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!

God hears us!

‘Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.’(1 John 5:14)

My Gran
I praise God that I was able to go home to South Africa and help my gran transfer from the hospital to her home. Thank you for your prayers. My gran slowly recovered and I was grateful to God that He helped us both use this time to pray together, to talk about God, Jesus and what happens when we die. In our last week my dad, gran and I walked together on the catwalk of Fish Hoek beach. It was hard to leave my gran but this time I left her with a greater peace knowing that she is in the arms of Jesus no matter what happens now.


Night and baby Ibalu
It was a joy for me to be able to fetch Night and baby Ibalu from the Kijabe hospital in Kenya. I am most grateful for Dan Dooley from Calvary Chapel who helped me in taking care of them, buying things they needed and looking after their translator Matthew Obeli. Ibalu was diagnosed with TB and Pnuemonia. Kijabe hospital was very helpful in treating her and in supplying us with medicine to continue treatment in Sudan. Jesus really heard our prayers and answered them. The hospital chaplain who had walked with Night on this difficult road made a great impact in Night’s relationship with Jesus.


Returning to Sudan
I praise God for how He provided all the flights and accommodation for Night, Ibalu and I to return to Sudan. I am very grateful to Jon and Jerry from AIMAIR who helped us in arranging all the transport to and from Kenya and Kijabe hospital. I was amazed to see the impact this little baby had on her return. As we walked up the mountain many followed and wanted to touch and see Ibalu. As we sat together in my home the people suggested that we pray and thank God for healing this precious little girl. So praise God again he heard our prayers.


My little puppy Samson
I have a new member of my family which is a puppy from the Matusik family’s dog and has been great fun. All my neighbors like to take turns in looking after him when I go to school in the mornings. The men leaders of the village advised that I get a dog because I am living alone in my house and am often walking from village to village and he will also help protect me from wild animals like snakes.

Ohilang
I have had a very successful time on weekends in Ohilang. On Saturday it was great to have a DIGUNA team from Germany together with the Ohilang locals helping me plant indigenous trees on the new land. In the evening the DIGUNA team also showed the Jesus film in the Otuho language in the village dance area. On Sunday I focused on visiting some of the homes of the families that have been coming to church, learning their names and where they live.


Kindergarten
It has been exciting to see the growth of the Kindergarten. We now have two classes running. One with children ages 3-4 and the other class children ages 5-6. Sunday continues to be out faithful cook and we now have a watchman who cuts the grass and maintains the grounds for us.


Natasha and Bible study groups
Natasha is a missionary with African Inland Mission from South Africa. She has been living in another village with other missionaries and working in the Primary School with me. I am very excited that she will be living in my house in my village during the time that I have to return to Germany to comply with the German government laws. She will continue to run the two bible study groups as well as looking after my dog Samson. Please pray for the Lord to protect her and use her mightily for His glory.


Thank you for your love prayers and support
Your servant in Christ
God bless Cath

Cath's August News!

Where are our hearts?

Where are our feet?

Where are our minds?

Cath’s Birthday(4^th August)

I decided to do something fun and exciting for my birthday. I sent invitations to all the missionaries in the surrounding villages to come for tea and a fun investigation of the “Missing Dolphin!” Everybody was given a new name and all came dressed up for the party! The children made me the most beautiful gifts for my birthday and I felt touched by all. I also appreciated all the emails and gifts that were sent via airmail. I am still waiting for my South African parcel but I know it will arrive in Gods perfect time! Birthdays for me are significant as it reminds me that God intended for me to be born for a reason and a purpose and that His desire is that my feet keep walking, actually running in the race He has set before me.

The amazing GIFT

I have been really encouraged by all the people from South Africa and Germany that have felt led to help contribute towards the car. Within a month almost the entire car has been paid for! This is a huge praise and I thank God for all of you!

