Nuusbrief Maart 2554 March Newsletter

Dag sê aan al my vriende en vriendinne oor die wêreld. As julle dink ek gaan julle weer vertel dat dit die einde van nog 'n maand is, is julle reg! Die ergste van alles is dat 'n kwart van die 'nuwe jaar' reeds verby is. Waar gaan die tyd met ons heen? Die maand het ek lekker gesels met die Moken kinders, 'n onverwagte besoek van 'n dokter en arme Cally.

Dit is nou maar eenmaal nie maklik om in 'n ander kultuur te lewe nie. Alles is anders en hoe hulle dinge ervaar en sien is anders. Jou verstaan van die dinge wat hulle ervaar is natuurlik ook nie soos ons dit verstaan nie. Om die waarheid te sê, dit is op die stadium nog onmoontlik vir my om te probeer verstaan hoe die Moken dink en dinge ervaar. Net tyd... en tyd... en tyd... en nogmaals tyd saam met hulle, sal 'n mens dinge meer begin sien en verstaan soos hulle dit sien en verstaan. Tog gebeur daar al hierdie klein dingetjies wat die tyd saam met hulle interessant en lekker maak.

As ek op die eiland slaap is daar gewoonlik 'n klomp seuns wat by my op die stoep kom slaap. Hulle sê dat ek darem nie alleen kan slaap nie want die geeste mag dalk kom. Nou ja, een aand gaan ek weer saam met die Moken see-komkommers vang en die aand kom ons baie laat by die huis. Die seuns waag dit dan nie meer buite nie en dit gebeur dat ek toe alleen op die stoep slaap. Vroeg die volgende oggend kom hulle toe daar aan, heeltemal te vroeg vir my wat toe nog net 3 of 4 ure slaap in het. Hulle speel dan rond tot hulle dit net nie meer kan hou nie en spring dan op my om my wakker te maak.

Toe kom daar 'n baie interessante vraag van hulle, “Is jy dan nie bang vir die geeste nie?” Sonder om eers te dink en half deur die slaap antwoord ek, “Nee wat, die geeste is bang vir my, hulle sal my nie pla nie.” Hulle hou dadelik op met speel en die drie gesiggies kom sit naby my en vra, “Hoekom is hulle bang vir jou?” Nou moet ek vinnig dink en sê toe maar, “O, want ek is nooit alleen nie. Jesus woon in my.” Onwetend dat die half-deur-die-slaap antwoord 'n baie groot indruk op die seuns gemaak het.

So word ek toe een aand deur die skipper van die boot uitgenooi om by hulle te gaan eet. Die een seun Kiew, stap toe saam in die donker na die huis toe. Laat ek eers vir julle die toneel skep. Dit is pik donker, 'n nuwe maan en kristal-sterre vul die lug en daar is vêr af musiek wat speel. Die paadjie is 'n 100m wit streep in die donker met gras aan weerskante van omtrent 'n meter hoog. Dan hoor jy gedurig 'n geritsel in die gras en die nag geluide van vreemde goed. Nou vir my is dit geen probleem nie, maar vir die 7 jarige hier langs my, wel 'n mens kan sy spanning aanvoel, want hy klou soos 'n klein katjie aan my vas.

 

Ek sê naderhand vir hom; “Jy hoef rêrig nie bang te wees nie, ek is hier by jou.” Ek voel dat hy so 'n bietjie ontspan. Hy vra toe, “Is die geeste rêrig bang vir jou?” Ek antwoord toe, “Ja, hulle is. Hulle is baie bang vir my omdat ek nie alleen is nie, maar omdat Jesus by my is.” “Is Jesus nou ook by jou?” hoor ek sy benoude vraag. “Ja, Kiew, Jesus is altyd by ons en Hy sal ons nooit alleen laat nie.” “O” sê hy toe en ek voel hoe hy ontspan. So stap ons twee toe in die donker en praat oor die Here wat in mens woon. Die volgende dag is hy die een wat vir al sy vriende vertel dat die geeste baie bang vir Jesus is. Soos Deon altyd sê, “Dit wys jou, ek weet nie wat nie, maar dit wys jou.”

