Well Betty and I are back home and glad to be here for sure. We had a wonderful time in South Africa and are very proud of Kevin and Corli. I will give you and update on Sunday night so you will not want to miss that. We should have a video and their music too.
Well I am getting caught up but here are some quotes that I just ran across
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambition. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” ~ Mark Twain
Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell your storm how big your God is.
“There is more power in a mother’s hand than in a king’s scepter.” -Billy Sunday
Well it is Thursday morning and 8 am here in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It is 1 am in Georgia. We will be back in our house around 6 pm I suppose on Friday evening –tomorrow. We will be traveling in an hour and you get the rest of the rest of the story.
I do not look forward to 18 hours in the airplane without getting out. I hope you will pray for us. God has blessed tremendously here but I am looking forward to getting back to our church for this Sunday.
Last night we had 4 more professions of faith and one got his life right. That makes 6 total that made a salvation decision.
Corli is a wonderful hostess. She is super kind, a great wife, and a wonderful missionary wife. Both Kevin and Corli speak great xhosa. The people love them. God is greatly using them. You can be thankful that we are supporting missionaries like them.
The attendance at the meetings when as follows Sunday am 52, pm 43, Monday 54, Tuesday 64, Wednesday 68. The church is only 6 months old. God has given them some good young men and a wonderful church. It has been a blessing to see and hear all that God is doing.
Sunday night, Lord willing, we will have you some pictures and music that you will enjoy during the announcements.
We have been so blessed to be here in South Africa and to see the work that God is doing in and through Kevin and Corli Hall. It is a beautiful thing right now to hear Corli just talking away in xhosa to a lady. It is wonderful to be in the church and hear Kevin stand and preach and challenge the people in the language.
God is really blessing. Two ladies got saved last night. They average about 50 in the services and they are just getting started. God has given Kevin several good men that want to serve God and are already working hard.
I apologize for being so out of touch and so far behind but this is a real quick trip and we do not have much time. We have been at it hard from early morning to late night.
We are blessed as a church to have such good missionaries serving God that we can support. The possibilities are limitless here with the power of God and some committed people. Will you please pray for them and their ministry. Will you pray that God will send forth laborers to His harvest here.
Please pray for the Keith Lee Family. Brother Keith, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Cumming, and Amanda Lee were blessed yesterday with the birth of a baby boy named Matthew.
Today Matthew will need a valve replacement due to a heart problem he was born with. We ask that you be in prayer for this great family.
Pastor Lee has been serving the Lord faithfully for several years in Forsyth County and would greatly appreciate your prayers.
I got the above news via email just a few days ago as our church had an urgent prayer request sent out. I want to ask you to be praying for this very good family and tremendous man of God.
I highly respect this man and thank God for him. When one of our family hurts we should all hurt. We love you Brother Lee and are praying for you.
Well we arrived in Johannesburg on Friday afternoon at 3:50 pm their time. We spent the night in a hotel and traveled on to Port Elizabeth Saturday–yesterday morning. Jeremy Hall is here with Betty and me. Kevin picked us up at the airport and we have been busy ever since then.
We had the privilege of spending a few hours with missionary Michael Lovett and his family. They appear to be doing very well and adjusting to the culture and people. It was a blessing to see them.
Then in the afternoon we went to the church, passed out tracts, began making plans, and worked until 1 am. I will be preaching in just a few minutes through a translator which is one of my least favorite things to do in this world, but I am excited about preaching to these people.
They speak Kosa. Kevin is doing great. I was very impressed with his two young men who speak English. I got their testimonies and questioned them on Biblical themes and they did well. I am excited about seeing all that God is doing.
What an open door! What a place some young man could come and work! Every church ought to make plans to come for a visit.
I will give you more details later but I am kind of rushed right now.
By the way, I already miss you all at Vision Baptist very much. I have thought of you and prayed for you a number of times. I am praying for Renee Roberts right now and still have heard nothing. You all are still in bed so I can’t find out anything.
I pray that you have a wonderful service. We are blessed with the best staff ever at our church. I know that Tony Howeth will do a great job. I also know that Philip Bassham is one of the greatest music men I have known. Trent will knock it out of the park with the young people and the announcements. I am so very proud of everyone of them. Mark Coffey has been my right hand and best friend for a long time. I know that you will be in good hands today.
Did I tell you that I love you all very much and that I am blessed and thankful to be the pastor of Vision Baptist Church.
I can not wait to hear the good things that our God is going to do today.
Well I am sitting in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in Kevin Hall’s office. I am excited but very busy because this is a short trip and I am trying to get lots done. I wanted to send you this note that came in from Peru and was such a blessing to me and then I will make another post to tell you what God is doing here:
This is a translation of the letter
Dear Brother Austin
Today is a very special day because it is Thanksgiving Day and the the truth today is that I thanked God for the things that he has done for me and for his purpose in my life. the truth He has been has been very good to me and to think that He loves me and allows me to be at His side more and more. I know that it is a day for thanking God but also there are people that motive you to do the same. One of them is you. Today I want to thank you for your teaching and your example of always continuing on for the Lord. I have now finished Bible College and I am studying in a Graphic Design institute and my goal is to become a designer in order to make known the Name of Christ and work at Television Mundial (our television station in Peru). Maybe you do not know me but I hope that you know my heart that beats at the same time and way that yours with desires to see the world reached for Christ.
Thank you very much for how you are and for your family and your son Chris that taught me how to be a servant of God. God bless you more thank you deserve and I will always pray for you.
