WOW

  Well, this is crazy. It's about 30 degrees Celcius during the day here, and there are scattered lightning and thunder storms. This isn't typical Christmas weather, and I am actually in disbelief that Christmas is 4 days away.

Fortunately, I did all my Christmas shopping before the holiday season, which is pretty mad here too.

The other "difference" from typical Christmas, is that it's a holiday, so everyone goes on vacation. There's family gatherings, sure, but a LOT of people go to the coast and lie on the beach for Christmas. Jo'Burg kinda shuts down, especially anything in Industry. We bought all our bricks, cement, and sand 3 weeks ago, cause, we couldn't get any now, or anytime before January 15th. It's bizarre.

I'm off on another adventure for the holidays, hopefully I'll get some good pictures. In any case, pray for this Christmas season, that people would Stop and Think. About why they're here, and what Christmas means, or used to mean atleast. Christmas is also a boom time for crime in these parts, so pray for God's grace in that. Thanks everyone who reads this.

2006: It's been an incredible year for me, and God has grown me in really good ways, stretched me out, and taught me a lot of hard lessons, mostly about my own stubborn heart. I'm so glad I could come to africa. My last month will be somewhat bitter sweet. To paraphrase a friend, "How do you leave home to go...home?" I'm not sure, but that's what I'll be doing on January 18th. I won't be able to update again till the new year, I'm gonna be out backpacking in Lesotho, but I should update once or twice more before returning to Seattle. January 19th, I'll be in the Emerald City.

Also, in case you access this blog through www.mattinafrica.com, I think my domain subscription is going to run out, so put www.xanga.com/matty_obrien in your favorites. Cause the mattinafrica address won't work after Jan. 10th or so. I think. ...but I still love technology...

And now, some cool pictures:

Quad biking in Namibia

At the train station.

Beauty, eh?

Walking with the Giraffes.

This is kinda random. In Africa, no less.

I'm bad at this...

 online updates, and keeping in touch. It's not my style.

So, Justin Key,  (pictured below) a friend from back home, and often a partner in crime, came to visit me for 3 weeks, and we went on two trips.

1) a 10 day trip through Namibia. This country is very hard to get around, it's a massive desert, and everything is spread out, and most of the roads are unpaved. But it's beautiful. We rented a car and drove out to the Dune Sea.

2) We also went to Malawi for 5 days, and visited Kwacha and Kondi, our Malawian missionaries. We went to one of the villages and played soccer with the kids there.

We ate mostly backpacker type food.

It was a lot of fun. Justin left on the 6th, and in the past 10 days, I have just been working as usual. Trying to get lots of things done, and I was also able to preach last night at church, so that was a real treat. For me atleast.

We had a christmas concert last week with the Lambano kids and I got to help with that. I'll have a video of it to show then I return to the states, so, anyone that wants a DVD, just email me.

The cutest thing ever,

You know what time it is...

 Update time.

Here's the skinny on life in Africa. Things are going great. The church building has become the main focus of my work, as I've purchased everything we need to complete. Conrad (Canadian), Nafe and Jeverson (Malawians) and Myself (American) have been working on the walls, just grinding it out. About 400 some bricks are laid per day atleast. We are scheduled to finish the walls before december, and then the whole church should be ready in time for an amazing Christmas Eve Service Spectacular.


Now THIS is africa...sweet land that it is.

I've also worked with Conrad to figure out everything we need, and how much it will cost to build the AIDS Hospice which is located next to the church. It will serve the community, and offer both hospice and food distribution services, as well as a clinic for treatment.


Nafe (left) and Jeverson, clowning around on the worksite.

As far as contributions go, I think financially I'm set to finish out my time here. That means that if anyone out there is looking to give financially and support the ministry here, there are two options. 1) Give to Lambano Children homes. 2) Contribute to the building fund for the Hospice. Both are wonderful ways you can help contribute to the lives of those who are afflicted by the HIV epidemic here in Africa. We also need continued prayer for these ministries, particularly as we begin construction on the Hospice in January, because...it's a beast.


