Koen Journey

Reflections

I guess the hardest thing about  keeping a blog is putting my thoughts down and having it make sense without writing and re-writing it. I hope that as I write our last blog, you will come away with peace, knowing  that we are in good hands  and pressing on forward  on this journey.

The family is doing well. We feel blessed to have bought tickets last year for the WC2010. It has been really exciting to be in South Africa during this time, and then to be able to follow our country, the USA team up till last night  in the round of 16,  where we lost 2-1 to Ghana. 

    

It's school break for a few weeks. We have also taken this time off to spend time with the family while getting organized for the new school year (we are back to homeschooling) and spending time with the Lord to discern His will and plan for the months ahead. The one thing we have learned these past few months is to wait on the Lord and in His presence. For Him a day is like a thousand years and all we have is today. 

During this time of waiting, we are  beginning to understand our need for Him alone. Speaking  the other day to my mom, I shared how difficult yet rewarding this journey is that we have chosen to walk. Obedience to that which you cannot see is not easy, but isn't that what faith is all about. There is comfort in reading about the lives of those who have gone before us and chose to live a life of surrender, obedience and prayer. Those such as George Muller, Hudson Taylor, Andrew Murray and Mother Teresa to name a few. 

Although we have stepped back for a season from what we were actively doing in the township, we understand that this time is vital for pruning away the old. Even in terms of who we have been working with, God has been sifting the wheat from the chaff, and we know that in the right season, there will be a harvest. 

The home/ wholesaler continues to be built and  Biggie (Sam) has been a blessing to our family, looking out for us and helping us with recent car problems too. Again, we stand amazed at His grace for our family, and we have the blessed assurance that He is faithful to continue working in us to complete that which He started in us.

To close,  I wanted to thank those who pray for us, support us and show us that we are not forgotten about. We have had some time with friends and new friends of recent who have helped us see the need for community, encouragement and a time of prayer and fellowship. We look forward in anticipation to the  next few months, and thank you for follow our journey this past year. May you come to know how much He loves you in the months that lie ahead. God bless you always. Tina, Frikkie and our boys, Josh and Matt

 

We have been in South Africa for a year now. In many ways, it feels like an eternity, in other ways like we just arrived.

I have tried blogging, but realize that I am just not cut out for it. I should not be feeling guilty for only blogging occasionally and wondering where time has gone by in-between. What does make me feel guilty though is the cost for not using it, especially in $ terms when there are many other sites where it is free. So, I have decided to go for a free blog and to stick to Facebook and Twitter. Please feel free to look us up on Facebook and Frikkie's Twitter account is called, "Bringinghope." I will be updating this blog one one time over the weekend after the USA vs England World Cup soccer game that the family will be attending in Rustenburg on Saturday. GO USA!!!!!!

Hi is risen indeed. Happy Easter friends and family.

You may be wondering what has happened to the Koens for the past few weeks. I too have wondered, and I wish I can say where the time has gone or how I have spend the last few weeks since I last updated our blog, but I can't.

Yesterday we hid donated Easter eggs in the Stoffel Park community park for the children. I am glad we did not advertise it, as within 10 minutes, we had about 300 children. It was great seeing all the faces, and I have to believe that these kids had never had the opportunity before to hunt for eggs. Although we felt blessed to have this opportunity, we also realised that the road ahead is long in teaching simple truths like honesty, taking turns, sharing and being thankful. If we look at having 10-12 years with most of these children, we are hopeful. If they never have the opportunites, then how can we expect them to think differently. One small step for man, one giant leap for man kind.

In loving memory of Ms. Barbara Leader - 03/05/2010 age 58

I've always loved children and the elderly, so after moving to Oklahoma in 2003, I decided it would be a good idea to "adopt" a grandparent for the boys. It wasn't because they didn't have grandparents (they were all living in South Africa), but because I felt it was very important for our boys to be able to relate to an older person and appreciate the wisdom that comes with age. 

Anyway, I went to a meeting hosted by "Caring Companions" where I was given the name of a lady who was almost deaf. Knowing myself and how difficult that would be, I chose another lady. Not only was she allot younger than most people in a nursing home, but she had two sons. Her name was Ms. Leader (Barbara Leader). She had not been in the home for too long and was also looking for companionship. She was a perfect match and I was introduced to her by Elaine (an angel) from Grace Living Center. The boys and I would look forward to our weekly visits, and she was a great comfort to me and source of encouragement on the days my boys were driving me crazy, sharing her motherhood stories and reminding me that boys will be boys. She was like a mother to me while in Oklahoma, and I missed her after we started traveling. Thank you to the Urban Family for taking over from me in a far greater way when we left OK, for which I am eternally thankful.

