NEW WEBSITE!!!

SO THINGS ARE IMPROVING AND I NOW HAVE A WEBSITE DESIGNED BY MY MUM SO IN FUTURE PLEASE GO TO www.cathonamission.com ENJOY!

South Sudan will become its own country

What is happening in South Sudan?

According to the Cape Times on the 8^th Feb 2011 this is what was reported:

“South Sudan voted overwhelmingly to declare independence in final re

sults of a referendum announced yesterday, paving the way for Africa’s newest state...Hundreds of southern Sudanese danced and waved flags as the announcement was broadcast on a line of TV sets in a square in the centre of the Southern capital, Juba...Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said he accepted the results because they represented the will of the southern people.”

What does all this mean?

This means that South Sudan will become its own country and they are in the process of forming their constitution, government, flag and national anthem.

When is Cath returning?

I together with my team will be returning to Lohutok, South Sudan on the 28^th Feb. Some of my team will be flying with me and the rest of the team will be travelling with my car from Nairobi, Kenya in the first week of March. Please pray for our safe travels on the roads and crossing the borders.

How is Cath’s health and what has she been up to?

My health has remained good and I have had a great time with my gran, family and friends. My gran has recovered incredibly well from her illnesses last year and I joined her in her bi-weekly gym class even though she will soon to be 87 years old!

This month has been a successful time of report backs in my church and with various prayer and financial supporters. God gave me strength to speak in all 3 services at Meadowridge Baptist Church and it was wonderful to

be prayed for by the pastors and elders of the church as they prayed for Gods protection, good health and blessing for my continued work in Sudan.

I also received my results of my theological studies that I completed in January. For my last four assignments I received 80% and together with the other six assignments I did last year, it gave me an overall result of 75%, which was a miracle considering my health condition.

A praise and a good laugh!

While I in South Africa I decided to apply for a certificate that would allow me to have a German passport as well as keep my South African passport from the Department of Home Affairs. The good news is they awarded me with this certificate three days before I was due to leave South Africa but the funny thing was the name on the certificate was Catherine Anne Bezolo! This has a good African ring to it but it is not my name. I prayed and hoped that they would be able to issue me with a new certificate straight away. When I went to ask for a new one, they said they would try. I waited at the Department of Home Affairs and prayed. Praise God within ten minutes they issued me with a new certificate with my proper name Catherine Anne Bezold!

In Cape Town the temperatures reached between 35-40 degrees C! So it was wonderful to run under the water sprinklers with my niece and nephew, Rebekah and Michael. When we enter Sudan it will be their dry season and the hottest time with the temperatures mostly in the 40’s. We do not have cool water sprinklers to keep us cool in the heat. So pray for us.

I thank God for all the good times I had with family, friends and churches and would appreciate your continued prayers as we re-enter Sudan at this time.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!...I called to the Lord in distress; the Lord answered and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side I will not fear.” (Psalm 118:1-6)

My health

I give thanks to the Lord that I am healed! This is through your prayers and, the elders of my dads’ church laying hands on me and praying for me, as well as the various doctors that helped me. I had infusions with a new type of medicine for malaria as well as a drip to help clean my kidneys. After the treatment I had many blood tests and scans and the results were very successful with a negative result for malaria. All my organs from my kidneys, to my spleen and liver are all 100% normal.

Sudan and results

We can also give thanks that the referendum and elections have gone extremely well. There was more than the 60% required registered voters who voted to make the referendum valid. The provisional results that are coming out are more than 90% for separation of the South from the North. The final results will be released on the 14^thFebruary and there is confidence that a new country will be birthed. There is much excitement and we continue to pray that there will be peace particularly around the oil fields that are in the South.

My studies with the South African Theological Seminary (SATS)

On the 30^th January 2011 I submitted the last of the assignments required for the portfolio of Historical Books. This time I do not have to write an exam, but had ten large assignments to complete based on the Historical books from Joshua to Esther. It was a lot of reading but I learnt a great deal and have a greater understanding of the Old Testament through these studies.

