FACC: Reyman Africa Mission

Reyman Africa Mission

Paul, Karen, Lonnie and Laurie Reyman

November 15 , 2006

Dear Farewell Avenue,

Hello from sunny and warm Alberton, South Africa! Today is sunny, but a few days ago we had great rains that were much needed and for which we are grateful. This is Karen reporting on the recent events in our lives and wishing all those in the USA a Happy Thanksgiving.

OUR TRIP TO ZIMBABWE

Driving all night is not my favorite pastime, but we decided to start driving from Alberton at 10 on the night of the 25th of October so we could get to the Zimbabwean border very early in the morning to avoid the crowds and the heat. We only avoided the heat. It was still busy at 4:30 in the morning at Bietbridge, the busiest border crossing in Africa. The problem was compounded by the customs counter, which only had one toner cartridge for a whole row of printers on which receipts are printed. Then the shift change started and when they change windows to serve you, those who are the fastest rush ahead to the newly opened window-leaving Paul at the back of the new queue. That's Africa. Very frustrating, but at least it wasn't hot!

Khayelihle Children's Village (KCV) now has 59 children in residence. The Zimbabwean house is being finished by a donation by the British Embassy. While we were there, the roof was being put on. The second Australian house is up to roof level. Children moved into the American house in June, so we were pleased to meet those new additions to the KCV family. It was good to see the new tractor in use getting the fields ready to be planted. We are praying for good rains this year.

The Khayelihle Children's Village annual general meeting was on Saturday, October 28th. This is the yearly meeting required by law to report on what has happened in the last year. The KCV children provided entertainment by playing the marimbas and the pre-school children had a play. One child had written a poem about KCV and she did an excellent job of reciting the poem. There were various business reports and a guest speaker. Out of country guests came from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

The following week Paul and I spent time sorting the clothes room and handing out the needed clothes to the children. We also met with some of the Board members and also church members to plan future trips to Bulawayo with the Christ in Youth mission team, which is coming next year. We returned back to Alberton on the 6th of November.

KCV has a wonderful opportunity to purchase the neighboring farm. The buildings and vegetable gardens on this strategic property of 180 acres are well maintained. The farm includes three houses, nine workers' houses, two sheds, two warehouses, a milking barn for eight cows with machinery and four boreholes. KCV is being offered first option to buy the property if they are interested. This would be a wonderful next step in the vision to eventually be independent. Please pray that the finances will come through if this is God's next step for KCV to expand.

DEO GLORIA CONFERENCE

Friday night through early Sunday we attended the annual Deo Gloria camp held at Barkley West, which is about a six hour drive from Alberton. Paul presented two sessions on Saturday morning to introduce campers to the ministry of Good News Productions, International (GNPI). The Gospel Resource Centre is in an emerging partnership with GNPI and we are familiarizing South Africans with the concept of using video media to aid their teaching and evangelisation. Paul showed several clips of productions made by GNPI, especially in their Kenyan production centre. He also handed out a questionnaire to get feedback on their opinions and possible projects for GNPI in South Africa. Those attending Deo Gloria predominately speak Afrikaans, a language originated from the Dutch immigrants to South Africa. Afrikaans is one of the eleven official languages used here in South Africa and was the official language of the apartheid government.

EVIDENCE OF GRACE WORSHIP EVENT

Under His Wings, the interdenominational choir that I direct, for the past year has been practicing Evidence of Grace, a worship event for the churches. We performed it for the first time on Sunday night the 12th of November. It was at the church where we practice, Brackendowns Baptist Church, but we also invited churches where we had sung in the past so they could hear and see it and book their date for next year. The choir plans to sing it once a month during 2007 at various churches or other venues, such as prisons. The content of Evidence of Grace is a very powerful mixture of music and video and the choir did a good job for the first performance.

COMING HAPPENINGS

A dedication and prayer meeting will be held on Saturday, November 18th, at the church plot in Tigane, a township about 2 ½ hours from Alberton. This is where Patson Phiri ministers and he has asked Paul to preach at the meeting. They have fenced the plot and are praying for the building that will be built there.

On November 24th and 25th we will be attending a Released Arts Seminar at a church here in Johannesburg. This is a seminar with workshops on how to set a visual stage, writing scripts, auditioning drama participants, and other helpful topics.

The National Youth Seminar of the Churches of Christ in South Africa, held in partnership with Christ in Youth, will be held in Port Elizabeth the week starting the 4th of December. Paul and I will be driving the approximately fourteen hours to be discipleship group leaders.

DATES SET FOR CHRIST IN YOUTH MISSION TRIP

In 2007, we are hosting our second CIY mission trip to South Africa/Zimbabwe. The dates are July 6th – August 4th, 2007. If you have youth who are interested in this trip have them check out the CIY web site at ciy.com. Click on the "Missions Trips" button, click on "click to enter", read the text under the picture and click on "click here for more". Scroll down and click on the "30-Day/Specialty Trips" and click on "South Africa".

There are shorter trips that will also be great ministry experiences for youth in your groups.

More Info on CIY

POINTS FOR PRAYER

Praise for a good, safe trip to KCV.
Praise for the opportunity to speak at Deo Gloria.
Praise for the first Evidence of Grace Worship event.
Pray for the church at Tigane and Patson, the minister.
Pray for the Released Arts Seminar and the usefulness of the workshops.
Pray for the Youth Seminar-the d-groups and the CIY participants coming from the USA.




