BLESSINGS AND HOLY SPIRIT @ WORK

“Meanwhile these three remain; faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is LOVE”.

(1 Corinthians 13:13)

Thank you!! The community of New Xanagas want to thank all for their donations, training, support and prayers. Two outreach teams arrived at Pham-Pham Place Camp Site during April. The first visit, over the Easter holidays, was from Campus Crusade South Africa (GAINSA, Jesus Film Project, Macedonian Project), CCC, Botswana and CCC, Namibia. The second was a short clothing and food outreach from Mac Mc Menamin of Outreach Africa, South Africa. The presence of these visiting teams made a huge impact on the community

When the Holy Spirit takes over, nothing will or can hold you back. God’s almighty power and grace is never ending and indescribable. Even “Blessing” (the 4x4 Tazz) got involved in distributing clothes to the needy. (I think “Blessing” wanted to show off his new Jesus Film Logos). 

 

We managed to hand clothes, according to our most needy list (Old, disabled, sick, orphans) and then to the rest of the village families. The count thus far is 450 people who have received clothing, shoes, blankets and food.  God’s love, blessings and miracles continue to amaze us – to many to mention (the next book on the way).

 

Our resident “Jesus Film Team” has received intensive training from Campus Crusade in Evangelism and Children Evangelism & Empowerment through the Holy Spirit, as well as an introductory course in Follow-up, Movement Building and Prayer. Six team members successfully completed the course and received certificates. This achievement was a major event in most of their lives and it was very emotional when handing these certificates to the team, some were in tears. The Jesus Film Team (all woman) make us very proud as they set such a good example when they hand out clothes, pray, minister, study, practice, teach and sing the Gospel. Through their example Jesus is touching and changing many lives.

Thank you all for your support and prayers.

“ WORK IS LOVE MADE VISIBLE”

“GOD IS LOVE”

NEXT OUTREACH; JULY HOLIDAYS

WE NEED: CLOTHING, SHOES, BLANKETS, ANY SPORT EQUIPMENT (CRICKET SETS, TENNIS BALLS, SOCCER BALLS, NETBALL, VOLLEY BALLS), BIBLES (ENG, AFR, TSWANA, HERERO) AND ANY ENGLISH BOOKS.

       

       

NEW XANAGAS Botswana - ON FIRE

ON FIRE!!!! NEW XANAGAS, BOTSWANA. “I came to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already kindled” (Luke 12:49)

One week before the oureach teams arrive we are hecticly rushing against time to prepair the Pham-Pham camp site for the visitors - then a white dove appears - very unusual in the Kalahari - we all find a blisfull peace and calmness. Thank you Father.

GLORY!!! The first outreach from South Africa, Namibia and Gabarone by GAINSA, Campus Crusade for Christ, Jesus Film Project and Macedonian Project to the permanent base camp of the Jesus Film Project in New Xanagas, Botswana has left the community reeling in GLORY! After a week of teaching, praying, ministering, Jesus Film showings and humanitarian work, 163 people and more accepted Jesus as their saviour. We had three showings (Xun, Tswana and English) of the Jesus Film in various squatter areas of the Village.

Initially and when this mission/dream started in August 2011 it seemed impossible to put all together in such a short time. For me personally it was a roller coaster ride and at stages I thought of cancelling or giving up. Normally after prayer and talking with Father God and leaving all the stress and worries with and for Him and in His time, things would start falling in place. The blessings and miracles are much more than we ever expected. No one can write a story / scrip as good as this one. Our Father God’s LOVE is amazing and His stories, like this one, are truly gripping. (Read about the encounter with steenbok and Blessing (the Tazz) on the blog www.paintingangles.blogspot.com)

My birthday wish/prayer of having enough food to feed the Village was granted. On Good Friday we had a fired up a and packed Easter service and then we all had lunch together. Beforehand the teams collected the Old and Disabled at home who spent the day with us. Children were playing soccer and games and some tried donkey and horse riding. The community worked so hard to prepare the Pham-Pham Camp site and Traditional Village in time to welcome the visitors. Many times the working teams had only morvite to eat for the day. I am so proud of our team who have proved and shown that work is LOVE made visible – God is LOVE!! Traditional dancers welcomed the visitors with song and dance around a fire at the Traditional Village. We thank God for receiving funds for the accommodation as this allowed us to pay the teams and buy food for the disabled, sick and old.

