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As missionaries, we have no guarantees against sickness, sorrow, pain, hurt, and even death. The only difference between us and those who do not know God as their Father, is the way in which we experience His loving care during times of trial. We can fill a book with testimonies of God’s grace and goodness in the lives of FCE members, their friends and families in the midst of suffering, loss and pain. It is during these trying times that God has shown Himself as the Faithful One to all of us. It is also during such times that the Body of Christ comes together to carry those who suffer and to weep with those
Kusemba (Rejoice) Wasema was born in October 2003, the daughter of Timothy and Bridget Wasema, two of our teachers at the CTC. She was a beautiful, healthy baby. Three days after her birth, Timothy came with the news that Kusemba was admitted to the hospital. She had a high fever and the doctor started treating her with antibiotics. Yvette went to visit them every day and could see the little face and body grow smaller due to weight loss. She recalls: “On her seventh day, I had a feeling that I must stay longer. We all sat at her bedside, looking at her face with no words to say. And then I saw Kusemba breathing her last breath. When Bridget realized that Kusemba had passed away, she stood up and put her hands on her child. Tears were running down my face. I had had a miscarriage two months earlier and the pain of my own loss was still fresh in my heart. Bridget said with a trembling voice, ‘Lord, thank you for seven days. Thank you for Kusemba-Rejoice. Lord, help us to rejoice again.’ And then she started to cry. I was reminded of Rev. 12:11 “They overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Timothy and Bridget were blessed this year with a healthy baby boy, Wankumbu – The Grace of God. During March 2004 a group of 2nd year student teachers went to Kalungu as part of the Mission Training. Amongst them was Stanley Masala from Malawi – a married man and father of a 3-year old son. His wife was pregnant with their second child. He became very ill and was taken to the nearest hospital at Isoka. Three days later the hospital asked some of the students to donate blood for Stanley. Five of them went there and they started the procedure. Even before they could complete it, Stanley died of a bleeding ulcer. Stanley was a leader in the class and led by example. His death was a great testimony to the people of Kalungu. His fellow students and other FCE staff members once again had to count the cost of being a missionary in Africa. On 12 August 2004, the Visser family departed from Wolseley for Masaiti – leaving everything behind to go and serve the Lord in Zambia. Thinus, Hester, Mariette and Ria were all excited and full of zeal, ready for whatever was waiting for them in Zambia. Yet none of us was prepared for the terrible car accident that took Thinus in an instant to be with the Lord. The accident not only caused Thinus’s death, but also caused such severe injuries to Hester, that she is still, a year later, bedridden and recuperating from numerous operations. Hester’s testimony is one of God’s grace and comfort through the “valley of the shadow of death”. FCE staff members Piet and Elma du Toit’s son, Pieter, completed his studies at Africa School of Missions in White River. During an outreach to India, God had given him a heart for the lost people of India and he was preparing himself to go there as a missionary. He worked with Filadelfia Church in Stellenbosch during 2004. On 18 January 2005, God decided that Pieter’s work on earth had been completed. He took Pieter while he was taking a bath after an epileptic seizure; so his race on earth ended sooner than his loved ones wanted, but still in God’s timing. Phil. 1:21 became a reality for his family and friends “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Pieter’s death caused many young (and older) people to reconsider their relationship with God and their purpose in life. The Scripture used at his memorial service was true of Pieter’s life: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” (Zeph. 3:17) Piet and Elma had to leave for the Sudan shortly after their son’s death. They testify to God’s provision, comfort and presence in their grief, and how the seed that fell in the ground to die, bore much fruit in their ministry to the Sudanese, who all know the pain of loss.
FCE celebrates its Fifteenth Anniversary on 24 September 2005.