Saturday 25 January 2014

Back in Zimbabwe - Halleluja!!

Dear friends,

how are you?

Thank you for all the sympathy & prayers for us in this time of grief for my mother.

When my Dad and I shed some tears when we first got to Germany, David said: "Why are they crying, Granny is with Jesus?!"

Yes, Mom is with our wonderful savior but the joy over that does not always cover the grief of not having her around anymore this side or eternity.

Still out of the mouths of children and infants does the Lord often ordain praise for Himself!

 

But as for me it is good to be near God!!!      Psalm 73, 28

 

Mom can be so close to Him now –in His arms. We are so grateful to God that we can know that!!!

 

Thank you for all your prayers, the short stint in Germany was good but hectic. We nearly had a bad accident on our first ride with a car there, since I was preoccupied in my thoughts & drove on the left hand side like we do in Zimbabwe...God protected us with some quick reaction angels -Praise be to His name!!!

 

It was good to be together as a family and extended family! Also with my sisters it was a good meeting and we were able to comfort & help each other

At the two memorial service I was able to give short testimonies and even played a song "Come to Jesus" at the one in the black forest. Please pray that our Lord, who my mother followed, will use this so that people will find the Lord.

We arrived safely after our 24 hr.  journey…not too much sleep on the plane and I (Martin) had to see  Doc Martin for treatment because I sat too long...it's much better now.

 

We returned Tuesday morning loaded with the goods from the land of plenty, to mention but a few we had a clutch for our Mitsubishi and 1kg Nutella (German chocolate spread) in our suitcases.

A brother from a church in Harare collected us and I just about managed to drive us the three quarters of an hour home to Marondera. Pretty bushed the whole family went straight for a nap & down for the night quite early to.

Although Daddy still had a few things to do, but managed to get his head down on the pillow around 10.30.

Wednesday saw me going to "my" youth at the orphanage & Thursday + Friday to the primary schools. So good to preach the word of God again and to witness about Jesus our sure foundation and sure hope beyond our death – eternally!!!

Will be at Watershed College on the 9th of Feb for the evening service–please pray!

 

 

Update for my nephew Nicolas:

He was with us at the memorial service and was in good shape. He told me that one of the nurses reading his improved brain frequencies had said to him: "Well... who's been praying for you?"  Thank you that I was able to tell him!!!

He did have to two epileptic fits a day after his return to Cologne, but is stable again. So please keep at it. The Doc's are saying that they will replace part of his skull possibly in February in his 8th (!) operation.

 

Please continue to pray to that Nico, my sisters, father & the whole family will continue to experience God and make decisions for Jesus.

 

Otherwise we are trying to find our feet again (they were there last time I checked...) after all the to and fro and are thankful for your prayer support in that & everything else.

 

"We have made the Sovereign Lord our refuge, we will tell of all his deeds!!!"Psalm 73; 28 (continuation from above)

What a blessing to have him!!!!

 

In His love,

Your Martin & Silke + boys

 

 

 

Wednesday 1 January 2014

Mum with the Lord /journey to Germany

Dear friends,

How are you?

We wish you a blessed 2014!!!

We are praying that God will changes us more and more into His likeness. That we will make decisions that please Him & that we will stand strong for Him in this progressive End time.

 

My mother went to her wonderful Saviour on the eve of the 23. Thank you so much for your prayers & please keep at it for my father & sisters + family.

God has again and again brought life out of death; we trust he will do so again in this situation with my mother being "promoted".

Please remember especially our two catholic memorials on 7. & 14.01, that my relative will experience the Lord!

 

Would have loved to have seen mum again but it was not meant to be. It really was a miracle that she did gain consciousness again on Sunday since she had lost it all day Saturday. The doctor had said that she would not ...but through this grace of our loving God I was able to thank her & say good bye to her.  How precious and comforting are her last words to me:

"Jesus is waiting for me with his arms wide open"

 

The see our Lord one day (& maybe mum to) with all the saints in the heavenly Jerusalem will be incomparable with having seen her again down here.

In His presence, where God will wipe away all tears from our eyes, where there will no longer be any death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away – Praise be to our God!!! Revelation 21 Verse 4

 

Then the dwelling of God will be with men and He will live with us and we will be His people and God Himself will be with us and be our God!!! (Vers3)

 

(Highly recommend Ted Burpo's book "Heaven's for real")

 

This Saturday we're planning to touch down in Germany. It will be an emotional and busy with a lot of visits with family & driving. Please pry that God will carry us though, protect us and use as his lights. We look forward to a short time at our mission & the folks there. On the 20.01 our flight will take us again to our life & ministry in Zimbabwe. There a busy term is waiting for us. David will move to the "big class" in pre-school.

 

Thank you for all your sympathy, prayer & help! You are a great team!!!

 

In his name & service,

 

Your Martin & Silke + David & Joshua