Sharing in South Africa

In January I had the privilege of being invited to speak at the South African Theological Seminary and it was a wonderful time. I was touched that they took offering and raised enough money for me to buy a “Kindle” They wanted to bless me with that which would help me with my studies in Sudan. I also shared in my Dads’ bible study group and inchurch and was blessed by the people who have encouraged me during this time.

In February I will be in Cape Town sharing with various supporters. I will also be sharing at my church Meadowridge Baptist Church on the 13^th February 8am, 10am and 6pm. You are most welcome to come and we will also be showing the Moses film we made after the 6pm service and there will be an opportunity for people to ask questions.

Time to rest

I have had a wonderful time with my family in Johannesburg (Gauteng) where my father and step mother Marie-Claire took me to a game park. See picture above. I will be staying with my grandmother in Cape Town and look forward to spending time with her as well as the rest of my family and friends in Cape Town.

When are we going back to Sudan?

At the moment the AIM missionaries as well as the DIGUNA missionaries have been given the go ahead to return to Sudan. Most of us will be entering Sudan towards the end of February.

Birth of a nation

“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord. And all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules over the nations.” (Psalm 22:27-28)

This was and is my prayer as I left Sudan that the people of Sudan will turn to the Lord and remember Him at this time. It was very emotional for me to leave the village I am living in Lopit , South Sudan. Everyone asked me as I was walking down the path in how many weeks I would be coming back. I could not tell then because I do not know. Most mission organizations pulled all their missionaries out of Sudan for the referendum that is happening now.

What is happening in Sudan?

The truth is South Sudan has been fighting for independence from the North since the 1950’s. The last six years have been a cease fire from the civil war between the north and the south. The referendum is only for the people living and registered in the South. They have the freedom to vote for separation or unity. There are many tribes in South Sudan and many do not know how to write so the voting paper has two pictures and they can place their finger print next to the picture they want to vote for. The one picture is of two hands clasped together and the other is one hand help upwards. Most people I knew in Sudan would tell me “Viva Separation!” The main problem that could cause a war in Sudan is the oil fields in Abyei region which are on the border between the North and South. The elections began on the 9^th Jan 2011 and will run for one week. According to the news and officials the results of the elections will only come out four weeks after the closing of the polls.

The closing of the schools

On the 10^th December we had a combined closing ceremony of the Kindergarten, Primary school and Secondary school. Each of the school principals was asked to give a speech in which I gave my thanks

to the staff who had been dedicated and faithful in teaching the children so well. I was proud to give certificate to the children and 8 children we successfully promoted to the first Primary School class. The ceremony was well attended by the chief, medical staff all teachers, men leaders, pastors and women. It was a very memorial day for us all.

Cath’s team

Christmas time in Sudan is very special time for me as many people are bringing in their harvest from the fields and we had good rainfall 2010. We are thankful to God that all families had a good harvest and have food for their families for the coming year. During this time most people are in the villages and it is a wonderful opportunity for evangelism. Clayton and I had made a Moses film in the Lopit language, with song and dance and all the traditional keys that would help them to understand God better. So

we showed the Moses

film as a tool to convict them of the false gods they are following and then we showed the Jesus movie in Lotuho language which they all understand. The team were an incredible support, each one playing a vital role as we travelled by foot or by car from village to village presenting the films. Clayton and Daniel travelled with pastor Beda and a bible student Oghisa from Ohilang went by foot to villages to the West of Ohilang. Myself, Andre, Susanne and Lisa used my car and showed the films in other villages to the east of Ohilang. In total we showed the films 10 times. Please pray that the seeds sown in this time will remain and will flourish while we are away. Below is

a picture of the Andre, Lisa and Susanne who helped carry all the film equipment from village to village.

