VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH - Seeking, Sharing, Serving
  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT US
    • Leadership
    • CHURCH CALENDAR
    • Contact
  • PROGRAMS
    • SUNDAY MORNINGS
    • WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
    • PRAYER TIMES
    • KIDS MINISTRY
    • Youth Ministry
    • Adult Ministry
    • UPCOMING EVENTS
  • VOLUNTEER
    • Serve Kids
    • RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
  • OUTREACH
    • Missions Blog
    • Global Missions
    • Regional Missions
  • GIVE
    • ABOUT GIVING
    • ONLINE GIVING
    • OTHER WAYS TO GIVE
    • GROWING THROUGH GIVING
  • INFO
    • COVID-19 UPDATE
    • EMAIL NEWS
    • SUNDAY BULLETIN
    • Disability Needs
    • Weather Cancellations
  • RESOURCES
    • Grief Care
    • RightNow Media
    • BIBLE HELPS
    • Valley Directory
    • Media
    • MEMBER RESOURCES
  • 2023 SUMMER CAMP

OCTOBER NEWS FROM STANLEYS - SOUTH AFRICA

10/26/2017

 
Picture
Michael arrived in the US on 12 October. It is so good to be back together after 7 weeks apart.

I spent most of the time with my sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Dave. Sharon has some health issues and I was able to accompany her to a few doctors' appointments. It gave us a lot of time together - something we haven't had in a long time.

Michael had a pretty rough 7 weeks. For quite a lot of the time he had no water at our house. There is a bit of debate about whether it is broken pipes from old age or sabotage! Whatever the cause, there are many areas that have been without water. Then for a few hours there was no electricity. Because of that, he spent quite a lot of time with our girls - which was a blessing! At least he had water and people around him.

Also he was bitten by a dog shortly after I left. Because he didn't know anything about the dog, he went through the rabies treatment. He did see the dog later and it looked ill, but the owners assured him it was sick from eating rat poison!

He had to make a trip of several hours to meet with the finance committee before they drew up the financial report. He asked Rebecca, our 19-year-old granddaughter, to travel with him for companionship. She was able to visit an aunt and uncle while he was in his meetings.

Just before he left for the Conference he was notified that Heather Kernan, a former fellow-missionary, had passed away. On Sunday when he arrived for the Conference church service, he was told that John had passed away. He thought that the person was confused, but then learned that indeed both Heather (age 88) and John (age 96) had passed away - her on Wednesday and him on Saturday. John had phoned about 6 months ago and asked Michael to speak at his funeral. He consulted with other church leaders and booked a flight to East London to be at the funeral
on Tuesday. He had to fly from Kimberley to Johannesburg, stay overnight and then fly to East London. He missed the check-in in Johannesburg by 3 minutes and had to buy a ticket on another airline to get to East London. He arrived at the church for the 12 noon funeral at 12:05! He spoke at the funeral and then he spent the afternoon with John's daughter and family. They enjoyed reminiscing!

He returned to the Conference on Wednesday and presented his last treasurer's report on Thursday! It was well-received and accepted. Later that day elections were held and new officers were elected. We are both relieved that he is no longer treasurer!

The Conference ended on Friday morning, but he decided to drive home on Saturday. Since he had some time, he decided to go and take some pictures of an old church site in Kimberley. While he was taking the picture, some young men came up and spoke to him. As he turned away from the "leader" he felt something hit his chest and turned to see the man running away with his mobile phone! He gave chase, but couldn't catch up. He returned to the pickup to find that, while he was gone, someone stole his camera case out of the pickup! He had the camera with him, but lost the battery charger, connecting cables and case!

We have now settled in with our friend, Richard Eckman, in Kimball, Minnesota. We will be visiting several of our supporters over the next two months. Our plans have changed a few times, but our plan is to return to South Africa at the end of December for some family events. Then we will return in mid-May to visit the rest of our supporters.
Pray for safety as we travel and for God's protection over our family and house while we are away.

    Picture

    MISSION &
    OUTREACH UPDATES

    This blog is where we post information and updates from the mission and outreach initiatives our church supports. Use the category links below to see all blog updates for a specific mission or organization.

    FIND POSTS BY
    ​SPECIFIC MISSION

    All
    AMNION BURNSVILLE
    ANSELM HOUSE
    BOETTCHERS ALASKA
    CASA DE NINOS
    CRU Lauren Otto
    DRESS A GIRL
    EMANUEL MEXICO
    FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN
    FOR GOD'S CHILDREN INTL
    HARDS ALASKA
    HOPEKIDS
    MARC ALASKA
    MIKE NELSON GOCORPS
    ONTANON CHURCH
    OPEN DOOR PANTRY
    STANLEYS SOUTH AFRICA
    T FAMILY WYCLIFFE
    T-FAMILY WYCLIFFE

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017

    RSS Feed

Connect with us!
​
Services: Sunday at 9:45am

Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 9am to 2pm

Picture
Picture
Picture
Contact us Here!

Address

20270 Iberia Avenue, Lakeville 55044

Telephone

952-431-5858

Email

office@valleycc.org
  • Home
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT US
    • Leadership
    • CHURCH CALENDAR
    • Contact
  • PROGRAMS
    • SUNDAY MORNINGS
    • WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
    • PRAYER TIMES
    • KIDS MINISTRY
    • Youth Ministry
    • Adult Ministry
    • UPCOMING EVENTS
  • VOLUNTEER
    • Serve Kids
    • RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
  • OUTREACH
    • Missions Blog
    • Global Missions
    • Regional Missions
  • GIVE
    • ABOUT GIVING
    • ONLINE GIVING
    • OTHER WAYS TO GIVE
    • GROWING THROUGH GIVING
  • INFO
    • COVID-19 UPDATE
    • EMAIL NEWS
    • SUNDAY BULLETIN
    • Disability Needs
    • Weather Cancellations
  • RESOURCES
    • Grief Care
    • RightNow Media
    • BIBLE HELPS
    • Valley Directory
    • Media
    • MEMBER RESOURCES
  • 2023 SUMMER CAMP