GOD'S MARVELOUS MYSTERIOUS WAYS

God’s marvellous mysterious ways I stand amazed at the continued miracles and most of the time I am dumb founded at the sequel of events and mysterious ways that God uses to assist me to continue to bring the word of God to needy people.

I left New Xanagas, Botswana for South Africa on Tuesday 21 February 2012, to finalise the outreach trip, in March/April and to apply for a new drivers license. The trip was planned according to available budget and finances were calculated to the nearest cent. On my way I had to stop to find accommodation for the out reach teams who will be travelling the same rout in April. The village of Kang is the halfway mark between Pretoria and New Xanagas and my plan is to fill up in Kang and get accommodation prices at camps, B&B’s etc. Our budgets are cut to the bone and we try to find accommodation at the lowest rate possible. The Tazz/car – Blessing’s encounter with a cow last year made me more aware and careful of animals on the road. (We hit a cow side on). I leave early in the morning and there is quite a lot of traffic (animals walk over or sleep on roads at night), we run over a rabbit. While constantly navigating through the animal traffic an eagle or falcon flies away from road kill directly into blessings nose, feathers fly and I stop to see if there is any damage luckily none – not even a sneeze from blessing with a feather stuck in his nose. At about 08h00 and 75 km from Kang the road is clear as far as I can see and with no sign of animals I drive at 130 km per hour. Suddenly a steenbok runs out of the bushes and onto the road in front of me. The only reaction I have time for is to say a word I will not mention here and take my foot of the petrol. (later I thank God that I did not have time to brake or swerve). We hit the buck head-on with a tremendous bang and I look in the rear view mirror but see no buck lying in the road. The heat gage immediately moves up to the red and while slowing down I see a Bushman along the road pointing at the car. As I slow down to 80km there is a noise as I bump/drive over the buck, it was stuck to the front of the car. The cars engine cuts out as I navigate the car to the shade of a tree along the road, the heat gage in red. On inspection I find the radiator badly damaged, my number plate is missing and a broken mudguard. I cannot see any damage to the engine but realize that I will not be able to drive any further. There is no mobile reception in the area and I will have to rely on passing motorists to help. As I walk back searching for my number plate I see no sign of the Bushman, buck or my number plate – as if nothing happened. We blessed some lucky San family with a good meal. After flagging down and requesting assistance from various passers by, I wait for help from the Village of Kang. At 11h00 no help has arrived and I realise that I will have to take a chance to leave blessing alone, hike to Kang and find help myself. (They steal the wheels from unattended cars). A Herrero man drops me of in Kang at a diesel mechanic/farmer business. Immediately the family assist me and we tow blessing to the workshop. We try unsuccessfully to find a replacement radiator and the mechanic magically repairs the battered radiator to work without a sign of any leaking water. At 17h00 we start blessing and water shoots out of the head and we realise that the head gasket needs to be replaced. We will only be able to repair it the next day. The family invite me to a Game Farm where the mechanic needs to do some repairs to a diesel pump. We will sleep over at the Game Farm and repair blessing the next day - Wednesday.

The Family at the Game Farm warmly receive us and we all have a wonderful evening together. As I explain my work with Campus Crusade for Christ, Jesus Film Project, GAINSA, Macedonian Project etc and reason for my trip to South Africa the Game Farm family offer accommodation for the out reach team, at no cost. They further offer assistance with training the San/Bushman on their farm in New Xanagas. While I am constantly calculating and am concerned about the unexpected costs for the repairs to blessing (the gasket, radiator and the labour to the car could be close to P 5000 and more). Both families pray and assure me that they will assist to get me on the road again. On Wednesday at 19h00 after working throughout the day blessing is repaired and I can continue with my journey. At first I travel slowly nursing the car that wants to overheat as the repaired and damaged radiator is only functioning at half it’s capacity. Before leaving Kang I am stunned when the mechanic tells me to pay him only P1 500 for the repairs to blessing when I am in South Africa (2 days labour, parts and all) and they borrow me P 300 for petrol as i am unable to draw money as funds that was supposed to come through into my account for this trip, did not. I top up blessing with the P 300 and as I start my journey clouds form in the distance. I pray for a safe journey, it is very hot and rain will help so much to cool the overheating blessing. And then I see it, over the road in front of me – Yes!!!! – You are right! A beautiful rainbow. With tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat I thank God for His constant, support, my protection and the mysterious ways that He provides for all my needs. Pham-Pham – Abundance!!

