Monday night prayers 23 June 2025

   

Good evening all

Wonder sometimes who decided it was a good idea to develop a visa system and think it will work? Let me tell you, it works only when it wants to work. Because we stayed longer at home, our visas expired, and now we are in this mess. Trying to get visas. Now, if you are from anywhere else than Africa, it will be easy. However, in Asia, being from Africa means you are linked to something bad, which I wish I had known. Like one friend said:”” When they open that African passport, our forefathers’ spirits jump on them and all hell breaks loose.””

We took a trip to the border to sort out some issues, only to be stopped by immigration officers on the other side. Of course, we need a visa to enter the country in advance. So, just turn around and get helped by super-friendly officers back in Cambodia. So we were back home again in the afternoon after a dash to the border. This morning, we extended our current visas, and we will fly out to Malaysia with Anton and try to get the right visa when we return.

Bring me a missionary who did not struggle with visas. I think the way that old Livingston traveled was the best. Everything before visas and borders. These days, we get stuck and need to spend countless effort and money on visa problems. Well, pray for our extensions to go smoothly.

I am so privileged to help a good bike friend of mine with his dad’s wound. He got diabetes, and they amputated his leg, and it became infected. It feels like the old days when I go there in the mornings. The Lord surely knows when I need something that good to work on. Please pray for my friend and his family as they need help with grandpa's recovery.

My brother Werner got himself into the hospital with some bad health issues, but he is doing much better. Pray that he needs to look after his health a bit better. He will be out of the hospital maybe today or tomorrow.

Please pray for Toinette as she is adjusting badly. She is currently coughing a lot, and I put her on meds. She is taking the jet lag seriously as she struggles to sleep. Seems that every year we come back, it takes longer to adjust to the weather and everything around us.

We are looking forward to Anton being home on Sunday and spending a few weeks with us here at home. Pray for him to finish his trimester strong.

Thank you for praying with us.

Love

Rossouw-clan

Monday night prayers 16June 2025

 

​Dear family and friends

We are thankful to be back in Siem Reap and yes, adjusting to the heat after winter weather in Namibia! ​W​e've already started meeting up with our friends here. Twans is excited to meet up with our FGC Community link family soon. Greeting our family back home, especially both our moms, was not easy. We treasure the extra time we could spend with both of them and appreciate your continued prayers for them. Both our moms, once again, were such examples to us. Even though in much pain, they still care more for others than themselves.

Prayer points:

-          Our visas. We had to enter the country with tourist visas, and to change them, we needed to exit the country, go to the embassy in Thailand, and come back in with the new papers, etc. Mordegai cannot get an NGO visa anymore, so we need to look at other options. Please pray.

-          A local pastor, whom we had much respect for and worked with for many years, has lost his way. Please pray for him to return to God and his family. We also pray for a way for Mordegai to reach him and encourage him to return to God.

-          Anton is asking for prayer for one of his friends from a closed country. He also joined Anton at church this past Sunday. Continue to pray for Anton to live out his faith and be a testimony among his friends.

Returning to Siem Reap, we were reminded of Jacob, who did not give up. In Genesis 32. “…for you have struggled with God and men and prevailed.” Let’s prevail! Let’s not ‘crawl over the finish line’, but run and finish strong.

Love

Rossouw-clan

Monday night prayers 2 June 2025

 Good evening all

We are still here at the coast visiting with our families. Mordegai went for a week to visit his brother and sister in the nearby coastal town in Hentiesbaai to catch-up on a long lost fishing experience. The week was cold and the fish not much but the company was great. Almost froze to death, but we survive to tell the tale,hahaha. Namibian cold is not what you people from the States call cold, but for us locals, it’s cold. No wonder the fish do not want to bite because they also get cold.

Just finish applying for visas, as our visas expired while we were here. So some of you will know what we talk about. When we get back to Cambodia, lots of time needs to be spending on getting a new visa again. I cannot but wonder how many pictures and forms we already gave away in order to get visas. Just wondering what they do with all those pictures?? Our time is running low as we will fly on the 13^th of June.

Currently we got both our Ouma’s here in the flat and we can visit really well. Such a privilege to care for our mothers, whom we love so much. Ouma Paula is in a lot of pain as her bones are breaking more because of the cancer. Ouma Matra is in constant pain and in a wheelchair, but nothing gets these girls down. They do not make people like these old folks anymore. Even in the depths of despair, they can find the time to visit with us and have a ball of a time. What an inspiration our parents are to us. Please take care of your parents if you can.

Anton’s trimester is also winding down as he will be home at the end of the month. Looking forward to seeing our boy again. Please pray for him as he juggles his way through life in Malaysia. Pray that he will be a witness to his friends.

