Know, Love, Live

Creation Fest 2014 - what an amazing week it was... A week (but also weeks and months leading up to it) where I've been blessed to meet and work alongside wonderful, godly people, experience how the Lord's grace and strength is sufficient in every situation, serve beautiful "little people" which so quickly creep into your heart, hear great testimonies from people and see the Lord's hand at work in people's life!

 

My experience of Creation Fest this year was a little bit different than my previous two years where my days were mostly spent planning and managing the Creation Kids Venues...  508 kids (age 5 to 11) attended through the week with the average daily morning session attendance of about 230 kids. Our theme for this year was International Spy Academy where we trained agents (kids) to know, love and live for the One True God... We uncovered counterfeits and learned that there is only ONE TRUE GOD! We looked at one of God's fingerprints... that He is uniquely (and mind-blowing) 1 God, but 3 Persons... And which agent do not love to crack some codes and discover some of the wonderful attributes of God?  It was days filled with worship, games, crafts, guest bands, Creation Fest Kids got talent - and each day ended with a "visit" to the mission field of Bible Translation!  There was a wonderful team of volunteers that worked faithfully in the Kids Tent every day and I wouldn't have been able to do it without them. 

The highlights were definitely the stories that these volunteers told of how the Lord was working in the lives of the kids.  Over 20 kids made commitments to follow Jesus for the first time and almost 30 made a re-commitment.  After making a first time commitment to follow Jesus, this particular 8 year old boy was walking with his dad to their tent and said to his dad: "Now that I'm a Christian, I should probably be more kind to my cousin".  I found it so encouraging that this 8 year old boy knew that your life looks different when you follow Jesus.  This little agent-in-training not only learned about God but also learned to love and live for the One True God.  "Just one touch from the King changes everything..." because in Jesus we are "new creations, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

 

Creation Fest 2014 bands were once again brilliant.  Over 30 bands played during the week and the Big Shed was filled every night with great line ups.  Some of my favourite evening highlights were Bellarive, an American band that made their Creation Fest debut, the open mic night in the Tube (Youth) Venue and the last night of worship, testimonies and thanks giving.

 

However, as one would expect, not everything went according to plan! Now for a planner like me, that's tough.  Some of it was big, and some small...  Our Kids Crafts shipment never made it to Creation Fest, which meant I had to plan and prepare a new craft for the kids every evening. A number of the volunteers fell ill during the week unable to serve and one day, 10 minutes before I had to teach, I had to rush off to the ambulance with two of the boys after a not-so-serious head on collision during a game...  But in this time, I could learn from the life of Nehemiah how individuals, believers, pitched in and did the work together to accomplish something and I experience how the Lord "keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Him, because he trusts in You"

 

Thank you to all of you that prayed for me, the Kids ministry, Creation Fest and the team during this time... I would like to end my Creation Fest 2014 blog with  the chorus of one of Shell Perris' songs:

 

It’s You [Jesus] I choose to live for. On You I will depend.

Your dying breath has brought me life.

I’ll serve You ‘til the end.

When this life brings me trouble and all I have is gone,

I’ll stand and sing, “My Saviour King.”

Together we are one.

  

Marching Forward

 Last weekend, these 2 verse caught my attention: "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier" (2 Tim 2:3-4)

It got me thinking... Life as a soldier is not easy. As a matter of fact soldiers do not only go through tough times, they expect it! In the midst of a combat, they do not get caught up or twisted in the "normal" affairs of this life. They willingly detach themselves from things of civilian life in order to fight. On duty, soldiers keeps himself in readiness for orders from headquarters or their commanding officer.  As I read these verses it hit me (again), that I am in a battle - I need to continue to fight the good fight of faith. God enlisted me in His army! But am I ready for whatever and wherever He calls me so that I can please Him? What in my life is holding me back / entangles me or what do I need to give up for serving and pleasing my Commanding Officer? I thought of a few things... As I pondered these things, I knew that is what I wanted to share in my next blog, but little did I know that just a few days later it would take on a different meaning - an added layer!