Thank you.
Gustavo Choquehuanca Mollo
Here is the letter in Spanish for those that read Spanish
Estimado hermano Guillermo:
Hoy es un día muy especial, porque es día de acción de gracias, ya la verdad hoy agradeci por las cosas que Dios habia hecho por mi y por el propósito en mi vida, la verdad EL ha sido muy bueno conmigo, y pensar que me ama, me hace estar a su lado más y más, se que es un día de agradecer a Dios, pero también hay personas que motivan a hacerlo, una de ellas es usted, y hoy queria agradecerle por su enseñanza y por su ejemplo de seguir siempre adelante, yo termine ya el seminario, pero ahora estoy estudiando en un instituto de diseño gráfico y mi meta es convertirme en un diseñador, para publicar el Nombre de Cristo y trabajar en la televisión mundial, derrepente no me conosca, pero espero que conosca mi corazón, que late al mismo tiempo que usted por el mundo para Cristo.
Muchas gracias por como es usted, también por su familia y por su hijo Chris que me eseño a ser un siervo de Dios, Dios le bendiga más de lo que se merece y siempre oraré por usted.
This just came out in an email update from Vision Baptist Church. I am in South Africa. I want to ask you to read this and be in prayer.
I just found out that Renee Roberts had to go to the emergency room because of strep throat and an accelerated heart rate.
Rollan’s parents are in town so the girls are well taken care of. Please just be in prayer for Renee at this time.
I will let you know if I receive any new information.
I do not have the words to thank God today. He has been so good to me. He saved me by His grace without any merit of my own on May 6, 1962. He called me to the ministry less than 5 years after that. I was raised in a Christian home where the Bible was studied, character was exhibited, services at church were not missed, and Jesus Christ was exalted.
I come from a family on my mother’s side that really loved God and were used of God. My grandfather was the one who made sure the buildings and pastor were paid in his church. He taught me to love the doctrine of the local church. My grandmother as an old woman would ask the soon to be spouse of each grandchild if they had accepted Christ as their personal Saviour. I come from a long line of godly people.
My dad was the first in his family of recent years anyway to accept the Lord Jesus Christ but a definite change took place. He gave me a good example and opportunities to serve God. I am thankful for my heritage.
I met my wife in 1971. I fell in love with her pretty soon. She had been raised by one of the best families on the planet. She was kept clean and pure and really innocent. She just wanted to be a good wife, mother, and home maker. That was the dream of her life.
We were married on August 18, 1973. She has lived up to and surpassed her dream. She is my best friend, my wife, my co-laborer, my soul mate and you name any other term that talks about a wonderful marriage and she is just that. I thank God for her.
Then in 1975 God gave us our first son–Chris. He was named Christopher with the hopes and prayers that he would be a Christ bearer which is what his name means. God has made him just that. He is a preacher of the gospel and carries more responsibility than most could ever imagine. He is our first born and none could be better. God blessed us with his wonderful wife, Andria, and three wonderful grandchildren.
Then in 1977 along came Stephanie. I was afraid that I would not be able to love her like I loved Chris. I didn’t know that much love could exist in the heart of one man. But when she was born an explosion took place in my heart and there was more than enough room in my heart for her. She won my heart instantly. God has given her a great preacher husband and 5 wonderful children.
Then in 1980 Joy was born. She was just that a great joy to our hearts. She has the sweetest spirit, cutest smile and most wonderful love for the Lord that you have ever seen. Then God gave her a preacher husband, Julio. They have two wonderful beautiful children.
Then in 1985 God gave us David. What can I say. He was the child of our old age. He has been a special blessing and brought joy and laughter to our hearts since the day he arrived. I am not sure how much was him and how much was the fact that we were finally maturing enough to enjoy the precious gift sent from God. David is a preacher also. God gave him a fantastic wife, Katie. They are missionaries to Peru as are Chris and Joy.
Wow, am I blessed. You may be bored but let me remind you that if God can do that in my family He can do it in your family. Four children, 10 grandchildren, and a total clan counting Betty and I of 20 people.
Then after 20 wonderful and blessed years as missionaries in Peru God blessed us with the tremendous privilege of coming to the USA again and working with you on the Northside of Atlanta. Vision Baptist Church has just been one of those blessings. I thank God for each of you. I praise Him for how He has been so good today.
I know that this has been very personal but then today is Thanksgiving and I just want you to know that I am thankful to my Lord Jesus Chrsit for all that He has done in our lives.
I hope you and your family enjoy a very wonderful time today. I hope that you get caught up in His goodness more than in all the material things around you. Take time to say Thank you.
Situación en el país
The following came in from Julio Marquina. He is a missionary that we support from Peru serving in Venezuela. He is like a son to Betty and me. I think you will be interested in the following and can pray for them
“Surely you all have heard the international news about the political conditions here in Venezuela. Public order and all of our life is affected including basics grocery items like milk, sugar, chicken and if we can find these items they are ratiioned.
This is causing some fear but we trust in the Lord and praise Him because He has always given us food and rainment. We have learned to rejoice whatever our situation whether we suffer need or have abundance.
This is also affecting the programs of our church because when we plan to do something there is always some kind of interference. Maybe it will be a march by the opposition or the government. Many people are afraid to go out of their houses. Even in all of this God is watching over our church even though we are in the very center of town where the riots and strikes are taking place. God is taking care of His people.”
I ask you to please be in prayer for Julio and Paola and their children.