The outside walls are done! On to the inside (It's a double wall)

The Lambano kids are doing great. They are currently planning a Christmas concert (nothing like 18 shrill 4-6 year olds singing christmas carols) for December 9th. Our two biggest trouble makers, Mandla and Sia, are responding well to discipline. Our new teacher, Jen is also learning a great deal. Her previous post was teaching 5th graders, so it's a bit of a challenge for her. Please continue to pray for the kids, that their hearts will grow sensetive to the Lord Jesus, and that a cure for AIDS, and progressive treatments will continue to be developed.

Teacher Jen hangs out with the babies.

This will actually be my last update for a while, as I'm leaving in 2 days for an 18 day Safari through Namibia, Zambia, and Malawi. In Malawi I'll be meeting with missionaries from our church here, so that should be fantastic.

The last team from the States, ERC Paramount, left September 17th. Things have been a little lonely and the work a little harder without teams to serve.

Please continue to pray for me as I serve our church and it's many dynamic ministries. I feel like I have learned so many lessons already. When I return from my trip, I'll only have 6 weeks left here. Time is flying. There are no more teams scheduled until February, after I leave. I've been preaching at the Zulu church somewhat frequently, and atleast once a month since I got here, and it's been very encouraging to see the body there grow and mature.

I look like Jim Morrison...when he had a beard.

I think that's all. As Always, any questions, email me; don't stop praying. Prayer impacts lives.


A rock somewhere in Africa. Beauty, eh?

Update with PIctures

 Hey Everyone, who reads this.

Well, the Biedebachs are america-bound in 6 days time, and  things here are a little stressed trying to get everything ready. Last night my bible-study came to the house and we did a bunch of stuff to help prepare them to leave. Our associate pastor is housesitting for them, and they're packing up a lot of stuff in anticipation of their possible move to Malawi next August.

Here's an update on the work that I'm doing in the meantime and even after they leave

On the worksite, as I said, we accomplished a lot last month when the team was here. Among other things they poured the floor of the church, laid the sewage line and a new manhole for Vuyo's house and the Hospice. They Ran electrical for Vuyo's house, and they put in Vuyo's ceiling. It was incredible, because they only had 8 work days at the site. Here's some pictures so you can see what I mean.

Here's the last piece of floor to be poured, The Baptismal. You can see the slope there, and a pipe that takes the water out.

Here's Conrad on his first day of actually laying bricks, set up and ready to go.

Building a manhole. Someone's got to do it. By the way, some of the team were skilled tradesmen, but some were just enthusiastic volunteers. Conrad actually taught these guys how to lay bricks, and this was their project. It's amazing how God brings people who are so willing and desiring to help and serve.

Here we see the walls as of yesterday. Doors and Windows (18 windows total on the whole building) etc.

This is Conrad, our bricklayer. Enjoying a bit of afternoon action cricket on Heritage Day.

Here I am explaining ultimate frisbee to people. I like Ultimate Frisbee a lot, and this is my first time playing in over a year. It did my heart good.

Sia just turned 7 last month.

Lambano Homes are still hanging in there. As I said in the last post, they are getting by month to month. Please consider supporting them. For more information, go to www.lambano.org.za 

One thing that a few churches have started is a sponsorship program (similar to worldvision) where one can present the kids and the stories, and the needs to the congregation and then members of the congregation can sponsor individual kids and individual needs. If you'd like to start something like that in your church, PLEASE CONTACT ME, or Kerry Drew (info@lambano.org.za) Arkansas, I'm looking in your direction...

That's all for now. I'm going to get back to work. Less than 4 months left here...I'm starting 2 tear up.

Ciao.

 

Hey y'all

I have been busy. That's an understatement. I will fetch new photos of the worksite soon. The team from Paramount destroyed the work, and so the church walls are going up, and the sewage line is almost in. Hooray.

It's been a while since I posted some pictures, so here you go.

Here are the 5 Biedebachs, Brian's the pastor, my boss, and his wife, Anita
the baby, Bradley, and the little girl, Ami, and of course, little expecting.

Here's a nice picture of my desk. It's usually more cluttered.

Mmm...nothing says South Africa like Fried Chicken flavored potato chips.