Ohilang Village

Now that I have a vehicle, we have been able to visit the Ohilang church every second Sunday and I have been able to start a Sunday school.(see picture)For a long time the church had been asking me if they could give me a piece of land to start developing a ministry. We agreed to do this once the chief, landlord and elders of the church and community were present. I thought this would take a number of months but within two weeks the chief and community leaders came to church and after the service they stepped out the land for me. I learnt a lot about the culture and how land is given. Stones are placed by the new owner, the chief and witnesses. These stones mark the border of the property. They have given me a little hill with the flat land surrounding it. Long ago it was named “The Resting Place” where the Toposa would rest with their cattle after a long day. There is a river and water hole next to this piece of land. Once all the land had been allocated I asked if we could form a circle on one of the corners and commit it to the Lord. Please pray for me as I seek God for guidance in the ministries that I should establish on this land.

Registration of the Kindergarten

I spent most of the day with Mark, the officer of the Loppa County going from one office to the other in the main Education building in Torit. It was a very successful day as I made good relationships with most of the heads of different departments. They were very encouraging and not only will they provisionally register the Kindergarten but they are also looking at making their training facilities near Ohilang available for my use. I was very grateful for the help of Phil Byler and Serafino that helped me get the needed documents required for this registration.

Baby Ibalu

This is a big praise item as baby Ibalu has put on more than 5kg and has responded to the TB treatment very well. I am grateful to the missionaries from Calvary Chapel – Dan, Bob, Ann and Clayton who have helped look after my friends at Kijabe hospital. Thank you for your prayers.

An email from home

After two weeks of setting and giving exams to all the bible education classes as well as marking all their papers I was pleased to find that the majority of the students had done very well. All the South Sudan schools closed for three weeks at this time so children can help their parents on their farms. I was on my way to Torit for our South Sudan missionary weekend retreat when I received a message that my gran had been admitted to hospital with severe Bronchitis. I had a great sense that I needed to be home at this time to help my gran and family. Praise God He provided planes and reasonable flights via Uganda. The retreat helped put all this months happenings into perspective for me in that even though our feet are on earth, our hearts need always to be in heaven and our minds focused on Christ.

God bless you all for your love, prayers and support

Your servant in Christ

Cath

THE BATTLE IS THERE BUT PRAISE JESUS IT IS HIS BATTLE!

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35 – 39)


Bible Study groups

I have been so excited about the things God is doing. When I arrived here I felt led to start a men’s and young boys Bible study Group on Tuesday nights and the women and girls on Wednesday nights. With the men we began in Genesis and the Bible study is in English and Lopit. The Women’s Bible study I started with the book of Luke which I have in Otuho and Lopit and I used pictures I have to go with the stories. I began with between 3 and 5 in each of the groups and each week it increased. By the end of the month I had almost 20 in each group. In the beginning it was just Sohot friends from my village, but now they are bringing their friends from other villages and allowing them to sleep on their compounds for the night. It sounds a bit like we are experiencing what the apostles experienced in the book of Acts. Praise God!
Akia being attacked
One of the main men leaders in my village joined my bible study from the start and seriously believed many of things we have been learning. At the end of every bible study we share prayer requests and I record them in the bible study book. The next week we read what we prayed for the week before and were finding that all our prayers were being answered. Akia started praying for rain for his fields and God even brought rain every Tuesday just after they arrived for Bible study. Akia became convinced that Jesus brings the rain. Well one evening a man we do not know came to the village and stabbed his hand and beat him. My Bible study boys brought him to me and together with the AIM nurse Anne we helped fixed his wounds. We sat together and prayed.

Night and Ibalu

Anne also came with me to visit one of my disciples’ I had from the start of my time in Sudan. Her name is Night Esther and her baby named “Ibalu” was very sick and was extremely malnourished. Anne told me that there is not enough equipment and medicine to help her and that we should fly them out or she would die. Jon from AIMAIR was very helpful and helped me organize a detour of a flight to fly them out. Praise God Dan from Calvary Chapel was able to help and organized for them to be admitted into the Missionary Kijabe hospital in Kenya. Below is the latest update that I received from Dan: “went over tonight and spoke with the nurse and she said it was important to communicate with Night tomorrow (23 July) AM when the doc and Nutritionist do their rounds. I enquired who the doc was, and as God would have it, it's a good friend of mine who is extremely competent, Dr Paul Jaster. I then went to his house and we compared notes. He said he suspects TB as there is something going on in the lungs as well as severe malnutrition. He said they have started a number of interventions and introduced a number of supplements and that the next couple days are very important to see how her body react.”

