Arandis, Namibia: News from my friend Boniface

Thursday, January 15, 2009

News from my friend Boniface

Yes, it has been a while. I'm sorry. I will not even try to excuse or explain why I have been away for so long...other than the mood or need to write has just not been there. That doesn't mean the thoughts are not there. I guess it's just the willingness to open my thoughts up to the world - or the small portion of it who frequents this blog anyway - has not been there.

But today I feel the need. Here is the email I just received from Boniface. The message is clear. If you feel you would like to help, please email me at dbrthium@comcast.net.

Blessings

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Dear Don!

I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your heart and mind in Jesus Christ. I write this letter to you so that you may understand my heart but not my needs.

As you know, I am doing a ministry here in Arandis since 2006. I started working with Pastor Banda (of Arandis Eagle Christian Centre) as his associate by running Bible studies, church services as well as the prayer meetings. One year latter, I was given the task of running the youth ministry. In the community of Arandis, I am the volunteer of Scripture Union that operates at two primary schools as well as the high school. God has been good to me in all of these past two years where I am serving Him. He has shown Himself faithful in my life and the ministry.

Furthermore, this is the voluntarily work that I do both at schools as well as at church.

But now, I believe I am ready for a future family. Some of you know that I had a 5 year relationship with Angelique. At the end, just few months before the wedding, God did not allow it to happen because His plans and ways are higher than ours. I have to admit that it was hard to accept it but, praise God, I had no reason to ask Him why did this happen. I reasoned that I will start with another relationship after 2 years, but God had prepared someone better that I did not expect: her name is Penina. She serves the Lord as a youth leader and a singer in the choir in Tanzania. She loves the Lord with her family. God confirmed her when one day I phoned her father before he died last year in November. He had assurance that it was God?s will that I should marry his daughter. Before he died he even blessed me and left a written notebook of what God put on his heart about our future family. I remember her when I was in Tanzania two years ago in the prayer meeting. I remember when I was teaching her with her youth group. God has confirmed it in many ways and I have peace about it that it?s God?s will that we marry. We communicate regularly on the phone, though it?s difficult where she stays.

Indeed, Penina stays in the refugee camp in Tanzania whereby periodically the Tanzanian government puts pressure on the camp to go back to Burundi. Because of these threats, many are choosing to leave Tanzania. If she decides to repatriate, it will cost me three even four times to get her here. After her father died, her grand father has come to collect her siblings. Her mother stayed behind, just in waiting for my arrival.

However, Burundi still remains unsafe in many ways. There is a fear that war will break out again at any time.

I have been asked to run Scripture Union throughout the whole region consisting of 7 towns: Omaruru, Karibib, Usakos, Arandis, Walvisbay, Swakopmund and Hentiesbay. I am prayerfully ready for it and truly need a suitable helper who will support me in this ministry. I believe the Lord has provided Penina to be my wife partner.

There are many things involved when we travel in Africa. There is of course transport but also visas, housing, etc. Penina, as she lives in the refugee camp, she will need clothes and other materials. Being in the refugee camp, they hardly afford all of decent things seeing that at the same time the bread winner died recently. The wedding will be in the refugee camp just a small ceremony and then we will come straight to Namibia.

You might ask why a Burundian lady, but not a Namibian? Well, I live here as a refugee and hope that one day I will go back to my mother country. God has put on my heart, serving Him there in schools as well as starting a ministry with orphans and widows. Nan Parker knows my heart for these people, she is my witness.

The only support that I have is that, currently, my spiritual mother (Nan Parker) has accommodated me and tried to find some support via MVI (Missionary Venture International). But with even this support, which I am grateful to God, I cannot afford going to Tanzania and bringing her here. It will cost me US$2500. That?s why I am searching for support everywhere.

Therefore, after you have read my heart, I plead with you to support me.

I promise to report to you, with pictures, the blessings of our wedding. At the same time, Nan Parker, Steve Graham and Pastor Tresford Banda are my witnesses.

May He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you are going to sow and increase the fruit of your righteousness. May God make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. Amen

BONIFACE

posted by Don @ 11:23 AM

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