“I Always Thought I was a Mary!”

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“How has God spoken to you in this season of life?” This was the question I asked a few men gathered at a pristine setting next to a turquoise river surrounded by mountains in Colorado. Since I was leading the discussion I intended to go last-but no such luck as these friends wouldn’t budge until I shared first.

Uncomfortably I said, “I always thought I was a Mary!” Seeing their interesting expressions I went on to explain how a few weeks earlier Patty invited me to watch an episode of the mini series “The Chosen.” It was the dramatic portrayal of the well known story of Martha and Mary from Luke 10:38-42.

The scene focussed on Martha bustling around the kitchen putting an amazing spread together while she can hear the laughter of the disciples and Jesus in the other room. When she finally makes her way into the room with the first tray of food everyone is fixated on Jesus’ teaching. Nobody sees her and all the work she has done. Mary addresses her disappointment with this to Jesus-explaining how unfair it is that she does all the work and Mary doesn’t even notice and that her sister should get up and help her.

It was a moving depiction of Jesus’ kind words correcting Martha in love redirecting her back to what matter’s most. Here is how one translation puts it:

“Martha, My beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these distractions? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at My feet…”

This scene echoed the most recent season of my life and drilled deep into my heart. The next morning I wrote in my journal how I prided myself in being a Mary. Loving to be in the Word and Prayer, just being with Jesus. But somehow over the last few years I slipped into the kitchen with Martha and got “pulled away by all these distractions…”

I will forgo the list I shared of all my distractions and anxious thoughts because it took a few hours to get it all out that afternoon sitting alongside the river. But I can tell you how thankful I am that Father gently speaks and calls you and me  back to that “One thing most important…”  I needed His Word, a few medical doctors,  family and friends to remind me of this most important truth.

We are living in times of extreme distraction and our enemy is the master at keeping our focus off the “One Thing Needed!”  Even good things can turn our us away from the best Thing.  Jesus reminded Martha of this with a compassionate correction He does the same to His sons and daughters today.

I have found that when I take my eyes off the lover of my soul by busying myself with what I feel is important for ministry or life I can slip into a worrying and anxious spirit. When I begin to feel such weights upon my mind and soul I need to take a step back and see this sign post. I need to adjust my focus back to the “One Thing most important by choosing to sit at Jesus’ feet.”  Maybe you can identify with this as well.

I pray today if you feel anxious, fearful, or worried about many things-that perhaps you can find a river, a coffee shop or a friend or even journal your thoughts and then allow the Spirit of Jesus to intervene with His compassionate correction love to return to the “One Thing That is Most Important!”

 

 

 

Slice of Life- by Patty Spykstra

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Lately I’ve paused and reflected on the fact that I’ve lived in South Africa 4 1/2 years. There have been countless miracles ONLY God could have accomplished. I decided now was a good time to share a few highlights of our journey.

July 2019 Oceans Ministries purchased a property in Fish Hoek. A contract with a CA university to rent twice a year for a study abroad program was agreed upon and this would cover costs to manage the building and staff.

January 2020 After much prayer Tim and I packed our bags and moved into a flat on the property in Fish Hoek. Later on that same day on January 4, Mike Verkaik arrived with a team of students from Michigan. Together we hit the ground running and joined serving in both South Africa and Lesotho.

February 2020 What an amazing group from the US assisted to: clean, paint, reorganize, trim trees, plant flowers, pour cement, and whatever else was needed to get the building and grounds of the retreat centre spruced up. Then this group gathered together along with the Oceans’ board members, my dad, my uncle and aunt, and Tim’s mom & stepdad to dedicate Oceans Retreat Center. Such an amazing time!

March 2020 Then on March 27 President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a lockdown in South Africa. What? We were now living in a foreign country during a world pandemic!

Yes, that was the beginning of our move to South Africa. If you have followed any of the blogs or instagram posts over the years, you already know much of the story. Masks. Strict restrictions. Sewing new curtains as material could be purchased. Lockdown extended. Canceled contract for study abroad program with the university. No guests or groups on campus. Quiet. Very quiet expect for the winter winds off the ocean and mountains. Cold rain. Unable to buy warm clothes as not essential. Sorting. Cleaning. Labeling. Prayer meetings. Learning. Listening. Waiting. Gift of a coffee shop for $1. Asking for more faith. Believing. Trusting. Then lots of inquiries for groups as people began to travel. Numerous ministry opportunities and people met.

