Wow! Where has 2016 gone? I can’t believe it is a new year already. But first things first, let me update you on what we have been busy with since our last newsletter.

22-24 July 2016

Marlou, Rian, Flip & Murique

Martin’s uncle Flip passed away after a fight with cancer. On the 22nd of June 2016, the family had the funeral. Our hearts are broken, but we know that Flip is sleeping now until our Savior comes again. Martin and I, together with his aunt Riana, Marlou and Murique, are still standing together as SDA believers facing the rest of our family, as they still don’t understand why we have changed so much. We keep praying that all of them will follow the True Light and that they will read the Bible with teachable hearts and rejoice in Jesus our Savior and King.

My favorite passage in the Bible that has given me hope since we became Adventists is 1 John 2:7: “Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.” John clearly states that this is no new commandment as we have had it from the beginning (meaning from creation in Genesis 1).

6 August 2016

Marlou, Rian, Flip & Murique

On the 6th of August 2016 we had our first presentation with our Congregation in Rustenburg. We had our youth to assist and take part in the “Suitcase Presentation.” I must say, with the interactive demonstrations and explanations one can truly see the bigger picture of how lost the world is.

Participants representing Muslims.

Baked mushrooms with Sulguni cheese.

We asked some of the ladies to make a few of the traditional vegetarian Georgian foods, and it turned out so much fun! Everyone had the opportunity to taste some of the food and were impressed. We tried only a few recipes, but if you would like a challenge and would like to know how Georgian food tastes, Google these names and follow the instructions. The taste is phenomenal and cannot be explained. Some of the ingredients you may not find in your country, but just use your imagination and find substitutes. It is a nice way to have a Georgian Sabbath in South Africa.

14-17 October 2016 – Drakensville Camp Meeting

Martin and I, together with Anita (second from left, an AFM short-term missionary departing in February 2017), left early on Friday morning for the Drakensville Camp Meeting. We drove 355 km and arrived around 8 a.m. for the morning meeting. We had such a wonderful time, not only listening to some great speakers like Stephen Bohr and Timothy Jennings, but also making new friends. Heino and the ABL team did a great job accommodating everyone who came from close and far away to attend the camp meeting. We also met a young, energetic woman named Daleen (far left), who will be going to the mission field with Anita after they raise the needed funds.

18 December 2016 – 3 January 2017

On 18 December 2016 we will departure from O.R Tambo International (Johannesburg) to Tbilisi (Georgia). Our flight to Georgia will be very long, as we have a 14-Hour and 35-minute transit in Doha, Qatar. We will be going from SA weather that is a nice 26-35⁰C to Georgia weather at around 3⁰C and below at times.

God truly opened amazing doors during 2016 and has given us a chance to go to Georgia to do a field study for the Georgia Project. We will be meeting with wonderful people including the mission president Boris Charaia to identify what some of the needs are, and what we can offer to them as missionaries. We will return to South Africa with lots of photos and videos to share.

17 March – 21 March 2017

Khachapuri - cheese-filled bread.

We are looking forward in seeing you all at the 2017 Mission Convention at the Sedaven Camp Grounds. It will be the first South Africa has ever seen, and is not to be missed. We are very excited to promote the Georgia Project there and hope to have Boris there as well. There will be excellent speakers, and you can be sure to have a wonderfully blessed time. Be sure to book your space before it runs out! The meeting will be from 17-21 March 2017. www.missionconvention.com

In closing I would like to leave this message with you:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28: 19-20 KJV).

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