Visiting outreach teams also had the privilege to build the first shade net chalets for an old Bushman couple (who sleep without shelter under trees – only blankets). The house was built in record time (3 days) and the excited and happy couple cut the ribbon to enter there new home. We have been blessed with a lot of shade net to build more homes for the homeless, old and disabled.

Thank you for the visiting cooking team for all the home-made meals – the well prepared dishes of which we are not used to were excellent. Thank you for the mechanic (also on cooking team) who repaired the Glory Lorry, 4x4Toyota Hi Lux (1 million km on clock), Blessing the Tazz and the generator. New and lasting friendships were formed as God’s family praised and worshipped in the heat of the very hot Kalahari day and in the sometimes bitter cold Kalahari nights and in many languages (Eng, Afrikaans, Naro, Herero, Tswana..).

Saying our goodbyes was very emotional and many team members wanted to stay, for various reasons, mainly to assist with the growing need to spread the Gospel and to assist with humanitarian aid. However we all know that the foundation has now been set and that many old and new outreach teams will return to New Xanagas to see God @ work.

Come and experience God’s LOVE within and around you. God created us, His children, to be like Him. Like Jesus did, God wants us to pursue our God-given calling and created identity, to show the world what God’s LOVE can achieve and looks like, in flesh and blood. Creation and work is LOVE made visible – God is LOVE.

The fire in New Xanagas is raging on and needs constant feeding – come visit us join an outreach team, inform your church. Help us - Please forward this to all your contacts. We need to feed the fire!!!

For more info on outreach camps or just a holiday or experience the Kalahari San Safari in Botswana contact me on martin@art-me-africa.com Blessings.

GOD'S MARVELOUS MYSTERIOUS WAYS

God’s marvellous mysterious ways I stand amazed at the continued miracles and most of the time I am dumb founded at the sequel of events and mysterious ways that God uses to assist me to continue to bring the word of God to needy people.

I left New Xanagas, Botswana for South Africa on Tuesday 21 February 2012, to finalise the outreach trip, in March/April and to apply for a new drivers license. The trip was planned according to available budget and finances were calculated to the nearest cent. On my way I had to stop to find accommodation for the out reach teams who will be travelling the same rout in April. The village of Kang is the halfway mark between Pretoria and New Xanagas and my plan is to fill up in Kang and get accommodation prices at camps, B&B’s etc. Our budgets are cut to the bone and we try to find accommodation at the lowest rate possible. The Tazz/car – Blessing’s encounter with a cow last year made me more aware and careful of animals on the road. (We hit a cow side on). I leave early in the morning and there is quite a lot of traffic (animals walk over or sleep on roads at night), we run over a rabbit. While constantly navigating through the animal traffic an eagle or falcon flies away from road kill directly into blessings nose, feathers fly and I stop to see if there is any damage luckily none – not even a sneeze from blessing with a feather stuck in his nose. At about 08h00 and 75 km from Kang the road is clear as far as I can see and with no sign of animals I drive at 130 km per hour. Suddenly a steenbok runs out of the bushes and onto the road in front of me. The only reaction I have time for is to say a word I will not mention here and take my foot of the petrol. (later I thank God that I did not have time to brake or swerve). We hit the buck head-on with a tremendous bang and I look in the rear view mirror but see no buck lying in the road. The heat gage immediately moves up to the red and while slowing down I see a Bushman along the road pointing at the car. As I slow down to 80km there is a noise as I bump/drive over the buck, it was stuck to the front of the car. The cars engine cuts out as I navigate the car to the shade of a tree along the road, the heat gage in red. On inspection I find the radiator badly damaged, my number plate is missing and a broken mudguard. I cannot see any damage to the engine but realize that I will not be able to drive any further. There is no mobile reception in the area and I will have to rely on passing motorists to help. As I walk back searching for my number plate I see no sign of the Bushman, buck or my number plate – as if nothing happened. We blessed some lucky San family with a good meal. After flagging down and requesting assistance from various passers by, I wait for help from the Village of Kang. At 11h00 no help has arrived and I realise that I will have to take a chance to leave blessing alone, hike to Kang and find help myself. (They steal the wheels from unattended cars). A Herrero man drops me of in Kang at a diesel mechanic/farmer business. Immediately the family assist me and we tow blessing to the workshop. We try unsuccessfully to find a replacement radiator and the mechanic magically repairs the battered radiator to work without a sign of any leaking water. At 17h00 we start blessing and water shoots out of the head and we realise that the head gasket needs to be replaced. We will only be able to repair it the next day. The family invite me to a Game Farm where the mechanic needs to do some repairs to a diesel pump. We will sleep over at the Game Farm and repair blessing the next day - Wednesday.