The team also helped in practical ways. Andre removed a section of roof frame that was completely eaten by termites and built a new frame to support my roof. The ladies took over in the kitchen and they were such a blessing. Susanne is a children’s nurse and she was able to help treat a serious eye infection of a boy named “Imiri” in the village. Lisa loves to teach so she spent time in my garden teaching the girls. I thank God for each of them and the time we spent together in Sudan over Christmas and New Year. Daniel and Clayton were able to drive my car out of Sudan to the DIGUNA base in Nairobi. Praise God they went across the border with no problems. There were a number of mechanical problems along the way so it is good that it is now in Nairobi and the DIGUNA men will service it and have it in good order when I return. I am very grateful for their help.

Cath’s future plans – are in Gods hands

For now I have had to leave Sudan because of the referendum and I have decided to go to South Africa in this time. It seems my body has been continually fighting malaria and we suspect that it may be in my liver or kidneys. My mum has booked me with specialist in South Africa to get this properly tested and treated. I will also continue to study theology – The Historical Books of the Bible through the South African Theological Seminary and I have major assignment hand ins on the 30^th January 2011.

I will also spend the time doing a report back of the work in Sudan in my dad’s church in Johannesburg and my church in Cape Town, Meadowridge Baptist Church. I have no dates of when I will be speaking where as I wanted to take time to sort my health out first. As soon as I have more information I will email it to all my South African friends and supporters. Around mid February I hope to return to Kenya where I will wait for my leaders to approve when it is safe to return to Sudan.

Please continue to pray for the Lopit people, their safety and their eternal salvation as well as for me and my health.

Thank you for your love, prayer and support

November News!

“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob as his help. Whose hope is in the Lord his God.” (Psalm 146:5)

Cath fixing her own car?!?

Just before arriving in Sudan I received a message from the missionaries that my break pads would need replacing. I could not drive until they were replaced. I was quite overwhelmed and asked a lot of people to pray because I had no idea where to begin. Stephen who is on furlough in South Africa, drew me some pictures and I brought the necessary parts needed from Kenya. Thank the Lord Clayton was in Sudan and the two of us following Stephen’s drawings, miraculously managed to change the break pads. This was necessary because we had to make a journey to Torit to get food supplies for the Bible students and renew my car license with the officials in Torit. I was very excited to be able to Praise Him that all went well and we travelled safely there and back over the weekend. I have also been travelling to Ohilang every Sunday for the services and Sunday school. It’s been amazing for me how much this car has been used for God. I was able to help transport a pregnant woman with complications to the clinic here in Lohutok. Then you won’t believe it but also a whole live goat was loaded in my car, for the celebration after the baptisms which you will read about later in this news!

Torit Radio Grace
During my short visit in Torit I was able to visit the radio station as I brought some equipment from Germany for them to use. I was very excited to see the developments and a lady named Grace running the morning show. Sarafino in the background manages the radio station.




Preparations for the Referendum in Sudan
When I arrived back in Lohutok I was asked if some of the community leaders could have a meeting in my home concerning the referendum. At the meeting they asked permission to use the Kindergarten as their offices for storing all their records and completing administration work they need to do for the referendum. I prayed about it and agreed as I want to support them in their efforts to encourage a free and peaceful referendum. The registration for voting began on the 15th November and continues until the 2nd of December. So far in this area it has gone well. Please pray that the registration in all areas continues to run peacefully.
Baptisms
This month was very special for me as I could witness the baptisms of the young men that Joshua has been discipling the last two years. Four of them are from Ohilang and it is incredibly exciting that these men are totally committed to building God’s church. I also want to take this opportunity to thank all those in Germany and England that contributed to the food needed for these bible students. They have been able to successful complete their studies and have had sufficient food.



My theological studies
It really is a miracle and I want to thank those that prayed for me and encouraged me in completing my Hermeneutics module for which I got a distinction. Howard from my church in South Africa as well as Scott Way from the Neuesleben Theological Bible College were a great help. Please pray for me as I continue studying part-time for my next module which is “The Historical Books”.

