Archive for February, 2010
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
I departed from Uganda this morning after a phenomenal week of ministry. I am headed now to Malawi for a few days of investigative work on our new missions work and partnerships in this region. I look forward to working alongside of Dave Toms and to see all the fruit of Pastor Noel Cromhout’s ministry over the past few years of pastor’s conferences that he has led.
I spent the last week with Darrin Jahnel, Ryan Baum, & Jason McIntosh along with Chris Bwami, Kintu Deogracious, Simon Peter Mukhama, and others as we did ministry throughout northern Uganda with our partnerships with Christ Community Church Mutungo, Paicho Baptist Church, New Song of Grace Ministries, Lukodi Community Church, and ChildVoice International. It was a busy week, but so fruitful! God is doing so much and it was especially encouraging to see how God is building His Church in this area of Uganda. After two decades of war, the region in moving into a new season of growth, development, and change. It was awesome to see how God has connected Calvary Tabernacle with such powerful local churches and organizations, all working to see God’s transformative work in their communities.
I look forward to being home at the end of the week but I am so deeply privileged to be a part of such a global movement of God that we find ourselves a part of. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Posted by Nathan in Malawi, Uganda | No Comments »
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
Today I am waking up in southern Uganda after a good flight in from Joburg last night. We had a great weekend visiting Liberty Church and are so grateful for all our friends there. Last night I arrived here in Uganda, got settled into our (meager) hotel, and then went back to the airport to pick up Jason, Ryan, & Darrin. They had a great flight from the US yesterday and seemed to have arrived refreshed and ready. This is Ryan and Darrin’s first time to Africa!
This morning we drive straight up to Gulu where will connect with the church in Paicho and with ChildVoice in Lukodi. We have a busy schedule this week with a lot of pretty cool ministry taking place. We’ve crafted the week around the skills and giftings of these guys – they’ll be working with some of the older primary school-age kids teaching on career planning and then at the end of the week they will be working with a large group of young adults on small business development. Personally, I am very excited to see what God does here with them.
Nick and Zak are on their way back to the US right now! I know my son had an awesome trip to South Africa. He really didn’t want to leave yesterday:) Again, I would encourage anyone to really make the effort to be a part of the teams going to South Africa. God is really doing some powerful things and we have had just a great privilege to be a part of it.
Posted by Nathan in South Africa, Uganda | No Comments »
Friday, February 19th, 2010
Great day today! It’s been a very short, but deeply important trip. Tonight Nick and I sat and planned out how we see Calvary Tabernacle being involved in South Africa over the next 2 years. So much has been done over the past 8 years, but we are more excited than ever about what the future holds.
My greatest prayer from this trip is that many, many more people from our church community will get on board! This is a great mission trip opportunity for families, for individuals, for those with building skills, and especially those that would love to just care for the hurt, the broken, and the vulnerable. We are partnered here with a young, but powerful organization that is part of the transforming work of Christ in this community. I hope that many will respond to the call to be involved in the next two years. Don’t wait…
Posted by Nathan in South Africa | No Comments »
Friday, February 19th, 2010
So we are into our third day here in White River. Today and yesterday we had the chance to go out with the teams at Masoyi Home-Based Care into a couple of different communities. What a privilege! It is so cool to come alongside this organization and the local churches as the care for and love the hurting and broken people of these communities. Both days I have been a part of Unathi’s team (she was the young girl that visited Calvary Tabernacle during our missions month in October). What an amazing gift of compassion this girl has! She so deeply loves the people, listens to them, laughs with them, cries with them, and shares the real touch of Jesus with them. She is such a shining example of what it means to “be Jesus” to her people.
Nick, Zak, and I have had some good time with Frank & Ruth and Sandy over the past couple of days too. This has been just good moments to laugh together, share stories, and just encourage one another. We should all be so proud of these three…they are doing such a powerful work of Christ here in this land! They each, in their own ways, serve the people here so sacrificially.
As the clouds have rolled over the mountains here in White River, South Africa, all day I am astounded by the beauty of this place. I can imagine how God crafted this land together with His hands, bringing the beauty of His character into His creation. But as you go deeper into the villages and the communities of this land, you can tangibly feel the brokenness beyond the beauty (as in any place where human beings gather). I have experienced this week that the work of Masoyi Home-Based Care and the many passionate followers of Christ is like a nurse quietly administering a vaccination to a small child. They quietly and gently move amongst the communities administering a vaccination of hope. Hope is what any human being needs in order to defy the diseases of this world. Hope may not cure every ill, but it enables a strength and courage to live on, to fight harder. For many, it is an individual vaccination of hope but it spreads throughout the community.