Things are back to a relative norm. I need to get some update letters and some emails out in the next few days. In the meantime, I'm teaching bible study tonight, and preaching at Vuyo's in 2 Sundays.

The last of the teams have come and gone, so now it's up to me and Conrad to finish the church building.

Continue to pray for Lambano homes, they are living month to month right now.

Ciao for now!

August Updates

Friday, August 25, 2006

Upcoming events and such

Hey Y'all,

This sunday I'm preaching at Zulu Church, Thulani will be translating for me, I'm preaching on Philippians 2:1-4. This is a very humbling passage for me, cause I am always getting caught up in self-seeking, and not preferring others...the practice of humility is one that my flesh is constantly putting off...So, prayers are appreciated.

It makes a world of difference having Conrad here working every day. It would have taken me 2 weeks (2 weeks that I don't have, even) to do what he's done in 4 days. I hope I can drop some of my more menial tasks and start working alongside him, cause I think I will learn a ton.

The team is coming in 9 days, and we need to pass an inspection that we haven't even scheduled yet, or the team won't be able to do any work. We also need to open the new gate, or there will also be no work...Pray for the team, preparations, adjustments, and a servants attitude that could only come from knowing Christ.

The weather in South Africa is crazy. I remember the expression I learned in Kazakhstan. The people there told me that "The weather in Kazakhstan is like a woman. It can never make up it's mind" It's not dissimilar here. Fortunately our focus now is on a section that is covered, so we are one of the only groups that can work when it rains.

I have less than 5 months left here in SA. I'm not counting down at all, I love it here. I am hoping to go visit Kwacha and Kondi (Our Malawian Missionaries) and then do some exploring farther north once I'm in Malawi. Probably in October.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Updates

Hello.

South Africa is cruising along.

a quick update on my last two entries,

1) Dick is getting along very well. He was released from the hospital after just 2 days, and was back to work at the end of the week. He's well, and was able to share on Sunday about all the ways God gave him grace in the situation.

2) Lambano is still in dire financial straits. We need R60,000 (almost 10,000 $) in the next 2 weeks to make ends meet.

Currently there is a team here visiting Lambano, doing crafts and stuff with the kids. Also, on Wednesday they are finally moving into their 4th house, so, God is blessing us richly, though, He always leaves room for us to depend on Him more. You can't depend on God too much.

Other than that, we've also got a New Addition to the Intern Team. Conrad Tycholaz (picture coming soon) is a Bricklayer from Alberta Canada and he and his wife Jennifer are here for a year to work, he on the building site, and she as a teacher at Lambano. It's good to have an experienced builder to work with. Pray for them as they adjust significantly culturally and personally, being newlyweds as well.

Work consists of getting everything ready for another big team in September, and working with the current team. I love my job.

Monday, August 14, 2006

Tragedy Strikes

Hello Everyone, Something terrible happened yesterday evening. On the way home from church, one of our Elders, Dick Kelder, who is also Pastor Brian's father-in-law, interrupted a hold up at his house, and was shot in the leg and hand, and bludgeoned in the eye, when the criminals attempted to hijack his car. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was stabilized, and is currently under observation.

The Bullet went clean through, and apparently his leg will be fine, but he will need surgery on his hand.

The Amazing thing, and it's easy to forget to be amazed by God sometimes, is Dick's spiritual state. When we visited him last night, he was totally at peace, and not just because of the painkillers, but he was trusting in God. It's easy to be angry, upset, depressed, etc. after such an incident. But Dick is under the influence of the Holy Spirit...as we prayed with him, he prayed for the salvation of his attackers, and we are all trusting God a lot, right now, which is probably what He wants us to do all the time.

Pray especially for Anita, Pastor Brian's wife, and Dick's daughter. After her hijacking in April, she was really shaken up, and now well, you can imagine the trauma. Also, Dick's wife Marlene, recently had heart surgery, so pray for her as well, just that she would have the same peace, and respond in a godly way to this trial.

Thanks everyone.