HARVESTING LOVE IN THE KINGDOM

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ One month in New Xanagas and I am truly blessed to be here. I am blessed to be able to assist the village of New Xanagas in rebuilding and restoring the community as the secular leadership, religious leadership and civil government become aware that they do not have all the answers or the wisdom to heal centuries of brokenness of the community and various cultures. I am blessed as God continues to amaze me as He gives me so much assistance in wisdom and uses me and my talents / experience to assist with empowering the San and other communities. I am blessed in realising the reality of God’s presence within and around us at all times and that He is making the San aware of this fact, as well. Most of the community have shown remarkable spirit and support to implement the Business and Empowerment Plan for there future. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The San (also known as Bushman) village of New Xanagas, Botswana is located approximately 40 km south east of Xanagas. Within the village live twelve San families who have received farmland from the Botswana government. Each family consists of forty to fifty family members. Over the past few years the village has grown and expanded with other San families and Herero families moving in. The village has grown to approximately 500 people. The infrastructure within the community is very basic and the Village Sub-Chief (Kgosi) Mr. Khanxao Khaise, The Management Committee and Village Development Committee (VDC) is constantly seeking ways to establish viable and sustainable infrastructure and business opportunities within the farm, village and the community. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Projects / Business By starting this initiative the New Xanagas community are inviting all San and other communities to visit the village and partake in major sport events and competitions such as soccer and netball, as well as, invite tourists, visitors, guests and people of all sectors of society and the world, to visit Pham-Pham Place (Abundance), the Traditional Village and Camp site and thereby giving them the opportunity to experience and witness the Kalahari San heritage, culture and lifestyle A. KURUMASE (Help Your Self) San Cultural & Educational Training Centre The training centre will be at the current base site in New Xanagas and use the example of the successful San Cultural & Educational Training Centre !Khwattu in the Western Cape of South Africa. www.khwattu.org Through careful training in sustainable farming, tourism, arts & crafts, general life skills and various other fields, Kurumase will work towards offering a healthier, safer and self determined future to all San as well as other communities. Available Courses and training opportunities Ø Life Skills based on Christian principles Ø Community based tourism certificate (level 4) Ø Community based hospitality certificate Ø Advanced tracking certificate, Kruger National Park, South Africa Ø Curator ship (Museum / Art gallery), UK, London Ø Arts & Crafts Ø Farming methods and Management (Farming God’s Way) B. PHAM-PHAM PLACE (Abundance) Traditional Village and Camp Site Together with Botswana Tourism, Tour Operators and NGO’s the goal of Pham-Pham Place Traditional Village & Camp Site is to create immediate job opportunities in New Xanagas, promote and sustain the San culture and heritage and advertise and market it to the world. After a visit to Pham-Pham Place tourists and visitors will leave with a lasting impression and a new understanding of the San culture and heritage. Tourists and visitors will be entertained by the humble traditional Kalahari San hospitality and friendship. Kalahari San Safari Experience Tourists/Guests/Visitors Program Ø Participate in San guided tour Ø Discover the medicinal and feeding value of wild herbs and plants Ø Visit replica traditional San village Ø Experience traditional singing, dancing and drama Ø Listen to hunting stories of the past Ø Experience survival skills – making fire, tracking game Ø Learn about children’s traditional games Ø Horse and donkey cart riding Ø Movies – nature DVD’s, music DVD’s, inspirational & Jesus Film DVD’s Ø Arts & crafts gallery and market Ø Seasonal events – sport (desert flower run / cycle, soccer / netball), horse/donkey/cart rides and races), religious and humanitarian outreach Ø Eat out with a San family at there home in New Xanagas village

