Historic flooding- power in weakness

 Today we had our first opportunity to see the historic flooding in KZN South Africa and meet some of the people most effected. KZN News Video Link  It’s hard to explain the scope of the damage, but here are some photos.

The bridge that leads to Ntshongweni, a single lane bridge that leads over a lush stream that runs right next to Ntshongweni butte.  

Here it was in 2019.

Here it is today.

For us this is a minor inconvenience, adding another 10 minutes drive time to Ntshongweni from where we stay.  We met families today that faced life changing losses in a community that doesn’t have FEMA, homeowners insurance or resources to repair their home.  This is Zanele and her husbands home.  The flood occurred at night and Zanele was entering her home when it collapsed.  In the dark, in torrential rain, your home disintegrating in front of you and you’re nearly swept away by the current.  This is what remains of the home, the ground gave away underneath.

This was the porch, all that is left standing of the home.  The only structure left is the rondeval (picture a round storage shed) that the family is living in after the flood.

Here’s Zanele with the crew.  She was amazingly positive and faithful.  Happy that her family is still together.

The path to Zanele’s home was washed out by the torrent, at some points the land was washed away 5+ feet.

Another family we met lost half of their home.  Mom and her two sons were joyful and thankful.  Amazing when you consider what has happened to them.

The young lady with the baby tied to her back lives in this home.

The sewing school at the church was destroyed as well, fortunately there’s a new sewing factory in place of the church soccer field so those jobs stay in the village.

Visiting these families brings both sorrow and joy.  Sorrow for the difficulties and lack of a path forward.  Joy for meeting people who in the face of sorrow are filled with faith, strength, happiness and understanding of what is truly important in life.

The apostle Paul had a physical challenge for most of his life.  When he wrote about his answer to prayer, this is what he said.

• “But he (Jesus) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

The families we met today exemplify power made perfect in weakness.  Such a blessing.

Scott

Let the mission commence!

Today marks the first full day with the church here in South Africa for our much delayed but greatly anticipated trip in 2022! Looking around seeing all the smiling faces on the locals as well as us missionaries was awe inspiring and served as valid evidence of the community that we have through our merciful God. 

After hearing Pastor Thawala’s sermon on Lazarus and the rich man, I was reminded of an interesting duality of the role of material possession in our lives: it’s uselessness and it’s usefulness. See, we need not anything other than The Word to sustain us for as God provides for the grass in the field and the birds in the air and therefore more so for us. But it’s usefulness in that we could show God’s love by providing those in need as what we have done to the least among us, so too have we done to The Lord Jesus Christ.

All belongs to God and observing the other members of BLC and their great generosity towards Pastor Thawala’s church as well ourselves one can truly see God at work. This is also reflected in the hospitality Pastor Thawala and his congregation, their smiling faces friendly attitudes proves that we are not strangers but, members of one body with Christ at it’s head.

My hope is that we can continue to bless and be blessed by our this family throughout the week!

-Brandon Avery

Landed in Joburg!

 

On the way!

 Heading to Ntshongweni via Atlanta and Johannesburg.  See our KZN family tomorrow!

Preparing

So excited to be heading back to our Ntshongweni family.  Our last visit was over two years ago and so much has happened since then.  The team has been pouring over 13 years of memories to start creating photo albums.  Such a beautiful expression of love.  Can’t wait to get there and share these memories with everyone.

Bittersweet feelings

Bittersweet feelings as we are headed to our Florida home.  Many great memories and blessings.  Many Ntshongweni family members to miss until next time.  A beautiful family and friends to return to in Florida.  Here are some of the memories and blessings from these past 10 days...

The church preschool.  A hundred children doing what children anywhere do.  Playing, laughing, acting up...  The preschool teachers love, teach, coach and prepare these kids for education.  They share The Gospel with them every day.  My biggest blessing; having one of these kids who is now 8 years old tell me that she still has a picture of me holding her when she was 4 years old.  Highlight for sure.  Telling these kids UJesu uyakuthanda (Jesus loves you) and have them tell you the same thing later, maybe years later.

Visiting the Duma family.  Here's Jessica hugging Nobuhle while holding her son Mphilo.  Highlight- playing for some time with Mphilo with tennis balls, toy trucks and coloring books.  Taking time to look over Nomfundo Duma's grave behind the house and saying a prayer for her siblings.  I know she's looking down from heaven and we miss her.  As we go to depart, having little Mphilo say as clear as a bell - "Goodbye Jessica,"after speaking isiZulu the entire time.  Definite highlight.  Seeing Sanele Duma progress at University for Journalism - blessing X 10!

