Differences

There are number of things that are different here in South Africa.

For example, I cannot read my alarm clock.

When the time is 0:14, what time is it really?

It is 12:14 (after midnight).

Whoa, what about 14:25?

It is 2:25pm.

After I got that down, then I also have to do math 

to figure out what time it is in the States

 so I can do my banking, write to people, and Skype my parents and friends.

(I really do not like all this math!)

There is a different view outside my windows

and different sounds come with that view.

If you look closely, you can see the banana trees.

(No monkeys in sight yet.  Wait till those bananas ripen.)

As you can see, the view also comes along with the bars.

South Africa is not a very safe place to live.

All of the doors and windows have "burglar bars" on them.

I also had to get used to locking everything up and setting an alarm system.

What is that crawling on the wall near the ceiling?

(If you are from my area, you are probably saying, "its a stinkbug".

Its not a stink bug.)

Its a little gecko.

Without screens on the windows or screen doors,

all of the lovely creatures outside have full access to the house.

I wonder who else I might get a visit from?

Even my breakfast this morning looked different.

Do you recognize any of these name brands?

From left to right:

         Ceres is a juice brand and Litchi is my favorite flavor!

         The cheese down here comes in a hard block

 (no slices of cheese or handy grated cheese, 

               you do it all yourself), which is better for you.

        Clover is a very big Milk/ dairy Product producer.

        Flora is a type of butter/ margarine.  (If you notice, this one is made from Olive Oil).

        Albany Bread - just recently the stores here have been selling sliced bread in packs.

            It used to be that every store baked their own fresh bread without preservatives

 When you bought your loaf, there was a slicing machine at the store that you could use.  

They still have the fresh bread and slicer, 

but the pre-sliced is becoming more popular

 (I think I will buy the stuff without preservatives).

       

Things are certainly different!

Tomorrow, I go to a different church,

 with different people, who speak a different language.

There is nothing wrong with something different.

It is just DIFFERENT.

The Bible says that we are to be different from the world:

Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, 

but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, 

and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

1 Peter 2:11 "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, 

abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;"

We are all supposed to be different from this world and its lusts of the flesh.

I am now here in this different place

 to show the Zulu people what a difference 

it makes in being a Child of God.

I hope to make a difference because of the difference He has made in my life!

...New Every Morning, Great is Thy Faithfulness!

A week ago today. 

 Has it flown by that fast?

I can't believe it, but it is true.

Last Friday morning I woke up at 5 am with only about 4 hours of sleep.

I had to finish packing the shipping crates, the truck comes today!

Ugh, ugh, I'm tired.

Got to get this done.

An empty shipping crate (made by my dad).

After today, no more packing crates - Hooray!

(I am sure you never give yourself a pep-talk, but for me it happens quite often.  

Or sometimes it is me talking to the Lord and claiming His promises.  

Like- "Lord, You promised You would never leave me or forsake me",

 or "You said, 'Faithful is He who called you, who also will do it".  

Yes, that is what I do to get things done sometimes when I feel I cannot go on.)

"No Buddy, you cannot go!" (He was no help packing).

This was surely a day when I needed much coffee.

But alas, there was not even time to make it 

(Did you just gasp?  I know, I gasp when I wrote this.  

It must be desperate times when there is not even time for coffee) or eat anything.  

Time was of the essence.

5:30 - throw the rest of the packing stuff in the truck,

                    Packing, Packing, Packing,...

                          6am - still more stuff.

                    Packing, Packing, Packing,...

                          6:30 - more and more, "How do I get this in?"

          "Which crate should this go in?

          "Do I really need to take this?

                   Packing, Packing, Packing,...

This is what I had been doing since the last Saturday

 and this is what I did till my parents arrived at 10:30am.

Dad, William and I putting metal bands on the crates.

My dad, mom, and brother, William, came to put the lids on the crates 

and to apply the metal bands.

Finished at 12:45.

The shipping truck came at 1:30pm (1 1/2 hrs early!).

With the help of my dear friend Greg, the crates and trunks got loaded onto the shipping truck and off they went to be unloaded at some warehouse,

 loaded onto another truck, unloaded at another warehouse, 

loaded on another truck, unloaded at the docks, 

loaded into a container, loaded onto a ship,

 and sailing off toward the Port of Durban, South Africa. Whew!

Shipping truck loading the crates.

Now I could shower.

Now I could eat.

Now I could rest (till I pack my suitcases, that is).

I was interupted by the director of the camp where I live(6:20pm).

He said, "Come quick, I think Jen needs our help".

We piled in the truck and speedily went down the road.

At Jen's house, we were met by a 9 month pregnant woman.

She had her Bible in one hand, purse in the other, and two crying boys trailing behind.

With a painful voice, she said, "I need to go to the hospital NOW".  

Leaving the boys in the hands of the camp director, 

Jen and I were off to the hospital(6:25pm)

Chris and Jennifer Jackson

We got less than a quarter mile down the road, when Jen said she was ready to deliver.