This past week I had to say "goodbye" to one of the best examples I know as a soldier for Christ. Phil Pechonis, our festival director, passed away and is now with Jesus in heaven.  When I came to Creation Fest in 2012, the day after I arrived, Phil said to me in a serious joking way: we need to pray for your long term visa to England. That was the "joke" for the next 5 weeks before I left England with no plans to return to England for a longer term! Well, many stories in-between, one year later I returned to the UK with a one year visa (which since got extended) to work with Phil on Creation Fest, Creation Movement Roadshows, The Wave bus, but then also for a few months a "new or revive" church plant... And on top of that there were many more "plans" and dreams and godly ambitions! In the last year, I had the privilege to work alongside him (and his beautiful family).  One thing of Phil was that he was always ready to please His Commanding Officer, Jesus... No matter the cost! Phil was always ready (in no particular order):

1) For his next "order" from Jesus and then obey it

2) For the next "opportunity" to share the good news of Jesus - whether to one or to thousands!

3) To teach the word of God simply - being ready in and out of season

4) To show grace, give second and third chances, encourage and bless those around him

5) To take steps (sometime it seemed like major jumps) of faith because he trusted God's faithfulness.

Phil knew and trusted His Commanding officer, Jesus... And God used him to touch many lives and making a big impact for God's Kingdom.

Although it is a big loss to his family, his friends, the ministry, England (especially the south west)... Phil fought the good fight, he finished the race, he kept the faith. (And he did it well!). He set a great example for us and now, finally, there is laid up for him the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, gave to him on that Day...

How about you? Are you ready to face God, the righteous Judge today? If not... Why don't you get right with God today for "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus, that whoever believes in Jesus, will not perish, but have everlasting life. You too can be with God forever - how? if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved!

Although a big loss, we are marching on with Creation Fest! With only 13 days to go! The festival site will start to take form this week with marquees going up, equipment being delivered, building and setting up. The programme is also going to print this coming week. I've spent a lot of my time painting the décor sets and preparing all the "finer" details and will continue doing so. Its been fun and I cant wait to see all the pieces coming together, literally and figuratively, the week of the festival! I'm waiting in expectation to see what the Lord is going to do at this year's festival and I feel blessed that I can be part of it!

This coming Sunday, 27 July, we also have an outreach (Creation Movement Roadshow) to the community of Callington. There will be 3 great bands on stage, skate and scooter competition, kids craft and a lot of others activities. Pray that many will come and hear the Good News of Jesus and respond!

"But He [Jesus] said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”"

General "life" in the last month:

Please continue to keep me and the Creation Fest team and the upcoming Creation Fest and roadshow in your prayers

Much love from the UK

xxx

Snake along

"Sometime ago I was taking a walk through the hills when I came across an enormous snake.  He was a big one, Davie, three inches thick and four feet long, and he just lay there in the sun looking scary.  I was afraid of this thing and I didn't move for a long time, and lo and behold, while I was watching, I saw a miracle.  I saw a new birth.  I saw that old snake shed its skin and leave it lying there in the sun and go off a new and really beautiful creature.  When you start your new work in the city, boy, don't you be like I was, petrified by the outward appearance of your boys.  God isn't.  He's just waiting for each one of them to crawl right out of that old sin-shell and leave it behind.  He is waiting and yearning for the new man to come out." (The cross and the switchblade).

On Sunday I had the privilege to witness just one of those instances - a man in church, just 2 seats away, accepted Jesus as His Saviour. I saw a miracle, I saw a new-birth - a birth into the family of God! That man shed his old sin-shell and is now a new creation (God promised that!)  You know, if you are not a follower of Jesus yet - I have some good news for you too!  God loves you so much, that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. When you accept Jesus as your Saviour, change happens!  Like the snake, God promise that you will become a new creation.  Only Jesus can bring the change in your life you desire!  Only Jesus can fill that void in your life... How about it?  Will you, like this man today, accept Jesus as your Saviour and ask Him today to change you?

