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Planting for the Future…

It has been an exciting few months! Welcoming a new family member…. almost losing her….being astonished by God’s love in the best and worst of times. Honestly we still do not have the language to express the revelations given, but one we are currently pondering is the link between dreaming, planting, and provision.

When God first planted us in Africa, we were overwhelmed with dreams of seeing orphaned and abandoned children coming home to Him and a loving, Christ-centered family. Now the dream is a very real reality which we have the privilege of living every day at MCV! Thinking over the past few years in SA, there has been a mix of the supernatural and the natural. So many examples of God’s divine provision… and there were also the countless days of the non-glorious, hard work of daily obedience…years even! Some harvests take a long time and others spring up overnight!

A great example of quick harvest is the recent Dream Center. This was a vision planted in ours heart due to the felt-need of our community. With 80% unemployment and only 40% of kids finishing high school, local youth often feel hopeless and helpless about their futures. So we dreamed of a place where youth could go to receive prayerful encouragement and solid job skills/empowerment in the right directions. In July, without much effort in the natural, the Backdoor Dream Center was opened in Village of Hope (the community outreach center we oversee). So much fruit is flowing from the place already…

Another overnight success is the newest church plant in Nelspruit. Guess where? A local brothel☺ Some of the female missionaries at our base went out to minister to local prostitutes. With love and miracles were flowing, the ladies and team meet regularly at a certain house of ‘business.’ Glory!  Now four ladies have left the darkness of the streets to begin a new life in Christ- they are all enrolled in our Bible school and doing great!  Pray with us for a new home of refuge for these precious ladies…

Now God has given us a new dream for MCV. In addition to the harvest of radical children for His glory, we see a harvest of macadamia trees. The planting of the Lord that not only represents the righteous destinies of the kids, but the provision to empower them! Sustainability. Dignity. Job creation. The dream of someday being able to give more than we receive! And just like raising our kids, this dream is going to take decades.

Pray with us! Dream with us! If possible, come and get your hands dirty with us! Thank you for remembering the poor and prayerfully partnering with us here in South Africa. Everyday in Africa is a gift from God and from you… Wow, we are so grateful and blessed!

See the pictures   http://mcvafrica.com/?p=411

GLORY!!!  Check out the blog just posted on the MCV website…a must read!

http://mcvafrica.com/?p=409

Gloria continues to get better and better!  We even took her out of the house to celebrate Dea’s birthday (one of the missionaries).  This was her first outing (beside doctors visits) since coming out of the hospital!

Speaking of improvements- MCV has enjoyed some great additions too!  Enjoy this post I just wrote about the new Prayer Hut and Playground!  There are some great pictures too!

http://mcvafrica.com/?p=408

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
 “And we know in all things God works for good for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

 Shalom, Shalom! We are so extremely blessed to finally be writing this update and exalting the greatness and goodness of our amazing Heavenly Papa! It has been one week since doctors confirmed enough healing to release Gloria Grace from the hospital. Both Gloria and I (Teisa) continue to struggle with the whooping cough, but we know this sickness is defeated, so join us in proclaiming perfect healing! Dear Gloria sometimes vomits due to the coughing fits, but at least she breathes the whole time J Regardless, she is gaining weight and strength. What a treasure of God’s glory…we can’t wait to see what He has in store for our Glory girl.

In the past week, we have been rejoicing and reflecting heaps. We are left astonished by the love of God! Not surprised…not at all… Just more overwhelmed by the greater revelation of His limitless, lavish love. Equally, we are astonished by the love from His bride! We felt the global family carry this burden…loving and praying for Gloria Grace…we never felt alone for one minute. Each day, we drank in the words of life on FB/emails, often reading the words and scriptures over GG. In our weak moments, the Body of Christ lifted our arms in the battle till His victory was/is manifest. We could never thank Him and you enough…

 Another area of His miraculous glory is in His provision…and another area we are astonished by the Body of Christ. Anyone who knows us knows we never ask for ourselves (we will ask all day long for MCV, Iris, other missionaries, etc); so it was very humbling for us to communicate the financial need (no medical insurance) and prayerfully insert that one line “we need your help” in our last email. We are so incredibly blessed to say the medical bills are almost all covered. Over $20,000 has been sent in or on its way…generous, sacrificial gifts from dear people around the world…and along with our savings, all the bills should be paid. How magnificent is that…a missionary saying, “You can stop sending money!” Yeah God!!!

 Thank you again for ‘stopping for the one.’ As missionaries set apart to defend orphans and widows, we cannot help chuckle on how the one is our own biological pale African. We hope to send another newsletter out soon about the countless other amazing things He is doing here in SA- the newest ‘princess’ of MCV (not GG!), the newest church plant in Nelspruit (you will never guess where), the newest missionaries joining the SA team (very exciting) etc.

 During this challenging, but glorious time, we have been living in Romans chapter 8. Many verses spoke to us in new ways, so we leave you with another favorite-
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:35,37. Did you know the name “Nicole” means overcomer/conqueror/victorious one? It does. And the newest addition to the Nicole tribe might only be 6 weeks old, but Gloria Grace is leading us in some major Kingdom insight right now, aye!

 PS. Just to be accountable, any additional support that comes in Gloria’s name- we will use it to get some affordable health insurance here in SA and/or sow it into MCV

After a great night, our doctor finally gave Gloria the ok to come home! Of course I cried (Teisa), but many of our nurses cried too. They feel in love with our Glory girl during this past two weeks, so it was quite emotional as she left her Isolation room in ICU/High Care. Johanna was over the moon to finally see her baby sister and give her a much anticipated kissy:)

We are soooo grateful and appreciative for the overwhelming love! Your words of life and incredible prayer support has lifted our arms during this battle! We promise to post another update soon…but now we are all going to take a family nap!

Day 14 9:30pm just arrived home from hospital.Very, very, tired and discouraged. Please continue to pray with us that Gloria will be completely healed, and that they will release her Sunday!

Day 13 High Care- We had the most amazing day with Gloria- her x-ray was spotless, blood counts great, breast-feeding went wonderful; we just sent out our victory email to those who have emailed us recently…And then she stopped breathing (very briefly) AHHHHHHHH! So she will still be under observation for another day/or two (longer if it happens again). Come on Jesus- manifest your healing power for our Glory girl!

Day 12- ICU/High Care

They took Gloria off the ventilator at 7AM. She had to be in an oxygen tent for a few hours, but she was breathing so well, the tent was not needed! Her mornings x-ray also showed her lungs were completely clear! Her blood work also was amazing. They finished the antibiotics yesterday, so she is no longer on any medicine! Our doctor is going to allow me to breast-feed her tomorrow and if she can feed well and maintain her vitals during any coughing fits, she may be able to go home this weekend!!!! Glory to God- our Glory girl is healed! Lets pray together for continued clear lungs (she needs 1-2 more clear x-rays), no problems while feeding, and strong vitals to prove to the doctors what we know in Christ!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has lifted our sweet one before the Father! We are so in awe of our global family for the amazing love poured out! And to everyone who has sent us support to help us with the medical bills- we are so grateful and blessed! In just one week, over a third of what we need to pay the medical bills has come in…We are greatly encouraged and really excited to see how He continues to provide! What a glorious Daddy!!!