I have never known anybody with as many health issues as she had, but her will to live and her incredible strength against all odds is how I will always remember her, a testimony to her faith and hope in Christ. Regardless of how many times she was in and out of hospital, she chose to live life to the best of her ability. She helped out in the office doing admin work, chairperson of a committee at the center that affected change down her wing (passage), joined the "Red Hat Society" at the home, loved doing crafts and baking at the home, joined the aerobic classes from her wheel chair, loved ice-creams on Wednesdays (which my boys loved too:) and her 3 legged cat that she looked after for a while. My son Joshua posted this;

Josh Koen Hi Ms. Leader, how are you?

February 22 at 4:46pm · Comment · Like · See Wall-to-Wall

Barbara Debey Leader 

Hi Josh! I am doing remarkable well, thank you. I have enjoyed the pictures on your wall of Africa! Love to you!

February 26 at 4:08pm

What a remarkable lady! We will miss her dearly but know that she is in heaven where there is no more pain and suffering, and where we will get to see her again one day. Our deepest condolences to her sons, Andrew and Jeremy, and her other family members.

Stofel Park, Mamelodi

Photos from Stofel Park, Mamelodi. They represent the school and the committee forming for the community survey/ assessment.

      .

 

Tuesday 16th

For the past few days I have failed at uploading my flip videos of Stofel Park, Mamelodi but hope to get some new footage soon. Anyway, we are excited about the door that has opened for us in Stofel Park. It has the feel of rural Africa, beautiful views and the greatest potential for transformation. Our hope is to walk a road with this community, to assist in raising the next generation as we partner with the school and 42 kindergarten children. We are also preparing a community assessment to see what the needs are and how we over time can build a community that is not only self sustaining, but that raises the next generation of leaders and change makers. We hope and pray that you will continue to walk with us at walking pace, knowing that there is a season for everything under heaven. 

As I type this there is thunder outside and heavy rain. Oh, how I love it when it gets darker and cooler before the rain comes down. Such a welcome when we have been having temperatures of around 95F with no air conditioning. The bad thing is when you open the doors and windows at night to let in cooler air, the mosquitoes arrive :)

There have been losses and gains this past week in our home...I said good bye to my Adidas sandals and some clothing after the dog wrecked it, but on a lighter note, we gained a new dishwasher from my mom-in-law and brother-in-law and their families. What a blessing to have more time for what really matters, and it is feeling a little more like the US right now.

Matt is keeping up with swimming in school galas and Josh continues to coach soccer in Mamelodi. They have adapted well to the school environment, and today we visited with Josh's Math teacher to get a feel for the school year and the expectation. While at a swim gala last Friday, I was sharing to a lady from a cell phone company, Vodacom about what we are doing in Stofel Park, when she offered to have 42 soccer balls delivered tomorrow for the kindergarten kids at the school we will be assisting. What a blessing to have each child have a ball to learn to play soccer.

Frik continues to be engaged with the people in Mamelodi, and as mentioned above, he is working with 19 people from Stofel Park to develop a community assessment. Today their focus was on education, jobs and medical, and we are really excited about this project and it's value to serve the community and their needs, one step at a time.

I on the other hand have transitioned from being a Martha to a Mary. Although I was struggling in the beginning to relax and be OK with "less" productivity, I know that this is the season to study so that there will be new revelation and the necessary wisdom to prepare us for the season that lies ahead. Although I have only just started, I have always wanted to grow in understanding. His timing is perfect, and I can now use the Libronix course-ware I bought almost 2 years ago. Hippee!! 

I am hoping to convince Frikkie to update the blog next as not only does he do a great job of writing, but I know that you will get a man's view and a different angle to the way I write, as well as more about what is happening in Mamelodi.

Praying for you.

Two weeks in a nutshell.

It has been an eventful past two weeks since the kids started school here in South Africa. Just weeks before I was saying that we'll continue homeschooling 'cause we can't afford private schooling and I would never put my kids into public schooling here in South Africa. Never say never. I went from saying this to having peace with our decision. Funny how that goes. I am so proud of them. By God's grace, they have adjusted well and are glad to have friends again.

Matt started grade 6 in an elementary school about 10 minutes from us, while Josh is in grade 8, which in South Africa is the first year of High school. The biggest adjustment for Josh was having his hair cut short, while for me was probably the fact that in their schools, they are in the minority. To you this may seems normal as we do live in South Africa after all, but you must understand that when we were at school, we attended  school with only white kids. This did not make is right, by no means, but I wanted you to understand where I was coming from. On registration day at Josh's school, I wanted to run away, believing that God hadn't opened that door, but how could I say I trust the Lord, and not step in faith with the answer we were shown. I am learning to walk by faith and not by sight...daily. Although I miss having the boys at home with me, I know this is a season of equipping us for the next.

