Easter has already passed – ow wonderful it was to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. It boosts you with new power, new hope, new life. For me personally it’s still the cross that makes my heart go faster. Imagine my Lord and Saviour on that cross – for me. It’s just too much to grasp such love for me. How can I ever be thankful enough for what He’s done for me. I love Him, I love Him, I love Him – more than any one, more than anything. That’s why I want to lie in His arms, Him holding me and assure me of His love. How can I worry if I am in such a place. Everything seems like minors; finances, the day to day business, responsibilities – everything. As long as I am in this love relationship I’m secure in everything else.
2008 was a hard year for Agape. First Timon and Florien went back to Holland with their two children and then Gabi also went back to Holland. We loved them as children and it was hard to see them go.
But, when all seems hopeless the Lord steps in. We were still in the “Lord, what must we do now?” prayer – not even in the “Lord, please sent us house parents” prayer; WHEN this big miracle happened in front of our eyes. We know Fergusson and Karlien and their two children for a few years now. Karlien is one of our grade R teachers in Agape 1 Pre Primary school. They came to see Gerrit (in tears) to tell him their story. Ferguson is happy in his work but they know it’s not God’s place for him. Gerrit just testifies to them how we know exactly how they feel, because that is the place where we were in 1988. The result was that Fergusson resigned from his job (that means leave a salary of R20 000,00 pm. behind to come and serve at Agape for R00 000,00. That is exactly the Lord’s raise in salary if you come and serve alongside Him. We know the reality of having nothing, and yet live like a king because of the King of kings. Then you realize again – you are a child of the Most High God and everything that belongs to Him, belongs to you as well. He will give whatever you need and bless so much that you can be a blessing to others as well. They are our new house parents. The Lord provided that we could extend the small house at Agape 1 so that Fergie and Karlien’s house at no. 1 they can fit in with 8 children.
The Lord shows us clearly to give the three schools over to Fergusson (Fergie) he takes full responsibility for it – an answer to prayer for Ami. Our teachers are doing UNISA’s (University of SA) pre-school teaching and the teachers study hard. Dept. of Health also gives us an occupational therapist to teach the teachers more to help the little ones in our community to cope better. We are so thank full for this – it was a big need. We believe that the schools will be mission fields again and that every child that leaves Agape schools will know Jesus as their Saviour. Please pray for Ferguson and the teachers – that they will impart the love of Jesus and His ongoing grace to each and every child.
Fransie was one of the small children from our children’s clubs when we started in Grabouw in 1993. He grew up in our youth and became worship leader in our church. After grade 12 he went to university and obtains his degree in Human Resource last year. And now he serves full time at Agape. What a privilege to have him with us. He is the full time youth worker and worship leader and also work in the office and handles staff matters. Pray for him as he needs extra wisdom with the youth.
Agape 4 – 1,2 hectare land
Our other excitement that God has brought us into is Agape 4. This is a 1, 2 hectare piece of ground. One evening we were visiting with friends and Stuart was telling us about this piece of land next to his farm that also belongs to him, but is cut off because a road is running through. He was telling us how he tried to give it to various people, but nothing worked out. Then out of the blue he asks: “Don’t you want it?” Ami immediately said “No, we have enough.” When we drove over the mountain to Somerset West, Ami was thinking about this. Then the Lord clearly said to her:”It’s because you are afraid” and she responded: “Yes Lord, we have more than what we can handle.” The Lords reply was simple as usual: “Why are you afraid, you could not even handle no. 1 and now you have three centres. I am the One who runs the centres. I am the One who financed it and look after it. Why are you afraid, I did not ask you to run it or financed it, I just need your signature because I need the piece of land for something I have in mind.” Ami phoned Stuart and the proposition was still on. The rezoning of the property from agricultural land to residential land took about 1.5 years. We were never worried because we just knew that it is God’s ground and He will see that everything works out fine.
When the rezoning was done two noticeable things happened simultaneously. We received money which we now will use for the fencing and the second thing is the local municipality are perfectly on their way with a large housing project right next to Agape 4. This will result in service connections from this ground to the new services in the neighbourhood - from road connections to electricity and water connections. This is God.