Posted by Nathan in South Africa | No Comments »
Friday, February 19th, 2010
Hey!…. Wed. and Thurs. Nate and I were on Home Base Care with Unathi and Mumsi. Visited 5 or 6 patients, praying and encouraging where we could. We visited a patient, a young boy of about 15 who lost is eyesight from diabetes. Well because of his age he was able to get corrective surgery and now has sight in one eye. This was the first time Frank has seen him since last year. When he saw Frank for the first time…they hugged and rejoiced together. We visited and prayed for him to be able to get surgery for the other eye and then he will have complete eyesight….not being able to see enough now to read but yet so happy he can make out figures and forms…..He is one of the fortunate ones… could tell much more but will when we see you all. Still hot everyday…. all our meetings went well and we are pleased with the work in Masoyi….. God Bless….P.Nick
Posted by Nathan in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
From: Nathan Mandsager
Date: February 16, 2010 8:01:52 PM GMT+02:00
Subject: Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
What a day it has been. Our “day” really began at 4am on Monday when we left Schenectady for JFK. Our flight then left from JFK at 10:30am and we flew into Tuesday, arriving in Joburg at 8am today. We got our rental car and another car that is being lent to Frank and Ruth while they are in South Africa serving. So Nick led the way and I followed for another 5 hours as we headed west through this beautiful land. It was a gorgeous drive but we were beat by the time we arrived here in White River. Temps all day were close to 100 degrees. After a few “mishaps” we settled in and had a relaxing even here with Frank and Ruth. It’s so good to see them here and be in this place. There is such a peacefulness and serenity to Africa. You have to be present in order to fully experience.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a hot day again. We hope to be out in the communities tomorrow, visiting with people, praying, and caring for physical needs. Looking forward to a fruitful week.
Posted by Nathan in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Dear Friends and Kingdom Family,
Greetings from Plovdiv, Bulgaria! Amanda and I are back in our home and getting back into the full swing of things. Amanda is feeling stronger little by little, and thankfully has had no new episodes. Thank you for your prayers.
We have so far had about a foot of snow with temperatures often in the teens, but today it is supposed to begin warming to above freezing. I miss the efficient road crews and snow plows in the US, but they do indeed do a good job here, considering the narrow streets, cobblestones, and horrendous parking.
Last weekend, I visited the toddler orphanage and saw the carpets and mattresses that you helped us provide. They have about 10 new children this year, including a 3 year old that weighs around 14 pounds. Tiny and precious little ones. The orphanages are still having picture blackouts, but I will see what I can do.
We visited the church in the village of Stomboliski last Sunday. In the first month we were in Bulgaria, about 2.5 years ago, we visited this church and met a grandmother there, and together we prayed for her three grown sons to come to know the Lord. We have met with them several times. A wonderful family. Last Sunday, her oldest son was at church! It was a wonderful surprise to see him. Her mother, the grandmother, said he came to know Jesus while we were in the states. She also said that we were the first people to ever pray with her for her sons. He has been going to church, digging into his bible, and talking to his brothers about faith. Praise God!
We are in the middle of getting our visas renewed, and are a little limited in our travel because of trips to the immigration police. It takes a minimum of 3 trips, but in practice it takes several more to see if the paperwork at each stage is ready. But everything appears to be going smoothly. We just got the final set of forms and will submit those tomorrow.
This weekend, I will go to Sofia to visit Venci’s church, and then maybe stay over night to meet with some other friends on Monday. We look forward to giving more regular updates here, and look forward to hearing from you in the comments (or directly at sgliter@gmail.com)
In love with Him,
Gayton Liter (and Amanda)
Posted by Gayton and Amanda in Europe | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
Posted by Nathan in Africa, Announcements | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
Posted by Nathan in Announcements | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
In just a few days I leave for a 3-week trip to Africa. I’ll be visiting South Africa, Uganda, and Malawi in an effort to deepen our current relationships in those regions while also developing our plans for the future. I’m excited at the opportunities before us as a church and to see how God is so deeply connecting us to individuals, churches, and communities throughout Africa.
I would appreciate your prayers during this time (Feb 15-March 5). Obviously, it will be a long trip away from home, but I will also be needing the clear wisdom, discernment, and authority of the Holy Spirit, as well as good strength and health. Also pray for the individuals that will be with me at different points of this trip – Nick (one of our elders) and my son Zak are both going with me to South Africa; Ryan, Darrin, and Jason (guys from our church) are meeting up with me for a week in Uganda.
“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” – 1 Corinthians 3:9
In His strength,
Nathan Mandsager
Posted by Nathan in Africa, Uncategorized | No Comments »
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