Jabulani Africa Ministries

Jabulani Africa Ministries is preparing for a year of change and growth. Leaders will be moving to new locations for outreach work in South Africa and abroad. A new staff member, Jono, has joined and is excited to be stretched through his work. The newsletter updates supporters on camps held, needs at the Apostle Battery camp site, and encourages prayers for leaders as they embark on new adventures including Lisa and Thinus moving long-term to Mavhusa Village.

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Jabulani Africa Ministries

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advisor19773

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JAM Newsletter

February 2013

Jabulani Africa Ministries

"Let us run this race with endurance... keeping our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith..." Heb 12:2
do we hold back, because the present is more comfortable and known? Although the answer seems simple, the transition in our hearts is often more challenging. Let's face it... change is SCARY! Having said all of that, I have come to realize that change is necessary. It is necessary for our growth in God...for us to realize again that we should be completely dependent on God. Now, I am excited! Thinus and Lisa will head out to Mavhusa in March, Gerhard and I will be in America April to August and then head to Transkei end of August and the rest of the leaders will be in charge of the Cape Town outreach spots and camps. Lots of movement and new things...lots of room for God to move!! In many ways, I feel that this year, God has set a race out before us... a new, exciting and denitely scary-attimes race. However, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, doing anything else. During 2012, God started birthing new vision in our leaders' hearts for JAM. We knew, in a sense, that we had come to the end of our rst season and standing on the brink of a brand new season with God. This is where the decision lies... Do we jump into the next season, trusting that God holds the future in His hands (although there are uncertainties)? Or We have also been so overwhelmed by God's goodness and provision. He has provided us with the most amazing prayer and visionary partners. We are particularly excited about a team from the Stellenberg area that have stepped in by helping us with our Apostle Battery camp site project. National Parks would like to give us a longer lease, but part of the responsibility from our side, is to renovate certain structures and systems on site. God has provided amazing resources, nances and a group of willing hearts and skills. Thank you all for being a part of what God is doing through this ministry. Your prayers, friendship, support and love mean more than you will ever know. - Mignon

Jabulani Africa Ministries is now a registered non-profit. Donations Receipt to Validate TAX DEDUCTIBILITY of Donation : Issued in terms of section 18A of the Income Tax Act of 1962, as amended. The donation received will be used exclusively for the objects of Jabulani African Ministries in carrying out public benefit

Meet JONO!

Meet Jonathan, or better known as JONO! We met Jono last year when he joined our team for the month long Shaking the Tree outreach we did through South Africa. He instantly became part of the JAM family and was soon discussing plans to become part of staff in 2013. Lets just say that Gods timing truly is perfect and we could not be more excited and thankful to have Jono joining the JAM family! -What is your favorite ice cream? Oooh oooh denitely the Nutella ice cream from Spar! -List 3 of the things you would do on an Ideal Day Cycle in the morning, go to the beach, spend quality time with friends... and if I could choose a fourth one I would say anything to do with motor-sport.

-Who or what is your greatest teacher right now? Mel, she is my mentor at the church. She is just so honest and in-tune with God.. shes able to give such direction and clarity. -What is your favorite coffee place? Detour Coffee... the coffee trailer guy on the side of Victoria Road. -What are you most looking forward to about JAM this year? I am most looking forward to being stretched beyond my capabilities... and being able to look back and see the things that I never thought I could do that God was able to do through me.

Move to Mavhusa...
Mavhusa Village...
Its a place many afliated with JAM have fallen in love with over the years. The red dirt, the quaint huts, the pitter-patter of little bare feet running to embrace you; Its like if you go there once, it leaves an imprint on your heart. I visited Mavhusa for the rst time in 2008. Being born and raised in California, Mavhusa village was quite the contrast from the world I grew up in. But it didnt take long for me to appreciate the slow-paced, rugged, and peaceful culture of the village. In the quietness, I experienced God in a way I hadnt previously. Seeing the peoples struggles and need for Christ Jesus set my heart on re to share Gods Good News. I loved it there. I moved to South Africa in 2010 and from then on I looked forward to every trip back to the village. A few years back, my husband, Thinus, and I were asked to consider moving to Mavhusa for 2013 to continue the work there. In January of 2012, only a month after Thinus and I were married, we began seriously talking about it. I remember sitting on our couch and the thought of moving to the village terried me. Visiting for two weeks at a time is one thing, but moving there is totally different. Questions lled my head. Where would we go to church? How will we be spiritually fed? Who will we have community with? What if I dont have friends around to support me? What if the water is off for weeks on end? (Not uncommon). I was completely overwhelmed at the thought and couldnt get past it. For the months that followed, every time we had a serious conversation about the village, Id break down in tears. I guess that sometimes results when big decisions mix with big amounts of fear. But even through the tears, Thinus and I both felt like we received conrmation from God about moving to the village, but the fear of change still gripped my heart. In about September of 2012, I was challenged with the question, If you didnt have any fear in your current situation, what would be left? It hit me like a brick wall. I had been so afraid of changing my present situation that it consumed my mind and paralyzed my heart for the Kingdom. I started answering that question in my heart. When I think about Mavhusa, and all fear is gone, the only thing left is excitement. Excitement for a new adventure with God. Excitement about advancing the Kingdom. That thought was so sweet that as I meditated on what it would be like to have no fear, the fear actually began to dissolve from my heart...

The next few months I focused my thoughts on the excitement of entering into a new adventure with Jesus. Where will he take me? How will he use me? What about His Kingdom will I get to experience? Will I see people accept Him? Will I see people walk in Him? How will the village transform? Slowly God traded my thoughts of fear into thoughts of excitement. As time went on, I realized again that the source of my fear was a lack of faith. I didnt

believe that Gods plans were good. But as God challenged me, and gently worked on my calloused, fearful heart, he traded my fear for faith in Him again. I was reminded of Jeremiah 29:11 which says, For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This verse became true in my life. Wrestling through the fear and bringing my heart before God gave Him the opportunity to change me.

It wasnt just head knowledge, but as God transformed me over the year, the truth of Gods goodness became true in my heart and life. Thinus and I leave for Mavhusa village near the end of March, and Im more excited than Ive ever been. Please pray for us as we train leaders to run camps in the village, work with the children and in the schools, and disciple the young leaders. Thank you for joining us in this journey. - Lisa

C A M P ! C A M P ! C A M P ! Apostle Battery Camps

My rst experience of a JAM camp was the December camp... I really didn't know what to expect as I had never been on leadership of such a big camp. Just before the camp we spent time in prayer for the kids and the program. God was so faithful in giving us His heart for the kids and what they needed most from the camp. As the kids arrived it was so much fun to just let loose and be a little crazy. I have seen how the kids really respond to this as it shows them that you want to connect with them on their level. As the camp went on and the need for sleep increased it become difcult to give everything. Again it was just so evident how God kept giving us the energy to keep up with the little bundles of energy. It was a really good way to start my time with JAM. The camps so far this year have been considerably smaller than the December camp, mainly due to the fact that they are smaller school groups/leadership camps. This added an awesome chance to spend one on one time with the kids. I was blown away by how God has such a unique plan for every child. It is such an amazing privilege to play just a small part in the lives of Gods children. This is what makes me the most excited about the year ahead. Simply being able to be apart of Gods awesome plans is such a blessing. - Jono

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