Next we want to dig a bore hole (well) to start with vegetable gardens and simultaneously start with the building of our first house on the premises. Please pray with us for the resources, which is already
In Heaven-we just need it down here for His Glory.
Johnny’s digger loader levelling the ground at Agape 4
As usual there is NO money and only half a plan. We are as excited as small children to see what Father is going to do next. We see a village of homes for children and a school – maybe small clinic. With the HIV-AIDS pandemic and the orphans we see the need for this. The other evening we were standing on the property – thanking Father for his goodness. We dream of little feet that will run around on beautiful grass and children’s voices that will fill this place not only with laughter, but with praises to our King, our God, our Father. Then suddenly there was a beautiful rainbow, from one side to the other, in the air. A reminder of God’s promises that is always true. Agape 4 – another monument for our God.
One Thursday the Holy Spirit prompted Gerrit to go and sleep on this piece of ground. We took the caravan and what an experience! Gerrit and I were amongst our new neighbours. We sat at our little camp fire and our neighbours from both sides came to visit The farmer and his wife who gave us the land from one side and our squatter friends from the other side. When our church people heard about this crazy thing that we have done, they came to pray for us. Early the next morning they came to see if we are still alive. We slept so well that we wanted to stay there.
Father needs His love in this Rooi Dakke area where there is great poverty Some of our new neighbours
and emotional hurt. We are the carriers of this love.
At Asiphe Home, for 14 disabled children, we celebrate Annabell’s first birthday. She is the little girl that we received from the hospital with no brain – only a brainstem. They told us that she will live for maybe a week or so and then she will die. The Hydro cephalous makes her head very big, but if you look past that she is beautiful. She eats her food and drinks her milk normally – without feeding tubes. If we talk to her she responds in her own way.
Annabell’s birthday party
Tinalie busy with therapy
A group of therapists from Senecio came to teach us for 7 weeks about cerebral palsy. What a blessing. They attend personally to our children and work out a program for each one of them. The housemothers are so excited to do this with the children now that they know how important it is for the children. Please pray for us as we plan for a school for
disable children in the community. There is a tremendous need for this. We want to start next term, but still have to do some preparations on an existing building. We pray urgently for funds to start. We did not even start and there is a waiting list for 10 children to come.
In our children’s home we have three families with twenty-three children all together. We are excited about our homes and thank the Lord for the house parents that see the vision with us to raise children who will love and serve the Lord. Please pray for us – that we will set a Biblical standard for parenting.
Annatjie and housemothers evaluate some children
Church life is exciting as people accepting the Lord nearly each Sunday. Yes, people do fall back and it is beautiful to see them coming back to the Lord in tears. This is a hard ministry with old gangsters, people out of jail, people that was trapped in the claws of alcohol and drugs – it’s not so easy to say no when the stuff is all around you – even in your house. But the Lord loves them and so do we.
Church on Sunday
Titus 2:11-12
We’re excited if we look at all the young people in our church. The other day they had the opportunity to have a stall at Groenberg high school and they made candy floss and sell it. They made enough money to buy Marshall (one of our disabled children) an air mattress. Marshall is already 18 years old and suffers from arthritis and had a bad bed sore. The air mattress really helped and the bed sore is totally healed. That’s the kind of young people we want in our church – serving the Lord through serving others and makes James 1:27 a reality.
The new Lapa
Our camping site looks beautiful. The “Lapa” is finished and our children just want to camp. The youth had their opportunity first and really enjoyed it. The whole weekend was spent in prayer for warm water in the showers – just a joke! We don’t want to put in geysers, but look at alternatives to warm the water. It was very cold and the water was extra cold. We hope the next camp will have their hot water showers.
There is always something new at Agape. Come and visit and enjoy with us the miracles that God can do. Thank you to each and every one that is involved in Agape; in praying, giving or whatever – we appreciate you and pray a blessing over you.
Love from all of us at Agape: Gerrit and Ami