Resting in relationship

by | Mar 17, 2017 | Health, South Africa

It seems to me that most of my posts of late have been teetering on the edge of frantic. Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now!
But last evening I was reminded that our journey in life is all about relationship. The Psalmist indicates that while some trust in the power or generosity of fellow humans, he trusts in the name of the Lord his God. And trust presupposes relationship.
Someone recently said that our going to serve in southern Africa was because we are obedient. That is true, but even willing obedience is founded upon relationship.
If we did not know that our God is who He is, we would not be going. We are going because the God who demonstrated His love for the world in sacrificing Himself to make such a relationship possible has called us to go. And He who calls us is faithful. Like a good shepherd, He cares and provides for each sheep.
The proof of this is, of course, His Word. There we see in the lives of each biblical character that what He has promised, He will do. And indeed history, both general and personal, bears witness to this reality. As we look on back down the path into the past we can honestly say that the Lord has always been with us and has always done what is best for us.

So, we rest in His goodness, kindness, graciousness, mercy, love, wisdom, and power, knowing full well that we are not alone. He has promised that as we go into His world to make disciples of all nations, He will be with us even to the end of the age.

What’s for Dinner?

by | Mar 16, 2017 | SAMS Missionaries, South East Asia, Thailand

Sat Wat Dee Ka.

Although we eat out most of the time because we have no way to cook in our room, we do shop for snacks, fruit, etc. at the grocery.  There are many interesting choices but we tend to settle for the more familiar items.  On Sunday after church we went to a very large super market in a very large mall.  Take a look at grocery shopping in Bangkok.

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 At the entrance to this grocery story is a memorial to the king.  People stop to acknowledge the now deceased king.  The new king will be crowned next fall, one year after the old king passed away.  These memorials are common as are billboards with the king’s picture, calendars, and other pictures in restaurants and stores.  The Thai people love and honor their king and the royal family.

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Interesting new flavors of potato chips

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Open displays of meat where you can select and bag your own. No DHEC here.

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Out in the mall—Krispy Kreme doughnuts!  We bought some for breakfast.

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Chuck buys fruit from a street vendor.  It is what we have for breakfast most mornings.

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We’re not sure what these fruits are so have not bought any.

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A street vendor is ready to make omelets 

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More street food choices.

There is a big variety of food sold on the streets here.  We’ve been tasting.

Bye for now..

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Meet SAMS-USA

Meet SAMS-USA

by | Mar 15, 2017 | SAMS-USA

Welcome to the SAMS-USA blog! Here you will find the latest news about SAMS Missionaries, information and updates from SAMS as an organization, and happenings in the Anglican community. We are kicking off a new blog series, Meet SAMS-USA, where you will learn about us as a missionary sending community and the missionaries we send around the globe.

SAMS sees itself as a missionary sending community supporting the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Our mission is to raise up, send, and support missionaries to be witnesses and make disciples for Jesus Christ in fellowship with the global Anglican Church. SAMS seeks to fulfill this mission because we are commissioned by Jesus to do so.  SAMS exists to be a bridge of support between sending churches here in the U.S. and the Anglican Church internationally. SAMS exists to lift up Anglican Churches and missionaries as they seek to fulfill the Great Commission.

One of the earliest Crossroads Training for long-term missionaries.

In 1844, Allen Gardiner, an English naval officer, felt a call to share the Gospel with the Yagans, an indigenous people group in South America. Gardiner along with six other missionaries died of starvation in the hopes of sharing the Gospel with those who had never heard of Jesus Christ. Gardiner’s death inspired many to continue his mission, and thus the South American Missionary Society was founded. Others committed to the mission reinitiated the work in South America, and when they arrived on the shores of Argentina and began a Eucharist service, all except the ship’s cook were attacked and killed by the Yagans. Six years later, a 17-year-old named Thomas Bridges continued the mission. Bridges was able to bring the love of Christ to the Yagans, and even those who had killed his friends were moved by the forgiveness Bridges embodied. Bridges baptized many of the same people who speared his friends to death, and the Lord transformed these lives.

Missionary Heidi Smith (left) has been a SAMS Missionary for over 30 years.

Jumping ahead to the 20th century, SAMS-USA was founded by Great Commission Episcopalians in 1976 to address the major decline of missionaries being sent around the globe by the church. At a time when many thought missions to be unnecessary, the founders of SAMS-USA wanted to bring awareness to the importance to make disciples of all nations and revive missionary sending to South America.

SAMS-USA is now known a Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders. SAMS Missionaries serve around the globe, bringing the Good News to those they serve.

Today, God has called SAMS to branch out globally. Reaching not only South America, SAMS spreads the Gospel to Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceana, and North America. SAMS is now known as the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders with over 90 Missionaries, Bridgers, and Teams of all ages.

For more information about SAMS-USA, what we do, and how we serve, visit the about page!

We have booked our tickets!

We have booked our tickets!

by | Mar 14, 2017 | Health, South Africa

We have booked our tickets to Cape Town!
No, we are not yet fully funded, but we made the decision to move forward anyway for several reasons.
·      We believe the Lord has challenged us to do this trusting Him as the one who has called us to this work. It was as if the Lord was saying, “Stop praying about it and just do it.” So we did…
·      Many folks have told us they would sign up and we trust that they will…they just have not yet. Others have promise to increase their current support as well.
·      The country of South Africa is becoming increasingly unstable and we feel we need to be there and do what the Lord has called us to do…to teach teachers the reconciling message of the Gospel.
·      Louise’s mum is becoming increasingly frail and we believe now is the time for Louise to spend as much quality time with the Queen as possible.
·      SAMS-USA has considered our request and given us their blessing even though they will certify us for a shorter period until our full support comes in.
We still have quite a few stops to make before we leave the US on April 10 and believe that we are yet to make many new friends along the way. Our children and grandchildren will also need to see us before we leave…it will be tough saying goodbye, but we know that there will be many more opportunities to visit in the future.
If you have not yet signed up to support us, may we ask you all to prayerfully consider doing so as soon as possible, please?
Just click this link and complete the form:
https://give.samsusa.org/missionaries
We trust that you will all continue to pray with and for us as we enter into this new phase of our lives. Please do let us know how we can pray for y’all as well. Keep sending those newsy emails…they are a source of great encouragement as they serve to remind us of our worldwide connections!
Thank you all for your love.
Blessings.
Johann and Louise
Easy Peasy
http://samsusa.org/johann-and-louise-vanderbijl/

https://give.samsusa.org/missionaries

OR…make checks out and send them to:
SAMS-USA
P. O. Box 399
Ambridge, PA 15003
Please be sure toclearly state that the check is intended for Johann and Louise van der Bijl.

If you wish to support our vehicle/travel fund, do so via check only and write in the memo line: van der Bijl vehicle fund