Suzaan came and visited us a while ago and we had a ball of a time. Please pray for her as she tackles the mother of all marathons, the Comrades marathon (90km) this coming Saturday on 8 June.

Thank you 

Monday night prayers 19 May 2025

 Good day everyone

What a joy to be here in Swakopmund. This last week was a real hot one. When it is cold inland, the Eastern wind blows at the coast, and as the dunes end in the sea, it becomes a real dust bowl in the towns at the coast. Swakopmund experiences a wind with dust that you cannot see in front of you and nice hot weather, something the locals do not like here, especially in winter. Not even to mention that the dust is everywhere in the houses, you can close up as good as you want, but that fine dust comes in everywhere.

Now, after a week of heat, the cold weather is back, and this morning the mist is lying on the sea and a chilly wind is pumping from the sea; it feels like the aircon is on. We are letting the chilly weather sink into our bodies, as we know we will feel the heat soon. We had a quiet day yesterday, longing for Gideon as it was his 22^nd birthday in heaven. I miss that boy.

We have the privilege of visiting with both our grandmothers here on the coast. I went and got my mom in Windhoek, and now we are visiting with the 2 people we love the most. What a blessing to look after our mums and see them through this tuff time. Ouma Paula is very fragile, but she always amazed us with her positive spirit. Even in the midst of death, she is a beacon of hope to us all. Ouma Matra is an example of positivity all around. Nice to finally visit with my mum after all these years.

We just realised that we need to make time with family, and that is why we are looking forward to another 2 years in the field and then home. We lay these plans in front of the Lord, and we believe that the Lord will answer to us.

We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails.  Proverbs 19:21 MSG

Please pray:

Pray for Ouma Paula as she fights the big “C”. This morning, she is not feeling well, and Twans took her back to her room so she can rest.

Hear from Curtis that people are hungry in the jungle. Dim express the desire to bring some relief to people, and we will respond with small contributions of rice. It is the low season for farmers as the rain has just started, but they have nothing to harvest and there is no money. Pray for wisdom on how to help people in need.

Thank you all for praying with us. We are still here in Swakopmund. If you want to meet up, please let us know. Mordegai’s WhatsApp is not working, but Messenger is still good. Or you can contact Toinette.

Love to you all, and may our Lord be a light for you in this week to come.

Rossouw-clan

Monday night prayers 5 May 2025

 

Good morning everyone

Sorry, this is not Monday anymore, but anyhow. We are still enjoying our time here in Namibia. Meeting up with good friends and visiting with family. My Ouboet Jean visited us from the Cape, which was very special for me. For once, it is special to listen to my older brother, why not?? Being a missionary for so long, we forget the reality of life around us, and it is good to get back to reality in the West. Things here work a bit differently, and we are not used to it. Being 30 years in Asia and then back to Africa is kinda different, and we need to shift gears.

Talks are mostly focused on Ouma Paula’s health at this time. Not that we forget ouma Matra, but 1 at a time. Ouma Paula’s health is fading fast, and we were battling with the question off staying longer or go? We needed fresh eyes, and my brother did not hesitate on that question. Sorry, fellow missionary friends, but we are totally in a rut and living in a “dream world” out there in the bush while life continues back home with our families. What do they say:” Family first and then ministry”, so that includes family back home, right?? We tend to forget that and just want to run back to do ministry and help people, where we are also needed right here back home with our family.

So we are stuck between a rock and a hard place and made a decision to stay a bit longer and ride this illness out with Ouma Paula. Pray with us as Toinette is with ouma right now and helping her adapt with a lot of very difficult decisions. My o my what a rollercoaster of emotions right now. Pray for Ouma Paula as she still fights this big “C” .

 

I went with my brother Jean on a real dune riding adventure. My goodness was that an adventure. I got respect for these guys riding in the dunes. I do not have a the nerves to do this type of off road riding, no way. Extreme is not a word, these guys know what they are doing. Jean got a monster truck to fight these dunes and I was amazed that a car can drive straight up dunes so high. Definitely do that again next time I see him.

 

Please pray for Anton. Lately, he had to talk to some of his friends about their lifestyles and their family problems. It burdened him, and he was sad for their part. Coming from a loving home and having to hear about all the heartache of his friends is hard for him. We encourage him to look up to God with more zeal than ever. The Lord is using him mightily just there while he is studying. Pray that the Holy Spirit will provide him with the needed words to say to his friends. If you are from a loving family, please go down on your knees and thank God for that. This is really a privilege.