The ambulance we were to meet was nowhere in sight.

Contractions came harder and faster.

The Lord prompted me to drive to the local ambulance building.

As we pulled in the EMT's came out to help.

With thier help Jen was in the ambulance.

Oh, Jen.  What a strong and godly woman!

We called upon the Lord for her strength and claimed His promises.

He was there, we could feel it.

I could tell they needed help and told them that I was a midwife

 (which in case you didn't know that, I am) 

and asked if I could have a pair of gloves.

In just a few minutes, a precious little girl was brought into this world.

What a blessing to be used of the Lord to bring a baby into this world in my home town.

I will never forget that moment!

Cutest picture of my special blessing - Jubilee Jackson

The day before I left for South Africa, I received a note at my door.

In the note was a picture of this precious gift.

On the back of the picture were these words:

"Jubilee Angel Jackson

born: June 8, 2012

6lbs 4.2 oz   and 19 inches long

Delivered by: Gina Frey"

How special, how sweet, what a gift from God!"

Jen's letter included this verse:

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, 

because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22-23

What a great truth!

His mercies are new every morning,

His compassions fail not,

GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS!!!

How has the Lord proven Himself faithful to you lately?

Rest in the truths that his mercies fail not, 

His compassions are new every morning,

Great is His faithfulness!!!

May I never forget His faithfulness to us on that day.

I have also learned that on each morning,

 we have no idea what God has in store for us during that new day,

 but that we just need to trust that He IS faithful!

Packing to go

Why have I not been writing more frequently?

For the last few months I have been packing in my spare time.

Because the packing piles are piling up!

Why don't I have time to update you anymore?

The day before we started yardsale my South African Visa arrived- Hooray!

Because I have had yard sale from sun-up to sun-down the last two weeks.

The yard sale crew being silly and all dressed up with yard sale items after the first week.
We were very tired!

When will I be leaving for South Africa?

My dad building the shipping crates.

 My flight to South Africa leaves on June 12th

(only 11 days left)!

This guy was trying to crawl into my shipping crates
(sorry, but I had to kill him).

 Satan, like this snake has reared his ugly head during this busy time of packing, paperwork, 

and all of the "last" events I get to do with family and friends before I leave. 

 Everyday we draw on God's power to get everything accomplished.

Shipping containers and packing stuff.

Now I have to figure out how to get all of this-

- into these!

Long-awaited Update

Dear Friends,
I am sure you have wondered if I have fallen off the face of the earth.  No, that has not happened.  Everyday seems to come and pass by so quickly filled with preparation for my departure.  We are still waiting to see that my South African VISA has been approved.  After that, my plane tickets need to be purchased.  So I have been overcome with packing, sorting (what goes to the mission field, what stays in the USA and what goes to the "Super Huge Yard Sale" this week and next).  On weekends I have been driving about 5-14 hours away for meetings.  Then I come home and work from early till late.  I cannot seem to get ahead, the work just continues to pile up.  I am however, resting in God's faithfulness and promises.  We are still planning for me to leave for the mission field on June 12th.  Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer for me. Our God's is faithful and always on time!
 Please continue to pray for: 1) my VISA paperwork to come through, 2) the needed $150 per month of support (to bring my support level to 100%),  3) me to have wisdom, strength & rest, 4) traveling safety, 5) for the Yard Sale to bring in some of the money for extra expenses.
Hopefully, very soon, I will be able to blog about some of the meetings that I have been to and what the Lord has been doing in my life.  For now, this is all I have time for.


In His Service,
Gina Frey

Traveling On My Knees

Last week someone gave me this poem:

     As I started my journey last weekend toward my next meeting, I thought about the church ladies I was going to see.  Over 2 years ago, I went to thier church to share my burden for South Africa.  

2 yrs. ago at Race Street Baptist Church

lunch with the ladies (2010)

     They all warmly received me.  After sharing what the Lord has asked me to do in South Africa, they also grew a burden of thier own.  That burden was to encourage and pray for this missionary to get to her mission field.  While reading that wonderful poem, these dear ladies come to mind. 
     Over the past 2 years I have received a multitude of letters from each of them.  They have told me of the prayers that they have prayed for me and the blessings they see as I do what God has asked me to do.  

lunch with the ladies last weekend (2012)

   As I spent time with them last weekend, I noticed that their sweet spirits have not changed.  Some things did change, however.  One of the ladies who wrote more frequently had been in an accident and her mind is not as sharp as it used to be.  I also noticed that more ladies have joined the group.  Each had love for the Lord and their own set of

burdens for others to be saved.

     It was such a delight to share my ministry again with their church, but also to fellowship once more with those dear ladies before I leave for the mission field. I know that they will be "traveling on their knees" on behalf of the Zulus in South Africa & me!

A Promise & Blessings

For over a month now one of my dear friends from a church in MD

 has been asking me to come back to visit her church before I leave for the mission field. 

 Her and "the girls" (what I call them) wanted us to all get a chance to spend some time together. 