Gogo = grandmother in isiZulu.  With an entire generation absent from the community, Gogos have stepped in and become mothers and fathers for many children and young adults.  Gogos provide orphans with the support they so desperately need.  So what a blessing to do a Gogo lunch and give these ladies a break.  Great idea Nomthandazo Thwala! They loved it.  Joking with them and hearing their stories = highlight.  They are living this verse everyday: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

James 1:27 NIV

http://bible.com/111/jas.1.27.niv

We use a local builder- Johannes and his helpers to build homes for families that couldn't get help elsewhere.  Here's Gogo Rosemary's new home that needed some paint.  When we arrived she and her neighbor had removed everything from inside and prepared for a few coats of paint to help seal the plaster.  Such a blessing to see it progress with many hands making for little work.  Highlight- watching Alex help Rosemary put her kitchen back together.  Also, having Pride and Prosper come home to a freshly painted house.

Highlight- walking home through the valley with Jessica.  Seeing people along the pathway and in their homes and stopping to talk with them. "Sawubona!" I see you - being the isiZulu greeting.  It doesn't take long for people to figure out we aren't fluent, but I think people appreciate us trying.

Getting to do new things!  A boat ride with 29 kids and chaperones.  Hearing the kids sit on the bow and yelling like they are on a roller coaster ride as we exit the inlet in 8-10 foot swells.  Going to the beach and seeing the kids play soccer, throw each other into the ocean, jump waves, laugh and share friendships.  Seeing Alex play with his Ntshongweni family that he's known for the past 6 years like he's been living here the past 6 years.

That Toyota Quantam taxi is smooth.  Especially with 861,000 km or 535,000 miles on the odometer.  Especially considering the type of duty these babies do, the roads are challenging and they spend some time off-road.  Sorry Mr Khoza, I never quite got 2nd gear perfectly without a littl grind...

Worshipping with our Ntshongweni family reminds me of; “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.””

Revelation 7:9-10 NIV

http://bible.com/111/rev.7.9-10.niv. Hearing The Gospel and singing in isiZulu reminds me of this day when every people group will be on their knees before The Lord; powerful and definitely a highlight.

Seeing our Ntshongweni family make progress with the help of The Lord and Pastor Thwala, His light on a hill in this community.  Imagine, Pastor has hundreds of children that are without their parents and God has prepared him to be father to many.  He helped Sindisiswe get her state identification.  Something she couldn't do on her own without her parents.  Pastor made it happen by cutting through large amounts of red tape.  She held this ID like it was gold, she's so proud of it.  Amen pastor, you remind me of this verse;  “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:9-10 NIV

http://bible.com/111/gal.6.9-10.niv

Here's Sindisiwe's Gogo, when we met her a year ago she wept as Jessica held her.  Streams of tears as she did what she could to support herself, Sindisiwe, and others. She reminds me of this scripture; “But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.”

Mark 12:42-43 NIV

http://bible.com/111/mrk.12.42-43.niv

Playing every free moment...  Jessica definitely has the touch of bringing joy to these kids...  You guessed it, reminds me of this verse; “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16 NIV

http://bible.com/111/mat.5.16.niv

We are so blessed that we are saved by faith in Jesus and our salvation doesn't depend on us...

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV

http://bible.com/111/eph.2.8-10.niv

In response to that grace, what has God prepared in advance for you to do?

 Hamba Kahle (go well)

I will not leave you as orphans...

A blessing to be back with our Ntshongweni family.  Here are some words in red that we can all remember;

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

John 14:18 NIV

http://bible.com/111/jhn.14.18.niv

Whether we are in Florida or the land of 1,000 hills in South Africa, Jesus will not leave us.  He gives us all that we need to glorify His name in all the world when we listen to the Word and pray daily for guidance.

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

John 14:13 NIV

http://bible.us/111/jhn.14.13.niv

Here's Jessica meeting up with some old friends:

Here's pastor helping our university student with his school equipment;

God's plan is for faithful people to bring Him glory on earth so that more may know Him.  This way, more knees will bow before the throne when the final day of judgement comes.