th June — Depart from Okahandja early morning. — Arrive Ondangwa (Nakambale campsite)(total 600 km)
• 29th June – 1st July — Ministry begins — Teaching & training at local churches — Hoping for a combined men’s team, women and children’s team at each of 3 churches over the ministry period.
• 2nd July (Saturday) — sewing classes for ladies and teen girls — soccer clinic for teen boys
• 3rd July (Sunday) — Our men who are able preach at the local churches
• 4th July- 7th July — Teams teaching & training at local churches
• 6th July — GWC team leaves for home
• 8th July — Visiting other churches
• 9th July (Saturday) — sewing classes for ladies and teen girls
• 10th July — Depart for Okahandja via Etosha
• 11th July — Rest/ debrief day
• 12th July — Depart for Grunau from Okahandja (total 750 km)
• 13th July — Depart for Cape Town from Grunau (total 760 km)
• HOME!!

Updates during the mission

27 June 2011

The team to Namibia arrived safely in Okahandje last night around 8pm.

The day was relatively uneventful and all the traveling went really well. Thank you to everyone who was praying for the team on this long

stretch of their journey, God really had his traveling mercies upon the team.

The team will spend the next day (Tuesday) in Okahandje catching up and recuperating from their long journey yesterday and they are due to leave for Nakambale Rest Camp In Ondangwa tomorrow morning.

Thank you once again for all your prayers! I will keep you updated as soon as I hear any further information from the team.

28 June 2011

The team to Namibia have arrived at their final destination, Nakambale Rest Camp in Ondangwa. They arrived shortly after 4pm earlier today. The traveling went smoothly and the vehicles all ran well. When I spoke to them they had already settled into camp and set up tents and all else that is necessary for their stay at Nakambale for the next couple of days.

Thank you to everyone who have been praying for them on their journey to northern Namibia, please continue to pray that their time up there will be fruitful for the Kingdom of God.

01 July 2011

The team to Namibia is well underway with the ministry they went there for. From what it sounds like, they have been tremendously busy over the last two days. They have been visiting various churches and setting up appointments for ministry. Our phone conversation was rather brief last night, but from what I understand some of the team will be going to Eluwa special school (school for the deaf and blind) this morning and they will also be ministering at St Johns church (a small church on the road toward the Angolan border) later this afternoon.

The team asked that you continue to pray for traveling safety as they have to travel considerable distances up there to reach their various ministry appointments. Also continue to pray that they will be used fruitfully for the Kingdom of God. Otherwise everyone is healthy and happy, so praise God for that!

02 July 2011

Greetings from a lovely sunny Nambia!

God has been extremely kind to us. The whole team is healthy and in good spirit. We have been enjoying many ministry opportunities. The children and youth work has been very good. The fruit of previous trips is clear. At the blind and death school one of the teachers has been using the material from previous years to continue teaching the children about Jesus. She has asked for more material to be able to teach the children new things! Please pray for the lady and the work she is doing.

The ladies have enjoyed their Bible studies and it sounds like there have been some really good discussions about holy living.

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The men’s ministry has been tough but we have had one very encouraging session with the men from St John’s church. There was good interaction between the men. We discussed the relationship between faith and holy living. Please pray for growth in understanding and obedience to the word. Eloff will preach there on Sunday from Romans so please pray that.

The three evening sessions at The 4 Square Gospel Church on “Being a Complete Christian” from the book of Colossians has been very well received. The congregation is hungry for more and Robby will preach there again on Sunday. (They have asked for training for the men and training in Bible handling skills which sadly could not be fitted into our program this time)

Today (Sat 2 July) everybody is at Christ Church Ondagwa for an open day. It is very festive. The men have is busy fixing stuff as always. The youth is playing as always and the women do what they do best.

Alfred will preach there on Sunday with the aim to help people understand who Jesus is, the need to accept him and how to walk with him. Please pray for that also.

The “Mission’s mothers” have been amazing. They have really looked after us well. We are well fed and smell like Tabard all the time.

Thank you very much for your prayers and support! It is extremely encouraging knowing that there are many people out there praying for us!

Please pray for the week ahead. Pray that we will remain united in love and that God will give us the energy to make the most of every opportunity!

Grace and peace and much love!

Team NAM

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