 Last weekend, I did not have a scheduled meeting,

 so I attended their church (one of my supporting churches).

As I headed out to visit my praying supporters at Hunt Valley Baptist Church in MD, 

I rounded a corner and saw a beautiful rainbow.

God placed that in the sky for each of us that day.

How does God speak to you through a rainbow?

Rainbows always remind me of God's promises.

I asked the Lord, as I drove, "Lord, what promise can I claim from You today?"

The promise that He brought to me was -

Matthew 28:20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

"I am with you always"...

What a promise!

He is always with me,

as I make phone calls,

schedule meetings,

drive long distances,

make important, life changing decisions,

choose what to leave behind when packing for the mission field,

and today,

as I drove yet another distance

to attend a church pastored by my old youth pastor,

 attended by dear old friends and new ones...

What promises would He fulfill in my life today?

In my mind, I was going to update my praying friends 

on how my support was coming along,

get to catch up on how my friends are doing,

 and of course spend some quality time with "the Girls".

God had a better plan!

As soon as I got out of the car in the church parking lot, a dear little boy came running to me all excited, because he was getting baptized.

That is exciting!

I was blessed to be able to see, not only him, but 6 others baptized that day!

In the lobby, I found some dear friends to chat with.

Like me, they too were excited that I will be leaving soon for South Africa.

HVBC Missions Wall

One of my favorite young ladies was so excited to see me.

She asked how I was and chatted away to me 

(I believe God will use her in missions one day).

She informed me that they were having a special day in the bus ministry 

and she could not talk long because her mother needed her help.

To make a long story a little shorter,

I ended up helping a little with their bus ministry.

They were doing special breakfast treats for their special program

 and needed help pouring the juice.

What a blessing to have so many kids in one place!

I guess I feel more at home with the children 

and long for my new ministry among the Zulu kids in South Africa.

A great challenge was given from God's Word.

I think 4 kids responded to the invitation.

While my head was bowed, a hand reached up and tapped me on the shoulder,

"Would you come and talk with one of these girls?"

Would I ???  Of course!!!!

I had the priviledge to lead a young lady named Mackenzie to the Lord!

God's promise to be with me was true!

I don't know about you, but whenever I go through the Scriptures, 

while leading a child to Christ,

 I am always praying on the inside- "Lord, please help them 

to understand Your Word and to believe in their heart".

You know, Mackenzie was just so ready.  

She had been coming on the bus for a while now and knew she needed to be saved.

No, she does not understand everything in the Bible,

but she had the faith of a little child (Mt. 18:2-5; 19:13,14).

After Sunday School, I quickly went upstairs 

(a little late because of talking with Mackenzie).

I was blessed to sit in a pew with a new family

 (at least new since I had been there 2 yrs. ago).

It was great to hear Pastor Bottrell preach again and to be in a growing church.

the "Girls" at our picnic lunch

For lunch, "the Girls" and I went out to Oregon Ridge Park

for a picnic lunch.

We had a delicious spread, lots of laughs and blessed fellowship.

They are truly my "sisters".  I love the times we spend together!

Me & "the Girls"

It is always a delight to serve the Lord.

These ladies are also faithful servants at their church.

I guess that is why we like to spend time together, because we have alot in common!

The full outcome of my day was truly unexpected, but I saw the Lord work 

and His promises fulfilled.

Pappy's Bible

Pappy Frey's Bible

While visiting with my Great Uncle John & Aunt Floss, 

I was able to see and read my Great Grandpa Frey's Bible (who we lovingly call "Pappy Frey").

On the inside of his Bible he wrote this:

Uncle John told me that Pappy Frey and Mammy 

were saved at a special service at the local church.

Mammy was saved at morning service and Pappy was saved in the evening.

What an exciting day that was for our family!

The date is easy to remember because it is the day before my birthday (not the year though).

From now on I will always remember that my Great Grandparents

 were saved on February 17th.

Pappy, Mammy & some of the kids 

What were the events that led up to them accepting Christ as their own personal Saviour?

My Aunt Floss told me that Pappy Frey was known as the town drunk.

He also did some work in his garage and had some very bad pictures posted on his walls.

At that time, Mammy and Pappy had two children - Roy (my grandfather) and Hazel.

All the kids- Roy and Hazel are the two oldest (on the right)

My other Great Uncle, Paul (who we call "Amos") told my dad the other day about the events

 that led up to Pappy Frey attending that church service where he got saved.

He said that Pappy was passed-out drunk in a ditch somewhere,

 when a friend of the family came along and found him.

This dear friend took Pappy home with him and sobered him up.

 When Pappy was sober, he invited him to come with him the next day to the special church service.

He made Pappy promise that he would come with him.

The next day, Pappy's friend came to pick up Pappy for service.

Pappy was not ready and said that he did not remember promising him that he would come.

Mammy and the kids went to church with their family friend and as you read in the entry from Pappy's Bible,

 Mammy was saved that morning.

When that friend came along to pick them up for church service that night, