Travel Advisory – South Africa Do not travel to South Africa due to COVID-19 and related restrictions and conditions. U.S. State Department (July 6, 2021). Melanie and I waited. My headache, low energy and just feeling bad were my symptoms. I hoped this was just the flu. Winter was here. Noel and Melanie were feverishContinue reading “Recovery”
Author Archives: melaniebest2014
Meet Mr. Mayor
“Akhona, will you be able to lead Cru Youth if I am not around?” Most missionaries wrestled with this question. Is an individual you mentored able to sustain an outreach if missionary is absent? Three years ago Akhona, aka Mr. Mayor, expressed his desire to do ministry at the local library in Khayelitsha andContinue reading “Meet Mr. Mayor”
Pace Yourself
“What matters is that you’re trying, and you’re learning to seek grace as you learn to pace yourself,” Morgan Harper Nichols April is the most notorious month in South Africa for ministry. The public holidays, observance of Easter and school holidays bring many interruptions to routines. This year we add the continuance of theContinue reading “Pace Yourself”
Girlfriends & Gifts
After one year of Covid-19 in South Africa… From 22 – 24 March, Leon and I attended the Campus Crusade for Christ – Southern & Eastern Africa (CCC – SEA) Celebration Staff Conference. It was three mornings on Zoom listening to the great leaders from different countries share about God’s goodness. We experienced a senseContinue reading “Girlfriends & Gifts”
Bridges
Throughout this lockdown, Leon and I have created bridges to bring our different strategy teams together. These collaborative efforts have helped reach people for Christ. We have shared in our updates over the last year how our ministry has hosted several evangelistic & discipleship online events to engage people to share the gospel and buildContinue reading “Bridges”
Variant
Doing some research, I discovered all viruses mutate and this includes Covid-19. Viruses replicate themselves to spread and thrive in its human host’s environment. Sometimes during the process, small genetic changes occur creating a more infectious and harmful variant virus to humans. In recent weeks, South African and United Kingdom (UK) variants have received moreContinue reading “Variant”
Merry Christmas!
For unto us a Child is born,Unto us a Son is given;And the government will be upon His shoulder.And His name will be calledWonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6May the Prince of Peace fill your hearts with His joy and love. Immanuel is with us and will help us in these difficultContinue reading “Merry Christmas!”
Indaba
Indaba – “Xhosa and Zulu word meaning discussion or conference.” National SLMSA Meetings (9 – 12 Nov) in Cape Town, National Leadership Team Meetings (16 – 20 Nov) in Pretoria and Western Cape Regional Team Meetings (24 – 25 Nov) in Cape Town dominated my November work schedule. As a leader in this mission’sContinue reading “Indaba”
Mentoring
On March 17, Cru Youth ministered at Kuyasa Library in Khayelitsha. This would be the last time our volunteers would share God’s Word, worship together in song and have fun competitions with the children at Kuyasa. The pandemic’s repercussions slowed the economy making it difficult for some volunteers to make ends meet. Our family providedContinue reading “Mentoring”
Earthquake
Low rolling thunder on a Saturday evening? My wife rushes to the bedroom window and asks, “What was that?” My daughter and I were on the bed online viewing. I heard the sound, but assumed it was rare thunder from the Cape Town sky. Two hours later cellphone notifications revealed an earthquake. The next morningContinue reading “Earthquake”
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