Chronicles from Africa

Robert & Esther Marsh – October 2009

South Africa & Democratic Republic of Congo

(Church planting and radio ministry & Bible School)

We were blessed and encouraged on the 18^th of October, as the young adults took the morning service, and did a wonderful job. A young man named, Musa Maswanganyi preach, he came up with a very interesting illustration, of using the presenting of our CV for a job. We always have to prove ourselves qualified for the job, in our CV we tell of all we have done, what we can do, in the CV it’s all about us, BUT when we serve God we should present to him a blank CV (Curriculum Vitae) Presenting our CV to the Lord so that He can write our life story on it, and not us.

We were able to have our first men’s breakfast and it was well attended.  My hopes are that we will be able encouraging the men of our church and also draw in some of the husbands of our ladies who so faithfully attend.

Esther had an opportunity to be the main speaker at a ladies camp that involved a few of our churches. She spoke on “Remarkable Woman” using the women of the Bible; Eve, Rebecca, and Ruth and Naomi, interweaving the life stories of her mother Wyla Grings and grandmother Ruth Fuller Grings and herself.  She felt blessed to be able to share some important “life lessons” that God has been using in her own life to challenge these women in their walk of faith.

Please will pray with us for a lady that phones us at least three times a week.   Her youngest daughter is saved and in our church.  She does not believe in the Bible and believes that God is “in” everything and that we somehow have a “hold” on her daughter. This lady was abused by her father, and was raped later in her life.  We are not sure about all the details, but all her grown girls have left home at the first opportunity and don’t want to have anything to do with their mother or father.  Please pray for her salvation.

We want to praise the Lord, for his protection. Esther and all the children were coming home from visiting friends, and were involved in a car accident. Esther’s knee hit the dashboard and was bruised badly, and her chest was bruised from the seatbelt. Doctor said she needs to keep off her leg for at least five days. Amazingly none of the children were hurt.  Do pray that the insurance company will resolve this matter timely, and also for a solution as we will have to look for another car.  We are praisng that the Lord will enable us to find something big enough for everyone to be in seat-belts and in an affordable price range.   

Prayer request:

- Prayer for Mr. Leon - struggling with alcohol.

- Prayer for Dirk Pretorius- has had a back operation, have not seen them for a few months.

- Prayer for wisdom in counseling- salvation of a lady that phones us on regular bases.

- Pray for Winnie’s vise application to go through.

- Pray for some of our young people that are writing their final exams.

In Christ

Robert, Esther, Joshua, Cherith, Jordan, Jeremy, Chelsea, Chaylee and Winnie + Wyla Grings