I apologize for such limited blogging. Our days have been so long – we don’t get home for dinner until around 10pm, so by the time we have our “family time” and cover details for the next day, it is so late! The team is doing wonderful – everyone is in good health and good spirits, and ministry has been incredible! We have done a school assembly, hosted a youth talent show with a surprising and powerful altar time, hosted a kids’ water wars fun day, and held an outdoor youth service. People are getting saved, healed, and baptized in the Holy Spirit. God is moving in powerful, humbling, and unexpected ways. Thank you for your prayers. I will do my best to post more photos and details later today.
Loving Africa, missing you,
Pastor Courtney and the team
25 comments:
Amazing amazaing pictures...especially the picture of the 2 young girls embracing each other (it looks like at a tent meeting) was so completely powerful...my heart races when i continue to see the smiles and hugs...instantly i feel that am there....thanx Pastor Courtney for posting these....HE is blessing our Namibian family/friends and your team with so many awesome miracles, signs and wonders...Please know we're continuing to pray for you all here....grow closer to HIM and one another during your awesome ministry...may you find HIS plan for you...
PS. PE, did you get the springbok?
i thought andrew went on this trip... guess not..?.?..?
So glad to see that you're all doing well! The pictures are great, thanks so much for finding the time to post them, even after long days of ministry! Praying for you guys as you're halfway through your trip! May God give you renewed strength and energy to continue in His path, and may He be with you today at Faith Assembly!
Love you guys!
for Pam!
Hi Mom, love seeing pictures. looks like you're having a great time. Things here are great. Working on ways to torture all of our animals with various halloween costumes. Don't worry, you'll be back in time to see pictures.
Talk to you in a week!
Amanda
Brian - Your kids were in good hands this am with Mr. Bruce and Scotty, but you were certainly missed. The team is praying for you as you give it all to GOD for the next week. We hope He just changes you and impacts many thru your life. Thank you for going where he sends! We can't wait to see you and hear all the wonderful things God did thru your team when you get back. Will let ya know about the Eagles...I bet ur wearing an Eagles hat right now :) Blessings to u and the team!
Jeanette
Thanks for finding the time to post! We were able to hear a text update in RL this morning too! So happy to hear of all that God is doing in Namibia! We love you all and are certainly keeping you covered in prayer as you continue on your journey.
Mark we miss you a lot, BUT are so excited for all you are doing! We love you so much! Mom and Dad
A Special shout out to the RL kids! The blog was all the buzz this morning...love you guys!
Much love,
Mark and Kim Gettis
Hi guys! So I have been stalking this blog morning and night and am so happy to finally see some pictures and updates! You guys all look like you are having the best of times and I'm praying thats true for every one on the trip :) So, now I have some quick mid-trip shoutouts:
Markzac: Hey friends! So first of all me and Alx held down the fort last night at the Pier event in your places...we got your backs :) Mark i missed my food buddy today and cannot wait to have your food comradery back soon! Zac I thought twice about sharing music this week and decided against it just to honor you from across the ocean haha But in all seriousness I wanted to let you both know that I have been praying for you that you would continue to be used beyond your own expectations for the upcoming week! I hope that you come back with some brand new songs in your hearts to share and with a reassurance of Gods plans to use you upon your return!
Natalie: Seriously, eighth period study hall has been really quite depressing without you. I love you so much and love seeing your beautiful face next to these beautiful kids faces haha! I have been thinking about and praying for you everyday that you would use your sweet, sweet spirit to show many people God's goodness! P.S. We haven't had much homework in Trig after all!
Pastor Eran and Courtney: Thanks for the updates! I love both of you basically a ton so I would love to see a picture or two of you as well :) I am praying that you two would be super duper blessed on this trip for having the courage and faith to lead this amazing team! Also, Real Life is never the same without you but Eric took good care of us!
Last but certainly in no way least...ANDREA: I miss you like crazy. I keep wanting to call you but then I remember that I can't...Anyway, I have so much to fill you in on upon your return and I hope you have a ton of amazing stories for me when you get back! I am so glad to see you bringing your children's ministry skills across the world. I hope and pray that you are blessing tons of those kiddos and that they are blessing you right back! I am praying you will come back full of hope yourself! So everyday when I walk to school and pray for you guys I listen to the song you, Andrea, helped to inspire when you went to Jamaica a few years ago. I believe the words are still as powerful and neccessary even now, quite a few years later! "When I am stretched as far as I can go, You've shown me there's more room to grow. I need Your strength and assurance, Your holy spirit. You have more, ALWAYS more! When I'm scared to trust in Your plan, When I'm ashamed of the limits I've put on myself, You reassure. Your love endures. Your promise to prosper, oh it never fails! SO I'm letting go of all that I know and I'm giving you my life!" I am praying for you, and all of you for that matter, that today, this halfway mark for your journey, you will know that there is so much more for you this week! That you are not limited! That there is always more! I love you guys so much and am rooting for you!
Love, Amanda
Hey Pam! I just wanted to say Hi and let you know that your four legged children are just fine. Jewlz had to go the vet because she sprained her tail, but she is doing just fine now. Shadow has been doing good as well. I think Georgia is going to have separation issues come next weekend. Phil says hi and that he unfortunately won't be home when you come home. He has to work on something up here so I will be coming down with your children. He says he misses and loves you (in his own way.) We can't wait to see you soon!