This change that the Good News of Jesus brings is the answer to the question that so often pop into my head: "Why are you doing what you doing?"  But you know, as a follower of Jesus, He allows me to be part of the work He is doing in people's life.  He asks, as His follower, to be a witness for Him.  He ask that I will not be scared (or petrified) but to be bold and faithful to share with people the good news of Jesus.  The good news of Jesus brings hope... it changes lives! May I not be petrified by the outward appearances (or reactions) of men - but may the Lord increase my boldness to share this wonderful, GOOD NEWS of Jesus with those that cross my path!  Run with me the race of faith - like Paul said: "My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the Good news of God's Grace"

And that is one of our prayers for Creation Fest - that people will hear the Good News of Jesus!  The festival is now only 67 days away - and the organisation is full-on!  The bands / artists line-up is growing by the week and slowly the pieces are starting to come together.  A big part of my time is spent preparing the Creation Fest kids programme for this year... and its been a challenging, wonderful, overwhelming, exciting, nerve wrecking, awesome journey so far.  We will be "training" the kids to be agents for the One True God at the Creation Fest International Spy Academy.  In the coming weeks, please pray for the preparations as well as the necessary resources needed for that week.
The last couple of weeks we've also been visiting churches to share about Creation Fest and invite them to come along / partner with us. To date, it has been very well received.  Praise the Lord for His favour!  The Lord has already answered so many prayers and I'm excited to see what wonderful work the Lord will still be doing - especially at the festival!
I'm still involved in the weekly local kids club - with increased school activity in Spring and Summer, the attendance has been down a bit, but please continue to pray for the club and the kids - for opportunities to share the gospel, to be able to answer their questions and for the kids open hearts and understanding.

Other small bits and pieces of news since the last update was that I volunteered at Spring Harvest, visited Scotland (so beautiful, PLUS, to top it off, I played in the snow and made a snow angel...), one of my friends, Erna-Marie came to visit me, I ran my first 10km race (and completed it with no walking :)) and explored other beautiful parts of Cornwall and Devon... but this time, I'll let the photos do the talking.

As the festival is getting closer and closer, please continue to pray for me and for the festival:
Creation Fest:
*Pray for wisdom in the planning and finalising of details and logistics
*Pray for the preparation of the kids tent programme :)
*Pray for those who will be coming - that they will be encouraged / open to the Good News of Jesus
*Pray for the right resources (volunteers, financial provision, favour with the local communities and churches)
Myself:
*To be a bold witness for Jesus
*To keep my eyes and focus on Jesus - the author and finisher of my faith
*To be sensitive to His voice and guidance in everything I do.

The Good, the Bad and the Challenging

Its almost been 9 months since I've first arrived in England on this God-given adventure... and how time has flown.  This last month was a whirlwind month - in it was some good, some bad, some ugly or should I say rather challenging times :)!  The highlight of the last month was the answer on my prayers for a friend and a partner in ministry (not necessarily the same person).  But the Lord knows best and He blessed me by sending me a good friend from Cape Town which is now part of Creation Fest Ministry.  Sanmarie arrived almost a month ago and it has been such a blessing to have her around and serve alongside her.

But her arrival was not without drama :) - the night I had to pick her up from the bus station in Exeter, my car broke down only a few miles from the bus station and no way of contacting her.  After many phone calls, plans and prayers (and yes, knowing me there was obviously tears too), a friend brought her to me and got the car started again... but just a few miles outside of Exeter on the highway it gave its last huffing and puffing and then died on us (the sad end of the blue Rover)!  BUT THE GOOD NEWS - the Lord blessed us with another car, a Skoda Octavia, only a few days later!

The 2 weeks that followed was filled with Creation Fest meetings and presentations in Launceston, the coastal town of Seaton and "up North" - so we had the opportunity to see "old friends", meet wonderful people that is so excited about serving at Creation Fest 2014 and explore Seaton, Sidmouth Bay, Beer, Gloucester and York (one of my favourites!).  I came back excited after the "Up North" trip - excited for what Creation Fest 2014 will hold!

My dear friend, Steffi, came all the way from Germany to visit me for four days last week.  We had a wonderful - fun filled - adventurous - Corwall - discovery time.  I've come to realise again what a beautiful part of England I stay in and I can see why so many people from across the UK come to Cornwall for holiday.  We braced the weather and explored the old Victorian House and estate - Landhydrock - where I felt I was on the set of Downton Abbey, fisherman villages of Fowye and Polperro (BEAUTIFUL), Plymouth Harbour, South Cornwall at St. Ives and visiting the most western point of England - Lands End.

