the story of another
As I sit in this village it's easy to wonder if God is really here, if He's always been here, what His plans are for this place...Can't help but be moved, comforted and encouraged by this simple story of truth.
"Some years ago, I heard a story of a Nigerian churchman who met a young missionary in North America. Someone asked the Nigerian, "What would you say to a young missionary who is going out to your country in West Africa for the first time?" The Nigerian reflected for a moment and then said, "I would say, just remember you are not taking God to West Africa; God is taking you to West Africa." That remark speaks to the very heart of the missionary motivation and attitude."
a week in Bukwini
We are in Bukwini this entire week working alongside our friend and "Farming God's Way" mentor, Mr. Vumile. Mr. Vumile is a dynamic Xhosa man who is not only trained, but passionate about teaching his people about planting gardens. But he doesn't stop there. Mr. Vumile puts it best when saying "I teach them to garden, but really I get in their heart to sow God seeds and help them realize they must help their neighbors" . Working along side he and his wife, Patience, is such a gift. We are continuing to build relationship with the counsel and some of the most vulnerable children and families within this village.
We invite you to pray with us
-That God will lead us to "people of peace" throughout the village of Bukwini. People that are open to Discovering who God is and what a relationship with Him is like. People that are willing to open their families and community up to the same thing
-We are staying in the village with one of the counsel-men and his family who we have stayed with before and have been building a relationship with for years, however we still ask for prayers of safety
-We pray that the heart beat of this village will be transformed, redeemed, made new. That the people here would thirst for interaction with God and His word, that they would enter into an obedient relationship with their maker and become burdened by those suffering in their own community
what’sapp doc?
ATTENTION: If you have a Nokia, Blackberry, a phone running Android, or-my personal favorite-an iPhone download this app and we can text (even internationally) for FREE! Love the small ways I can stay connected to those nearest and dearest to me at home. Text Shea at 27 082 353 5584 and Derek at 27 079 099 8808 and that's whatsapp
Live from South Africa!
Click the link below to get the lowdown on what's been happening here in SA!
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Live-from-South-Africa.html?soid=1101058278149&aid=ZLDXW3zTUW4.
i love/hate technology
The bad news: we've been working for 3 weeks to get internet at our house. The good news: we finally got it! No more climbing on our roof in hopes of catching some 3G floating out in the universe. This also means we will be able to skype from the comfort of our living room...so long random parking lots, I'm surprised in all our skype-capades we were never accused of being creepers. We will also be able to use our 'magic jack' (yes those things really work, it's not just an infomercial hoax) so call us, just like we were in the states at 816-476-3404-just remember we are 7 hours ahead. Thank you technology for connecting me to the world, next time, don't be so complicated.
Spend a Summer in South Africa
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Back in SA!
Nearly 24 hours of travel and 3 days of jet lag-we are back in South Africa!
I've traded my frostbite for mosquito bites and made the transition back to the left side of the road (safely, for the most part)
We had so many good family and friends spoil us with all our favorite foods during our time home-but, being back a week we've been reminded of the challenge cooking poses here. We usually struggle to find all the ingredients for most of our favorite American recipes or don't want to go through the hassle of converting all the measurements, temperatures, etc... My completely innovative husband found this great web-site with lots of quick and easy SA recipes which restores hope to my cooking abilities during our time in SA 
Thought I would share with you in case you want to spice things up a bit in your own kitchen--enjoy !
a beautiful story from the banquet
This is a guest post from a dear friend and mother figure to Shea and I, Becky Kenealy. Her blog posts are amazing, and she has been amazing to us over the past year sending notes of encouragement and keeping up with not only what we're doing, but what's going on in our hearts. Her blog is unforcedrthymsofgrace.blogspot.com Enjoy the post as much as I did!
"tonite is the banquet for derek and shea poe, in S Africa. disappointed that none of my dearest friends will be there and wonder how much of that is on me? i pray and ask but wonder what is in my ask? in explaining to my beautiful Grand Emma there was this amazing and pure moment where in telling her my nervousness about asking my friends she kept asking WHY and every time in honestly answering her was another why and before i knew it i had shared all my fears with her and her innocently looking up at me and saying 'just a minute'.
see i told her it's about inviting your friends to a meal but at the end of the meal there is a moment where they will be asked to pledge a financial amount and it made me nervous asking them, even tho I believe in derek and shea alot and what they are doing in South Africa even more.
so she comes back w/this extra large glass piggy bank filled w/money and says..."Gigi i have been praying about what to do with this money and i 'think' i am supposed to give it to Derek and Shea." it was this amazing moment of i had explained it to her and You had her heart ready at 8 years old to understand the concept of 'giving', her parents had communicated already to her in her young life the value and importance of giving back to God what He has entrusted us with...so tonite she will be our guest at the banquet, i want her to listen and be sure.....so tonite i am praying for hearts like Emma's....like a child for all of us to listen to You speak through derek and shea....like children."
Stories like these are so priceless. When Shea and I first heard this story, our eyes filled with tears of joy, maybe even a little shame...I can't imagine having such a soft heart at the age of 8. I was saving money at that age sure...but it was so I could buy the next Ninja Turtle figurine or maybe even a couple GI Joe's. Little Emma's parents must be proud! Shea got the chance to talk to Emma on Saturday night (the night of the banquet) and Emma gave the piggy bank to Shea. Shea cried and Emma probably wondered why she was crying, but how can you not cry at an image so beautiful. Thanks Emma...you've taught us a lot through just having a child like heart.
Our Banquet
Hey Everyone!
We are home and hoping you can come out to our Banquet on January 29th from 6-8 pm. Check out the image below to see the details. We'll be talking about what we do and why we do it!
Overdue Photo Day
It's been way too long since I posted some photos from our time in Keiskammahoek.
Today we sit filled with joy of the work that is beginning to take shape. There is some form beginning to take shape, in ways that we never expected, but none the less, it is taking shape. I just got off the phone with a guy who is leading a Discovery Group in his village called Lower Gxulu. He said God was really opening his eyes and his family's eyes through God's Word. Their family all made obedience statements that they would begin to look at people differently. To forgive them whenever they fail or mess up and not be so hard on people when they do mess up. They're learning that God created each and every one of us and that we are all inherently human and don't have the power on our own to be clean. That we can extend grace because God did create the people around us. It's amazing the power that God's Word has on the lives of people. Each person from this group has been sharing with their neighbors and work-mates and we're hoping for an explosion of the Gospel throughout this valley! It has really been beautiful to see the journey that each of them have been on.
Now for some pictures!
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