God certainly changed “our plans” and pruned and provided. We had no choice but to adjust and trust and believe that His plan IS the best plan for the future. Since Covid and Omicron Tim and I have done our best to balance ministry in the community and townships, welcome Kingdom Encounter Teams, and host groups from missionaries from US, Germany, Holland, France, Zambia, hired the conference room for day retreats to non-profits in South Africa, continue to oversee staff, be frustrated with load shedding/no electricity and flooding and be apart from our kids over the holidays. Yet, we are so thankful for Monday night prayer times and the many amazing kingdom- minded believers we have met along the way. I like to say, “we haven’t been bored yet!” And here it is already 2024. The days have flown by!

January 2024 Time to renew our SA Visas. With ALL the paperwork submitted we eagerly drove to Cape Town airport to pick up our daughter Anna and her husband Hunter. What a wonderful belated Christmas gift! Then on the 31st granddaughter Eva was born to Sarah, Nick and big brother Owen.

February 2024 Tim and I continued the busy pace of life in SA and to seek God for what may be ahead as we knew a change was needed, perhaps we were getting old. The last several years have been very full with managing Oceans Retreat Center, overseeing groups from US and abroad, and with our hearts breaking over the endless poverty and brokenness of so many. We prayed that the meetings about a school being established on Oceans’ campus may be the answer to many prayers.

March 2024 Returning to the US is always a joy as we miss our family. This trip was a bit different as our “housemates” Anna and Hunter were expecting a baby and moving into their own place. Tim and I believed now was the right time to sell our home and buy something easier to keep up. It was stressful with packing and sorting and at times we didn’t know how all the details were going to work out and yet somehow they did.

May & June 2024 Two more grandchildren: Crew born to Elisa & TJ and Esther born to Anna & Hunter. More meetings and paperwork in South Africa and a Kingdom Encounter team from Michigan led by Mike & Dawn. Yes the days were full!

July & August 2024 Wow God! After over a year of meetings, thank you for answered prayers. It happened, a tutoring center which started over 20 years ago to partner with Oceans to become a Christian High School.  Much work was involved to make this all happen and not without spiritual warfare along the way. Yet we trusted God’s timing as also during this season Tim battled some health concerns and an emergency room visit resulted in many tests. We are thankful Tim’s health is improving, however the cardiologist strongly advised making some lifestyle changes. We are still trying to figure out what those changes may be moving forward, but taking a day at a time.

September & October 2024 For now, what a joy to see and hear students on campus each day. The shared campus is both exciting and an adjustment as we let go and plan for the next Kingdom Encounter team. The ministry aspect in SA will remain the same with teams helping out at Ocean View Care Center, providing meals in Jim se Bos, attending Monday night prayer, and supporting local township churches. But many of the day-to-day tasks such as plumbing repairs, making things “better than it was,” and over seeing accommodations outside of the Oceans Teams will no longer be our responsibility.

So here we are with an amazing opportunity on Oceans’ campus to MAKE THE LOVE OF THE FATHER KNOWN to 60 plus students. Not sure what the next days, weeks, months, or years may hold…..but continue to trust and pray!

The Bottom of the Cup says it All!

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Those of you who grew up in Southern California know exactly where the bottom of this cup pictured above comes from. And in more recent times several who are living in the Western States are discovering this hidden gem.

Recently I was having coffee with friend & board member Steve Budnack about a book I just finished called The INs- N- Outs Of  IN – N – OUT Burger, written by Lynsi  Snyder, President, Owner & Granddaughter of the Founders.

I Love In- N – Out Burger and after reading the book I love it even more. I was telling Steve all about it and how through a vision; “Keep it real simple. Do one thing and do it the best you can,” an amazing fast food icon was birthed over 75 years ago.

The book is real and shows how the Father uses broken people who stumble and fall but in the midst of deep brokenness find His saving grace. A grace that points back to a Father who came to rescue His lost and lonely children.

As I was sharing all this with Steve I asked him if he had ever looked at the bottom of the beverage cup, bags, or fry boat, and he hadn’t. Our conversation made him hungry and after our coffee he took his wife to IN- N – OUT and took the picture above of the bottom of the cup. My mouth began to water as well :)!

I thought about how many millions of people who drink from the IN- N – OUT cups each year and are not aware of the simple message on the bottom of the cup. One that has the power to bring living water to their dry and thirsty soul. To bring a forgiveness and healing to a broken and wounded heart.

How our world needs to experience the simple message of John 3:16.  A Father who loves His children so much He sent His most precious gift, His only Son. That who ever will open their empty hands and cry out to the Father for Jesus, will receive a new redeemed life and drink from the cup of love that will transform the most broken of people.

When you drink from the cup of the Father’s love you can’t keep it to yourself you will have to give it away. This is exactly what the founders and family of IN- N -OUT Burger did as they have shown the fruit of the gift by sharing the message and giving His love away in a host of ways.

