World Cup 2010

Holland - V - Slovakia

We had a great time watching all the goings on of the World Cup. Rodney even got to go to a game in Durban's new Moses Mabhida Stadium. It was a great time for Africa to shine. A lot of the local businesses had their staff wearing South Africa soccer shirts. I think there must be more South Africa pride in our area than before because the people are still wearing their soccer shirts and the games have been over for several weeks. We and many others spent countless evenings with friends huddled around a television screaming like the players and referees would really hear us and eating untill we just wanted to fall asleep. It reminded me of the many Texas Longhorn games we watched back home. It was all fun while it lasted now we will have to watch and see what comes next. Maybe the world got to see a different side of Africa. We do not all live National Geogaphic style. The economy here needed the boost that came with the tourism but in the end we all know that God is the only one that can turn a life or a country around.

June IRC update

June 21, 2010

We have had a very fruitful time of ministry upon returning to South Africa from being in the USA. Our time has been spent with several groups of Christians in both the Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal Provences of South Africa.

Battie Won-Goy reunited with his wife and child after 2 years

Our local work in the Tete area, near where we live, has seen a major prayer answered with the Lord finally bringing brother Battie's wife from the Congo to be with him permanently.

Johnny Willemse ministering at a meeting in Worcester, SA

The fellowships near Cape Town are continuing to find ways to influence their communities as the Holy Spirit leads them. The travel into the KZN provence has been great with Trina sharing her testimony and planning a ladies conference for Zulu speaking women later in September.

July will be a super busy month with a first trip to the nation of Uganda and several key meetings in the predominantly Indian area of Phoenix in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Please pray for us to do only what the Lord wants and not be distracted by anything that isn't part of His plan! We love and appreciate all of our Christian family and hope to hear from you over the internet whenever you get the chance.

Blessings in Christ Jesus,

Rodney, Trina, Bridget

Gifts of Love

 

The Congolese brothers and sisters here in Etete were very blessed with the Proclaimer in Lingala, their mother language. A Proclaimer is the New Testament on a solar powered audio device. The guys sit outside in a group and turn it up loud so that everyone passing buy can hear the Word of God. Thank you so much Randy and Gloria Moore of Lake Highlands Church in Dallas for making this possible.

There have been several donations come in this month to provide much needed beds, clothing, toys and  blankets for the families in our community. Everyone was excited when the truck drove up with the deliveries. As you know from the IRC news update,  Bathy's wife, Silvie and son, Perfect finally arrived form the Congo after two long years of waiting. Bathy says "now every day life is good". We know that God answers prayers.

There has been a new addition to our South African family. Levi and Kabibi had a baby girl on June 12th. Joy is a very appropriate name for this little bundle. The doctor told them they were having a boy but God had other plans. Now we are working on getting this little one some pink things to wear.

We will be doing a kids fun day in an area north of us in July. There has already been a donation of one hundred New Testaments in Zulu for this event. We would also like to provide each child with a blanket and a soft toy. If you would like to help with this please put a note in with your donation to let us know it is for the kids. Thank you all so much for you love and support.

Back in Africa

We had a great time visiting our friends and family in the US. March 13th was our oldest son's birthday which was celebrated with a family dinner at Anthony and Nattasha's house. One of the highlights of the trip was the arrival of our newest gran daughter "Alexis Taylor Tidwell". She is healthy and happy. Her big sister Riley calls her "my baby".

 We had a chance to be with churches and friends in our home town of Granbury, East Texas and California. The Lord is so faithful and His presence was evident in every meeting. It was great to see how the believers in every place are growing in His grace and walking in the destiny He has for each of them.

The ash cloud over Europe gave us an extra week to rest up before we returned to South Africa. Thank you so much to all of you for your hospitality and love. We are so blessed to have you all praying for us as we continue in the work the Lord has called us to.

March 5, 2010

It has been a busy start to this year with our ministry work in Durban and the greater Natal provence in South Africa. We have spent most traditional service times with different fellowships in the Indian areas surrounding Durban. Our work with these fellowships ranges from conducting services to giving varying degrees of counsel and direction to leaders for their ministries. The work is similar with the Zulu Christians although we've found there is a great need for bibles in their native language. We are partnering with a local ministry, JAB (Jesus and Business), to distribute these in the rural areas of the Northern Drakensburg Mountains of Kwazulu-Natal.

Because making disciples is part of our mission, we have been particularly encouraged by the way some of the men have progressed since coming to know Christ in our bible study in the Tete area. Brother Battie has started his own prayer meeting to pray for our area and the work that we are doing in the Indian area of Phoenix. Please pray for our trip home to the USA on March 10. We need the Lord to come through in many areas during the five weeks we are away on this trip.