I want to write short memos like this one each month, instead of the larger “Windscreen and Mirror” newsletter we’ve been sending over the past few years. Please feel free to dialogue with me about anything they say, and the invitation still stands for you to send us any news items to be shouted from the Vineyard’s rooftop. Which reminds me:

ANRI IS BACK!
After a sojourn in Seoul, Korea, our office has received back its “Soul” in the person of Anri de Klerk, who will re-fill the seat of my PA, office administrator and life and soul of the party, with shorter hours (08h30-13h30) than before, but maybe even more enthusiasm for the movement, the Body of Christ and our mission, than ever before. Welcome home, Paisan!

HEY - YOUR PRAYERS WORK!
I have testified about this elsewhere, but have to say that God has healed me! At the Riet River Senior Pastors’ Retreat, several of you prayed for Lorraine and me. Speaking for myself, and perhaps both of us, emotional energy was non-existent; we had forgotten that we had been on leave in January; I could generate vision and enthusiasm for about one week ahead at most; I was flat, fatigued, discouraged and in pain. When you prayed, we both were aware of God’s Presence, but no “fireworks”. About a week later, driving somewhere, we talked about how we were feeling, and I said: “I’m feeling enthusiastic again, I wake up with energy and it lasts through the day, and I have my vision back!” She echoed my sentiments. I spoke to a friend in California last night, who said she had been directed by the Lord to pray for “fresh energy” for me around the same time period. Our daughter in Saudi Arabia told me yesterday that she had been praying the same thing for me, too. Prayer really works!

BUT WAIT – THERE’S MORE! Last week I went for a colonoscopy. I had had polyps in my colon 20 years ago, and had been diagnosed with Diverticulitis in 2000 (too long to explain here, but it is incurable, and occasionally very painful), and should have gone for one of these every three-years, but kept delaying because I was too scared. When my appendix ruptured in 2001-2, the diverticular disease was seen again. So, last week’s investigation had been delayed by four years, and I was nervous of what they might find. Afterwards, the doc (who had seen it in 2002) said: “Your colon is in pristine condition! The diverticular disease has disappeared, and I can’t even find the scar tissue from the surgery! Costa, I think someone has healed you!” And so, THANK YOU for praying, and caring for us. THANK YOU, Lord, for your healing! I know many people who I’d prefer that God would heal, of much more serious things. Why me? Mercy, for sure. But also, to encourage us all to pray and not quit, to adjust our practice to God’s Word and not vice versa. To believe what we believe. To remember James 5:16 - Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

THERE’S A CONFERENCE COMING!

September 14 to 18 we are conferencing with all the Pan African Vineyard leaders at CYARA near Magaliesburg in Gauteng / North West Province. Our keynote speaker for these Pan-African conferences is usually drawn from the participating nations, and this year we are privileged in that our speaker is both international as well as Africa-based. She is TRACY EVANS, who was sent into mission from Bill Johnson’s church in California, serves in Mozambique and whose story blessed us so richly two years ago at Gariep. We will be mailing you with more details soon, but wanted you to be sure it is in your diary and on your budget plan.

Thanks again for your prayers, your partnership in the Gospel, and your part in this family. I love you for all of those things.

Agape

Costa