Gazankulu (Rotterdam) 08 – 21  May 2011

We again witnessed the Lord’s hand moving during this outreach. Satan tried to stop us from the moment we were on the road because he knew that thousands of souls were going to be added to God’s Kingdom. When we have reached Potgietersrus, Armand suspected there was something wrong with my bakkie because it kept on drifting toward one side of the road. When I stopped to take a look I was very disappointed to see that the coil spring was broken.  It was hanging on loosely but fortuntately was not broken off completely. We were halfway to our destination with rough road still lying ahead.  The white bakkie was still in disrepair; it still swerved to one side when you braked and the engin would also cut out. We just paid a hefty sum to get it repaired so this came as a huge disappointment.

When we reached our pre-appointed lunch venue, I thought to take a look at the difflock. I had previously removed the safety to prevent the guys from pushing the wrong button, which might result in all the dif’s gears from breaking. When I opened the safety I saw everything was in its place but the tips were bent and making contact with eachother which would put the vehicle in difflock. I took it out and from that moment the bakkie was back to normal. We praise the Lord for His help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. However, the road was getting worse for my bakkie and its broken coil spring. The dif had shifted and the tyre was now rubbing against the mudguard. We were almost crawling on the dirt road, so slow we had to drive, but we praise the Lord that we could reach our destination without another problem.

The next day we looked for a coil spring without much success. The only thing we could do was to weld the spring. This fortunately held until we got back home. We replaced the other spring coil too for the hefty amount of R900.00.

God’s work is done by those who pray

However, we had a very nice stay. Anna, the owner of the house, gave the whole house to our disposal – it was a great blessing to stay there. On the evening before our departure she flattered us with kind words and started to cry, begging us to stay on.

The elections were in progress during our stay but it had no influence over the outreach. Everything went very well and the Lord entrusted to us to deliver the Grospel to about  9956 people (kids included). About 8316 converted. The seed had been planted and the Holy Spirit will water it and see that it will grow. All the honour to the Lord for trusting us. The rain hampered us a bit. One evening, while still busy with the sermon, we could hear and see thunder and lightning getting closer and closer. We gathered up everything just in time before the rain game pouring down.

The first week of the outreach we also did HIV training and education at two schools in the village. At first we would have done just grade 11 and 12 but succeeded to reach out to the whole school. Ninety percent of the children in the classroom converted. All the glory to the Lord!

The journey back home was blessed and we reached our destinations safe and sound. Thank you very muh for your prayers, they have carried us through.

Statistics

People reached: 9956
Conversions: 8316
Kids: 1094
Schools: 892        Conversions 812

Testimonies

• One lady thanked the Lord for sending the team because she has learnt a lot through the programme.
• Another lady shared that she used to lean on others during her times of trouble but said she wanted to trust in the Lord from now on.
• A lady shared that she has accepted the lord and has learnt a lot from His Word. She felt blessed indeed.
• Quite a lot testified that they now realised Hell is a reality.
• A boy said he has learnt that he can depend on Jesus’s protection.

To be with Jesus is the sum of all happiness

Outreach to Kroonstad:    May 26 - 29

We departed on Thursday and reached Kroonstad safely. Only Louis and Armand took part in this outreach.
We stayed with my brother on his plot and the tranquility was such a blessing. Our first outreach was on Thursday evening. We have made the announcements and that evening we had our presentation in the community hall. About 50 people attended of which 80 % indicated they wanted to accept Jesus.
Friday night we held our presentation in a church and again about 50 people attended of which quite a few made a conversion.

On Saturday at 2pm we reached out on a chicken farm which was a great blessing. Again about 50 attended and, praise the Lord, about all of them prayed with and accepted Jesus. I also was given the opportunity to appear in the local church that Sunday morning and I am very greatful for the Lord for this.
The outreach was a great success and we give all the honour to the Lord. We arrived back home safely on Sunday
 