The Family at the Game Farm warmly receive us and we all have a wonderful evening together. As I explain my work with Campus Crusade for Christ, Jesus Film Project, GAINSA, Macedonian Project etc and reason for my trip to South Africa the Game Farm family offer accommodation for the out reach team, at no cost. They further offer assistance with training the San/Bushman on their farm in New Xanagas. While I am constantly calculating and am concerned about the unexpected costs for the repairs to blessing (the gasket, radiator and the labour to the car could be close to P 5000 and more). Both families pray and assure me that they will assist to get me on the road again. On Wednesday at 19h00 after working throughout the day blessing is repaired and I can continue with my journey. At first I travel slowly nursing the car that wants to overheat as the repaired and damaged radiator is only functioning at half it’s capacity. Before leaving Kang I am stunned when the mechanic tells me to pay him only P1 500 for the repairs to blessing when I am in South Africa (2 days labour, parts and all) and they borrow me P 300 for petrol as i am unable to draw money as funds that was supposed to come through into my account for this trip, did not. I top up blessing with the P 300 and as I start my journey clouds form in the distance. I pray for a safe journey, it is very hot and rain will help so much to cool the overheating blessing. And then I see it, over the road in front of me – Yes!!!! – You are right! A beautiful rainbow. With tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat I thank God for His constant, support, my protection and the mysterious ways that He provides for all my needs. Pham-Pham – Abundance!!