Malaria

Well of course Satan is a lion seeking who he may devour. At the same time as flying Night out I came down with malaria. My friends in the other villages were on the radio with me encouraging me and praying for me. I stay alone in my mud house in my village and started malaria treatment in the early stages of the sickness. Natasha a new missionary with AIM from South Africa living in a nother village came to make me a meal and looked after me for one afternoon. Pastors from the church came to pray for me even the pastor and Bible study students from Ohilang. This is the distant village that I have been visiting every second Sunday, it is half a day’s walk to visit me – so I was encouraged and strengthened in the Lord.

Prayer Chain

In my time of sickness I spent a lot of time praying and felt led to email people all over the world to ask them if they would start a prayer chain for protection for me and my disciples. Different bible study groups and families from Germany, to England, America and South Africa committed to take a day that they would pray for us. Each day of the week is now covered in prayer by various groups and I have felt a huge difference, and have felt like a weight has lifted from me. I recovered quickly from malaria, Night and Ibalu also started improving and Akia’s hand and body healed and they have all continued coming to the bible study groups.

Rainmaker

A couple of days after I asked people to make a prayer chain we experienced a huge physical and spiritual attack. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights my bible study groups were overflowing I had almost 20 people for each night. We talked about the witchdoctor and the rainmaker as all the people were concerned about Nights baby and what will happen to her. We agreed and read scriptures about how only Jesus heals and brings rain and that getting involved with witchdoctors and rainmakers can bring curses on you and your family. I did not know that the next day, Thursday was the day to bring offerings to the rain maker. Some women from my bible study group decided not to bring offerings to the rainmaker. That night the men leaders (monumidji) went from house to house to punish and take things from the people that did not give anything to the rainmaker. I started hearing screams and one girl rain towards my compound and the men hit her and took her clothes. I then heard them going to my neighbor behind me and decided to run after them and stop them. What came over me I do not know but it was the POWER of GOD! I stood between the men and IRoma my new disciple and told them she now believed in Jesus and they were not allowed to touch her or her things. They told me this was their culture and I told them that God was watching them and that they must not touch a thing of my property or IRoma's as the power of God and His judgment may come upon them. They stopped and promised me they would leave us but they said I now had to appear before the men leaders at 7am the next morning to present my case.

So early Friday morning I stood before all the men leaders of my village and the rainmaker with my BIBLE my sword. I felt the Holy Spirit lead me as I talked and reminded them of different stories where they had brought people like Alberto and Barnaba who were almost dying for me to pray for and how Jesus healed them. They agreed. I also told them how we had been praying every Tuesday and Wednesday nights for rain and it was Jesus that was blessing them with rain because we had prayed. I then read Deuteronomy 28 and God gave me the Lopit words to explain the blessings and curses in these scriptures. I explained that if they follow the ways of God and obey him God will bless their families, their children, their cattle, their goats, their fields and HE will bring the rain. But if they continue to pray to the GABU MICHAEL (KING MICHAEL - the rainmaker – one in the white striped shirt in the middle) they will suffer the curses of God. The rainmaker then talked and said he agreed that God brought the rain and talked about Adam and Eve and that the rainmaker was there from the beginning. If people continued to bring things to him, he would then pray to God. I then stopped him and said that that was not what was in my bible and that he must be careful to change the Word of God for his purposes, I told him that He could bring the judgment of God upon himself.