Statistics

People reached: ±150

 
To know lasting happiness, we must get to know Jesus

Gazankulu (Ndingeza) 27 June 2011

We departed on time that morning and reached our destination without any problems. To the Lord all the glory. At Moketsi were just a lot of roadworks and we waited there for about a whole hour. We then had to fetch our trailer at one of the villages which we left there peviously in order to save fuel. The old lady, where we left the trailer, wanted us to stay over in her house, but we could not, as it was too far away from the area of our intended outreach.
When we reached our destination the Lord again provided only the best. All of us could be accommodated in one house and our stay was a real feast. On the first evening the daughter-in-law asked me for a mattress for her parents to sleep on. At first I could not understand why but the next day I found out. The owners of the house moved to their garage where they slept on the floor while we slept in their house on their beds. The next day I talked with the owner saying that he must move back to his house and then we will sleep in the garage. I refused to do so, saying that his guests must have the best. I alsmost cried when I saw their generosity. Again it was an eye-opener for me so that I can adjust my own attitude. These people were very good to us. The next day the owner showed me his second house, not too far away from where we were staying. When I asked him who lived there I was astonished to learn that he has 2 wives and 2 houses. One week he sleeps at at the one house and the next week at the other house. On some evenings both wives joined us at the house where we stayed and the two of them got on really very well. 

The pastor, who arranged everything for us, went out of his way to help us. He was with the other team while his wife joined our team. The nights were sometimes cold but she did not skip one of them.  And then she has a baby which she carried along too. Their goodwill was real. They also prepared four meals for all of us. 

With regard to the outreach, again it was a winner. Some of the nights were cold and still the Lord blessed us with a great number of people attending. The following two events of the outreach stood out for me:

1. Every night we would give the audience an invitation to accept Jesus. If you have been doing this for 17 years, chances are great for you to get into a habit. However, this evening was a revelation. During the invation I went and stood next to the screen. In front of me about 400 people were sitting and standing. Just before the invitation was made, a little girl, who must have been until quite recently been in the diaper stage, raised both her hands in the air. No other person reacted, since the invitation was not yet made at that stage. But she kept standing until other started to raise their hands. If you could see the conviction with which this little one prayed, you too would know that her conversion was from the heart. The next evening another small girl came forward to witness (this was not the same girl). I could really see the Lord in these children.

2. Because we changed our strategy, we now would stand in the village’s streets, right in front of the houses which means that we sometimes cause a traffic blockade. The last two evenings were again something special. The sun was already set when I saw something odd walking from the darkness. It looked like a person but not quite.  When it came closer I saw it was an old lady and that she was stooping to such an extent that I could not see her head. I was dumbfounded. She was also walking very slowly. Every night she attended the sermon and film viewing.  I approached her the next evening and asked if I could pray for her. I took both her small and ice cold wrinkled hands in mine and prayed for her.  She was so excited and could not thank me enough. These things make it worth the trouble to reach out and to see these people’s lives changed by introducing Jesus to them.  I do not know how long this old lady has left to live, but she had a chance and accepted it. I believe with my whole heart that I will see her one day in heaven without her bent back but instead full of joy.

 
God’s timing is always perfect

Sixteen June was Youth Day and the Lord gave us again an opportunity. On the night before the pastor who was helping us came asking for our help. A pastor, who was supposed to present the sermons this partor had already arranged for in April, phoned him that evening to cancel.  I agreed to help and presented the morning session and Lazarus did the afternoon session. About 200 youth were present who received something they would never forget. I took this opportunity in both hands and shared with them the Gospel and showed them the film about HIV who gave them a proper shock.  Their reaction was overwhelming. All the honour to God. We could not give HIV education at schools since they were busy with examinations.

This outreach was blessed with more than 5000 attendees of which about 80 % accepted Jesus as their Saviour. To the Lord all the glory!!!!!!!!!
On our way back home we were clever enough to avoid Moketsie and instead took the route via Elim. This saved us an hour and we were able to reach our families sooner. We honour the Lord Jesus for enabling us to do this outreach. We also thank you who support us because you also share in every soul who got saved. Your reward awaits you.

Blessings, Louis
 

Statistics

People reached:  5506
Conversions: 3810
Kids and youth: 1055
Conversions: 902
 

Testimonies

• A boy from the congregation encouraged the people to make right with Jesus because Hell is a reality.
• The foul weather discouraged people to testify.
• A lady testified that she has heard about Hell but it only became a reality to her while she was looking at the film.
• The people thanked the team and were greatful, asking us to please come again, seeing that they have learnt so much.
• A lot testified about what the film taught them and what it meant to them - that Hell is a reality and one would have no friends there. To avoid going to Hell, one needs to accept Jesus as Saviour.
• Another lady said she have learnt that you cannot take your money to heaven with you. You might be poor, but if you accept Jesus, you will still be going to heaven.