Our world needs the Father’s precious children to take IN His gracious love and then let it pour OUT of us for His glory to a spiritual thirsty world.

This is the church at it’s best!  May we learn from  the In -N- Out’s vision as we live out the gospel  by “Keeping it real simple…”  This One Thing – Receiving the Father’s gift of love in Jesus and giving it away!”

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him (A good Father and Jesus His gift)  will not perish but have life everlasting.” Jn. 3:16

 

 

No Plan B!

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Blog written by Bryan Steel – the Principal of newly formed Christian High School.

 

2 Corinthians 5:5 says, “Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

God has prepared us for whatever purpose He has in store for us on earth and He Himself has guaranteed our future, what is to come.

I believe God has prepared me for this very thing of joining Oceans and Valley Tutoring Centre. He has prepared me by letting me teach in Fish Hoek for so long, establishing relationships with so many people and then moving me to a private school giving me experience with private education. For years, I ran a youth group of high schoolers and have now been involved in a few meetings with the students from the USA. God has led me in my career to be involved in both primary and high school aged students. I know it is the right time for me to be involved in establishing this Christian school. People have been asking me about my decision and I keep saying I have no plan B. I believe it is what God wants me to do.

This is a brief story about God’s promptings-how He moves and plans and then gives us the opportunity to get on board.

A while back I had met with one of the Oceans Ministries’ Kingdom Encounter teams from the USA. At that time my wife Zelia and I were praying about whether I should leave my job and join this endeavor of growing the tutoring centre to a Christian School. Meeting that team felt like I had been set up because when I left that evening, I had confirmation that I needed to make the move and follow God’s lead. God used students who were in the same age group as the students as those I would be overseeing with this new position as Head Master.

Then after I had made my decision, Zelia and I met with another Kingdom Encounter team. We had such a good time with this team of students from the USA. They were so encouraging and seemed so focussed on heavenly things. Together we joined in worship, prayer and a time of sharing, this really helped to confirm that I had made the right decision and convinced both of us of the following:

1. This is what God wants me to do.

2. A Christian School is needed in the area and I want to be involved.

3. These kids from the USA are the type of young people I would want my children to have as friends.

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “We live by faith, not by sight.”

Though Christ is not present in bodily form today, we live by faith in the reality of His presence with us and the certainty of all the promises concerning our future.

We know that Satan is not happy with what God is leading us to do. We have already experienced fight back and disruption. Our desire is that the school will be established on God’s Word, will lead people to Jesus and will produce students who love Jesus-so that when they leave the school, they will go out with a kingdom focus and ready to share Jesus with everyone they meet.

This is my prayer:

Father, I walk by faith following You and allowing You to lead me wherever You want me to go. Please keep me close to You, hearing You and seeing Your hand at work in my life, the lives of my family and everyone involved in the school. Amen.

Christian High School Opens on ORC Campus

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Zoe (center) with Holland Christian Kingdom Encounter Students

Blog written by Mike Verkaik 

After months of prayers, preparation and paperwork the high school began holding classes on the Oceans Retreat Center (ORC) campus in July. It is the first Christian High School in Fish Hoek, South Africa.

To explain the journey Oceans Ministries has been on to be a part of this new work of the LORD would take several book chapters. However for perspective, the seed for a Christian School in South Africa was first planted 10 years ago in Lesotho, Africa. With similar united hearts land was prayed over and purchased to begin development. However, within months it became clear that a school was not the reason for the land purchase as a church was soon built on the land and our dreams were placed on hold.

Abba has now brought us full circle as in June Tim, myself and a team from Holland Christian joined staff and friends to worship, pray and dedicate the work God began so long ago. We were in awe as people shared how our Father God orchestrated the common passions and hearts of so many to birth this dream into reality. By our Father’s provision we were also able to meet Zoe, who is the recipient of the first Oceans’ Scholarship to attend the school.

It has been a roller coaster of a ride for the team of teachers and the 56 full time and 18 part time students as they transferred onto the ORC premises. In the midst of winter rains, major flooding and sewage problems began their stay. The weather continues to be hectic with pouring rains and thunderstorms, but as vice-principal Heather Cicatello professes, “The LORD is good and we are coping. There are good things happening and the staff and students are very positive about being on the campus grounds.”

Tim and Patty spent several months in countless meetings, planning and praying as the opportunity for a school on ORC campus developed and stated, “It is overwhelming to consider how the Sovereign Streams of God have flown together to begin the first Christian High School in Fish Hoek, South Africa. We believe only God’s amazing sovereign hand could have brought this together and we are placing all the needs, students that will come, staff, teachers, principal, yes all the details back in His firm grip knowing it will be by His grace and strength alone.”

Students in Conference Room on Oceans Retreat Center Campus