I then spoke to the men leaders and told them that I respect them and their culture but all I ask is that the people that choose to leave their culture and ways and follow Jesus be allowed to do so with freedom. I told the men leaders that I do not come to their homes and hit them and demand their clothes because they do not believe in Jesus. So I asked them please to allow the Christians to be free to pray to Jesus for rain and follow His ways. There was much discussion and then the men leaders asked me to pray for them. So I stood there and asked Jesus to help them follow the ways of Jesus and to protect the ones that decided to follow Him. I prayed God would bless their fields and continue to bring the rain in Jesus name!

That evening (I was walking to another village called HUSA to spend the evening and Night with my AIM missionary girl friends. On the way I passed the compound of the rainmaker Michael and I was called to come. As I came they were all crying. His daughter went into labour at 11am that morning and something went terribly wrong and she lost the baby. I then said to rainmaker Michael - "Do you remember what I read to you from the bible this morning, do you remember what I told you" He said I will never forget it! He then asked me to pray for him and his family and to pray over the grave of the baby they had just buried. I did cry because I feel for these people that are so lost in the ways of the evil one. So please continue to pray for them, me and Gods protection as I continue to walk this road with my people here.

Lopit ROMIO and JULIET love story

IRoma my neighbor started coming to my bible study from the start. The first story we shared was about Zechariah and Elizabeth and how they were not able to have a child until God heard their prayers and gave them a son John. At the prayer time IRoma asked to firstly pray for her husband Oligha who she married a year ago. He is in another village. Somehow there was a dispute between the two families. IRoma’s family wanted more cows and Oligha’s family said that IRoma had not fallen pregnant yet so she was chased away from the village! So we all agreed to pray for her each week for her husband to come back here to Sohot and for her to fall pregnant. She also asked us to pray for her mother and little brother Jerimano of 3 years old. On the Monday night 26 July her mother returned and Jerimano had died on her back. It was very hard for the family and Iroma screamed and wailed and I just wept with her as we buried her brother. I prayed that she would not give up on God because of what happened. That Wednesday she came to bible study. In the middle of bible study she was called to her compound. When we came to prayer requests everyone’s prayer requests had been answered except Iroma’s. We prayed for her and the women left. About 10 minutes later Itara one of the women came running to me to say: ‘ Toriana Iroma’s husband has come back right now!” We were amazed. I called them to my home, we had tea and the girls started telling her husband Oligha about the story of Elizabeth and Zachariah. I then prayed God’s blessing upon them. So in the midst of sadness God provided an amazing answer to prayer for Iroma. (Oligha, Iroma in pink and Itara)

THE VEHICLE

Well praise God, my leader Kurt from DIGUNA organized and secured the car for me. DIGUNA Germany transferred the money to the missionaries who have returned to Germany. I will pay it off slowly as support comes into my work fund. Thank you to all my supporters that have already given this month specifically for the vehicle. Daniel and Stephan from DIGUNA drove my car to Lopit Sudan and it is now here as of the 28th July! So thank you for your prayers!!! Praise HIM!
Thank you to all who have really stood with me in prayer. May God bless you and may these stories encourage you to continue this battle with the Lord. We are more than conquers through Christ!

Bless you
Your sister and servant in Christ
Cath

First blog from Sudan

Dearest friends and family,

“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.” (Hebrews 11:32-33)

The teams steps of faith
Before our team even arrived in Sudan two of the people that would have joined the team had serious health issues that stopped them from joining us. Carol from South Africa was forced to stay home and played an important role praying for us. Daniel from Germany helped transport all our supplies, wood and cupboards into Sudan and then had to be flown out because of a serious lung infection. So the four of us worked together completing all the tasks I had planned. Markus and Clayton were stretched in their capabilities and skills as they had to put together the cupboards and install a new door without Daniel our carpenter. Lidi was a star as many days she was left at home to clean, bake bread in coal oven, wash clothes and prepare meals for us.

The Kindergaten
It was really exciting for me as the team finished the cupboards and doors. The Lopit teachers helped me clean and prepare the supplies for the cupboards and it was wonderful to register children and to re-open the Kindergarten. I was surprised how much the teachers had remembered and how they have been so committed in my time away. It was also a joy for me to work with these beautiful children again.