Dan het ons 'n baie onverwagte besoek van 'n Brasiliaanse dokter van 'East Timor' gehad. Een Maandag op pad terug van die eiland sien ek dat daar 'n oproep van Jonathan was. Ek bel toe terug om net uit te vind dat Peter van STAMP hom die vorige dag laat weet het daar is 'n dokter op pad. Sy kom glo opvolg werk doen. Ek kon nie glo wat my ore hoor nie. Die omstandighede op die eiland is nou nie van so 'n aard dat ons 'n dokter daar kan onthaal nie en ek is vrot van die verkoue. Ek kom eers 16h30 in Ranong aan en so spook ons toe om alles reg te kry voor sy 21h30 dieselfde aand ook daar aankom.

Ons moes verblyf reël, kos kook en al die vertaalwerk doen. Daar is nou nie waarlik geriewe by die Moken nie. Elke dag het uit 3 sessies van 2 ure elk bestaan. Ek moet darem sê dit was baie interessant en die dokter het haar baie goed van haar taak gekwyt. Die Moken het baie praktiese dinge geleer en hulle kon met so te sê alles identifiseer waaroor sy gepraat het. As ek nie so siek was nie en meer tyd gehad het om voor te berei, sou dit 'n wonderlike ervaring gewees het. My verkoue het toe ook die kans gebruik om my behoorlik te verniel. So is ons na die week, dood moeg met ontsteekte sinusse, terug Ranong toe.

 

Die sports was toe nog nie verby nie. Cally het toe 'n geweldige allergiese reaksie teen die antibiotika wat sy gedrink het. Haar gesig en arms, sommer alles het opgeswel soveel so dat die sig naderhand uit die swelsel geloop het. Haar dokter in Maleisie het toe darem die regte medikasie voorgeskryf en sy het vinnig herstel.

So soos julle sien 'n woelige maand is agter die rug. Baie dankie vir al julle liefde en gebede. Julle is gedurig in ons gedagtes.

In Hom,
Philip อํานาจ

Alissa voor die huis op die eiland / Alissa in front of the house on the island

Kinders pak my terwyl ons swem / children tackle me while we swim

Good day all my friends across the globe. If you think I’m going to tell you that it’s the end of another month, you’re right! The worst is that a quarter of the ‘new year’ has already passed. Where is the time going with us? This last month I had time to chat to the Moken children, an unexpected visit from a doctor and poor Cally.

It is just not that easy to live within another culture. Everything is different and the way they experience and see things are different. Our understanding of the things they experience is of course also not the way we understand it. To tell you the truth, it is still not possible for me to try and understand how the Moken think and experience things. Just more time... and more time... and even more time with them, would allow a person to understand and see things the way they see and understand it. Yet, all these small things happen so that my time with them is interesting and pleasant.

Normally when I sleep on the island, there is a group of boys that comes to sleep with me on the stoep. They say that I can’t sleep alone because the spirits might come. And so it happened that I went the one night again to catch sea cucumbers with the Moken and came home very late. The boys wont’ dare to go out at that time of the night and so I landed up sleeping alone on the stoep. Very early the next morning they came to look for me, way too early for me to be awake after only about 3 or 4 hours sleep. They play around for a while until they can’t bear it anymore and then jump on top of me to wake me up.

And then they asked me a very interesting question: “Aren’t you scared of the spirits?” Without even thinking and still half asleep I answered “Not at all, the spirits are scared of me, they don’t worry me.” They stopped in their playing tracks and three little faces came very close to me and asked, “Why are they scared of you?” I then realised I had to give a quick answer and said, “O, because I am never alone. Jesus lives inside of me.” Unknowingly and still half asleep I made a big impression on the boys with my answer.

And so, one night I was invited for supper by the skipper of the boat. As it happened, one of the boys named Kiew, walked with me to the house in the dark. Allow me to set the scene: it is but pitch black night, a new moon and crystal stars fill the night sky and somewhere far off music is playing. The path is a white line of about 100m long in the dark, flanked on either side by a meter high wall of grass. You are able to hear rustles in the grass and other noises of strange things moving in the night. For me this is not a problem but for the 7 year old here next to me, well, I could feel his fear as he gripped me like a small little kitten.

After a while I said to him, “You don’t have be scared of anything, I am here with you.” I could feel how he relaxed a little. He then asked me, “Are the spirits really scared of you?” And I answered him, “Yes they are. They are very scared of me because I am not alone, Jesus is always with me.” “Is Jesus here with you now?” the small voice next to me asked. “Yes Kiew, Jesus is always with us and He never leaves us.” “O” he said, and I felt immediately how he relaxed. And so we walked, still in the dark, talking about how God lives within us. The next day he was the one telling all his friends that the spirits are scared of Jesus. Like Deon always says, “It shows you, I don’t know what, but it shows you.”

