Missionaries Write

We have moved from our work in Rustenburg to Johannesburg to accept a new assignment.

Our seven months in Rustenburg provided us a wonderful introduction to South Africa. It was our privilege to preach, teach and mentor young leaders.

We visited in many Tswana homes and spent time with families who were grieving. The spiritual needs of the Tswana are sometimes masked by other needs — for a job, healing or more money. But spiritual needs can also be masked in an affluent society. In September we visited a worship service at a squatter camp at Romachana.

We heard a man whose first name is Esaiah preach. As he preached he skillfully moved from the Setswana language to the English language as he made his points from Scripture.

We pray that Esaiah will be a faithful church leader for those believers. He has a passion to see men come to Christ.

Now in Johannesburg, there is another a job to be done. The office here supports more than 100 missionaries in South Africa and in Angola, Namibia and Mozambique. Because of world-class medical facilities in Johannesburg, the International Mission Board missionaries come here from remote places on the continent of Africa. Elaine has found opportunity for ministry in Johannesburg hospitals.

There is a big gap between public hospitals and private hospitals. Most patients at public hospitals are black, poor and many are terminally ill. So Elaine and three other women have begun a ministry visiting the hospitilized.

They take handmade stuffed toys or baby blankets to the children and peanuts to the adults. They offer gospel tracts in a dozen languages. Because there are no televisions and few visitors, the patients gladly receive and read the tracts. This person-to-person ministry brings the real excitement to the new assignment for us.

The Lord has provided opportunities through an Indian congregation where Darrell will be preaching twice within six weeks time.

Darrell and Elaine Cook

South Africa

God continues to lay Japan on the hearts of His people. We know He loves the Japanese people far more than we are capable of, but we do love them and desire that they come to know Him.

He has given us a door of opportunity to share who Jesus is with the Japanese people every day.

Although Christmas is a couple of months away we need to plan now for Christmas volunteers.

God has graciously opened the Japanese people’s hearts to a Christian witness at Christmas.

Some of you are praying about whether or not you should come this year.

We especially need volunteers the week of Dec. 12–19.  Doors of opportunity are open but we have no one signed up to help during this week.

Please pray and ask God if He might like to use you or your family this Christmas in Japan serving with the Impact Japan team (www.impactjapan.org).

Japanese young people need to know now there is hope in Jesus Christ. There is a purpose for their lives amid their desperation.

Darlene and Charlie Williams

Japan