Obtaining the promises in Ohilang
I was also thrilled to be able to take my team to visit the church that is growing in Ohilang. Markus was given the opportunity to preach and one of the bible students, that is being trained in our Lohutok bible school, translated for him. I held pictures and props for him as he shared about Noah and the Ark being their salvation and how Jesus Christ is our Ark. There are many children and men coming to the church and a small handful of women. Joshua the leader of the bible school is encouraging me to reach out to the women and children in this village.

My steps of faith
The team completed the tasks in the Kindergarten as well as helping the other missionaries here with various tasks. I am thankful to God for them and their friends and family that supported them in prayer. They left on the 28th June and I am now living alone in my village. My first night many friends in my village came to visit me to see how I was. I was really encouraged that some of the leaders in the village came to offer to redo my fence . It is hard for me but I know for sure that God has called me to reach unreached kingdoms for our Lord. My heart really breaks for the people of Sudan and especially these people in the Lopit mountains.

Pray that the people here would turn to Jesus in faith?
On the 25th June one of the students “Babiano” in the secondary school where I am also teaching suddenly became sick with a strange sickness that no one in the clinic could discover. I went to visit him as he lay in a coma and sat with his family and prayed for him. Sadly he passed away on the 30th June. I went to the burial and I wept deeply with them. They let me share on the first day of their three day ceremony. I shared that I knew the pain of losing someone and that it is only Jesus that could help them through this. Please pray for them that they would turn to Him at this time.

Can you stand with me in faith for a vehicle
I have been using my bicycle as I travel between the Primary school, Secondary school and Kindergarten. It has been helpful as I teach bible classes in the Primary school and Secondary school and manage and assist the teachers in the Kindergarten. However it will not be safe for me as a single female riding to Ohilung for the weekends. This vehicle is being sold by missionaries in Kijabe Kenya and the advantage is that is already registered in Sudan. According to Stephan a fellow DIGUNA missionary with me here in Sudan, who has driven it into Sudan, says it is in very good condition. The price that they have agreed for me as a missionary is 6000 Euro’s which is way below their selling price. I have prayed about it and feel it would be very beneficial for my future ministry in Sudan. Please pray with me for God to provide the funds needed.

Thank you for your love, prayer and support.

God bless you

Cath

Cath’s return to Central Africa!

Those who joyfully leave everything in God’s hands will eventually see God’s hand in everything.
(Author unknown)

England

My faith was tested to the extreme as I tried to make plans to visit my good friends and my 3 Goddaughters in England before travelling to Kenya and Sudan. The VISA applications, interviews, fingerprints and requirements just to visit England were challenging. But praise God my VISA eventually arrived. Then when I tried to book my flights the volcano erupted again and all planes were grounded for a number of days. I ended up travelling to England via Ferry and used the long journey to witness to my neighbor sitting on the bus. I had a wonderful time getting to know my Goddaughters Chloe, Krissy and Miceala. It was good to spend some quality time with my really good friend Helen and her husband Jose. I also had the opportunity to share with some friends about my work in Sudan and I appreciated everyone’s support and prayer in helping me buy Kindergarten and ministry supplies.

Journey to Kenya

Packing and saying goodbye to my friends and family in Germany was not easy. I had also been able to phone and Skype my family and friends in South Africa and leaving the Western world and coming to Africa meant back to the life of being limited to communication via email alone. Each person had been a special part of walking the road of healing with me. So I had emotions of sadness and excitement all at once. My flight to Kenya was great as God miraculously provided a friend Axel from Germany who just happened to be on the same flight and in the same row of seats. All my luggage and Kindergarten supplies also arrived well, all glory to God! I have had a wonderful welcome from my DIGUNA friends in Kenya and they have all been very special.

