Life Lately

I am about a month late in writing the obligatory 2017 year in review blog.  I started writing it in my head but never got it “on paper” (electronically).  Then something happened and our lives changed again.  We received a call in the early morning hours of January 6^th that our boss, mentor, and friend passed away.  January was filled with helping the family in any way that we could as well as dealing with the other things that came up due to his untimely death.  

2017 was a year filled with loss both on a personal and ministry level.  There were times of sorrow, stress, uncertainty and difficulty.  There were also times of great fellowship, happiness, fulfillment and joy.  Our prayer for 2018 is that we will continue to grow in our love for God, each other and others around us and that we would take the many blessings that we receive and bless others. 

Below are a few of the things that happened in 2017 (and January 2018). 

2017 Plus January 2018 Review

1 Missionary Retreat Attended

2 Number of Trips to the US (One to be Commissioned; One for General Assembly)

3 Number of Funerals Attended due to the deaths of Leaders on our Field (2 Leaders in Lesotho and our Field Strategy Coordinator Rev Mashangu Maluleka)

4 Number of W&W teams hosted or a part of (Swaziland, Malawi, Botswana & Senegal)

5 Number that Peter always skips when he counts to 10. 

6 Number of Ordination Services that happened on our field. 

7 Weeks Joe traveled without Beth and Peter

8 Number of District Assemblies Joe attended with the Regional Director and Jurisdictional General Superintendent

9 Number of different vehicles driven this year

10 Friends that we said goodbye to that we had worked with and moved to US

11 Number of owies, bumps, bug bites, and bruises Peter gets in a typical day

12 Number of nights we stayed in our caravan

13 Number of times Peter says again or wants to repeat a story, book, or activity

14 Number of times we crossed borders into various countries for ministry

15 Number of times Peter said “No more bumps daddy” on our drive to Lesotho

16 Number of days we waited to fly back home to South Africa after we received our Work Visa

17 Number of trips taken to the airport in the month of October

Death Comes Quickly

We recently received the heartbreaking news that one of the DS’s on our field was killed in a car accident.  Rev Lepeli Mpusi was a wonderful man of God who was quick to smile and listen.  He was a hard working servant of God.  He was a loving son, husband, father, brother, pastor, mentor and friend.  He was traveling with the District Secretary of Lesotho Rev Lebina to the mountains of Lesotho to visit the churches there.  They were involved in a car accident and both passed away. 

Please join us in prayer for their families, for their churches and for the District as they deal with this unexpected and horrible loss. 

Death comes quickly and comes to everyone.  All of us will come to the end of our days.  It is rarely expected and never easy.  So today in honor of Rev Lepeli and Rev Lebina and all of us who have lost loved ones; Live like you are dying.  Because in reality you are.  So live life to the fullest.  Show and tell others what they mean to you.  Right any wrongs that you may have done.  Enjoy moments with your family and friends because when we are gone that is what will be remembered not whether or not the dishes were done.  Tell others you love them and that God loves them and that there is a hope beyond what this world has to offer. 

Remember Rev Lepeli and Rev Lebina families in this time.  Rev Lepeli leaves behind a wife and 4 children and Rev Lebina leaves behind his wife and three children.  Their  families, their churches, the district and the field are reeling from this unexpected loss.  Pray with us as we find a way forward. 

Making Cookies

The other day Peter and I made cookies.  Peter is at the stage in life that he wants to be a part of whatever is going on, sometimes, if he is in the mood and sometimes when it is not something you really want him to do. So basically he is your typical two year old. 

He almost always wants to help in the kitchen.  So I decided to make cookies.  Peter had lots of fun dumping things into the bowl and trying to help me stir.  When he got bored with that he was quick to find other things to open and try and pour.  He also found a pen that he was writing on the various recipes that were on the counter. 

I want Peter to enjoy cooking and more than that I want to continue to foster the helpful spirit that he already has naturally.  However, I am learning that that is going to require some lessons and in patience for me as well as some extra clean up.  And there may be some cookies with egg shells or some extra ingredients. 

As I was trying to sound patient with Peter but inwardly going a little crazy, a thought hit me,  this is what we do with God.  We want to help with our lives.  We jump in and try to do things our own way and we end up putting egg shells in the batter and extra helpings of ingredients that were needed.  Thankfully God is way more patient and He does not scold us or tell us to go play with something else.  He allows us to be a part of the process. He gently guides us back to the way things should be. 

So next time you get a little frustrated with life maybe take a step back and ask, are you “helping God” or allow Him to direct the cookie making process (aka life.)

Until next time: When making cookies with a toddler it is best to crack the eggs into a separate bowl and empty said bowl after each cracked egg.  J J