Chandame

At four o’clock on the 2nd, we headed to George from Kempton Park. Close to Uniondale, the gearbox started giving us trouble and we had to drive in 4th gear to George. God was so good, he protected us and guided Jannie with the right tools to get to George.   Our children and grandchildren were so surprised to see us and we had a lovely get together. Jannie had to hire a trailer to transport the Colt to Rawsonville. Jannie’s younger brother, Herman helped to tow the trailer with his Everest. Jannie left the Colt in Rawsonville and lucky for us, the Ford was still in Rawsonville. Jannie decided to drive back to George with the Ford Bakkie.   After Jannie drove back to George, he picked me up.  We fetched the generator on his older brother’s farm with the help of Jacques and Christian.  We then headed back to Rawsonville on the 4th of October.   We were fortunate to celebrate Christian and Gabriella’s birthdays on the 4th and 6th. It was special to us because our plan was only to go back to South Africa in December.   On the 6th, Jannie asked Rawsonville electric to build him a 3 phase board.  This would help with the electricity supply from the generator to the 3 pumps. Jannie ordered all the cables that he needed for the completion of every bore hole. Andre Fouche was such great help and he collected 6 pumps that we ordered in Johannesburg. This made our life easier so that we can get […]

On the weekend of the 10th we visited Nkhoma. Jannie fixed a lorry and helped with other repair work.   The 19th, I saw 43 patients at the clinic. Most of the patients were elderly. It was Pensioners’ day and the state uses our property to hand out the pensions. On the 20th, Jannie worked on Chembekeso’s bakkie clutch and gearbox. He needed to get a new kit from South Africa.   On the 21st, Jannie worked on the generator. The solar toilets’ pipes were painted and we transported a load of sand. Pastor Isaias came to visit us; he was our previous pastor. At the clinic, one of the mothers left her new born baby at home without a babysitter to come to the clinic.   On the 24th, the police came to fetch Jannie. A lorry had an accident and 2 people were stuck in the cabin. He got both passengers out. One unfortunately died and the other was taken to the hospital.   He towed out two big trucks and helped to start one of the trucks. The next day he had to tow out a truck that went off the road. It took him 4 hours and he had to use all his cables because of how far the car had fallen.   On the 28th, we started driving to South Africa.  We had to collect parts we need to fix the Nkhoma missionary station’s water pumps. Jannie phoned his brother and asked if we could use his generator for the missionary station.  Malawi’s […]

On the 2nd, Kobus Odendaal from the Western Cape Missionary office visited us for 2 days. We took him on a tour of the farm and showed him our water project. There are 2 reservoirs that can each hold 40 000 litres of water. The water is from a natural spring and are carried by gravity for 4.7km by means of an irrigation pipe to the different places in Chandame. We appreciated his visit a lot!   On the 4th, Jannie transported corn and worked on the hooks that he needs when he tows in the containers. I had to drive to Limbuni to go and get some eggs. I left the bakkie running when I got out at Peta Bennet’s place to get the eggs. When I reached the back of the bakkie it started rolling backwards. I tried to get back in die bakkie to hit the brakes but I was unsuccessful. Suddenly the bakkie came to a standstill and behind the right wheel there was a big rock! I was still in a lot of shock while driving home but also so thankful that nothing bad happened. Later that day I returned to the scene and the rock that stopped the bakkie was not there! I was so amazed! We serve a wonderful God! He saw that I was in trouble and he did something about it. Jes 59 verse 1   Every day we had a standard routine. I had clinic duty from 9 to 12. Most […]

Proverbs 27 verse 9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart.  And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.   On the 3rd of July we had a sermon at Chandame and the scripture was John 15 verse 1-8. The message was to bear good fruit and abide in God.   On the 6th, Hennie and Elsabet Smit surprised me by visiting us on my birthday.  It was really special for me.  An outreach group from Wellington also spent the night on their way back to South Africa. The visit from the group was also very special because we made new friends in Christ.  A group of Potchefstroom also slept over at our place on their way to Malawi. We are feeling blessed with all these visits from different groups.   We had 9 days of light rain here in Chandame.  This is good for the crops and the plants. On the 10th of July Jannie got malaria again. Every one prayed, because he was very sick. There is definitely power in prayer.   I AM A GIFT FROM GOD!  Everyone must remember that!   On the 14th, Wynand, Martin, Lance and Candice (all members of Joshua Generation) spent the night.  It was an amazing visit! They prayed for Jannie’s knee and since then his knee is much better. There is power in prayer! They also prayed for the healing of my hernia.   Psalm 94 verse 19, 22.  “My God is the rock and my refuge” […]

On the 4th of June we arrived at Woodlands in Botswana where we spend the night. The 5th of June, we were in Zambia and we stayed the night at Fawlty Towers, Livingstone. The 6th of June we were still in Zambia and spend the night at Bridge Camp.   On the 7th we crossed the Malawi border. We had to spent 2 days in Nkhoma because Jannie had to help with the parts that he brought back from South Africa.   Proverbs 9 verse 10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”   Proverbs 9 verse 11: “For by me your days will be multiplied.  And years of life will be added to you”   On the 9th of June, we were back at Chandame and thanking God for keeping us save all the way. The next day Jannie had to help pull out a trailer (that was overloaded) out of a ditch. He had to use his tractor and trailer to get the job done.   On the 12th we went to Tsangano to visit one of our congregations to welcome their new pastor.   On the 13th, Helen Meyer visited us with the ACRIS clinic. They just visited us and didn’t see any patients. She brought ointment and bandages for our clinic.  A big welcome and huge gift.  We were working at full steam again. I was busy with the clinic and Jannie helped the locals […]

