News from World Horizons

Here is the latest update from David and Corne Storm.

Team Photo

The 8000 mile round trip to Eastern Turkey and back was not without its fair few challenges!

However we have already heard that since praying and fasting for a couple of days in one north-eastern province, the number of believers in the province has now doubled!  The Lord God is Mighty to Save!

 Iftar

The Turkish government put on mass 'Iftar' end of fast dinners.  Here, we joined 500 Kurds and Syrian refugees in the breaking of their daily Ramadan fast.  We were welcomed very warmly by Muslim families and individuals alike.

Iraq Convoy

Due to a change of events, we had the unexpected bonus of a spontaneous trip to Iraq!  This was quite a journey involving an armed convoy along the Turkish/Syrian border as we entered Iraq.  In Iraq we met some friends and Iraqi Christians.  It was so encouraging for us all to hear their testimonies and to pray together.

   Cairo Skyline

The August trip to Cairo has been cancelled.  However please join us in remembering the nation and people of Egypt. We will specifically be fasting lunches over 2nd-6th September to pray and invite you to join with us.

We recommend reading this link to better understand the current situation and in understanding how to pray.  https://www.sat7usa.org/understanding-the-present-situation-in-egypt

Soul Action South Africa Update

 

 

It was good to have a visit from Phil, Rachel and Zachary Bowyer back in June while they were in the UK. They spent 4 weeks travelling around to spend time with their family, and visiting churches and groups to share about their work. It was a trip that they found physically exhausting, but spiritually, socially and emotionally energising, inspiring and surprising!

 





I'm a church leader, get me out of here!

On their return to South Africa they hit the ground running by gathering local church leaders on their first day back to pray about their national conference planned for next March. During the first week they were back they met with the 20 leaders they have been gathering to think through what it means to empower communities to use their own resources to meet their own needs. The leaders in the photo may look like they are trying to escape the building, but in reality they were asked to make the longest line they could with the resources they had on them! The exercise not only brought out their competitive streak but also drove home the point: we can sometimes overlook our own resources, and - worse still - forget that even those people in what we think are the most desperate situations still have resources and potential.

Pray:

• That this group of leaders would be catalysts in this country for a move towards people empowerment.
• For stories of people for whom empowerment has led to them re-discovering their fullest potential in God.

Educators discussing in groups the advantages of shared reading.

 

Soul Action South Africa's Literacy Project's vision is to empower children to reach their full potential. To achieve this they have chosen to support teachers in low economic communities by working with schools to teach children to read and write in English. One of the ways Soul Action supports teachers is by facilitating workshops. In this case the teachers had asked for support with shared reading. 19 teachers attended the workshop which aimed to develop an understanding of what is meant by, and how to facilitate, shared reading.

 



Feedback from all the groups

 

Pray:

• For Rachel as she continues to train teachers, and especially for the relationship she is developing the Department of Education in KwaZulu Natal.

 

Copies of the Soul Action South Africa monthly newspapers are available in Priory Lane. Or go to their website: www.soulaction.co.za for more information.

 



Kids Try Praying

Our children and young people have enjoyed getting to grips with praying over the summer with the help of these great Try Praying books for children and youth. Like the adult version, these books explain what prayer is all about and encourage young readers to try praying for themselves with some simple steps they can follow.

The children's version has stories and puzzles which made learning about prayer fun for us all! The youth books have plenty of testimonies from young people who have found that praying has really made a difference to their lives in all sorts of trials and difficulties which are so typical in the experience of young people today.

We have a few of both books left over, and plenty of the adult version too, so let us know if you would like one! Or you can find out more about TryPraying and order books at www.trypraying.co.uk

Moore family update

A Little Gardening

 

                                                                   Rice Farming



 

Words for rice:

Sawah = rice field

Nasi = cooked rice

Beras = uncooked rice kernals

Padi = rice plant while growing

Nasib = destiny

Reinventing the Wheel

 

There seems to be no end to the things we thought we knew how to do, that now we are having to re-learn. From little things like how to pay at the grocery store (praise that there is a grocery store!) to bigger things like how to communicate with our neighbors and how to get enough internet service to actually send a newsletter. Part of me really wants to plant some tomatoes...the other part knows that that, too, will be something I must re-learn, and I am not sure I am up for that just yet. Luckily, it is tomato planting season year round here, so I can put that off a little longer! So far our struggles have been few and seemingly trivial (praise!) and I am humbled to realize that God cares enough to help out with those too. He really does provide everything we need...even the small stuff...just when we need it. And so, perhaps our complete dependence on Him is exactly how it should be...after all...I can't make a tomato grow anyway...I can just do my part...and trust that He will do His.

