Blog Post 9

October - December

Well, here we are again facing the end to yet another year and all I can bring myself to think about is the immovable nature and the faithfulness of God despite all my weaknesses and inconsistencies. It saddens me that I so often fail to see my sin as God sees it,often excusing sin in myself, and recognising it so easily in others. I've been reading a book called the “enemy within” and I was hit with the reality of this quote “The life of the disciple is not for the timid. Most would rather give in to sin than go through the painful work of picking up a cross and nailing their flesh to it.” My obedience to Christ is not going to be an easy task, I must follow Christ and to do so I must die to self. Oh may the Lord grant me the strength and the grace to do it! May this be true of us all as we press on towards the goal.....

In my last Newsletter I said that I was waiting for my results. It is with much gratitude and joy that I can say “ I passed, praise be to God!” I completed all my procedures with just my CPCA's left to do for the new year. There have been so many days where I have been tempted to throw in the towel but God is so faithful, it is really only by His grace that I am still persevering in this. I wrote my mid year exam and I was able to complete the two Theology subjects which I have been struggling to get through. I registered for another subject correspondence and have decided to continue doing whatever I am able to do, at my own pace. I must realise my limitations and be aware of the unnecessary expectations I put on myself. The Lord has been so patient with me, I am so thankful for His love and so overwhelmed by His mercy.

When I was in Jhb I was able to visit Midrand Chapel and got to catch up with a few very special families and that was a great joy and privilege. The Lord blessed me with summer clothes from the Newman's, providing once again for all my needs through His body (the Church)I was able to join the outreach to Olievenhoutbosch, it is so encouraging to see brothers and sisters in Christ reaching out to the community for the sake of the Gospel. I had the pleasure of looking after some of my favourite children. I was reminded again of the impact we have on them when we live out our faith and realised again the importance of teaching them about Jesus Christ. I was able to be a part of the Missions week which was probably the highlight of my year! I got to meet and get to know a couple from Brackenhurst Baptist who are missionaries in India. It was such an encouragement to see how God has lead them and been with them, through the joys and challenges of ministry. I learnt a great deal from them,even in the little time we had together but I am thankful to the Lord for them none the less and hope to be faithful in praying for them.

I'm currently back at work in the Hospital , we have not been all that busy so I have had lots of opportunity to share the Gospel, with colleges and patients alike. I am starting to see some fruit , God honours the work we do when we remain faithful to His word and stick to our convictions. There are a few people who come into the hospital on a regular basis who I am praying for, please pray that the truth of the Gospel will bring them to salvation.

Blog Post 8

July – September

The world seems to be moving so fast, to think that God keeps time in His hand is beyond my understanding. For what is a day, a week , a month, a year, in light of eternity past. This is something the Lord has been teaching me of late, that is, that time belongs to Him. A concept yet to be understood by man, in all it's complexity, there is but One who understands and knows it so well.

When I get discouraged because I have not managed to accomplish all I had expected to, when my hopes remain dreams because of expectations not yet met, when another unexpected situation has presented it's self and has left me just wanting more. I am reminded again that time is not my own, it's on loan. It is so easy to loose sight of this truth in a world where everything is run by time. We live in a culture where a persons achievements and stature are regarded as valuable and important to the people around us. I find myself tempted to measure my worth by the things I am or am not accomplishing in life rather than finding my worth in Christ. Pray with me, that I might not be deceived by such thinking but rather that I would focus on what is true, what is noble and what is right.

In my last letter I mentioned that I was awaiting my first year final SANC exam results. Praise the Lord, for by His grace, I was able to pass. At the start of this year I asked for prayer regarding support and with a few peoples generosity and help I was able to put down a deposit for second year.Thank you for all your prayers and for all the financial support that has helped me to get this far.

Nedcare Education has also since offered me a gratuity, which is somewhat like a bursary. I am obligated to work back or pay back the tuition fees once my training is completed. This was a very tough decision for me to make and I struggled greatly in accepting the offer, but I made the decision to take the gratuity, trusting that if it is the Lord's will, He will provide the finances for me to be able to pay them back when I need to.

Some updates on events over the past months:

Grace Community Church LA sent a STM team to Grace Sasolburg to minister among us for a week. The team consisted of Steve, Holly, Harry, Kyle, Kathryn, Joyce, Luis and Perla. We hosted a young adults teaching and fellowship day at Grace Sasolburg.The team served us and they ministered to us, they taught the children at the kids Holiday club, and the teenagers at the children’s home, Kyle led the young adults Bible study, Steve preached at the service on Sunday, each member of the team contributed greatly to the ministry here and it was a great joy to share our lives with them. I had the privilege of hosting three of the girls in the house where I am living, a few people in our church were ill at the time and it was really cold, almost the entire team got ill while they were over here. Yet the Lord sustained them as they ministered to us, when their time was up, they travelled down to Durban so that they could continue their ministry at Hillcrest Baptist.