Pray for Quinton (Toinette’s brother) and his wife Andrea as they need to lay down Ouma Resie (Andrea’s mum) after a long sickbed.

Pray for Hennie Kohne that has to say goodbye to his beloved wife Veronica this weekend.

We are so blessed at this time, stying here at my brother Jean’s apartment. While writing this letter I am looking over the sea and hear the waves crashing. Wow what a blessing this is. I stayed home this morning and listening to some good worship songs and it really cleans my soul this morning.

Love you all

Rossouw-clan

Monday night prayers 21 May 2025

 

Good day everyone

It was such a blessing to sit in church to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour. Listening to the old story with fresh ears as we need some refreshments once a while. We tend to continue life without God in so many ways. The last words of Jesus were the theme for the sermon. Unbelievable that Jesus still had strength to utter some last wishes on the murderer next to Him and instruct His disciples to look after each other. With that He urged us to go out and proclaim to the whole world, who this Jesus is!! Remarkable last wishes.

Our time at home is busy with visiting our Grandma’s as well as family we so dearly miss out on. Ouma Paula is in lots of pain but we could spend time with her at the coast and took her out to see the ocean. She said it was about 2 years ago since she visited some places. We are now in Windhoek again and Mordegai’s mum got a turn. Great to see my mum as she was also seriously ill not long ago. We are now waiting for Suzaan to come and visit us as well.

 

Please pray:

Toinette need to go and see a specialist for a procedure on Tuesday. Please pray that it will not be serious.

Ouma Paula’s cancer took a turn for bad as it progressed to her liver and more into her bones. Please pray for her as she is in a lot of pain.

Pray for our time here as we need to see a  lot of people in the time left. Pray for fruitful talks as we also need to discuss the future.

 

Thank you all for all your prayers to us. We are leaving on the 11 May for now.

Love

Rossouw-clan

Monday night prayers 17 March 2025

 Good day everyone

I must say that today was a bit of a struggling day. Early this morning we got news that a friend passed away and some old memories flooded my soul for a while. Listening to Holy Forever by Chris Tomlin put me back on my tracks again today. Please click on the link and listen: https://youtu.be/SlEEgMWwxhc?si=Cug7J8SnuuDdXlcg

 

We had the privilege of Toinette joining us on an outreach, and even a good friend Katherine came with us. We took the truck across the mountain into Som Poom, as the Chinese made a way for us to get into the jungle now even by truck. We left the truck in Som Poom and rode further on the bike to Rum Jopon. It is about 15 years back since Toinette came with us to the jungle and Anton and I enjoyed seeing her navigate her bike in the jungle, It was pretty impressive. I got scolded as I played the bad road down a bit.

Such an awesome moment to be part of the church as Jeff was sharing with the people. Pastor Dim is doing such a great job leading them along. Afterward Toinette, with the help of Curtis could talk to the teacher and encourage her as well. She’s got her hands full with that wild bunch of children but she is doing a good job. We gave some much-needed meds and took the bikes back to Som Poom. Praise God for some bad relationships that were restored in this time. Slowly but surely the small group of Christians are pushing into the lives of the people around them. Pray for these believers to be bold and courageous. Pray for Dim and his nephew to be strong in the Word and willing to spread the Gospel to the lost.

 

Anton is getting ready to leave this Wednesday and we will be in the air as well this coming Friday. So the last-minute coffees and Cambodian snacks are in the order of the day. Saying goodbye is not the strongest part of the Rossouw-clan and we are not looking forward to this at all. Pray for Anton as he tackles his 2^nd trimester and everything that accompanies that. Pray for safe travels for all of us. Pray that our time in Namibia will be fruitful.

 

Pray for:

It is with great sadness that I share with you that Ettiene passed away at 2 am this morning Turkish time ( 3am  our time).

For the past few days, I have had these scripture verses on my mind from 2 Timothy 4 verses 7,8. With the Apostle Paul, if Ettiene could now speak, he would say: " I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me - the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing".

 

Please keep Ettiene's family in your prayers. They are: Here in South Africa: His dad, Andrew, mom, Ettie, brother, Johan. In Turkey: Karen, his wife, his children - Milleka, Thalia, Thilo ( son in law) and Andrew Jr.

Thank you all for rallying with me in prayer for Ettiene. It has not been easy! Having limited medical knowledge I knew what the odds were but I chose to trust God! I do believe that this is for a higher purpose.  Let's also pray for those lives that Ettiene was ministering to in Turkey and Central Asia that many would come to know Him.

 

Thank you for standing with us in prayer. May God bless you all in this week to come and for the people down South, see you soon.

Love

Rossouw-clan