June DIGUNA Sudan Team

I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to my team. We have Daniel (green t-shirt), Markus (with a slight beard) and Lidia (with children) from Germany and Clayton (in a suit!) from America. Please pray for Daniel, Markus and Clayton as they travel via road with our supplies and Kindergarten cupboards and doors. They will be travelling from the 31st May – 2 June. Daniel is our driver and is recovering from malaria. Pray for our health and safety. Pray for me as I prepare the remaining supplies in Nairobi to be flown with Lidia and myself on the 11th June.

Thank you for your love, support and continued prayers. God bless you Cath

Cath is free to return to Sudan

Cath is free to return to Sudan!

My dearest friends and family,

“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my ways perfect.” Psalm 18:32

He made my way perfect in Germany

I thank God for the miracles He has done this last month. On Monday the 19th April I received my German 2 years VISA that enables me to continue my work in Sudan with DIGUNA. At the same time I received my last German certificate – 90% for hearing and reading German, 75% Letter writing, and 96,5 % for speaking in German. All glory to God! I also received my results for the theological portfolio I did for the doctrine of sin and man. I received a distinction 82%! So praise Him I have successfully completed 2 modules with the South African Theological Seminary and will continue my theological studies towards a Bachelor of theology via email when I return to Sudan.

He made my way perfect with my health
The 29th April I had my last skin doctor’s appointment and he is pleased that all the basal cell carcinoma’s are gone! Praise Jesus. I have also had all my other necessary health checkups and I have been given a clean bill of health and am able to return to Africa!

He has made my way perfect for Sudan
The other good news is that the elections in Sudan in April were without violence in the South of Sudan and missionaries are now able to return. This means I am now able to make plans to return to Kenya and then Sudan. Towards the end of May I plan to return to Sudan.

Praise
1) German 2 years workers VISA
2) All the certificates and results from my exams
3) Successful presentations and talks for DIGUNA in German schools – Windhofschule and Spielmann Schule, Youth Camp – Jungschar in Hartenrod and lastly at the Wycliff prayer day
4) Good time with my mum and that she was able to return safely to South Africa despite the volcanic action in the sky!

Prayer
1) Speaking at a German church in Wasserburg (2 May)
2) Traveling to England for one week to visit friends, family and share about my work in Sudan.(mid to end May)

God works to the good...

“We know that all things God works to the good of those who love Him.” (Romans 8:28)

A year ago this time I was getting married

It was the 7th April 2009, a beautiful spring day and both our hearts were filled with joy. What we had prayed for and longed for was finally coming true. We were officially getting married. Looking back I give thanks to God for giving us this day. I see too that God used me to be by Martins side as he passed from this life into his life of eternity. Your prayers and Jesus have helped me take each day, each month and now a year one step at a time. Thank you.

Another surprising postcard from Martin!

This letter was returned to me by friends of the DIGUNA Tinderet Station in Kenya where Martin served for three years before his time in Sudan. It was the last postcard he wrote:

Haiger, 15 April 2009

“My dearest brothers and sisters,

“Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies: and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26

DO YOU BELIEVE THIS? I hope you had a blessed time of Easter with joy in His resurrection and permanent assurance that His way to the cross has given us salvation, peace and eternal fellowship with our precious Jesus! Let us not forget this gracious gift He has granted to us undeserved! Let us continue sharing this with our neighbors. It is not easy always – I realize it so much here in the post –Christian Germany where Jesus and a Living God is so much out of the minds and senses of so many people….I’m so grateful for all you prayers together with so many other brethren in many areas, churches, families. It’s good to keep on trusting in all promises in prayer God has given us in His Word! Cath and I are happy to stay here in Haiger. DIGUNA...I’m thankful to God for my health condition. The chemo treatment has so far shown no negative side effects. For sure my body is weak. I still trust Him that He can restore my physical life completely…Thank you all, for your words of encouragement and prayer! May God use you all in your different ministries and tasks! HE LOVES YOU EVEN IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING!

God’s blessings

Martin”

Jesus is alive, Martin is alive and you can be too!