The first 10 days of May we were still tending to our two grandchildren in Brackenfell. Amanda came back on the 10th of May. Amanda told us about an experience she had while on tour regarding the power of prayer and that you have to listen and be obedient when the Holy Spirit speaks to you.   We were back home in Rawsonville and we could attend the Pentecost services in Rawsonville.  It was so comforting to hear that we are not alone in Chandame.  God is with us every step of the way.  You cannot survive on your own.  Don’t lose your focus on God.   On the 25th of May, we flew back to Gauteng.  Our bakkie was parked in Birchleigh at Andre and Rita’s house. Jannie had to pick up parts and extra goods for fellow missionaries in Malawi before we left for Chandame. Jannie also serviced our Colt bakkie so that it would be in tip top shape for the drive back to Mozambique. On the 4th of June, we started the long journey back to Chandame.   God Bless! Susan

We started April on a positive note by not having to take any strong medicine. We only took medication to build up our bodies.   Jannie went to an orthopaedic surgeon with his left knee that had been giving him a lot of trouble. The doctor told him that he would need to get a knee replacement sometime in the future. However, Jannie had a vision in his dream one night that his knee would heel without an operation. We serve a God of miracles, so anything is possible!   We spent the first week of April with Jacques, Susan and Alexander. It is always such a treat and privilege to bond with my children and grandchildren. When we arrived in Rawsonville my eldest daughter Christien and her children were also there, visiting from Porterville. Time with our children was so special.   On 12 April 2016, we went to Brackenfell to help our son in law, Eddie, tend to Andreas and Gabriella while Amanda was in Germany performing with the Libertas Choir.  It was such a joy and a pleasure to look after our two grandchildren. This made us realize that we as Christians have to believe like children. As it says in Matthew 19, verse 14: “But Jesus said: ‘Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Every weekend we went back to Rawsonville where we could catch up with friends and go to our Afrikaans church. At the end of April […]

On the 1st of March we were blessed with a much welcomed, 70 mm of rain.  The rainy season started later than usual this year and the earth needed it badly.   Hennie and Elsabet visited us for Jannie’s 60th birthday.  We had a bit of a water crisis during this time and Jannie and I did not feel good at all.  Hence, we could not enjoy his birthday to the fullest.   Jannie towed in 2 trucks at Agua Boa with the towing truck. It was the 3rd towing job in Agua Boa.  The Lord is definitely providing for us by means of the tow in truck!!  One of our worker’s dog got rabies and it bit some chickens and rabbits.  Eventually, it bit two children and the dog had to be put down.  On March 10th, the ACRIS mobile clinic visited Chandame. The ACRIS focusses on children and pregnant women. 211 babies were weighed and 30 babies got an immunization shots for measles.   On the same day, we left for Nkhoma, Malawi; both of us feeling horribly sick.  We went to the Nkhoma mission hospital for blood tests to find out what was making us so sick. It turned out that our bodies were fighting against some disease. I (Susan) had malaria again. The malaria parasites were dormant in my liver and I basically infected myself over and over again. They started me on a medication to detox my liver. Jannie also started taking medication for bilharzia.   […]

I flew back to Gauteng on the 4th of February. Jannie drove from Chandame (with Jaco and Maxi’s bakkie) to pick me up and collect goods in Gauteng for other missionaries in Mozambique and Malawi.   On the 12th of February we left Gauteng for Chandame and arrived on the 14th.  One of our worker’s grandchildren died of a dog bite. Hennie and Elsabet Smit from Nkhoma had to bring the child’s body back to Chandame and decided to stay for the weekend.   We both started feeling sick again on the 23rd of February.  Jannie immediately started drinking malaria medication and I started drinking antibiotics. If you are physically ill, it is very difficult to keep your trust in the Lord.  But we knew at that moment that our faith needed to be stronger since God is in charge of our lives and he will get us through difficult times.  A few days later, I attended a service in Chandame alone as Jannie was away for the day. It started to rain heavily.  It rained so hard that no one could hear Pastor Daniel preaching.  The congregation then decided to sing hymns because no one could hear him! It rained 80 mm in just 2 hours that day.   In February we saw and helped 566 patients in 10 days!   God Bless!   Susan  

Jannie left South Africa for Mozambique on the 9th of January 2016. I stayed behind and continued my recovery process. The plus side to me staying in South Africa was that I could spend quality time with my youngest daughter, Susan and grandson, Alexander, who had just returned from South Korea.   Back in Chandame, Jannie was very busy running the clinic from 7 in the morning till late. The patients mostly had malaria. He was extremely busy treating them and he couldn’t tend to any of the other work that had to be completed. Currently, the most important project in Chandame is the clinic. The roof has already been raised but, the interior of the clinic needs work. Doors, plumbing, cupboards, bathroom shelves etc. are just some of the things that needs to get done. The Clinic Personnel also needs houses and that will take a while to finish. Slowly but surely we will finish these projects.  Even though funding is a big problem, we know that God will provide.   Dirk and Marie Smit gave us a very big present when they left Mozambique permanently, their Colt bakkie! Unfortunately, the bakkie broke down in Malawi when Jannie helped Ivan Stevens move to Milange. They had to tow the bakkie back to Chandame. Jannie worked really hard in my absence! He spent time filling certain parts of the rivers with stone on the way to the farm so that we can have a less bumpy ride in the future. […]