Time spent with your children is time wisely invested

Mosambique

Two teams visited Doa and handled 33 villages by having 2 services per team per day. The need is really great there and it is Robert our representative’s prayer to go there for a year if he has the necessary funds to survive there. The leader of team 2, Sazer, finds it difficult to reach out on his own when Robert returns to South Africa. He is praying urgently for someone to help him out.
Robert also reaches out in Soweto when he is in South Africa. The residents in the area which he visited in June are very poor and unsaved. No-one wants to work there because of the dire circumstances and lack of money. He is asking for our prayers.

Statistics

People reached: 4 384

Photo’s of the outreach in Zimbabwe

Throughout this past quarter hundreds of people connected to this work in one way or another made huge sacrifices to see the Gospel proclaimed to the masses. Some provided precious resources needed to carry on the work. Some prayed fervent prayers of intercession. Some stood on the platform and proclaimed the Good News in open-air markets, schools, film shows and humanitarian projects. The support team joined hands and hearts with the proclamation team and as a result an average of 300 people heard the Gospel EVERY DAY. I call it absolutely glorious! To God be the glory, great things HE has done!
East Mutoko: The people of East Mutoko were hungry for the Gospel. These people had been literally waiting for someone to preach it to them!  810 people responded positively to the offer of salvation 6714 people attended

Kamakuyu (Zambezi valley - Kariba Lakeshores)

 In ten (10) high school, twenty-three (23) village film shows.
We recorded 1400 decisions for Jesus.  By the close of the week on Saturday we had seen over 4,123 people in attendance.
The Holy Spirit fell on some of those places like a blanket.
Students sat motionless in their seats listening to the Gospel and responded with a seriousness that was amazing.
People stood in the hot sun in the markets literally captured by the power of God.
They prayed to receive Jesus and came forward by the hundreds in public profession of faith in Christ.
Three students who had come there as part of a tour told us, “We came for a tour of the lakeshore, but now, after receiving Jesus, we will have a tour of heaven”.

As our team taught the people of Kamakuyu about the unconditional love of Jesus and the free gift of salvation, feelings of distrust turned into trust, hopelessness into hope and sadness into joy! Ultimately, 1 400 hands went up throughout the week to receive Jesus. The young people of Kamakuyu were not forgotten as our team ministered in the local schools during the mornings. There they explained the Gospel and a further 213 precious children accepted Jesus into their hearts
During this trip we encountered several equipment and vehicle breakdowns. We all interpreted the opposition as a sure sign we were going to have a great work.

THANK YOU

On behalf of the entire Team in Zimbabwe and I want to say thank you to all of you who continue to send financial support for the evangelistic efforts of this ministry. Every National Minister I know will tell you that in this day and time the single hardest thing to secure funding for is plain simple evangelism – just getting people out of hell into heaven.
It seems to be relatively easy to find money for church buildings and other freshly programs but for simply reaching the lost it is extremely difficult.     So many Christians want to attach their giving to things they can see and touch. These facts serve to intensify our deep appreciation to all of you who are willing to just give toward the building of the Kingdom of God with no strings and conditions. So to all of you, our precious friends, thank you for helping us take the Gospel to the world.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Over the next five months (May – September) we will be conducting four big projects and we NEED your prayers, especially in the area of provision. I know that in this time of economic depression, or recession, or whatever you call it, it may look crazy to attempt so much ministering that costs so much money. But we know that there is no economic collapse in heaven and we also know that the command of the Lord Jesus has not changed – “Go into the world and preach the Gospel.” We also know that God answers the fervent prayers of faith offered to Him in the Name of Jesus. So, I am asking you all to join us in prayer as we look to God for the
Means to carry out this work of taking the Gospel to hungry hearts around the world. I do not know the exact amount needed to cover all the projects to the penny, but I do know it will take at least $10,000. Yes I know that is a LOT of money, but I also know it will result in a LOT of people coming into the Kingdom of God. So, please join us in prayer and faith. As we all look to God together,
it will be exciting to see how He does it – again. Over the next five months, these are the projects that will take place:

Pray for a reliable Vehicle
Pray for a computer and internet connections
Pray for the orphaned children support

•  
• Thank the Lord for each precious soul who accepted Jesus and will not be going to Hell.
• His wonderful protection.
• Thank the Lord for all the sick peole He has healed.
• We thank the Lord for every one who offered us their homes to stay in during outreaches as well as the hospitality in the villages.
• We thank the Lord for everyone praying for us during an outreach as well as afterwards. He answers prayers. Please do not cease praying for us.
•  

Greetings from the team
The Living Word Ministries