HARVESTING LOVE IN THE KINGDOM

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ One month in New Xanagas and I am truly blessed to be here. I am blessed to be able to assist the village of New Xanagas in rebuilding and restoring the community as the secular leadership, religious leadership and civil government become aware that they do not have all the answers or the wisdom to heal centuries of brokenness of the community and various cultures. I am blessed as God continues to amaze me as He gives me so much assistance in wisdom and uses me and my talents / experience to assist with empowering the San and other communities. I am blessed in realising the reality of God’s presence within and around us at all times and that He is making the San aware of this fact, as well. Most of the community have shown remarkable spirit and support to implement the Business and Empowerment Plan for there future. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The San (also known as Bushman) village of New Xanagas, Botswana is located approximately 40 km south east of Xanagas. Within the village live twelve San families who have received farmland from the Botswana government. Each family consists of forty to fifty family members. Over the past few years the village has grown and expanded with other San families and Herero families moving in. The village has grown to approximately 500 people. The infrastructure within the community is very basic and the Village Sub-Chief (Kgosi) Mr. Khanxao Khaise, The Management Committee and Village Development Committee (VDC) is constantly seeking ways to establish viable and sustainable infrastructure and business opportunities within the farm, village and the community. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Projects / Business By starting this initiative the New Xanagas community are inviting all San and other communities to visit the village and partake in major sport events and competitions such as soccer and netball, as well as, invite tourists, visitors, guests and people of all sectors of society and the world, to visit Pham-Pham Place (Abundance), the Traditional Village and Camp site and thereby giving them the opportunity to experience and witness the Kalahari San heritage, culture and lifestyle A. KURUMASE (Help Your Self) San Cultural & Educational Training Centre The training centre will be at the current base site in New Xanagas and use the example of the successful San Cultural & Educational Training Centre !Khwattu in the Western Cape of South Africa. www.khwattu.org Through careful training in sustainable farming, tourism, arts & crafts, general life skills and various other fields, Kurumase will work towards offering a healthier, safer and self determined future to all San as well as other communities. Available Courses and training opportunities Ø Life Skills based on Christian principles Ø Community based tourism certificate (level 4) Ø Community based hospitality certificate Ø Advanced tracking certificate, Kruger National Park, South Africa Ø Curator ship (Museum / Art gallery), UK, London Ø Arts & Crafts Ø Farming methods and Management (Farming God’s Way) B. PHAM-PHAM PLACE (Abundance) Traditional Village and Camp Site Together with Botswana Tourism, Tour Operators and NGO’s the goal of Pham-Pham Place Traditional Village & Camp Site is to create immediate job opportunities in New Xanagas, promote and sustain the San culture and heritage and advertise and market it to the world. After a visit to Pham-Pham Place tourists and visitors will leave with a lasting impression and a new understanding of the San culture and heritage. Tourists and visitors will be entertained by the humble traditional Kalahari San hospitality and friendship. Kalahari San Safari Experience Tourists/Guests/Visitors Program Ø Participate in San guided tour Ø Discover the medicinal and feeding value of wild herbs and plants Ø Visit replica traditional San village Ø Experience traditional singing, dancing and drama Ø Listen to hunting stories of the past Ø Experience survival skills – making fire, tracking game Ø Learn about children’s traditional games Ø Horse and donkey cart riding Ø Movies – nature DVD’s, music DVD’s, inspirational & Jesus Film DVD’s Ø Arts & crafts gallery and market Ø Seasonal events – sport (desert flower run / cycle, soccer / netball), horse/donkey/cart rides and races), religious and humanitarian outreach Ø Eat out with a San family at there home in New Xanagas village

C. NEW XANAGAS FARM WBT (Working Beautifully Together) The vision of the WBT regarding the 48 000 ha allocated farm land acquired through the government is to learn, teach and implement good farming practice and utilise the farm economically in harmony with nature. A Management team and the infrastructure must be developed to sustain a successful farming operation with cattle farming as the main objective. According to the provisional business plan a budget of P 24 million is needed to start this farming operation. As soon as the Kurumase training centre is up and running it will provide the opportunity for the community to acquire further farming and farm management skills / qualifications with various farming methods, training and teaching courses that will be offered. FARMING PROJECTS Ø Water supply and fencing Ø Cattle / Goats farm management Ø Tswana Chicken Project (Government initiative) Ø 40 x 1 hectare plots area utilised to grow vegetables, beans, makhatan (wild melon), mealies etc (Farming God’s Way will support & assist) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I live in New Xanagas village in the church base camp and since my arrival we have had problems with the water supply. We have two water tanks at base camp and when there is a water shortage we allow the people to collect one bucket / container per family. Many ask for food or money and it is very difficult to not share what I have, especially older people and young children. I share one meal with old bushman Caragreen who cleans and tends to the vegetable garden. With the water shortage it is difficult to grow vegetables. Caragreen gives me a good talking to as I, not thinking, throw out the dirty dishwater in the Kalahari sand – all water is life and must go to the vegetables – the cattle goats, horses and other animals also need water and on and on….