The other thing that it made me think about, is how it changes your perspective when it hits "close to home" as it were. Stuff like this happens every week if not every day in Jo'burg...but, somehow, it's different reading about it in the paper, than it is waiting in the hospital waiting room at 11:30 PM...I'm not sure what i should pray for, but that God would change the hearts of all those involved, and that he would bring them to see His glory, and His supremacy over all the earth. Pray for further trust in Him...the only one we can trust.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Quick Note for Prayer

Hey Y'all, Lambano Children's Homes needs help, so everyone pray.

1) in the midst of expansion they are struggling financially, each month has been pretty close to broke, so pray for that.

2) The Grey Combi Van was stolen a week ago, pray that it would somehow be recovered.

3) As always, the salvation of the children and a cure for AIDS is the heart of Lambano's prayers, so pray with us for that.

Peace!

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

It's a dirty job...

Well, today I got an unexpected surprise.

This morning I did some office type work, and then after lunch I went to Beth Mack's place (She's in charge of women's ministry at church) to take a whole lot of stuff to the Dump. By the way, the dump is an experience in itself...it's not like the dump in the States, where there's the compacting area and a nice concrete structure you can line your truck up on...your driving on top of and through old garbage, and then throwing it all from your truck into a pile that they then move around with a Bull Dozer. And there are seagulls everywhere. And we're not even by the sea. I always think of those seagulls in Finding Nemo, that say "mine".

But that's not the point of this entry. Joseph, the groundskeeper at Lambano, and I took a bunch of Beth's stuff to the dump. There was also a bunch of stuff that Joseph wanted to keep. Picture frames, and an old sink he can fix up. There was also a good stock of firewood. So we loaded it up and went to Josephs shack in the squatter camp. This is my first time going into a squatter camp...it's weird...

It's actually not as dirty or smelly as it seems from the outside. There's little shops all over the place, and Joseph lives in a little shack. Some of them have gardens with corn stocks, and who knows what else growing there. I didn't have my camera, so, no pictures...but I was able to help Joseph get all that stuff to his place.

You know what wasn't there? A bunch of guys waiting to beat me up. There were a couple of guys who were so drunk they couldn't walk straight. At like, 4 in the afternoon. Anyways, if you wanna get a visual, watch the movie Tsotsi. It's about townships and violent crime. It's pretty intense, but it gives you a perspective of what it's like in the camps.

Please pray for Joseph, cause he works around christians, and has attended our church before, but is not a christian.

Also, I've been preaching through Philippians at the Zulu Church (with an interpreter, obviously), so I will try to share some thoughts about what I have been learning in that.

A day off

So last week I took Saturday off and went to Gold reef City with friends. It's almost identical to Knott's Berry Farm in Anaheim. With fewer roller coasters. And it has a Gold Mining Theme.

So here we are.

Here's Amanda (A volunteer at Lambano) and I strapped into the Anaconda...it was the most ferocious of the rides there. I heard that this is a really offensive gesture in the UK.

No, that's no statue, it's a breakdancing robot street performer.

One of the performances was Zulu tribal dance and drums.

This was more tribal dancing, but it looks like The Village People.

At the end of the day we went for a thrilling ride to the top of the Ferris Wheel

Majestic Jo'burg.

Anywho, the next day I got terribly sick, so, all I can really tell you about Gold Reef City is...

DON'T ORDER THE BLITZ BURGER.

I'm better now but this past week was not very productive.

Also, on a more serious note, it's hard to miss what's going on in Lebanon. Please, if you aren't already, be praying for peace in the middle east.

While Brian is in America taking classes for his doctorate, things are going smoothly around here. Back to the old routine, getting everything ready for the next team in September, playing with the kids, and doing my miscelaneous "intern" jobs.

Here's what the worksite looks like now. I need to get some pics from Kerry that show the Grace team working on it, but, you can clearly see the church building starting to form.

The Steel structure, roof, foundations, and walls are mostly in place. We'll wall up to ground level, and then fill it all in with...fill...and then in September we'll pour the floor slab.

This is where the floor ends and the stage will start. There will also be a baptismal.

This is Elvis, our bricklayer. Elvis is in the building! He's also Pastor Vuyo's dad.

