Ministry & Family Update

It is hard to believe that we are coming to the end of our fourth year in South Africa! It really does seem like just a few months ago that we arrived in a far away land to make our new home. Only four short years ago we were foreigners in so many ways. Today we are legally permanent residents of South Africa and can't imagine living anywhere else in the world. Our children are all growing up so quickly and we realized just the other day that Wesley is obviously more South African than American, having lived in South Africa for the majority of his life. In another six months Natalie will be as well. It is hard to imagine the impact that growing up in another country will have upon our children for the rest of their lives. We are so grateful for the opportunity and we truly believe that they will be the better for it all. Stephanie and I are more happily married than ever before and are so excited about the future. We sense that God is taking us into a new season as we prepare for 2007. We know that God has new things in store for us as a family as well as in ministry. We are constantly blessed by seeing God's sovereign hand upon us and His loving guidance as we trust completely in His perfect ways for our lives.

This year has ended on a very busy note. The last six weeks have been a blur as we have been involved in many different activities and ministry engagements. The children finished their school year at the end of November. They all progressed to the next grade (Wesley to first grade and Camille and Natalie to grades five and four). Stephanie was very involved with year-end music programs at the school. I spent a week in Pretoria, South Africa having a pastor's conference with Rene Brown and Jack Horn (from the US) and eight pastors from Botswana, Zimbawe, Zambia and Burundi. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and sharing together in the Lord for six days. After our time in Pretoria, Rene (better known to the kids as "Grandpa Rene") came to spend four days with our family. It was so great to have him with us. He plays a very important role in our lives as a friend, co-laborer in the work, and spiritual father. We are grateful for his relationship and input in our lives. During the first week of school holiday I spoke to the Discipleship Training School at YWAM. We had wonderful week together and Katie also sat in and participated with the school. It continues to be such a blessing and privilege to literally speak to the nations on an ongoing way through our involvement at YWAM. I was also asked to speak in a city-wide prayer meeting that was held in our town square. This was a special time of the body of Christ coming together to pray for the leaders of our city and for unity. We believe it was a significant time in the Spirit and are trusting God to see the fruit in the days to come. The remainder of the year will be spent relaxing together as a family and sharing some special time with close friends during the holiday season.

2007 is already shaping up as we are sensing the Lord's direction for us in ministry. I will be teaching a twelve week course with sessions one evening a week beginning in mid-January. This will be a time of teaching and equipping for the body in our city. It will be open for anyone to attend and we are trusting that it will be a time to help many believers mature in their relationship with Jesus. I will be traveling to Angola in March. This will be another new country for us. We have felt an increased burden for the Portuguese speaking countries in Africa. There has been very little work done in these countries by English speaking missionaries becaused of the language barrier. There is also very little Portuguese literature for these countries. We are currently working with Rene Brown and Foundation Ministries International to translate several teachings and books that will be used to help equip leaders in these countries. The entire family is planning on taking an outreach trip together during the June school holidays to Botswana and Zimbabwe. We will drive through these two neighboring countries for three to four weeks conducting meetings and connecting with ministry friends along the way. We are looking forward to the family being together in this type of setting. I will then be in Zimbabwe again in July. We also feel that the Lord is going to make a way for me to be back in Pakistan later in the year. So, as you can see, we will be engaged in lots of exciting things next year. Please continue to pray for us as we continually submit to the Spirit's leadership in everything.

We are also very excited about our involvement with the Street Children Project here in Worcester. Our direct affiliation with the ministry means more hands on work with this ministry to young boys. We have already managed to secure the new house that will serve as the residential treatment facility for the boys. They should be moving into their new place after the new year. Equippers International, South Africa is proud to be involved in this work and we are trusting God for continued support for this vital ministry. We will be raising funds throughout 2007 so the house can be totally paid for by the end of next year (only about $35,000!).

We want to thank you all for your continued love and support for our family as we seek to fully obey God's call upon our lives. We want to wish you all a very merry Christmas in which you will truly know the power of the incarnation in your life. We also pray and trust that 2007 will be a most prosperous year for you as you experience the power of His resurrection in you to bring about new life!

God bless you,

Cliff, Stephanie, Camille, Natalie, Wesley, and Katie

The kids all dressed up.