Chronicles from Africa

Robert & Esther Marsh – October- December2010

South Africa & Democratic Republic of Congo - Church planting and radio ministry & Bible School

Greetings from South Africa,

29^th October, Once again we had a wonderful men’s meeting. “Leaders: Obey God,” was our challenge. We as fathers, pastors, deacons are to Obey God regardless! It was challenge to me, as I challenged the men.

After the men’s meeting I got home and Esther and I were standing outside, when Chaylee jumped on to our outside bench and ran to the end of the bench only to lose her balance and fall off. We heard the cry and saw the look of pain.... Yes, she broke her left forearm. We rushed her to Emergencies, and x-ray confirmed the break. They wanted to hold her overnight as she had eaten and they needed to set her arm under anaesthesia. We did not have the finances for that so they put on a back- slab and we took her home, returning Sunday morning. At 8:00Am she had her arm reset. Everything went well, for which we thank the Lord!

November: also brought some emotionally charged events to our family life! Jeremy was bumped over by a car. He was crossing, at the pedestrian crossing, but decided to run across in front of an oncoming car that was already in the crossing. We took him to emergencies and had CT brain scan done. There were no signs of concussion, or broken bones, praise the Lord, just scratches and bruises. We do joke with him, that we now know he has a brain after seeing the scans, now he must use it when crossing the street. We thank the Lord for giving him another chance at life and growing in the Lord.

14^th November, our Men’s fellowship was at our home, “Leaders: Character”. Godly character is very hard to come by these days. Here in South Africa, it is greatly needed.

16^th November we had to do one of the hardest things that we have ever had to do. That was to place Esther’s mother in a fragile care home. Her care had become increasingly harder for Esther to handle. Do pray for Wyla and for Esther that they will feel the Lord’s nearness in all of this and that Wyla will make the adjustment.

26^th – 28^th we made a trip to Botswana, with Missionaries Cecil & Sonnie Hines. We spent the weekend with the Peacock family who are missionaries there. It was encouraging to see the Lord’s hand at work there!

11^th December the Men’s fellowship was again at our home, “Leaders: Integrity”. Once again amongst the corruption, a great need for Africa, pray for Integrity among our men and pastors in Congo. The Ladies also had their closing gathering sharing testimony of things they’d learned and prayer for the New Year ahead.

In the New Year, we are looking forward to 6 young men and two married men starting in a training program for ministry or serving the Lord in the church. We will start our first classes in January. I will also be preparing for a trip to Congo in February.

In Christ,

Robert, Esther, Joshua, Cherith, Jordan, Jeremy, Chelsea, Chaylee, Winnie and Grandma Wyla.