The first quarter of 2024 has whirled by, from the blessing of being able to see many of you during our trip to the US to the Bokamoso & Hlanganani children keeping us on our toes over Easter!
We can't thank all of you enough - our family and friends for making our time in the USA so special. Between the incredible home-cooked meals, donations, treats for Ryan Jr. and Emma, and all the encouragement and prayers from so many different church families in so many cities; I must say, the generosity of His church attested to our God's faithfulness and blew us away!
Many thanks & blessings to you all,
Ryan, Kirsten, Ryan Jr. & Emma Gray
Diving Into Easter!
Easter has come and gone, and so has the chaos that accompanies hundreds of God's children running around in desperate search of chocolate-covered marshmallow eggs! Our fantastic ministry partners blessed us with enough funds to give every child five eggs each; a super, special treat that many children had never had before.
However, our Hlanganani children had to earn the right to dive head first for a choc-mellow egg. Kirsten set them up with an egg relay race, while Ryan played both devil's advocate trying to get the older kids to drop their eggs and refereeing, maintaining "strict" law and order! Afterward, we gathered inside to listen to the story of Easter and the sacrifice our Lord Jesus Christ made for us on the cross. Several young ones prayed, asking Jesus for forgiveness and accepting Him into their hearts.
Afterwards, we headed outside to ambush the kids with water balloons! It was a burning hot day, and Kirsten was wise enough to bring some water balloons, especially since the city had just finished going through a water shortage. We set the kids up for a game of water balloon toss, but that devolved into five minutes of utter chaos. After dowsing all the kids with a massive bucket of water, Ryan claimed victory!
After the water fight, all that was left was the distribution of our food packs, loading up kids into our Isuzu pickup, and getting them home. All in all, our first group after coming back from the States was an incredible success.
A Bountiful Bokamoso Easter!
Want an insight into all the fun we had with the Bokamoso children? Check out this short video!
It was such a blessing to see them perform the Easter story - confirming that they know the true meaning of Easter and Jesus's death, resurrection, and love for them! Seeing several children ask Jesus into their hearts was also a priceless gift!
Praying for Miracles
I stepped into the narrow passage way between the tiny tin homes into the open air. The rest of the group remained in the small room of one of our faithful Bokamoso helpers, praying for God's healing over his cancer ridden body. In praying it came to light that this was a spiritual battle...another helper confirmed that a witchdoctor lived in the area and was causing much grief. We encouraged him to remain strong in his faith and prayed freedom and healing over him. In the areas we minister, Ephesians 6:12 holds true more often that not...."For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Walking down the alleyway, a lady stopped me and pointed at her friend, "She's an alcoholic - pray for her to stop and get better!" I looked over at her young friend, who with shaking hands and sorrowful eyes shook her head in agreement with the statement being flung her way. "Can we sit on these bricks and talk awhile?" I asked. She explained the many reasons as to why she drank; knowing that alcohol would not solve her life struggles, only add to them. Her list of hardships was not an easy nor short one.
We talked about how she could practically get the help she needed and then prayed together on this Easter weekend, that Jesus, the One who died for her sins and rose again so that she can be redeemed, healed, and set free would rule and reign in her life. I promised to check in on her again soon, praying that God will heal her emotionally as much as we prayed He would heal our helper physically and spiritually. Heading back to the kids, I was reminded how much God's love, hope, and salvation is needed in the lives of those around us, how the harvest is truly plentiful.
"When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." (Matthew 9:38)
Prayer Requests:
Prayers for Ryan's family are appreciated due to the sudden death of his older brother, Kristopher; especially prayers for Kris's four boys.
Continued physical and spiritual protection over our family and the Bokamoso and Hlanganai children.
All those whom we minister to... that they would all come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
“The gates of hell will not prevail.” Jesus made that promise. Yet, in recent years, have you felt as though the gates of hell have been winning? The church has been rocked by sex scandals, financial fraud, and disheartened members. Even the best of pastors often look tired and defeated. Did Jesus lie? Are the gates of hell prevailing? Heavens, NO!
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Specifically, go out and make disciples of those around us.
This book will delve into the Bible exploring these questions:
Why is discipleship important?
What is a disciple of Jesus?
How can I go out into my everyday life and make disciples?
How can the modern-day church focus more on making disciples?