As she left for Germany again, sadly I fell ill... And of all illnesses, Chicken pox... I mean, really! At the age of 30 - Chicken pox!  It's a weird illness but I'm happy to report that by the Lord's grace, I've survived it, still house bound after a week but is now on my way back to healthy me! In the last week there is one verse that has stuck in my mind and which I've been pondering on - Ephesians 6:10 "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might".  In the good (and bad) times - strengthen yourself in the Lord... In the bad / sick times -  Draw on the Lord's strength! His strength is enough for the good, the bad, the ugly and the challenging times. Always only rely on Him and His strength - not your own.  His might will work in you as you rely on it and step out in faith.  My prayer is that if you are a Christian, that this week you too would actively take actions to strengthen yourself in the Lord.  Then step out, be bold and trust His power to work in and through you this week.

Much love from the UK,
XXX

Thank you for those that have been praying for me and the different ministries.  Please continue to pray with and for us:
* Phil Pechonis, our festival director, has been diagnosed with cancer and has undergone surgery this week - however, the surgery did not go as plan and there are the possible need to undergo further chemotherapy / radiotherapy. Please pray for strength and encouragement for him and his family, his recovery after the operation and that we would see the Lord's hand at work in this situation.
* Creation Fest: for wisdom and time efficiency in the planning of the festival as well as the road shows planned
* Kids Club and Youth Club:  For the salvation of the kids and youth
* Myself:  That I will rely on the Lord's strength in all I do, for boldness and simplicity in proclaiming the gospel!  For the Lord's continuous guidance about my future / next steps

Created FOR good works

For the last couple of weeks, I had the privilege and blessing to lead the home group in our house in a study of Ephesians.  Ephesians 2:8 - 10 says: ^"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  The last part of it I pondered on for a long time.  As a child of God, I'm His handiwork created FOR good works... But, God prepared those good works I need to walk in long before!  God has a blue print for the journey of my life... I don't have to work out the plan for my life, but only accept His plan for me.  I just need to seek His will, and obey it.  At the moment, I don't know what the future of my journey looks like (now for someone like me that loves to plan in advance, it can be rather difficult at times!) but I know the One who holds my future.  The One that is described as Awesome, Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty... I can trust that He will lead me and guide me in the way I should go. Elizabeth Elliot said that the best preparation for the future is always the conscientious carrying out of what is given to us today.  And in preparation for what that uncertain future holds, God planned good works for me today to carry out!  And it includes exciting ministries and serving opportunities.

Creation Fest 2014 is happening and the ball is rolling in the planning of it. We've signed the first bands to play at CF'14, new policies, procedures are in place and new systems are in development, ready to be launched very soon.  We also have a few church presentations booked (praying for more!) in the upcoming weeks.  The Lord blessed the ministry with a new "resource", Sanmarie (which is also a very good friend of mine) that is busy with the design of the marketing material.  Sanmarie is also from South Africa and will hopefully join the team in England very soon.  And this is just the beginning... I'm excited to see what the Lord has planned for Creation Fest 2014! 

As part of Creation Fest's year round ministry, we also plan smaller outreach events in partnership with local churches.  At the moment we are working together with the churches in Callington planning to do a Creation Movement Roadshow the 27th of July 2014.  The team and the churches are very excited.  It would be great if you could please keep this in your prayers.  

Since the beginning of the year, I got involved in some of the local ministries in my town.  I volunteer at one of the local churches' kids club on Wednesdays, Adventurers. It is in a village about 7 miles outside Launceston.  Its only been 5 weeks, but WOW, how quickly kids creep into your heart!!! I'm enjoying it so much!  There are 28 kids part of the club, with between 23 - 25 on any particular day (they are between 5 and 11 years old).  I've started teaching the lesson time, by the grace of God's.  So far it's been a wonderful experience.  When it felt like I had "writers block" and couldn't put 2 sentences of the lesson together during my preparation, the Lord answered my prayer and He is faithful - opening up His word to me, and making the lesson "flow"! I was reminded once again that we are able to do all things through Christ who strengthen us. I would appreciate your prayers... Please pray that the Lord would touch the heart of the kids with the Gospel and that they would accept Jesus as their Saviour.

 

 

I'm also helping at another local church's youth club - Namesake.  Namesake is on Friday nights for youth between 11 and 16.  At this stage, I volunteer every second week and there is between 25 and 30 kids on average per Friday night.  Youth ministry is still very new to me but its been a good learning curve.  With some relax time (playing pool, table tennis or just hanging out), followed by a "God slot" and an activity, I'm starting to get to know the youth.  Please pray for creative ideas to engage with them, for the volunteers to have boldness to share with them the love of Jesus and for the openness of the youth for the Gospel. 

