Check Up

We are so amazed at what God is doing in and through us since we listened to His call to go to Africa. We have been here over three years now. Yes it really has been more than three years. As we look back we thought we would take time to update you on those God brought across our path.

Simon to the left and Clinton on the right

Two young men have been in our circle of influence since the beginning -  Simon and Clinton. They were in school when we first got involved in their lives. We have mentored and discipled them, more directly by inviting them into our home. On weekends and school holidays they actually lived with us. God had us kind of adopt them into our family and they have become our Namibian sons (I never imagined we would have so many kids). Simon, completed Secondary school and now has a full time job and is doing very well at the company. The owners are friends of ours and attend our church. Simon has proven to be a very dedicated and hard working employee. He is sharing his faith with others and is a positive example for others to follow.

Just recently I started the second level discipleship class with the young men that completed the first level. Simon has joined that group since he completed the first level with Catherine and I in our home. He has also saved some money for lumber and tin siding and with a friend they have built their own home. Simon has continued to grow spiritually and we are encouraged as we watch him walk with the Father.

Clinton has also done well. He received high enough marks in school to qualify for university. He is attending classes and finding it a challenge to find funds to cover rent, tution, books, transportation and food expenses. We are praying for him and try to encourage him as much as possible. He is creative and innovative and will continue to do well as he follows his dreams.


I have worked with several other young men. Two are Polo and Ernesto. These two young men have been through discipleship with us and are challenged in their daily walks. I wish I could say that they have done everything right and are walking the straight and narrow path but I cannot. I am encouraged though because I see growth and they continually come back to seek council and prayer. The good news is that these two young men are working full time with a Christian company. They both still come around to share what is going on in their lives and we welcome them, encourage and pray with them.

Nhidipo and his Team leaders in Discipleship

These are just a few of the young men God has us working with. We wanted you to know  because we have shared their stories in the past and we feel it is important to share updates on those we introduce through our newsletters and blog. It is a treat for us to see fruit from the planting we have done, and the fruit is staying!

Before coming here the most rewarding job I had was working in construction. Every day I went to work I would see the fruit of my hard work. I could drive around San Diego and see buildings that I helped build. Now that I have been working here for three years I can walk down the street and see the fuit of the work we began just a few years ago. This is by far the best job I have ever had or will ever have. I love how God prepared us to be so well equipped for the ministry we are doing here.

Reality Continued

Katrina (far left, front row)

I sit here trying to put into words the experience of loving people for Christ and words rarely convey the depth of that experience. I am going to introduce you to Katrina and as I do I hope I can find the words to help you get to know her.
Katrina is 30 years old, she is married and has a little girl. She had submitted an application to attend the first training we had but because we were focused on reaching young people we did not invite her to attend the first class. When we called her and invited her to come for another interview to attend the second class she happily came.
This time when we interviewed her we saw a potential leader, someone who could help us train, a person who could encourage and someone who even though she was past over the first time did not give up. We had no idea at that time how wonderful she was and what a blessing Katrina would be. As we read the professional referral for Katrina it confirmed it for us. It said, "She is a humble, hard working, fast learning and a mature Christian. She will be able to even train others. She is someone who likes to motivate others positively."
She was one of the first we accepted into the second class. She was such an encouragement to us and to her fellow students. Everyone of the students respected her and even looked to her for help. Her knowledge of the Bible and faith in God is truly remarkable and it drew the other girls to her. Over the weeks of training, everyone got to know each other and learned that they could trust each other. Once that trust was established Katrina began inviting the girls to church and began mentoring them.
Katrina completed the program and is now working for the Garden Cafe. She is amazing and she will be a leader some day soon even though she does not think she will be. She does not see what I see. She comes to work with a smile, she greets and is greeted by everyone, she gets right to work, she has almost learned every area of the kitchen in just a months time, she works hard and is focused on detail and excellence. What she does not see is that she is setting a great example for the others and without even knowing it she is leading already.
When we asked her to write a thank you note to those who helped make the program possible this is what she wrote:
 "Dear Sponsors, First of all I will like to give thanks for our Heavenly Father for giving you the strength to make me acheive something in life. I will like to thank you for the way you sponsor us, so that we can experience something. I am so happy that you make my dreams come true. And I am now able to work with people, be polite and loving people. I also thank you for the kind cute people Mr and Mrs Duran you gave us or send them for us. May all the blessings be upon you and may our Heavenly Father always be with you. I'll always pray for you. And once more thank you very much. Love you all. Read Psalm 23. From Katrina."
Her words say it better than mine and they still bring tears to my eyes. Each of these wonderful people God brings accross our path are His children and we are so blessed to get to know them. Each is an inspiration to me and helps me to be a better person and a better Christian.