 

Here's an arial shot of the whole worksite. I'll make an artist rendering so you can see what it will look like when it's finished...sort of. I don't have Photoshop, so I'll make do with Paint.

Well, Back to work!

Seriously

Ok. So we just had two consecutive teams and I am tired. But the last couple days have been good recovery time. My job when the teams are here is to basically be there for them, make sure they know what they are doing, and make sure they have everything they need to do what they are doing, and then also make sure they don't die. So, it's a 24/7 thing.

Our first team was from Grace Comm, and they were awesome. They worked on the worksite. Here are some old pictures. I'm going there tomorrow to take some new pictures.

Here's the base of our soon to be AIDS Hospice

Here's the shipping container where the church currently meets.

Here's the location where new church building is going. more on that later. Cause, we actually started the church building and it looks really great...pictures...on monday.

This is Willie. He owns the machinery shop next door, is a member of our church, and is amazingly helpful. He is a blessing to the worksite.

So, I need to get some pictures from Kerry of the work team, but, in the meantime, our second team was from Arkansas, and here's some pictures of them doing kids club.

Yes, this is bible club right in the middle of a construction site filled with rusty machinery. Every mothers nightmare. Amazingly, by God's grace, not a single kid was hurt.

Here's Vuyo helping to translate. He's the pastor of Mercy Bible Church, our zulu-speaking church-plant.

Vuyo and the crew. Lance "Lancer" Quinn, David Todd "DT" Murray and Michael "Freeze" Friessen. Booyah.

Here's me, scoring a goal against The local kids in our afternoon soccer games. I don't even know how to play soccer.

Here's Douglas Allison dribbling up field. He's amazing. He actually knows how to play soccer. His parents are Scotsmen.

So that was it. They also put on a church camp, but I'm waiting for the pictures from that.

All in all, teams are quite fun, and I think a part of my heart goes with them when they leave. I miss these guys already, but for now, I'll have to crack down on what I have to do here. Like get pictures for everyone. And fix Brian's computer.

I have been here for 24 weeks. That's not even halfway on my scheduled time here. That's amazing...Time here flies by, but, at the same time, it seems like it's been a long time. Like the team from arkansas seems like they were here a year ago, but, really it's been like...3 days. I do love being here, though, so I hope it takes forever to finish this year. Cheers, everyone. Now that I have more time I will update more. So come on back, y'all.

~Matty O

 

Hello everyone. The Team from Grace Community Church in Sun Valley (Home of John MacArthur and the Master's Seminary) has just left last night and are on their way back to California. It was a true joy to host them, and they got a lot done. Our big project was laying foundations for the walls of the church building at the Vuyo's. They're done! So, now we start hiring bricklayers to make walls. And the steel structure and roof are complete as well, (African style, the roof goes up before the foundation) So, things are very exciting and progressive. They also spent time with Lambano Children, burned a lot of things to clear our the area where a new driveway will go, and finished a sewage trench. We are also now 1 step away from creating a new gate, as the new building is directly in front of the old gate. I NEED to show you all pictures so you know what I'm talking about. That will be my next mission The next team arrives in 2 days, but unlike the grace team, they are doing all childrens ministry and church ministry, no construction. Which makes it easier on me, a little bit. I am learning a tremendous amount of humility, as I stumble through the new areas of my job. God is using me I hope, but sometimes it just seems like he is showing me exactly what I need, and that is the true necessity for absolute dependence on Him. Keep praying, and I'll put up pictures next time...promise. * * * Well good news: I've got a visa to stay the rest of the year, so, that's a relief. They finally started the church building, and the team from Grace Community Church is coming in June, so, they will hopefully be able to do some work on it. Among other things. That's the big news, June is going to be a crazy month full of teams and work. Last week we had the Shepherds Conference here in South Africa, featuring Dr. Wayne Mack, Dr. Bill Barrack, and Pastor Bruce Blakey. It was a lot of work, I was doing sound stuff and helping in the kitchen, and I was also the runner for delivering and removing all the tables, chairs, equipment, dishes, and anything else you need to serve 250 people lunch and tea. It was a brilliant success, though, it was very powerful and I'm sure it will bear fruit in the congregations of all the men who attended. * * * Hey there, I'll send this out in an e-mail, so it comes right to everyone's cyber-doorstep, but I wanted to put it here. Well, of all the things I have been doing, and asking everyone out there to pray about, here's a brief list off the top of my head: -That I would adjust to things in South Africa -That I would learn and be stretched, and have challenges that would help me to grow -That I would get a new Visa -That the work here I do would be of good service, and that I would be a blessing to those I work for -That our work to build a new church building would be honored, and that it would go will See, The reason for the list, is that I have experienced tremendous strength and help from God in all of those issues, and it has been literally an AMAZING experience here. Now, the thing that makes it so wonderful is YOUR PRAYERS. It's clear in scripture that God is moved by prayer and has made use of that in his sovereign plan. So, I'm not sure how I can really show my gratitude, for all your prayers. All I can really say is thank you SO much, and please don't stop. As I told a friend this week, your prayers literally impact every day that I am here. We are breaking ground on the church on tuesday, Lord Willing. I need to put up pictures of the work site, so you know what I'm talking about. More to come ~M