C. NEW XANAGAS FARM WBT (Working Beautifully Together) The vision of the WBT regarding the 48 000 ha allocated farm land acquired through the government is to learn, teach and implement good farming practice and utilise the farm economically in harmony with nature. A Management team and the infrastructure must be developed to sustain a successful farming operation with cattle farming as the main objective. According to the provisional business plan a budget of P 24 million is needed to start this farming operation. As soon as the Kurumase training centre is up and running it will provide the opportunity for the community to acquire further farming and farm management skills / qualifications with various farming methods, training and teaching courses that will be offered. FARMING PROJECTS Ø Water supply and fencing Ø Cattle / Goats farm management Ø Tswana Chicken Project (Government initiative) Ø 40 x 1 hectare plots area utilised to grow vegetables, beans, makhatan (wild melon), mealies etc (Farming God’s Way will support & assist) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I live in New Xanagas village in the church base camp and since my arrival we have had problems with the water supply. We have two water tanks at base camp and when there is a water shortage we allow the people to collect one bucket / container per family. Many ask for food or money and it is very difficult to not share what I have, especially older people and young children. I share one meal with old bushman Caragreen who cleans and tends to the vegetable garden. With the water shortage it is difficult to grow vegetables. Caragreen gives me a good talking to as I, not thinking, throw out the dirty dishwater in the Kalahari sand – all water is life and must go to the vegetables – the cattle goats, horses and other animals also need water and on and on….

When we have food we try to first feed orphan children living with families, then the old, disabled and sick. Morvite (serial) has the most vitamins and is not expensive and a bag goes a long way to feed quite a lot of people. The children stand in line and each one gets a spoon full of morvite in a mug of water. One Sunday just before church we give the children a cup of morvite and one little girl gets very upset when she cannot have a second cup, we could not understand her but the tone of her voice suggested that she was quite angry with us not giving her another cup. Caragreen explained to her that there were many more people to feed and each could only get one cup. We then find out her name is Irish (Irish temper all right – I cannot escape the Irish). She later helped to wash the cups and we gave her a second cup. It is hot, very hot, and it is raining, plenty! A sand storm nearly blows my tent away, the flimsy plastic tent is not made for the Kalahari. At night I have to move my stretcher to dodge the raindrops seeping through all over. We put waterproof shade net over the tent – it is much better. I begin to wonder and ponder why I am here – what purpose?? Hunger pains (I think) my body adjusting to these extreme conditions and a radical diet. We still have problems with water and I ponder?? Then thunder in the distance. A few drops disturb the sand and I think if it rains will my tent stay dry – I ponder?? Feeling quite brittle I look up and suddenly I wonder in amazement a Kalahari Rainbow!!! Over the Tent Church!! Thank you Father for reminding me, for abundance. That same day it starts raining plenty and the water supply is restored. We do not have water problems at this sage.

The Churches are running on empty. No work, poverty, modern lifestyle, drinking drugs etc is also here taking its toll. The truly dedicated believers attend church, show the Jesus Film and with limited resources they continue to spread the good news of God’s love. Then out of the blue one Sunday morning the sub-chief arrives at church bible in hand. Glory!!! Together with the Sub-Chief we have formed the Management Committee and every Sunday after church we have our meetings. Pham-Pham Place, Camp Site kitchen is ready for guests / visitors and planning and building continues full steam ahead for the first out reach in March/April 2012. Join us!!! We have had tremendous response thus far any various groups / guests and / visitors will visit us during the year. Desert flowers all around, the Kalahari is green. Thank you Father God for Pham-Pham (abundance) BOOKINGS FOR PHAM-PHAM PLACE, KALAHARI SAN SAFARI Mobile: +267 7387 3730