ABOUT FACC Newsletter MINISTRIES Sermons Schedule & map fairbanks weather home 100 Farewell Avenue Fairbanks, AK 99707 (907) 456-6123 facc@farewellave.com	Reyman Africa Mission Paul, Karen, Lonnie and Laurie Reyman November 15 , 2006 Dear Farewell Avenue, Hello from sunny and warm Alberton, South Africa! Today is sunny, but a few days ago we had great rains that were much needed and for which we are grateful. This is Karen reporting on the recent events in our lives and wishing all those in the USA a Happy Thanksgiving. OUR TRIP TO ZIMBABWE Driving all night is not my favorite pastime, but we decided to start driving from Alberton at 10 on the night of the 25th of October so we could get to the Zimbabwean border very early in the morning to avoid the crowds and the heat. We only avoided the heat. It was still busy at 4:30 in the morning at Bietbridge, the busiest border crossing in Africa. The problem was compounded by the customs counter, which only had one toner cartridge for a whole row of printers on which receipts are printed. Then the shift change started and when they change windows to serve you, those who are the fastest rush ahead to the newly opened window-leaving Paul at the back of the new queue. That's Africa. Very frustrating, but at least it wasn't hot! Khayelihle Children's Village (KCV) now has 59 children in residence. The Zimbabwean house is being finished by a donation by the British Embassy. While we were there, the roof was being put on. The second Australian house is up to roof level. Children moved into the American house in June, so we were pleased to meet those new additions to the KCV family. It was good to see the new tractor in use getting the fields ready to be planted. We are praying for good rains this year. The Khayelihle Children's Village annual general meeting was on Saturday, October 28th. This is the yearly meeting required by law to report on what has happened in the last year. The KCV children provided entertainment by playing the marimbas and the pre-school children had a play. One child had written a poem about KCV and she did an excellent job of reciting the poem. There were various business reports and a guest speaker. Out of country guests came from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The following week Paul and I spent time sorting the clothes room and handing out the needed clothes to the children. We also met with some of the Board members and also church members to plan future trips to Bulawayo with the Christ in Youth mission team, which is coming next year. We returned back to Alberton on the 6th of November. KCV has a wonderful opportunity to purchase the neighboring farm. The buildings and vegetable gardens on this strategic property of 180 acres are well maintained. The farm includes three houses, nine workers' houses, two sheds, two warehouses, a milking barn for eight cows with machinery and four boreholes. KCV is being offered first option to buy the property if they are interested. This would be a wonderful next step in the vision to eventually be independent. Please pray that the finances will come through if this is God's next step for KCV to expand. DEO GLORIA CONFERENCE Friday night through early Sunday we attended the annual Deo Gloria camp held at Barkley West, which is about a six hour drive from Alberton. Paul presented two sessions on Saturday morning to introduce campers to the ministry of Good News Productions, International (GNPI). The Gospel Resource Centre is in an emerging partnership with GNPI and we are familiarizing South Africans with the concept of using video media to aid their teaching and evangelisation. Paul showed several clips of productions made by GNPI, especially in their Kenyan production centre. He also handed out a questionnaire to get feedback on their opinions and possible projects for GNPI in South Africa. Those attending Deo Gloria predominately speak Afrikaans, a language originated from the Dutch immigrants to South Africa. Afrikaans is one of the eleven official languages used here in South Africa and was the official language of the apartheid government. EVIDENCE OF GRACE WORSHIP EVENT Under His Wings, the interdenominational choir that I direct, for the past year has been practicing Evidence of Grace, a worship event for the churches. We performed it for the first time on Sunday night the 12th of November. It was at the church where we practice, Brackendowns Baptist Church, but we also invited churches where we had sung in the past so they could hear and see it and book their date for next year. The choir plans to sing it once a month during 2007 at various churches or other venues, such as prisons. The content of Evidence of Grace is a very powerful mixture of music and video and the choir did a good job for the first performance. COMING HAPPENINGS A dedication and prayer meeting will be held on Saturday, November 18th, at the church plot in Tigane, a township about 2 ½ hours from Alberton. This is where Patson Phiri ministers and he has asked Paul to preach at the meeting. They have fenced the plot and are praying for the building that will be built there. On November 24th and 25th we will be attending a Released Arts Seminar at a church here in Johannesburg. This is a seminar with workshops on how to set a visual stage, writing scripts, auditioning drama participants, and other helpful topics. The National Youth Seminar of the Churches of Christ in South Africa, held in partnership with Christ in Youth, will be held in Port Elizabeth the week starting the 4th of December. Paul and I will be driving the approximately fourteen hours to be discipleship group leaders. DATES SET FOR CHRIST IN YOUTH MISSION TRIP In 2007, we are hosting our second CIY mission trip to South Africa/Zimbabwe. The dates are July 6th – August 4th, 2007. If you have youth who are interested in this trip have them check out the CIY web site at ciy.com. Click on the "Missions Trips" button, click on "click to enter", read the text under the picture and click on "click here for more". Scroll down and click on the "30-Day/Specialty Trips" and click on "South Africa". There are shorter trips that will also be great ministry experiences for youth in your groups. More Info on CIY POINTS FOR PRAYER Praise for a good, safe trip to KCV. Praise for the opportunity to speak at Deo Gloria. Praise for the first Evidence of Grace Worship event. Pray for the church at Tigane and Patson, the minister. Pray for the Released Arts Seminar and the usefulness of the workshops. Pray for the Youth Seminar-the d-groups and the CIY participants coming from the USA.