Well, after a couple hour wait in Home affairs, they accepted my visa application. Now they process it for a couple weeks, and then if everything is okay, I get a new Visa. So this is a major victory to my staying in Africa, but obviously it's not engraved in stone yet.

Yeah, please continue to pray for this thing, just that God's will be done, and that I have the humility to accept it either way. On a personal note, I want to stay in Africa, cause I really like it here.

The other major need for prayer is that we are preparing all of May for the teams in June and July, there's a lot to be done, and a lot of it depends on a lot of things. So, pray for diligence and grace.

Here's some more pictures

This is the Cape of Good Hope. on the left is the Indian Ocean, on the right is the Atlantic

That is SO true. And they just hang out in the middle of the road. Baboons...

alright

first prayer requests:

-Tomorrow I am going in to renew my visa. I might get one more chance, but, this is pretty big, so please be praying.

-WORK there's a lot to prepare for for the teams coming in June and July, so that gives us about 4 weeks to do EVERYTHING. Pray for diligence and the right attitude

second Praises

God is so good. I preached on Sunday, and there was a lot that God did to give me grace in doing that. Today, I almost got hit by a Semi, but I was spared. Traffic here is pretty bad. On monday I was thinking, and it's jsut really incredible that I'm here. I mean, looking back, it's all God, 100% from the day I heard about it till now.Praise his name for that.

third

update and pictures.

Well, Kruger (Kruger National Park is a Wilderness preserve where animals live in true wild. The zebras eat the grass, the lions eat the zebras etc) was amazing, we saw Rhinos, Giraffe, Lions, Hippos, Vultures, Owls, Buffalo, Elephants, Crocodiles, Kudu, Impala, Wildebeasts (yeah, we almost got charged by a young elephant when we stopped between it and it's mother) but we didn't see the Leopard. The most elusive creature in the wild. We slept out under the stars everynight, and yeah, it was a great camping trip. From there we went to Giant's castle, a nature preserve of immeasurable beauty. If you come to SA, you gotta check out Giants Castle. Pictures coming soon. And now I'm back, and strapping myself back into work mode. Some things to pray for -Please continue to pray for my visa situation. It's just a waiting game, and everytime a new piece of paperwork comes in, I head back to Home Affairs, so please pray for patience, and that the Office will process it the next time I go in. -Please Pray for Mercy Bible Church, our church plant that I am working closely with. We are still in process of starting a church building, so please pray for the process of contracting all the labor, and the donation of funds. This Sunday I will be preaching their for the second time. Pray that the people will be built up. -In June, summer teams come to begin work on the work site, and there is MUCH preparation required. Pray that I will be diligent, and have things set for them, and that their time will be profitable and enjoyable. That's all for now, I will put up pictures on Friday. Or thereabouts. Just Now. ~M

A Family of baboons. They are cute as babis, but pretty gross when they grow up. And they are very mischievious as well.

An elephant. We almost got charged by a young one of these.

Here's me at Mclaren's Beacon, the highest peak of Table Mountain

These are mopane worms. We ATE them. mmm...
They don't taste like chicken.