Then we had quite an unexpected visit from a Brazilian doctor from ‘East Timor’. On a Monday coming back from the island I saw a missed call from Jonathan. When I called him he told me that Peter from STAMP left a message the previous day that there is a doctor on the way. She came to make some follow ups on the island - I was very surprised, as the circumstances on the island are not really suitable to cater for a doctor. At 4:30 that afternoon as I reached Ranong, pretty tired and still suffering with sinus, I now had to scuttle to get things ready for the doctor’s arrival the same evening at 9:30.

Jonathan and I had to organise accommodation, prepare a meal and translate material before her arrival in Ranong. As I said, there are no real amenities on the island among the Moken. However, she managed 3 sessions of 2 hours each every day. I must say, it was very interesting and the doctor did an excellent job. The Moken learned many practical things and could identify with most of the thing she spoke about. If I wasn’t so sick and had more time to prepare, it could have been an amazing experience for me. The flu really got the better of me. And so after a week, dead tired and with majorly infected sinuses, we headed home to Ranong.

And that was still not the end of the story. Cally had a horrendous allergic reaction to the antibiotic she was taking at the time. Her face and arms, in fact everything, ballooned so much so that it started to ooze. Her doctor in Malaysia saved the day by prescribing the right kind of medication which helped her to recuperate quickly.

As you can see I had a very busy month. Thank you very much for all your love and prayers. You are constantly in our thoughts.

In Hom,

Philip อํานาจ

Nuusbrief Februarie 2554 February Newsletter

Ja glo dit of nie, die tweede maand van die jaar is verby en dit is weer vir 'n my voorreg om dit onder julle aandag te bring. So ons is nou uiteindelik in Ranong en alles is so te sê op plek. Dan was ek al op die eiland, Ko Phayam, en wat kan ek sê, dit was 'n belewenis!

Die 14de Februarie het ons hier aan gekom. Nat gesweet en moeg het ons begin om die huis na ons smaak in te rig. Dag no.2 hier in Ranong, kry ons 'n oproep van die ouens wat Jonathan-hulle se goed van Maleisië bring. Hulle sit vas op die grens aan die Thai kant. Hulle wil nie sy goed laat deur gaan sonder die amptelike uitnodiging van die kerk hier in Ranong nie. So is ons toe, nog moeg van die reis, hier weg om hulp te gaan soek by die kerk. Daar aan gekom, in 'n kombi wat die kerk vir ons leen, probeer ek toe die hele situasie aan die Ajaan Siaan (kerk leier) verduidelik. Natuurlik in Thai, want ek is die enigste een wat al 'n bietjie Thai kan praat. Gelukkig het hy my verstaan en al Jonathan-hulle se goeters het hier aangekom. Dit was nou vir jou uitdaging na so 'n lang rus van Thai praat.

Met alles so te sê op plek, besluit ons toe om vir die naweek eiland toe te gaan. Jammer om te sê, dat ek toe op die ou einde alleen gegaan het, want Cally was uit vir inkopies en het geval met die motorfiets. Sy was saam met een van ons Thai-vriendinne (Wasana) en hulle het geval. Sy het 'n groot brandwond opgedoen en ons het besluit dat dit beter sal wees as sy nie gaan nie. Die goeie nuus is dat haar wond vinnig besig is om te genees. So is ek toe alleen hier weg saam met twee Thai's (Wasana en Ouen), om die naweek op die eiland deur te bring.

Ek was baie moeg toe ek op die boot klim, want ek het min die vorige aand geslaap. Glo dit of nie, ek was so opgewonde soos 'n klein seuntjie en kon nie slaap nie. Dit was egter 'n wonderlike tyd saam met ons Here. By die eiland aangekom, vind ons toe dat ons boot na die Moken stat, nog nie daar is nie. Ek gaan sit toe by 'n groep mans wat vis vang, om net tot my ergernis, niks te verstaan wat hulle sê nie. Ek kon nie glo dat my Thai so verswak het nie. Alles in my was gefokus op dit wat hulle sê, maar niks - nie 'n woord nie! Ek skryf dit maar toe aan die min slaap, maar was baie teleurgesteld. Skielik hoor ek die maklikste verstaanbare taal reg agter my. Vir 'n oomblik het ek gedink dat dit is Afrikaans was, maar toe ek omkyk was dit Ouen wat daar staan. Sy sê toe dat die groep mans van Myanmar af kom. Ek was baie verlig om dit te hoor, maar ook baie teleurgesteld dat ek nie eers dit kon agter kom nie.