Heidi and Phil
To Lissette:
Hey mom its jessica and tim here so glad to see your having so much. Everything is fine. Israel and dad and abuelo and abuela are doing good too. Miss you have lots of fun. See you next week. God Bless you!!!!
Love your daughter Jessica
Eagles lost . . . sorry Brian :( they just couldn't do it w/o u!
COURTNEY & PETER GOOD - hiiiii! i miss you guys so much. courtney, you look absolutely BEAUTIFUL in that picture with you and your african babies. peter, you are absolutely ridiculous and it looks like you're having so much fun :) miss you guys so much and can't wait to see you both at thanksgiving!
NATALIE - i hope you're not homesick! i prayed for you and i KNOW that you are being so stretched. remember what i told you the day before you left - BE BOLD ;)
love you alllll and i'm praying for the "greater things" ;) to happen on this trip!
love love love,
Lydia
Natalie,
I love seeing pictures of you and I know that God is doing an awesome work in your heart! I love you so much and miss you lots!
Ava and Nathanael miss you soooo much, too! They keep asking if you are still at school! Trevor and Eric say Hi and hope you are doing well. We are all so proud of you and can't wait to hear all the amazing things that God is doing! Lots of love and lots of hugs and kisses, Mom
Hi Nat. it looks like ya'll are having alot of fun. Stay safe and we miss you. Margaret
Courtney & Peter: So glad to see the latest post and pictures! I have been looking every day, waiting for the next update. Great to see you in a few pics Courtney....and looks like this will be the first of many trips to Africa for Peter - looks like he is having a great time! Loved the picture of the 2 girls hugging, just precious. Continuing to pray for you and the entire team. Hugs to you both - and many hugs to those beautiful children!! Don't forget what we talked about before you left! Love you both and God Bless You All!! Aunt Krissy, Uncle Andrew and Angelina
Sooo excited to see the pictures of everyone thanks for putting them up im soo happy for all of you cant wait to here the stories when you guys come home
Hey Friends!
Hope this trip is inspiring you to LOVE beyond what you can do yourselves. It is awesome when we can feel God working through us to touch others lives!! You are making a difference. Proud to be praying for you back in the states!! Miss you all dearly.
Moe!
Wow! It looms like you guys are having an amazing time in good old Otjiwarongo!!! Jeffrey and Melissa... I am so proud of the two of you... That u r both able to be in Africa together. What an amazing time you must be having. I can just Imagine how the rest of your team must be warming up to Jeffrey. Has he brought out his best george Bailey impersonation yet? I can just picture it now. He is probably sitting somewhere in the corner of whatever room you are in ... With one of his pairs of brown cargo pants.. And a white tee shirt, in a zone of his own from the rest of the group with melissa's iPod in one of his ears shaking his leg like one of those baby zebras you saw today. I still haven't figured out why he hasn't thrown away that grey bandanna... U know, the one he always wears at home. Haha. He's such a trip. Speaking of trips. Has he told u guys how much he desires the huge vat of African goulash you have hidden in your fridge?
I'm so happy to see pictures of all you wonderful people in Africa! I hope God is stretching you in crazy awesome ways and you'll have amazing things to tell us when you get back.
More specifically...
Maya: I love that you're hugging someone in every picture. I want to be a creep and carry them around with me because they make me so happy... I know you'll crazy awesome stories to tell me.
Natalie: I miss talking to you all the time. I can see that your doing awesome things and loving all those children. So proud.
Mark: I love your mom.... Also we made sure to make up all our inside jokes without you here. Kels has become "that guy" in your absence... if you can believe that.
Zac: I'm glad they finally put pictures of you because I was beginning to doubt you actually made it to Africa. I can only assume that you're pushing the boundaries of flip-flop limits there. Also... the opportunities for that thing I always threaten to do have been very great.
Andrea: You're doing your thing! 'Nuff said... the prayers are coming true.
Youth Pastors: Real life just isn't the same without you two... Courtney.. I just wanna hear you laugh. Pastor Eran... actually, you can stay in Africa. }
Love, Alex
Pam, It so good to see all the pictures. Cannot wait to see pictures when you get home. Glad to hear everyone is healthy. Love Mom, Sue & Jessica
Such beautiful pictures. Praying for His safety over you as you break down those bondages through the power of His love. May they feel His arms as you wrap yours around them. Praising God for the miracles not only in their lives but yours also.
Just thought I'd let everybody know that NAMTI's Internet was alot faster today.
-mark Gettis
Hey Everyone!
We're praying for you all! So glad to see the pictures. It's great to see all of what you do.
I pray that you get some sound sleep on the plane ride back:)
You all totally Rock!
May His blessings continually pour out on your time there and on your lives!
Peace be with you always,
Chrissy Thompson
LOVE the pics!!!!!!
Hey Everyone! Love you all so much! Wish i was there with you...next time! We're praying for you. Thanks for taking the time to post, I love seeing all of your beautiful faces:)
Love and prayers,
Christine
My dear friends,
I so look forward to the updates that we get on this blog. It is really incredible to think that as life goes seamlessly from one day to the next here, you guys are literally changing the world. I am so incredibly proud of you. I think of you all often. And I tell my friends casually that my friends are in Africa right now (because I think you guys are pretty amazing).
I was reading the in Romans yesterday and this verse sticks out to me every time, and was just what I needed. "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Such a good reminder that God will not (and does not) let us down when we put our hope in Him. As you all shed the light of Christ on the communities that you spend time with, I pray that they are gripped by this unfailing hope.
Sending so much love your way,
Katie
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