Matt swam in his school gala on Friday, finishing third in both breastroke and butterfly. I felt like I was back at school, cheering on my fellow school mates. It was exciting to see him swim and give his best. It brought back memories of my parents cheering my sister and I on in athletics, and I look forward to seeing Matt develop the ability that God has given him.

Josh too is willing to take on new challenges, one of which is Sepedi (Northern Sotho). Imagine sitting in a class where he is the only white kid, and before class even started, he was discouraged not to take it as the teacher is racist. 99% of the lesson is in Sepedi, but I do believe that with hard work and help from friends in Mamelodi, Josh can succeed. He understands that it is going to take discipline, time and commitment. God uses our experiences to shape what we do, and I have to believe that God will use this time for Josh to depend on Him and His grace to help him learn this language and to use it for His purposes.

I would love to have seen both Frik and Josh today in the township. Not only did they help Big Man Sam dig for the new spaza that we are building next to Josh's Christmas home, but they also helped a friend of Big Man move his shack. Yes, move that shack! Now there's something for "Extreme makeover." Hopefully the move wasn't too extreme, although Josh said is was really heavy and difficult to move, even if only a  few feet from the original site.

 

Frik and Josh witnessed shack's ablaze from the roadside where the neediest people are and the greatest hell hole in Mamelodi. Josh said you could feel the heat of the flames from the road. It was devastating, with black smoke filling the sky, kids running and mothers scrambling to help the young, while others were trying to rescue what  they could before loosing the little they have. How terrible. Just a day before Big Man's candle in his shack fell over and burnt some of his belongings. It could have been allot worse. Many times there is loss of life as parents lock their kids in the shack and they cannot escape the fire. Hearing all this again makes me so thankful for what Josh is doing to raise funds and build homes for those living in shacks. We truly don't understand what it is like living in these conditions. Move this shack!

 

Frik has also been very busy getting the "Future Fund" micro-loan businesses going. Between chickens, the spaza shops and solar power to start with, we hope that new partnerships will form to help us give hope to orphans and widows that will in turn benefit from these businesses, directly or indirectly.

This past week I has the joy of not only taking my grandmother out shopping, but also to see my twin sister twice. She left her teaching position at the end of last year to pursue her passion and calling into ministry to help hurting people, especially woman. I am so excited for her and see such a huge need, especially amongst the African woman. God willing she and I will start a woman's outreach group in a township not far from where I grew up and got married.

I continue to be amazed by God's goodness and grace. He continues to provide for our family, and we are on a journey to become fully dependant on Him. At times it feels as though I take one step forward and two back, but we will press on forward to the goal. There is more at stake than we realize. Please continue to pray for hedges of protection around our family, for no weapon to form against us and for His spirit of revelation and wisdom to guide our steps. Thank you for your faithfulness and friendship. We are blessed.

An answered prayer

Frikkie's words on Facebook 10 hours ago: "Jesus take the wheel".

God responded: And I did when you let go.

Tina's response: Literally! Jesus DID IT by God's grace and goodness! We now have of as 1 hour ago appointments for two team members for their driver's licenses in March. We have tried getting appointments since November. Wow. God is SO good!! He knows what we need when we need it. Thank you Lord, I am SO excited and thankful for Your provision. You do not disappoint.

It's amazing how the Lord works. Today was a mix of emotions and situations, but through it all, there is a peace that transcends ALL understanding.
.
It's amazing how much can happen in a matter of days. Yesterday the clutch cable of the pick-up broke while Frikkie was in Mamelodi. We thank the Lord that it didn't happen where he was 10 minutes prior to it snapping. I've held my thoughts captive as to what could have happened, but he was in the devil's hell hole. He managed to free wheel straight to a spares shop where he managed to get Big Man to install the new cable.

On Tuesday we submitted two applications for Josh to attend a high school, one public and one private. We had discussed with Josh the possibilities and left it in the Lord's hands, knowing that home school was still an option. Well, today we received a call from the public school. Josh starts on Monday, and we had to have his hair cut, get uniforms and books, supplies, and ofcourse lots of GRACE. I will explain later, but I am thankful for the Lord's grace to help us stay the course, even when it doesn't make sense. He has the plan.

Today I went shopping for school clothes for my youngest son, Matthew. It brought back many memories, both good and bad, of going to public school here in South Africa.