By die stat aangekom, erken die kinders my dadelik. Hulle vrae my om saam met hulle te gaan swem. Daarna moet hulle gewas word. Sommer so in hulle Adam en Eva gewaad staan die kinders om die put en word almal so in die ry af gewas. Dit is die meeste van hulle se enigste was vir die week en hulle geniet dit sommer baie. Die ouer kinders het toe ook besluit om te kom kyk wat aangaan en gou word ek deur hulle na hulle huise genooi.

Die Moken is baie vriendelike mense en voor ek mooi weet wat aangaan, is ek op 'n boot (meer soos 'n ou hout skuit, net kleiner en met meer gate waardeur die water stroom) op pad om see komkommers te gaan vang. So sit ek tussen 16 volwassenes, 1 baba en 2 kinders op die klein bootjie, almal besig om reg te maak vir die aand. Hulle toerusting waarmee hulle duik, hoe sal ek dit stel, wel dit is nie waarlik duik toerusting nie. Almal is plesierig en vol grappe. Dit is 'n belewenis om hulle so te sien. So nou en dan praat een met my Thai en dan is dit maar net weer klanke wat die lug vul. Die water breek sulke blink groen golwe onder die boot, met die sterre wat so naby is dat jy amper daaraan kan raak. Dit is 'n ongelooflike ervaring. Toe word die anker gegooi en almal behalwe ek, die kinders, 'n ma en die bootdrywer bly agter.

Die kinders moedig my toe aan om ook te gaan swem en so spring ek in die water. Soos ek my armes beweeg vorm daar helder groen wolke van fosfor om my. En as jy stil lê in die water hoor jy die plof geluidjie wat dit maak as dit in aanraking kom met die lug. Dit is iets wat ek nog nooit ervaar het nie. So alleen in die middel van die see saam met jou Here. Wat kan ek sê, iemand moet dit doen! ;-) So swem ek toe na die groep wat besig is om die komkommers te soek. Hoe nader ek egter kom hoe vinniger swem hulle weg. Ek kon hulle net nie vang nie. Terug op die boot hoor ek hulle lag en gesels oor iets en toe die vraag aan my: “Was jy ook in die water?” En na ek geantwoord het bulder die boot van die lag. “Ons het gedink jy is 'n spook en dit is waarom ons so vinnig weg geswem het” was hulle antwoord. So sit ek toe die res van die aand op die boot en koud kry. Gelukkig was daar die sterre en is hulle mooi op die see.

Jonathan sit hier langs my en dink net aan al die mooi fotos wat hy kon geneem het. Jammer om te sê, ek het nie eers een foto van die naweek nie, net die wonderlike ervaring in my hart.

Dankie vir al julle liefde en al julle ondersteuning en ek hoop julle ervaar ons Here ook elke dag op so 'n besonderse manier.

In Hom,
Philip อํานาจ 

 Boot na Ko Phayam eiland / boat to Ko Phayam island

  Ranong Hawe / Harbour

 
Yes, believe it or not, two months of the year have already passed and it is my privilege to bring it to your attention once again.  Finally we are in Ranong and things are nearly all in place.  I have been to Ko Phayam island and what can I say, it was a true adventure!
We arrived here on the 14th February.  Soaked in perspiration and quite tired from the travelling, we had to start arranging the house according to our needs.  On day 2 here in Ranong, we received a call from the people who were bringing the Kwok family’s belongings from Malaysia.  They were stuck at the border on the Thailand side because the officials didn’t want to release their goods without a formal invitation from the church in Ranong.  Exhausted from the journey, we had to go and look for help at the church.  We arrived in a combi the church lent us, and I tried to explain the whole situation to the Ajaan Siaan (church leader), in Thai of course.  After such a long break not speaking Thai, I eventually made myself understood and so the Kwok family’s belongings arrived here safely.

