Greetings from Nelspruit

HOW TIME FLIES, normally 'when you're having fun' is added to that, and while some of what we have been through was fun, the past month or so was not always 'fun'. LOOKING BACK:

• Both being diagnosed with Malaria straight after coming out of Mocambique towards the end of March put us into about three weeks of 'no fun'. Naomi had just arrived home to have her wisdom teeth removed, I was due for the big annual 'scan and check up' and so that was a few weeks of real 'ups and downs'. THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS, and we can testify that God has been GOOD to us and we have come out of all of that rejoicing. Our stamina levels are still a little low, but we are much better, the Cancer check ups were all clear, Naomi has recovered, and we're 'good to go'.
• Then there was 'the other side of our ministry', the duties as Field Director which 'came upon us' in January. We had the sadness of the passing of Sandy Mahon during this time and together with other ZEMA missionaries were able to rejoice in what her life meant to so many. We had a Field Council meeting and a number of other meetings related to ZEMA administration, and we would just ask you to pray that we are able to successfully fulfill not only the ministry in Mocambique but also these Admin tasks as well.

BUT NOW, it's back into Mocambique TOMORROW (Friday 10th). We have two men going along with and as they are both Bible School students who are with us to fulfill some of their practical study requirements, and so are taking most of the teaching load on this visit ! We are going to be at Maputo (Sat 11th), Vanduzi (Mon 12th to Thursday 15th) and Maphinhane (Fri 16th to Sun 18th). Please pray for Peter Brent and Corbin Seghers.

When this trip is over we're not coming straight home but will be heading to the Eastern Cape and then back through KwaZulu Natal, meeting with other ZEMA missionaries in those provinces. We should be home around 1st June to prepare for the next Mocambique trip on the 5th June.

WE WOULD VALUE YOUR PRAYERS, there is so much opportunity for good in these next weeks, and we know that at those times there is also so much opportunity for misunderstanding and confusion, so please pray that God would truly use us as ambassadors carrying His love.  Please pray for our health and the stamina we need to 'keep up with the program' ! In the 'old days' (when I used to run the Comrades), this time of the year was always the 3 weeks of 'peak training' when you had to really focus on the goal to get through ! Pray that we would just constantly be aware of the magnificence of Jesus and focus on the goal of lifting Him up in these next weeks,

THANKS FOR PRAYING,

Richard and Geraldine