 

                                                                               Lucy

 

Thankful

We have so much to be thankful for. Since it is Lucy's birth month, I will share a story about her. So, about two weeks ago, it was Lucy's turn to have a cold, and about a week into it, she seemed to be getting a little worse. In fact over the course of a day, she really didn't want to eat, or play, and her chest started rattling when she breathed. Of course, we noticed this last bit as we were heading out the door to fellowship with some new friends. The international medical clinic is open 24/7, so we decided to make a brief showing at our friends' house, then take Lucy after that. Our friends started praying for Lucy, and she began getting better! She started playing contentedly and ate all her supper. Her breathing improved, too, and needless to say, we did not end up going to the doctor. She has not looked back...she is completely healthy! Praise the Lord!


                                             Here's what some locals were up to recently.

Prayer Requests Praise! We arrived safely! Peace in Adjusting and patience in learning language and culture here. Praise! That the Lord has provided school opportunities for Norine, Silas, and Biggi beginning in August. That the Lord will continue His perfect provision. Balinese persons of peace, that we would be drawn together. Young Balinese house churches...that they would continue and multiply! Our families...that the Lord would grant them joy and comfort in our journey Our children...that their excitement would be contagious! Our team...that the Lord would be the center and focus of its forming! Love, Patience, Peace and Joy!                                                             

Milestones

An update from David and Corne Storm:

We have recently celebrated our 8th Wedding Anniversary - how time flies!

At the end of May this year, we also look back on 5 years of ministry with World Horizons.

Both of these little milestones represent a great opportunity to thank many friends and family members and church for their continued friendship and support - THANK YOU!

 

David is now in full swing for preparing for the 6 week overland journey to Turkey.  The team recently had their preparation get together - 21 people will be on team. 

 

Please pray for the final preparations - of Land Rovers, catering, finance, itinerary updates with people in Turkey and please pray for some specific words from the Lord that will fuel us all.  We leave on Sunday 16th June.

The Moore Family in Bali

 

 
Luke and Julie Moore are missionaries from our sister church, Athens Link Fellowship. In April 2013, Luke and Julie moved to Bali with their children, Norine, Silas, Abigail (Biggi) and Lucy, to work with Pioneers, a sending organisation.

Here is an update from Luke and Julie on how things are going so far:

"It is hard to believe we have been here six weeks already!  There have been challenges to be sure (not the least of which has been internet access when we think we need it)...but the Lord has continued to be gracious in providing what we need when we actually do need it.

We are blessed with lovely neighbours on our gang (street) who have been very welcoming. Please pray for them and that our interactions with them would serve as a suitable witness. We have also been warmly recieved by other workers here, many of whom are really helping us find what we need to get settled in.

View down their street

 

Biggi with some neighbours

Language learning has begun and is progressing a bit slowly for our liking. Please pray that the Lord would give us ears to hear and mouths to speak! 

Currently we are trying to secure schooling for Norine, Silas, and Biggi. Please pray that the Lord would help us to discern what He has for them in this area.

Above all, please pray for the spiritual climate here - it is very dark. We have glimpsed a bit of the opposition, it is strong, but our God is stronger and will be victorious!  The power of prayer is phenomenal! We look forward to getting a proper news letter out soon; until then, please feel free to email or facebook (our phones can handle most of that on cell coverage."

 

Farmer with "Traktor"

Volcano in the distance

 

The Moore's would love to hear from you - you can contact them by email:   lujumoore@swissmail.org or on facebook.

Their blog is also good fun - http://balimoores.blogspot.com/

Messy Church

 

We had a fun filled couple of hours again at Messy Church last Saturday when many families came along to enjoy time together as we heard more about prayer. Sarah reminded us of how Jesus said that birds and flowers don't worry about what they will eat or what they will wear because God knows what they need and looks after them. There were even lots of flowers and a little budgie at Messy Church to help us remember that we can pray and ask God for the things we need and trust Him to look after us too!

Over the past year we have learned so much at Messy Church as we have heard stories from the Bible about heroes like Noah, Joseph and David, and the life of Jesus, the friends He had then (and how He wants to be our friend now) and how He died and rose again so that we could be forgiven of our sins and have a relationship with God. We have made all sorts of crafts, things to take home to help us remember these great Bible stories - and had a great time being Messy in the process! Then there's the enthusiastic singing and a chance to pray together too before we eat the delicious food which our hard working kitchen team make for us, and the yummy home made cakes.

Messy Church is always busy with more than 50 people coming along, and there's usually a couple of new families each time too. But numbers have never been important; the people are important and those who come have a great opportunity to hear about God and His love for them.

There is always such a buzz around the building on Messy days - so many people are needed to help in so many different ways, but it is always such an encouraging and worthwhile time and, without everyone's help and the many prayers, it just wouldn't be possible. So, if you help in any way - then a HUGE thank you!

We are having a break for the next couple of months, so the next Messy Church will be on Saturday 31st August. Invitations are already available in Priory Lane so grab a few over the summer and invite any family or friends who might like to come along!