 As we settled in and things found their place, we decided to go to the island for the weekend.  In the end I had to go alone as Cally and one of our Thai friends Wasana, fell from their motorbike when they went shopping.  As a result of the fall, Cally suffered bad abrasions and we decided it best for her to remain at home.  The good news is that her wounds are healing really fast.  And so, myself and two Thai friends, Wasana and Quen, left to spend the weekend on the island.

I was very tired when we got on the boat that was ferrying us across to the island.  I was so excited, just like a small boy that couldn’t sleep the night before.  However, I had a wonderful time with the Lord.  When we arrived on the island we heard that the boat that was to take us over to the Moken kraal, had not yet arrived.  And so I went to sit with a few men who were catching fish, just to discover to my annoyance that I couldn’t understand a word they were saying.  I was shocked to discover that my Thai regressed to such an extent.  Every fibre of my being was focussed on what they were saying but I couldn’t even grasp one thing, not even one word!  I thought that it had to do with the little sleep and the fatigue from the night before.  But suddenly I heard the clearest of recognisable words right behind me.  For a moment I thought it was Afrikaans but when I turned around it was Quen standing there.  She was telling me in Thai, that the men were from Myanmar.  I was so relieved to hear that, but also disappointed at the same time that I wasn’t able to distinguish it.

As I arrived at the kraal, the children recognised me immediately.  They asked me to go and swim with them.  After that they had to be washed.  They were lined up in a long queue next to the well, stark naked like Adam and Eve, waiting their turn.  For most of them it is their weekly wash and they enjoy it a lot.  The older children were attracted by the commotion and not long after that I was invited to their homes.
The Moken are very friendly people and before I knew what was happening, I was on a boat (or rather more like a small wooden vessel with many holes, through which the water streamed) and on my way to go catch sea cucumbers.  So I sat between 16 adults, 1 baby and 2 children on this tiny boat, everyone preparing for the approaching night.  The equipment with which they dive, how shall I put it, is not exactly diving gear per se.  Everyone is jovial and full of jokes.  It was a real life adventure to be among them.  Every now and again one of them would speak Thai to me but thereafter it’s just a lot of sounds that fill the air.  The green sea water shimmered as it broke against the vessel and the stars were so close in the clear night sky, that I could nearly touch them.  It was an unbelievable experience.  Then the anchor was thrown overboard and everybody bailed out, except for the 2 children, the mother, the boatman and me.
The children were encouraging me to also get into the water and so I jumped in.  As I moved my arms in the water, a bright cloud of green phosphor followed.  At one time I was just drifting in the water and could hear little explosions as the phosphor made contact with the oxygen in the air.  I have never ever experienced anything like it - in the middle of the ocean, alone with God.  What can I say, someone’s got to do it J!  I then swam towards the group that were looking for sea cucumbers but the strangest thing happened.  As soon as I gained ground, they would then quickly swim away from me.  I just couldn’t catch up with them.  Back on the boat I heard them laugh and talk excitedly about something and then the question came: “were you also in the water?”  After I answered, the boat bellowed with laughter - they thought I was a ghost in the water and that’s why they swam for their lives to get away from me!  And so I sat on the boat for the remainder of the night being cold, but lucky for me the stars on the ocean were so beautiful.

Jonathan is sitting here next to me and is thinking of all the nice photo’s he could have taken.  Sorry to say, but I don’t even have one picture to offer of this unforgettable weekend, just the most wonderful experience in my heart.

Thank you for all your love and all your support.  I hope you also experience our Lord everyday in very special ways.

In Him,
Philip อํานาจ

Nuusbrief / Newsletter - January 2554

Dagsê aan al my vriende en vriendinne daar in Suid-Afrika. Ja dit is al weer 'n nuwe jaar en 'n nuwe maand. Soos julle weet is ek al weer terug hier in die Ooste. Was dit vir jou weer 'n gegroet daar in SA voor ek weer Bangkok toe vertrek het, om maar net weer op 'n vliegtuig te klim na Penang in Maleisië. Hier geland het ek aan die werk gespring om Jonathan-hulle te help pak en toe breek nuwe jaar vir die tweede maal aan.

