My pre-departure newsletter

Acts 13:47-“For the Lord gave us this command when he said, 'I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.'”,

Hey all!! Greetings from Cape town!I cannot believe that the time has come for me to start saying goodbeys and prepare for the next step of this journey with God.I have been back in Cape Town for 9 months and all I can say is ‘WOW!!Wow at the way God has worked within my life and those around me since I have been back

Work

I have been working as a tourism information and reservations consultant in the V&A waterfront while I was back.The Waterfront is a big tourist destination in South Africa and my responsiblities included assisting tourist with general info about Cape Town and the Western Cape as well as assisting them with booking tours, cars, accomodation ect. It was a pretty hectic job but I am grateful to God for all the amazing people I have been able to meet through this job and the few I was priveledged to lead to the Lord and share my life with. I was the only commited Christian in my office so it was pretty tough, but God pulled me through and tought me so much through all the difficulties and challenges I went through. Doing this job meant that I was to travel to and from work by train every single day.It was amazing to see the opportunities God provided to minister to

people and just share His love with people on the trains everyday.I also met some wonderful Christians who in turn really encouraged me,praise God!!

This is Jenny.The cleaning lady at the office I was priveledged to lead to God and share His love with everyday.She is just one of the many tetimonies of how God was able to use me in a job I wasn’t really all too excited about. Jenny is a single parent living in Athlone,the Cape Flats area of Cape Town.Those who know the Cape Flats know that it is a area known for gang violence, drug abuse, teen pregancies, woman and child abuse, alcohol abuse and broken homes. Jenny left school at the age of 15 to care for her child.

She has worked one dead end job after the other and every month she barely gets through to provide for herself and her beautifull daughter. One morning the two of us both arrived early for work and we started sharing about our lives. I asked her if she knows Jesus and she just said that she knew about Him but nothing more than that.

She shared of how, like so many other people, she would only pray if she needed something and how that if Jesus really loved her He would help her out of her situation. At the time she staying with her abusive boyfriend.

 I shared with her how Jesus really does love her and what He did for her on the cross which marks His love for her. After that we would talk everyday about Jesus and God and I would share how I expereinced God in my life and all the things He has helped me through.

I gave her my Bible and told her that this was God’s love letter to her and that she could believe every single word of it. The next day she came to me and told me that she wanted to give her life to God!!I was so excited and after that I could see how God was working in her life. Our office closed down in March so she wouldve been jobless, but God came through for her and now she will be able to finish her schooling and hopefully complete her studies. She will be doing this part time.God got rid of her boyfriend for her and gave her a new love for life and living for Him!! She is just one of the many people God reached out to through me.

 One guy Denzill who stays in Mannenberg and used to be addicted to drugs before I lead him to God recently told me “You know Mark, I never knew someone could ever love me as much as Jesus does” Denzill went from being drug addicted to being Jesus addicted. He joined a church and is now doing discilpeship programs. He wishes to work for God full time in missions like I do (“,).

I realised that our lives are the biggest testimony of them all, all we need to do is to reamiand plugged into God and shine our light wherever we go !!!!!

Meet shirley.My senior at work.This lady really tought me a lot about paitence and loving people no matter what.hehe.Dont worry I used this picture with permission and she knows what I am saying here.I took this picture by surprise because she has a permanent crancky mood.She forgave me and said it is okay if I use this picture.

Since I’ve been back I have been spending time with close family and friends.In the pictures from left are; My little 8 year old cousin Daniecke who I absolutely adore; My universal mum, the coolest in the world; and my 14 year old little brother. He was very reluctant to take a photo. I geuss his reaching ‘that’ age. Teenagers hey,you gotta love them! I am in the process of saying my goobeys as I depart in two weeks for the next part of my journey.

So what’s next???

In about two weeks I will be travelling to Pretoria to re-join OM with one of their ministries caled YOUNG HOPE…

What is Young Hope?

Young Hope is a dynamic ministry focused on discipleship, missions exposure and youth development amongst youth and youth workers in Southern Africa

We will be involved in:

• Discipleship programs, including a youth camp Called TeenStreet
• Coordinating discipleship programs in local churches
• Teaching and exposing young people to missions
• Youth workers’ training

This will be what I will be doing for the next two years God sparing. I am really excited for this ministry and being the hands and feet of God wherever he places me. The two guys I will be working with, Mpumi and Ricki, has already started and recently took a group of 50 young people to the village of Matlatla in gazankulu and had an amazing time with God over there. The three of us will be sharing a house in the township of Mamelodi in Pretoria and we will also be focused on building realtionships and reaching to the young men of that area.

Financial and Prayer support

I will be working in the midst of Satan’s playground and will need all the prayer I can get.Please continue to pray for me and my team as well as for the hearts of the people we will be getting I contact with. Prayer is VITAL and all your prayers will be much appreciated.

For those who do not know, I will not be getting paid for what I will e doing and will be relying on the generous financial seed of others to get by every month. This will be in the form of sponsors, individuals and groups sowing a certain amount either every month or once-off gifts. Should you wish to become a financial partner with me please feel free to conatct me or sow into the account as indicated at the end of this newsltetter. Please remember that this isn’t for my benefit but that you will be sowing directly into the Kingdom of God and helping with it’s extension. God bless your heart!!

Till next time!!

The LORD make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you:Numbers 6:25

With all my love

In His Grip

MArk

Mark’s OM account

Mark Fowler Operation Mobilization,
 account number- 1500 600 302,
ABSA Bank,
Brooklyn


Mark’s banking details:
Mark Shaun Fowler
Standard Bank Savings Account
Acc num- 076 825 132
Branch Code- 05 02 10
Contact details: markfwlr380@gmail.com
Cell phone number- 071 725 8814
Sending team Leader- Lesley Jacobs: 076 893 1731