The thing that touches me the most about this card is that on the 15 April Martin knew he was going to die. He had no fear, only peace the Jesus was in control. I let Martin go both physically and spiritually when I saw Him die in my arms. But it takes the heart a bit longer to let go. I have now come to the place and space in my heart that I see Martin as my brother in Christ. He is free from cancer, free from his earthly body and free from me our covenant ended at his death. I too am free, free to dream, free to hope and trust God for the plans He has for the rest of my life on earth.



He still has plans and dreams for me

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4)

Thank you for your prayers this last month. My two German political and historical exams went very well and I have already received my certificate. Praise God! The other German exam that involved writing, speaking and hearing was a difficult exam but I have peace that God is in control. I am still waiting for these results. These certificates are needed for the final processing of my VISA.

I applied for a 2 years German workers VISA in January 2010. This will enable me to continue my work with DIGUNA in Germany, Africa and Sudan. Last week I received a letter and they are in the final stages of processing my VISA. So please continue to pray for it.

The surgery on the 17th March was painful but successful. Three growths were removed. One on my neck, one on the left of my nose and the last on my right eye lid. All three growths were basal cell carcinoma and are a type of cancer but not melanomas. Praise God! Two were successfully removed and the one on my eyelid the doctor is treating with a new cream treatment that he has to monitor until the end of April. I am grateful for your prayers and that my mother is here and has helped me when I was in such pain and in further treatment in applying this burning type cream on my eyelid.

Cath’s plans for this next year

These are my plans but I trust God to help me achieve them or mould them as He wills. Please pray with me in these plans.

APRIL:

1) To spend some time with my Bezold Family

2) PRAYING ON THE 11th April as there are elections in Sudan and all missionaries(AIM and DIGUNA) and NGO’s have had to leave Sudan for this month. Pray for peace.

3) To visit some supporters, friends and family in Germany and England before I return to Sudan.

4) Waiting and trusting God for my certificates and German workers VISA

5) Packing and preparing myself for Sudan.

MAY:

1) Travel from Germany, to Kenya to Sudan.

2) Settling in my Sohot home and start assisting in the Kindergarten, Primary School and Secondary schools.

JUNE:

1) There is a DIGUNA team planned to join me in Sudan for just over 2 weeks. They include Carol from South Africa, Clayton from America and then Markus, Daniel and Lydia from Germany.

2) We will be restoring and building new cupboards and doors for the Kindergarten, bible study groups and working in the schools.

Once the team leaves I will continue my work in Sudan in the Lohutok villages, the schools, the church and at times I would like to visit and assist the distant village Arilio. My prayer is that God would us me as his vessel for the other things he has planned for me in Sudan. I will watch and pray and be ready for His leading.

Please continue to stand with me in support and prayer.

God weaves a beautiful story through time!

But, as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “you are my God”. My times are in your hands.”(Psalm 31:14-15a)

A number of years ago my gran and I went to visit my Fitzpatrick family in Australia. During this time my aunt Alison shared with us the wonderful story of the Hamlin’s and how the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital began in Ethiopia. Alison gave us a book called “A Hospital by the River” written by Catherine Hamlin. It was incredible to read how Catherine and her husband pioneered this work of helping Fistula victims. What is Fistula? It occurs during and during childbirth or because of sexual violence “An obstetric fistula develops when blood supply to the tissues of the vagina and the bladder (and/or rectum) is cut off during prolonged obstructed labor. The tissues die and a hole forms through which urine and/or feces pass uncontrollably.”(www.fistulafoundation.org/aboutfistula)


On my return journey to Sudan in Dec 2009 – Jan 2010 we were going from village to village showing the Jesus film. When we came to the village “Hidere” the mother of “Sunday” asked me to come and pray for her daughter. When I saw her I immediately recognized her as our Kindergarten cook. She had lost a lot of weight and looked so sad. Then her mother explained that “Sunday” fell pregnant and lost her baby! After 3 days of labor the baby had still not arrived. They transported her for 3 hours across extremely bumpy dusty roads to Torit. Her dead baby was pulled out and “Sunday” suffered severe injuries. She had become a Fistula victim. I was devastated and prayed with her. I then remembered my aunt and her stories of the Adidas Ababa Hospital. I sent my aunt an email asking if she could find anyone that could help me. It was over Christmas time and my aunt sent many emails to all the contacts she could find. Well this email went from Sudan, to Australia, America and then Ethiopia! The incredible thing is God provided transport to get to Ethiopia where she was wonderfully treated, had a successful operation and was able to return home a renewed woman! In her time in the hospital she commited her life to Jesus! Praise Him!