Ja dit was weer vir jou 'n groot gegroet daar in SA voor ek weer die lang vlug aangepak het Asië toe. Hier geland het al die bekende gesigte my sommer weer laat tuis voel. Ek het ook die gebeds groep uit SA hier ontmoet en 'n dag saam met hulle spandeer. Dit was, soos julle kon raai, vet pret gewees. Maar voor ek my oë kon uitvee was ek alweer op die vliegtuig op pad na Penang.

Die vriendelike gesiggies van Danelin en Alissa, Jon en Cally se dogters, het my op die lughawe ingewag. Die eerste ding wat hulle egter van my wou weet was, of ek vir hulle biltong saam gebring het. En het hulle die biltong geniet. Toe breek die groot gepak aan. Kyk het ek nou vir jou gesweet in die warem weer. Die drie maande in SA se koeler weer het my sag gemaak vir die hitte hier.

Gelukkig is die gepak onderbreek deur die Sjinese nuwe jaar. Ons moes al Jon en Cally se ooms en tannies gaan besoek en almal het vir ons kos voorberei. En daar word nie 'n nee dankie, ek is versadig aanvaar nie. Ek moet darem sê die kos was heerlik. So, as alles goed verloop, beplan ons om so die 14de Februarie uit te vlieg na Thailand toe.

Dan net duisende dankies vir die lekker tyd daar in SA. Dit was waarlik iets besonders vir my gewees. Ek verlang darem so 'n bietjie na julle almal, maar kan nie wag om Ranong toe te gaan nie.

Liefde groete,

Philip อํานาจ

Leeu-dans vir Sjinese nuwe jaar /

Lion dance at Chinese new year

 

Groot gepak / The Big Pack

Good day to all my friends in South Africa! And so a new year and a new month has started and as you know, I am already back here in South East Asia. Before leaving for Bangkok, I had a great send-off in South Africa. I arrived here and had to, almost immediately, get on another plane to go to Penang in Malaysia. On arriving in Malaysia I got stuck in with helping Jonathan and the family pack up and also celebrated new year for the second time.

Prior to my departure, there was a big farewell before I embarked on the long journey back to Thailand. As I landed here all the familiar faces made me feel so at home. I also met up with a prayer team from SA who were in Bangkok and spent a whole day with them - as you guessed, it was really great. But before I could even settle, I was on a plane to Penang.

There the friendly faces of Danelin and Alissa, Jon and Cally’s daughters, greeted me at the airport as I arrived. The first thing they wanted to know from me is whether I brought biltong with me! Unnecessary to say, they enjoyed it a lot. And then we got stuck in packing up their entire home. And did I perspire in that hot weather – the 3 months in SA’s much cooler climate softened me for the heat and humidity here.

In the middle of the packing, we were interrupted by the Chinese New Year. This celebration is very traditional in Asia, with the result that we had to go visit Jon and Cally’s uncles and aunts, who prepared the special delicacies. “No thank you I am stuffed” is not an option but I must say, the food was delicious. If all goes well, myself and the Kwok family should be flying out to Thailand on the 14th of February.

I just want to say a very big thank you for the wonderful time in South Africa. It was truly something special for me. Even though I miss you a little, I can't wait to go to Ranong.

Loving greetings

Philip อํานาจ

Totsiens ons liewe vriend! / Goodbye dear friend!

Ons groet vir Philip wat Saterdag 15 Januarie weer terugkeer Thailand toe, nadat hy wonderlike en baie spesiale ure saam met ons spandeer het.  Dis amper ondenkbaar dat 3 maande al verby is.... Maar as ons na die foto's en sy program kyk wat verby is (onder Ahead) dan onthou ons hoe hy homself vir sy familie, vriende ne vennote uitgestort het.  Mag die Here hom seen en Sy hand oor Philip hou in Jesus se naam! 

We say goodbye to Philip as he is departing on Saturday 15 Jan for Thailand, after spending many, many wonderful & precious hours with us. It's just about unbelievable that 3 months have gone by... Looking at the pictures and accomplished itinerary (under Ahead) we remember how he poured himself out for his family, friends and partners. May the Lord bless him and keep him in Jesus' name!

Vir Saterdag 8 Jan 2011

PHILIP SE AFSKEIDSPARTY 

Kom groet Philip en kuier saam met ons vir die laaste keer voorat hy op 15 Jan weer terug gaan Thailand toe.  Ons ontmoet op Saterdag 8 Januarie 2011, 4nm by Kobus & Hannecke se huis in Wapadrand, Pta Oos (bel asb vir Paulien op 072 202 5752 vir aanwysings).  Alles sal voorsien word, net nie swemklere en drinkgoedjies nie.

