June 2007

Dear Friends,

So many of our friends in North America find it hard to believe that it gets really cold in the area of South Africa that we are living in. The other morning we woke to below freezing weather. When I looked in the garden I noticed that some of the less hardy plants were dead from the frost. We, on the other hand have been able to put on extra layers of clothing and have been lent an electric blanket and portable gas heater. What we have found is, that although our home is an ice block, we can go out during the day and sit in a sunny sheltered spot and get warm while we do paper work.

Enough about cold and something about warmth. We have had a number of our fellow missionaries and other guests stay with us in the last two months and it has been such a heart warming experience for us. I calculated that since the 5th of April we have had 77 guest/nights. Some people stayed a number of days and others just an overnight. We also had a medical evacuation from Mozambique, but are so thankful that the lady is fully recovered and back home again with her family. Every one of the missionaries has a unique story about where they met God and how he has brought them to this point in their lives. It is so thrilling for us to see the power of God working through ordinary people who have opened up their lives for him to use them and their gifts to bless others. It has also been humbling to hear about the many struggles with health, personal safety and the sheer logistics some of the missionaries face living in isolated communities. Below I have included a photo taken during the last conference of the group of missionaries we are serving. Pray for protection for their children, their marriages and good working relationships. We are a multinational group and come from England, South Africa, Sweden, Finland, USA, Canada, Angola, Holland and Germany.

Having family here in South Africa has made our transition so much easier and we enjoy every opportunity we have to get together with them.

Recently one of Rose’s brothers and his family came over for a holiday so all of us went away for a weekend to my niece and her husbands farm in the Drakensburg mountains. It was such a special time enjoying each other and getting to know the children of our nephew and nieces. We went for walks, played games, talked up a storm and of course enjoyed a lot of good food.

While in South Africa, Rose’s brother and his wife sorted out a storage unit they had and we were the recipients of a lot of useful things which included furniture, kitchen items and knickknacks that have made our home so much nicer. Friends also given us a couch, two arm chairs and a dryer, the latter will be a wonderful help during the rainy season.

Thank you for praying for us that means a lot and makes us effective in our ministry. Thank you to those of you who so faithfully support us financially Is is encouraging to see our needs being provided in so many ways. We miss our family and friends but are aware that here in South Africa is where God wants us right now.

God bless.

Roy & Rose Tibbit

May 2007

Dear Friends,
Rose and I want to thank you for your prayers for us as we have settled into our new assignment and living situation. Living in South Africa has one striking similarity to how we lived in Colombia, South America. The bi word in both places is “SECURITY”. In Colombia we lived behind steel gates and were always vigilant about locking doors and keeping out of known areas for risk of kidnapping.

Here is South Africa the problem is crime that affects every area of society so we once again are learning to be very watchful, which is hard at times as we lived for the last few years in a small Canadian town where we never locked the front door of our home. Actually it doesn’t matter where you live, our real security is not in locks, sirens, gates or guards, it is in knowing and trusting God with our lives and being in the place He wants us to be. God on the other hand has given us brains and common sense to do what we need to do by not putting ourselves in unnecessary danger. I am sure there is a balance as to how you live life to the full in dangerous situations and not be foolish, so if you know that balance please let me know.

Rose and I were so fortunate to take over our current responsibilities from Jerry and Kathy Haasdyk. They were both such good teachers and patient with us oldies. Pray for them as they settle back in Calgary, Canada after being in South Africa for twelve years.
We are now deeply immersed into our jobs and keeping very busy. During the last month we have had a number of visitors and have enjoyed getting to know each one.

Some folks are here short term and one family was here for a number of weeks for medical reasons. Another family came back from furlough in the US and intended to leave the next day for Mozambique but were delayed due to car trouble. In the picture they are packing their trailer making sure the load travels well over the very rough roads. After they leave us it will take them four days to travel to their place of assignment in Nampula, Mozambique.

Rose and I are doing well and enjoy getting together with extended family , but are missing our children and grandchildren. We thank God for the vonage phone we have which allows us to connect with them regularly at a very reasonable cost.

Since we have been here we have become very aware of the vital role we are playing in helping our colleagues in Mozambique and the task of Bible translation in that country.

When you think to pray for us please ask God to give us clear minds so that we will remember all of the requests for help we have received and prioritize our time between work and rest.

Thank you for your prayers, financial support and for being there for us.

Roy Tibbit