When we have food we try to first feed orphan children living with families, then the old, disabled and sick. Morvite (serial) has the most vitamins and is not expensive and a bag goes a long way to feed quite a lot of people. The children stand in line and each one gets a spoon full of morvite in a mug of water. One Sunday just before church we give the children a cup of morvite and one little girl gets very upset when she cannot have a second cup, we could not understand her but the tone of her voice suggested that she was quite angry with us not giving her another cup. Caragreen explained to her that there were many more people to feed and each could only get one cup. We then find out her name is Irish (Irish temper all right – I cannot escape the Irish). She later helped to wash the cups and we gave her a second cup. It is hot, very hot, and it is raining, plenty! A sand storm nearly blows my tent away, the flimsy plastic tent is not made for the Kalahari. At night I have to move my stretcher to dodge the raindrops seeping through all over. We put waterproof shade net over the tent – it is much better. I begin to wonder and ponder why I am here – what purpose?? Hunger pains (I think) my body adjusting to these extreme conditions and a radical diet. We still have problems with water and I ponder?? Then thunder in the distance. A few drops disturb the sand and I think if it rains will my tent stay dry – I ponder?? Feeling quite brittle I look up and suddenly I wonder in amazement a Kalahari Rainbow!!! Over the Tent Church!! Thank you Father for reminding me, for abundance. That same day it starts raining plenty and the water supply is restored. We do not have water problems at this sage.

The Churches are running on empty. No work, poverty, modern lifestyle, drinking drugs etc is also here taking its toll. The truly dedicated believers attend church, show the Jesus Film and with limited resources they continue to spread the good news of God’s love. Then out of the blue one Sunday morning the sub-chief arrives at church bible in hand. Glory!!! Together with the Sub-Chief we have formed the Management Committee and every Sunday after church we have our meetings. Pham-Pham Place, Camp Site kitchen is ready for guests / visitors and planning and building continues full steam ahead for the first out reach in March/April 2012. Join us!!! We have had tremendous response thus far any various groups / guests and / visitors will visit us during the year. Desert flowers all around, the Kalahari is green. Thank you Father God for Pham-Pham (abundance) BOOKINGS FOR PHAM-PHAM PLACE, KALAHARI SAN SAFARI Mobile: +267 7387 3730

THANK YOU FOR PHAM PHAM!!

At the beginning of a new working year consider this and say thank you for Pham Pham
(Pham Pham means abundance in San Bushman).

Creation and Work is LOVE made visible.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

ABUNDANCE

Many people today drag themselves from one boring day to the next and hate every moment of what they are doing including their school or work. They question the reason for working and even for living. If it is not possible to change your circumstances, school or job, you can change your attitude by appreciating life and enjoying every little thing you do. As God’s child you are filled with love and even in the most negative circumstances it is possible to find pride and joy in your school or work and all the little things you do daily. Working together with Father God means to work in LOVE, it will channel power into your daily life and you will be able to deal with life triumphantly in the present and in the future. Life is LOVE, live in LOVE.

“All true work is sacred; in all true work, were it but true hand-labour, there is something of divineness. Labour wide as the earth, has its summit in Heaven”. (Thomas Carlyle)

Poet and Artist Kahlil Gibran wrote this about work;

You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soil of the earth.

For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the season, and to step out of life’s procession that marches on in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.

When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.

Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?

Always you have been told that work is a curse and that labour a misfortune.

But I say to you that when you work you fulfil a part of earth’s furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born,

And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life,

And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life’s inmost secret.

But if you in your pain call birth an affliction and the support of the flesh a curse written upon your brow, then I answer that naught but the sweat of your brow shall wash away that which is written.

You have been told also that life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what was said by the weary.

And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge, and all urge is blind save when there is knowledge.

And all knowledge is vain save when there is work, and all work is empty save when there is love;

And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.

And what is it to work with love?

It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.

It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.

It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit.

It is to charge all things you fashion with breath of your own spirit,

And to know that all the blessed dead are standing about you and watching.

Work is love made visible.