PHILIP'S FAREWELL 

Come and say goodbye to Philip for the last time before he leaves on 15 Jan for Thailand.  We gather on Saturday 8 January 2011, 4pm at Kobus & Hannecke's home in Wapadrand, Pta east (please contact Pauline on 072 202 5752 for directions).  Everything will be provided except for swimming trunks and drinks.

Hoop ons sien julle daar! 

Nuusbrief / Newsletter - November 2553

Oor jou bediening

Ja, julle het rede om te skrik! Die laaste maand van die jaar het aangebreek! Jammer om so met die deur in die huis te val, maar nog 'n jaar is amper verby. Darem kry julle nou weer 'n brief om julle aandag so 'n bietjie van die werklikheid af te trek :-) Wat 'n maand! Ek het weer by baie geleenthede terugvoer gegee, dan was ek ook saam met my stuur-sel vir 'n week weg en het ek nou uiteindelik tyd saam met my gesin en familie.

Soos julle weet het ek die meeste van my tyd hier bestee aan terugvoer aan almal wat graag wou hoor. Kyk, was ek nou vir jou besig! Soms het ek by drie plekke oor 'n naweek gepraat, maar nou is dit klaar. As julle dit gemis het, sorry né! Ek gee darem nog een keer terugvoer Sondag die 9 Januarie hier in Gereformeerde Kerk Bronkhorstspruit. So, as jy rêrig brand om te hoor is julle welkom om hier te kom luister. Maar vir nou is ek vir eers klaar!

Dan was ek ook saam met my stuur-sel weg vir 'n week. Kyk dit was vir my baie besonders! Met my rooi oë (oog infeksie) en al was dit 'n week van uitvind waaroor dit nou werklik gaan. Dit is vir my wonderlik om te sien dat hulle waarlik die pad saam met die Here wil stap en alles sal gee vir dit wat die Here besig is om te doen. Die pad, soos hulle uitgevind het, is maar 'n smal ou paadjie en dat daar nie plek vir die eie-ek is nie. Hierdie is 'n wonderlike groep mense wat agter my staan en ek kan net die Here dank vir so 'n groep. Ek is seker julle sal spoedig van hulle hoor.

Ja en nou het ek heerlike tyd saam met my mense. My ma se broers en susters het al almal kom kuier. Dit was wonderlik om hulle almal weer te sien en te hoor lag. Ek sien ook uit daarna om saam met die res te kuier voor ek terug gaan.

Weereens baie dankie vir al julle liefde en gebede.

In Hom
Philip อํานาจ

My stuur-sel en kinders / My sending cell and children

About my service

Yes, you have reason to be alarmed, because we are in the last month of the year. Sorry for being so direct, but another year has passed us by. At least you are receiving a letter to take your mind off this reality. What a month! I had plenty of opportunity to give feedback, I went away with my sending cell for a week, and eventually I have time to spend with my own family.

As you may be aware, I have spent most of my time on feedback to everybody who wanted to hear. Well, was I busy! Some weekends I had to be at three different places, but I am done with that now. If you missed out, sooorry né! I will be giving feedback once more on Sunday 9 January here in the Gereformeerde Kerk in Bronkhorstspruit. So, if you really would like to hear, you are very welcome to join us that day. But for now I am done!

I was also away with my sending cell for a week. Well that was quite exceptional for me! In spite of my red eyes (eye infection) it was a week of discovering what the journey is all about. It is wonderful for me to see that my sending cell really wants to walk a road with the Lord and will give everything for what God is busy doing. The road, as they discovered, is a very narrow path that does not allow place for - me, myself and I. They are a wonderful group of people that is standing behind me and I can only thank the Lord for them. I am sure that you will hear from them soon enough.

Yep, and so now I am enjoying a wonderful time with my family. My mother’s brothers and sisters have all come to pay a visit. It was wonderful to see them all and hear them laugh. I also am looking forward to visiting with all the family before I return to Thailand.

Once again I thank you for your love and prayers.

In Him

Philip อํานาจ

Sunday, 19 December 2010

BAIE GELUK MET ONS TAAIBOER SE VERJAARSDAG!

But those who wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isa 40: 31)