Video of our Dec 2010 South Sudan Project

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Life in Sohot

The latest update on Cath and her team in Sudan

Sudan Quelle Project Part 1

But they that wait upon the Lord shall
renew their strength; they shall mount
up with wings like eagles.

(Isaiah 40:31)


The miracle of the “Quelle” (spring) from Heaven
On the 12th December 2009 my team and I arrived in Lopit Sudan with AIMAIR. We were welcomed by the Matusik family, Craig and Lopit locals. I had heard that there had been much drought but was surprised to see green trees and grass. Many people had been praying for rain and Stephen Matusik explained that it had been raining 2 weeks prior to our arrival. About 30 minutes after we landed the sky was filled with black clouds and it poured with rain! We praised God as this “Quelle” from heaven filled all our water tanks and provided enough water for my team and I for the month! The overflow filled these two blue drums.

Martin, Markus, Carol, Janina, John, myself, Rachel, Michie, Christian, Iris, Sarah and Stephen Matusik!


The water tank project
God supplied the materials with the help of Phil and Linda Byler from AIM and Oli Mundt from DIGUNA. Stephen helped organize the men and the rest of the supplies. I was amazed to see how quickly it all came together. John and Markus spent many hours in the hot sun collecting stones and helping Martin build. The day before Christmas they completed the job. When I arrived and saw it finished I cried as they had helped me finish something that Martin had dreamt of doing for the agricultural field behind the Stephens DIGUNA workshop.

The Spiritual Quelle
In my first week back I managed to have a meeting with the sub Chief and leaders and I asked them if I can present a film of my and Martins life and the Jesus film in Lotuko a language they all understand. I was amazed at their response as they all clapped in favor of my ideas. We walked and presented the film in 4 villages. In some villages we had about 40 people and in others up to 200! I was grateful for the aluminum Film screen that Horst had organized for us. It was so light that we could climb a tree and position in a way that all could see it well. People clearly understood the film and repeated the words they heard and things they saw. I shared with them how Martin never feared the mountains or death as they do because he had a relationship with Jesus Christ. I then gave them the opportunity to commit their lives to Jesus. Many people came forward to pray. I challenged them that this was only the beginning and they needed to take responsibility of growing in their relationship with Jesus and hearing about him in church or bible study groups. What amazed me was that the young boys Martin used to disciple started coming to Sunday school and visited my home in Sohot and I agreed to start a bible study group for them when I returned. I stood in awe of God as I saw how many children started coming to Sunday school after the films, some even hanging outside the windows.

Okilang outreach
I was very excited to be able to go to Okilang the distant village that Martin visited in the last years. Stephen prepared the Unimog and equipment for us and John drove us to the village. I was amazed to see how this church has grown. The pastor and 4 young men from the Lohutok bible school who live there are committed to the church and surrounding villages. They felt inspired by Martin to plant churches in surrounding areas too. The miracle for us was that some of the equipment would not work and we needed a screw driver in the middle of nowhere. The people got together and prayed and out of nowhere a man appeared with a screw driver that fitted perfectly!

God bless you richly!

In February, I will share Sudan Quelle Part 2 where you will read:
1) How God provided medical help for “Sunday” the cook in our Kindergarten.
2) My heart & future plans for 2010 in Lohutok Sudan.

Thank you for your love, support and prayers…and we praise God for all the wonders He has done!

Another version of my testimony 6 months later