And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.

For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man’s hunger.

And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distils a poison in the wine.

And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle man’s ears to the voices of the day and the voices of the night.”

HARVESTING LOVE!

(Join the cause - Adrian Herrewyn Harvest - Pappa Mighty Warrior - www.causes.com)

CELEBRATE LIFE AND LOVE!!!

GOD IS LOVE!!!

KALAHARI SAFARI

Join us on 30 March to 8 April 2012 in New Xanagas, Botswana to celebrate LIFE and LOVE, as well as, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Campus Crusade for Christ and Jesus Film Project in Africa. 

By joining us you will be helping with humanitarian aid, to educate, train, build, supply and distribute food and clothing etc. to various San Bushman and other African communities.

If you cannot visit in April 2012 you are more than welcome to visit anytime during the year to experience the traditional San Bushman lifestyle in the New Xanagas traditional camp site and village.
We have more than enough camping sites, water, electricity and solar energy (bushman fire sticks for emergency), basic shared ablutions and kitchen. Bring your own accommodation (tent, caravan), camping equipment and food. If you are a tourist and at a minimal fee, we will assist to get you here - transport, accommodation and food.

Tourists and guests will be entertained with traditional Bushman hospitality, art, crafts, singing, dancing, sport and games, donkey-cart, donkey or horse rides, and all can join the "Bushman Jesus Film Team" on the "Glory Lorry" as they travel to remote areas in the Kalahari with evangelistic actions and showing of Jesus Film under the stars.

Spend a few days with us and then travel to one of the many private or National Parks / Game Reserves and visit well known tourist attractions to see abundant wild life and the Big 4 (as a result of poaching the rhino's have been removed from all National Parks and Game Reserves and placed in heavily protected areas). Visit the Okovango Delta, drive through the Caprivi and Chobe National Park  and stop over at the Victoria Falls, as you take a round trip back home.

Email me Martin on martin@art-me-africa.co or Trevor on trevor@nametours.co.za  

TABLE MOUNTAIN - NEW SEVEN WONDERS OF NATURE.

TABLE MOUNTAIN YOU BEAUTY!!!

Thank you for your votes!!!

A welcome tourism boost will result for South Africa and particular for Cape Town with the successful voting of Table Mountain as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

 

On 11/11/11 and through world wide participation, Table Mountain was voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. (the final stamp of approval will be given with the inauguration ceremony of the New 7 Wonders of Nature early in 2012).

ORIGINAL TABLE MOUNTAIN PAINTINGS.

It is expected that that the demand and value of original Table Mountain 2 dimensional Rock Art Oil Paintings by Artist Martin Erasmus, will increase considerably. For more than 8 years Martin has painted and sold many of these sort after Table Mountain Rock Art paintings.
www.african-rock-art.com

All Table Mountain Rock Art Paintings  are 2 dimensional and this is achieved by plastering and /or shaping a mixture of sand cement plasters, plastic resins or polymers onto artists stretch canvas. After curring of the shaped sand cement plaster, artists oil paints are used to complete the painting. All Table Mountain Rock Art Oil paintings are meticulously designed, shaped, plastered, sculptured and painted by hand and each Rock Art painting is one of a kind "The Original Painting".

Sought after and excellent Gifts for:

VI P's Corporate or Business Clients and tourists and Tour operators

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ORDER your original Table Mountain 2 dimensional Rock Art Oil Painting today!!!

Email: martin@art-me-africa.com or www.african-rock-art.com

Small      (400mm x 300mm)             R 1 500, 00
Medium  (600mm x 400mm)             R 2 100, 00
Large      (1200mm x 600mm)           R 2 800, 00

OR

select from website; www.african-rock-art.com - Rock Art Gallery -

OR

Send / Email your favorite photo of Table Mountain and the Artist will paint it in the size that you prefer.

www.paintingangles.blogspot.com

www.african-rock-art.com

Email; martin@art-me-africa.com