Chronicles of Africa

The Marsh Family

May, 2009

Dear Friends,

The past months we have been a challenge but it has reminded us of  these facts;  God is Creator (John 1:3), Controller (Colossians 1:17), Communicator (1 Corinthians 2:10), and that He does care  for us.      (1 Peter 5:7)

Congo News: January, Jordan and I made a trip to Kinshasa, Congo.  Jordan enjoyed spending time with Timothy Grings, while I made a trip to Dibaya Lubwe. Dibaya is said to have a population of about 32000 people, and is located on the banks of the Kasai River.  It  is centrally located and it avails itself to river, road transportation and the possibility of flying in by small airplane.  This makes it a prime place for a Bible School. We have purchased property about 20 min. walk from the market place in Dibaya.  Our group that made the visit, consisted of all who would be part of the future Bible School leadership.   The Clancy who are on deputation, Missionary Dan Grings, Pastor Ndomvi , Pastor Mbgabalanga, and myself. 

 HOW YOU CAN PRAY:  1) Needed funds for  construction.  2) Preparation of the school policies and documents. 3)  Pray, to the Lord of the harvest, to send the The Clancy Family to Congo in his timing. 4) Pray for the Lord’s time to starting the first year.  We have discussed 2010 as a possibility, but we want the Lord to direct and provide.

Radio Program  – Nsango Na Bomoi: Praise the Lord we are paid up till end of May with Trans-world radio. We have literally over a 1500 programs of old reel tapes, which we have been changing over to digital. Mr. Phillip who is a retired man in our church has come faithfully over the past 6 months and has thus far converted approximately 700 of these reel tapes.  In converting these programs to digital, we will be able to re-air these programs in the future.  We are also  working on a project called CD (Christ through Digital). Let me explain, in South Africa we have a large influx of refugees from Congo, many of them work as parking attendants, trying to earn some money to feed and clothe themselves. I would say that almost 80% of these parking attendants are Congolese. We would like to put these message of CD’s and make them available to these folks, and make it available to others as a tool for witnessing.  We will also use these CD’s, in Congo, the same way we use  to hand out the old cassette tapes.

HOW YOU CAN PRAY:  1) It costs  $ 110.00 dollars a day to air this program everyday for half hour to Congo. 2) That this program will remain effective in reaching the lost by radio. 3) That the Lord will give the right message for every day of the year.

South Africa:  In the last months we have had the privilege of baptizing five people.  Pray for  Wisani, Dirk, Sikhele, Musa and Nsako.  We are looking forward to what the Lord has in store for us as we enter into this ministry again.  We left this ministry as young newly weds to go to the DRC over 15 years ago.  Now the Lord, through His ways has brought us back full circle where we started.  We are praying that the Lord will give us wisdom that we may see a church well balanced in it’s ministries.  For the next few months, our focus will be on the following: a) Focus on our responsibility to our community and those in close proximity of Leondale. b) Equipping of the church to fulfill this responsibility

HOW YOU CAN PRAY: 1) Spiritual growth of our church, 2) Opportunities to reach people in our community who live behind tall walls and locked gates. 3) Pray that we will know how to reach the communities around us, like Buhle Park, Phumula, Mapleton, Roodebult, and Spruitview.

Home:  On the home front.  Esther is home-schooling 4 of our 6 children.  Up until now,  we have always had the privileged of a young lady to help in that area.  Do pray for Esther and the kids as they fit into those roles now.  Winnie, is a young Congolese girl (22yrs now) who has lived with us for the past 4 years.  We are asking for the Lord’s guidance as her last visa extension is drawing to a close.  She would like to stay with us, and our family dearly wants her to stay too.  Do pray that if this is the Lord’s will He will show us how to be able to attain a more permanent visa for her to remain with our family in this country.    She is such an asset and help to Esther in the care of her mother and the kids and home.  Wyla, has been blessed with good health, though her memory continues to fail.  Do pray for strength and joy and grace to be the blessing to others that she is each day!   All 10 of us have managed to fit into mom and dad’s small home.  There have been a lot of work to repair and fix up the old home, and there’s still much to do.  Pray for me as I work on these projects which include the repair and up- keep up the radio studio for Nsango Na Bomoi as well.

HOW YOU CAN PRAY:  1) For Grace for Esther and all she is doing. 2) Children, as they will be staring with new school curriculum. 3) Our family prayer and bible reading, that it will not just be mechanical.

Thank you for your wiliness to be used of God to support missions. The other day,  I was just thinking how so much “emphases” is place on us missionaries, but if it were not for “YOU”  how could we go, preach teach and baptize.   Many of you have supported Mark & Wyla for at least 50 years.   The honor is ours to have “YOU” as partner in the Lord vineyard.

The Marsh Family