New Places, New Friends

On May 2, Deon, Ruan and I left for the United States of America to begin the next phase of our deputation. We were greeted by Pastor Robert Vradenburgh at the Raleigh-Durham airport and taken to the church's "Missionary Home," where we would be basing ourselves while on our deputation ministry. Friendship Baptist Church has graciously provided us with a beautiful home to live in as well as a car to use and we thank them for all they have done to help us during this very exciting and challenging chapter of our lives.

"Missionary Home"
in Raleigh, North Carolina

After recuperating from jet-lag and enjoying a week of getting to know some of the people at FBC we flew to San Bernardino, California to spend ten days with First Baptist Church. This San Bernardino church has a long history with our family and I was baptized there during one of our family furloughs. Deon and I shared the ministry the Lord has placed on our hearts for completing the planting of Swartland Baptiste Gemeente in the town of Malmesbury, South Africa. We enjoyed staying with three different families while we were in San Bernardino, Pastor & Mrs. David Wallace, Mrs. Ruth Bibb and Pastor & Mrs. Jim Newell. We enjoyed the opportunity to get to know these families.

Deon and I were asked to minister in various ways while visiting. I was asked to speak at a Mother’s Day Banquet and to assist Deon during the Sunday school time with the children and the youth at First Baptist Church. Deon was asked to give a short talk to the children, to present our ministry and to preach during the morning worship service. We were able to enjoy a “potluck” after church with both First Baptist Church and the Romanian Evangelical Church. Deon also had a new and special experience, he was privileged to be asked to present our ministry through an interpreter during the Romanian Evangelical Church’s afternoon service. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in San Bernardino and count it such a privilege to have been given the opportunity to fellowship and minister alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ.

First Baptist Church &
 Romanian Evangelical Church

Two other highlights for me included visiting with three ladies that I’ve known for 25 years. In 1987 I was baptized at First Baptist Church of San Bernardino and at the same time another young girl, Jennifer, followed the Lord in believers baptism. It was great to be able to see Jennifer Lopez once again and now she is married with two really cute children. Then I was also able to visit Angie Mah & Danielle Neuman who both now live in Santa Clarita, California. These two friends were two Missionary Kids that I grew up with in South Africa. It was wonderful to be able to meet their husbands and Angie’s three adorable children and introduce them to Deon & Ruan! We found it difficult to leave California with having made so many new good friends but we pray that the Lord will allow us to return in the future to see them all again.

Angie, Michelle & Danielle 

We’ve now returned to Raleigh, North Carolina settling into our new Missionary Home and we are already enjoying the Biblical preaching and new Christian friendships among the families of Friendship Baptist Church. We would like to thank everyone for praying for our family as we’ve traveled the globe and would like to ask you to please continue to pray as we serve the Lord here in the United States of America in the remaining months.

written by: Michelle Rensburg