A group of us from Midrand Chapel planned a road trip to Durban so we could attended the Hillcrest Baptist Young Adults camp, it was a great time of teaching and fellowship. It was a very special time of fellowship for me, even though many of us were ill, we were able to be encouraged and edified by our unity in Christ. We had morning devotions, enjoyed the beauty of the creation around us, shared some testemony of what God has done and is still doing in us.

After the holiday break it was time to return to nursing college. I was ill for a while but the Lord strengthened me and I was quickly on the mend. I was able to also attend the Rez2011 conference, where we were taught by Paul Tripp and Rick Holland. It was so good to be reminded again of some very important truths that one so easily forgets.

Who would have imagined that I am nearing the middle of the 2^nd year already. I have eight clinical procedures to do, one CPCA and a SANC mid year paper to write. This means allot of self discipline and hard work from my side. I have also been very slack with getting my Theology subjects completed and the dead line is nearing soon, so please pray that I would not get distracted and that I would finish what I have started.

I am somewhat more settled than I was last year, perhaps I have surrendered to the fact that I am where I am for a reason. Although not knowing that reason, I have peace with the fact that I don't really have a home. Living in two towns and attending two churches is not comfortable, but as I have also come to learn, understand, embrace and accept, living in uncomfortable grace is God's means of preparing me and if that is what is necessary, I will like Paul, learn to be content in whatever situation I find myself in.

The Lord has graciously helped me to grow in the area of trust and obedience over the past few months, realising some things we desire, no matter how good they are, they are best left in His hands. The Lord has helped me to see that He will continue the work He has started in me, and what an encouragement that is to me when I am overwhelmed with the realities of this life. He has been there when I have felt there is no way out, He has been my stronghold in the storms of life. He has been my friend when I have felt there are none. He has led me into all truth and He has been my guide when I have felt that I have lost my way. When the path seems so long and I grow weary and been tempted to give up. He has uplifted me with His word, given me courage to fight and upheld me by His strong and mighty hand. What an awesome God we serve !

Blog Post 7

May – June

With just a few weeks left for registration and no knowledge of what would happen next. I cried out to the Lord in faith for His provision and He heard my cry and answered me. I am humbled , that He would even consider my needs and attend to my hearts desires. George Müller a great man of faith and prayer once said that "It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must patiently, believingly, continue in prayer until we obtain an answer."

So thank you for praying faithfully for me, your prayers have carried me and encouraged me greatly. It is truly in prayer where action happens and it is with a joyful and thankful heart that I share this wonderful news with you since the Lord has moved in the hearts of fellow believers who have shared the desire to partner with me. Some have committed to support me in prayer and some wish to assist me financially, this is all in aid of getting me equipped and skilled to be a registered nurse which I hope to use as a platform for the work of the ministry in the future.

I now have sufficient funds for the registration of my second year and trust the Lord to provide for the months ahead for monthly expenses and needs. Praise be to God for all His provision and for those whom He has sent and provided through.

This weekend, I believe has been a pivotal event in the life of the church here in Sasolburg. We had a discipleship conference and I am very excited to see how God uses this to grow believers and expand His church. I consider the great commission and Gods mandate and command for us to go make disciples of all nations, I admit at times , when I consider my failures and weaknesses I think to myself, how Lord can you use me? How Lord can something that looks so impossible to me , take form and actually happen? BUT GOD then reminds me that He is a Mighty God and that all things are possible through Him who strengthens me. He is the creator and sustainer of all things, and this very same God who I worship and adore is LORD over all. He has prepared great things in advance for me to do, with faith He wants me to trust Him and depend on Him.

Some of you would also have been praying for Dave and I , for direction and wisdom, and for us to know the LORD'S leading regarding our relationship. Last month; after prayerful consideration and discussion; Dave and I called off our engagement. This is a big decision and was taken as a result of open and honest communication with each other and counsel from godly people in our lives. The key factors informing this decision were uncertainties regarding the practicalities of our combined future on the mission field; as well as my desire to be faithful to many who have supported me and the desire to complete my nursing studies before making any life-changing decisions. Through my discussion of the situation with my close friends and counselors; I have experienced confirmation and the Lord’s peace on this decision. Please continue to pray for direction for us both and for continued wisdom and discernment, that Christ may be glorified and both ministries affected positively for the Lord.

Some events I will attend over the next month will include the shepherds conference at Grace Pretoria, a weekend on a farm in Bronchospruit and a Young adults retreat.  I have had time to catch up with friends and visit some of my brothers and sisters in Christ who live far away from me. I decided to attempt another one of my Theology subjects this month and started piano lessons. I  started a running programme a while back and entered my first 10km race on Saturday which was very enjoyable.

Please continue to pray for my family

In Christ

tash