Friday, February 5, 2010

REPAIRS AND TEAM BUILDING.

2010 is here. January has come and gone. It is all systems go now as we get ready for the year. It is going to be a busy one. Offices, Schools and Chariot travels. How can we reach out to even more, but at the same time enlarge our vision and grow as a ministry. We all got strengths and weaknesses and what we try do every year is do some team building whilst doing repairs on the Chariots. This yearly get together is vital not only for the Chariots, but for us as a team. Its about equipping and empowering. It will surely compound over time. We are a happy GCM family and the more we share the dream. The more it will become a reality. Please pray for us as we start reaching out to the many areas in Southern Africa.
Above shows Esau and some of the GCM team ready to tackle the Chariots. Esau is a brother in the local congregation in Plett who allows us to do our repairs at his body shop. We call it panel beaters. From left. Foster, Dimpo, Aleck, DeVilliers, Moster, Bongani and Lazarus.

The guys changing all the filters and looking for possible problems.

Bongani repairing the generators. These generators give light for the gospel meetings at night.

Each chariot has a tent that connects to it when having a gospel meeting. These too need to be repaired and checked. The wind is the biggest problem in this regard. You can see on the right a whole lot of newspaper stuck to Chariot 1. It was spray painted and fixed.
The generators after being serviced will slide into a compartment and lock. These things will go missing in Africa. So one has a way to lock them but also a way to swing them out when needed.

Bongani getting little dirty down there. Bongani has been with GCM for 10 years now and is developing into Mr Chariot himself. There is very little you can tell him about the Chariots.

In the evening we got together and worked through some John Maxwell material on leadership. We also discussed the different ministries within GCM. Its about developing as individuals and learning to take on more responsibility. Lazarus speaking about Nations University.

A team needs to look like a team. From time to time we get Gospel Chariot shirts with a logo on. This is important as one preaches with the Chariots in different countries.

We managed to get some jackets for those cold nights on the Chariots. When most people are at home watching TV, GCM is out there preaching the gospel. Rain, wind or snow.

And who do we have here? This is Charlie Worrell from Fredericksburg. Charlie has been a tremendous blessing to us. It is because of this man that our team know the trucks better. Three years ago he came our way and started showing us what to do. Today we are the A-Team.

Charlie is not a redneck. However, he looks like one to me. It has been really hot lately and Charlie took a beating on the neck. Lucky he had a baseball hat on. Nothing stops Charlie. He is a go, go guy.

After a hot day on the Chariots he comes home and chef George cooools him down before our team building session. Thanks Charlie we could not do what we do without you.......amen.Wow, look at this. Our congregation in the township managed to purchase an old VW combi for a bus ministry. Hillview Church of Christ. Esau sprayed it and Charlie also helped get it on the road.

Above shows one of our new goals for 2010. That is to get a short term Bible School in Plettenberg Bay for this region. We are one month into the new year and we are moving ahead. Next week we start our first gospel meeting in Mosselbay with Chariot 2. Lord willing, in a year we will be bringing students here to live with us as we train them up

Talking about training up. Look who graduated. Yes this is my youngest son. Hilton. Ria standing with him on graduation night in Abilene. We are so proud of him. He played golf as well for the University. Hilton will be heading to Virginia to become an assistant Pro at one of the golf courses there. I had tears in my eyes when he walked onto the stage. It was really emotional seeing your youngest finish college.....THANK YOU GOD.

Above shows my daughter Chantal and Quinton and Vicki's little girls. Yes they are my grand babies and we love them to bits. Managed to spend Christmas with them. Chantal is staying with them as she finishes off her studies. There are some exciting things happening in Chantal's life. We are so proud of her and her walk with the Lord. Will tell you more in the July report.

As if we are not blessed enough, our 4th grandchild was born in Cape Town. The first boy. His name is Cooper. Above shows Nicole, Wayne's wife with their 2 children, Chanelle and little Cooper.

Above shows Ria trying ever so hard to get Payton, Quinton and Vicki's little one, to walk.

And last but not least. Me, having fun with Jemmica and Payton during the holidays. It is these special moments that make life worth living. The Bible says consider yourself blessed if you get to see your children's children.........AMEN.