Malaria
I want to thank those who have prayed and continue to pray for my health. I was tested positive again for malaria in Torit. So I went on two types of treatment and during this time had very bad back pain. I am not sure if it is linked or not. However this last week I have no pain and feel my normal self again. Praise God my hope is in Him!

Schools
I did some evaluations of the children in the Kindergarten and they have done really well and I thank the teachers and team that is working there now. The Primary School and my other senior classes all wrote exams last week. The Secondary school is still busy with writing exams, please pray for them to do well.

Samson, my growing dog
I was very thankful for Natasha who looked after my home and dog while I was away. He has grown but is still a lot of fun. The whole village really likes him and the young boys love to bring him goat’s milk in the mornings. Samson, of course thanks them with a big lick on the face!








Thank you for your love, prayers and support

your Cath

Cath's Oct News!

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…a time to laugh…a time to dance…and a time to embrace…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-5)

A time to testify
This month has been full but blessed as I have had the opportunity to share about my work in Sudan in people’s homes or churches in Altenkirchen, Neuesstadt, DIGUNA Haiger, England, Nürnberg, Wasserburg, Bielefeld, Lemgo and Lindtorf. It was a real joy for me to meet with my friends and family. I was welcomed and given a home wherever I went and I was very encouraged. I have a saying that I share a lot and that I try to practice and that is “wherever you are be all there” by James Elliot. I spent a lot of my times on the train travelling to all these destinations and God provided many opportunities for me to meet with people, and pray for them. On one of my train rides I met up with some youth and a talented drum player from West Africa and his wife. It was a wonderful time as we shared about each other’s lives and even enjoyed some drum playing. I could not resist taking a picture.

A time for malaria and operations
Early this month I went for a health check up for TB as well as malaria. I was advised to have x-rays of my chest after having been with baby Ibalu who had been diagnosed with TB. Praise God I had no TB but the doctor found malaria in my blood. I was put on treatment before I even started experiencing the symptoms. Then I also needed to have an operation to remove 2 growths on my forehead and neck. Thank God everything was successfully removed. Thank God for the good medical care I have received in Germany, please continue to pray for my health.

A time to visit my godchildren in England and now in Germany too!
It was wonderful to meet up with my good friends Helen and Jose and their three daughters Chloe, Krissy and Michaela who are also my god daughters in England. It was a special time and I was blessed that they opened their home for me to use to invite my friends and present my work on Sudan. It was also a joy to be able to share Chloe’s birthday with her and to get to know them all better. Another special gift is I was asked by the Schubert family in Germany if I would pray about becoming their daughter Sara’s godparent. Martin was her godparent and since he has passed away I feel privileged to continue the responsibility of praying for her and corresponding with her. I was able to meet up with her in my travels and we had a wonderful time together.

A time for studying theology and exams
During this month God also helped me in my studies as I was able to successfully complete the Hermeneutics module with the South African Theological Seminary. I am grateful for the help that my pastor Howard Wylie and Scott Way from the Neues Lebens Bible School in Germany provided for me to successfully complete this course.

A time for a wedding
This month was the first time for me to be a part of a wedding since Martin died. I realized that I feel completely healed. I was able to stand with joy at the same place where Martin and I were married and watch and be a part of Hong and Daniel Meth’s joy as they married at the Haiger “Standesampt”. I was excited for them and totally enjoyed their wedding. On my last week here in Germany I was asked by a number of people how my heart was and is and it is truly filled with happiness and joy. I am hoping, praying and dreaming again. Six months ago Martins parents phoned me and said they wanted me to be happy, at first I didn’t understand but then they explained that they wanted me to feel free to get married again. Friends in Germany and in South Africa have asked me if they can pray with me for my future and my dreams to be married and have a family and I have felt touched and blessed with such special friends. My vision to be a missionary is part of who I am and it would be great if you could pray with me for God to provide a husband.

A time to go back to Sudan
Pray for me as I fly back to Kenya on the 3rd November and then Sudan on the 8th November. Pray for my travels and a good re-entry into Sudan.

Thank you so much for your love, prayers and support all my love Cath

Be inspired!