What a wonderful privilege to know as a child of God, He has prepared good works for you too!

 

Please continue to keep me and the different ministries in your prayers:

1) Please continue to pray for Phil Pechonis, the Creation Fest Festival Director - he has completed his chemotherapy and the surgery is planned for late March

2) Pray for Creation Fest - for wisdom in the planning, the right speakers and bands and for more churches and ministries to partner with Creation Fest (thus more opportunities to take the gospel to the South West of England (and if possible, beyond))

3) Pray for Adventurer kids and Namesake youth

4) Pray that I will keep my eyes fix on Jesus, that I will rest in His will for my life and for the Holy Spirit to illuminate God's Word to me as I prepare for the different teachings

5) Pray for "more of Jesus and less of me" in my life

 

xxx

The Beauty of Winter

It's a new year... 2014. Happy and blessed year to everyone that read this.  May you know Jesus more and more this year!

 

In November, I was blessed with a car (after months of sorting out paper work, insurance, taxing etc).  A Dark Blue Rover 25 for those of you who know cars but for those of you that's like me... A picture speaks a thousands words :):

Having a car meant a little bit more "freedom" or independence - for example being able to go and do grocery shopping only when needed (small things).  It also gave me the opportunity for some exploring.  My first road trip was to Dartmoor National Park via Tavistock on a very cold, windy, rainy winters day.  After exploring the unexpected, but lovely market in the town centre of  Tavistock, I continued on to Dartmoor National Park. 

Tavistock town centre

I've only seen a small part of the Park but it was definitely enough that I want to go back.  As I was looking and preparing to take a photo of this beautiful winter nature scene in front of me: Flowing river, with bare trees next to it, surrounded by your typical "winter" looking grass and hills (my description doesn't do it justice, so see the picture below), I was reminded by God of winter seasons in life... And that even though they are not easy, often lonely, stripped bare, possibly uncomfortable, challenging, tearful - they are beautiful.  Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 11 says: "To everything there is a season.  A time for every purpose under heaven.  He has made everything BEAUTIFUL in its time.  Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the works that God does from beginning to end."  We might not be able to see the end, or understand the why - but we can hold onto the One [Jesus] that has everything in His Control and making it beautiful in its time, knowing He has a purpose.  Psalm 1 says "Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord... He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water [like my picture], that brings forth fruit IN ITS SEASON."  In the winter seasons God is shaping us that we can bring forth fruit in season.  In the winter seasons we get to know God for who He is.  In the winter seasons we have fellowship in Jesus' suffering [Phil 3:10]. In the winter seasons, be firmly planted in God's Word, hold onto and take delight in God's promises.  As Corrie Ten Boom said: No pit is so deep, that He is not deeper still.  With Jesus, even in our darkest moments, the best remains and the very best is yet to be.

 

Being away over the Christmas season was challenging.  But, I had the privilege of spending 2 wonderful weeks with Jaco, Lizelle and Ruben (now 3 and a half months) in Norwich (East-England).  They were such a blessing to me.  No, we didn't have a white Christmas... but a cold one!  It was a beautiful day according to UK standards (that means single digit temperature, sunny, no rain).  We celebrated Christmas with 9 more of their friends - fellow South Africans.  We did a typical British Christmas lunch (having turkey) in a South African style (yip, you guessed it - on the braai!).  New Years brought its own "style" - entering the new year all dressed up in 80's style!  But with all the fun and dressing up, isn't it even better to know that I'm entering a new year with Jesus?  More opportunities to know Him and serve Him more.

 

May you be found in Jesus and know Jesus more intimately in 2014.

 

Thank you to all who are praying for us.  Here are some more prayer requests:

1)  Phil Pechonis and his family -  He is our Creation Fest Director and was diagnosed with cancer.  Please continue to pray as he undergo chemo therapy
 2) Creation Fest:

*  Pray for the planning of Creation Fest 2014 and that more churches will get involved

*  Praise report:  Sanmarie Moore said yes to coming to serve at Creation Fest (she is gifted with many skills that is much needed on the Creation Fest team).  She is in the process of applying for her visa.  Please pray for favour with the logistics, visa process and planning
3) For myself:  That I would keep my eyes on Jesus and be faithful to what He has called me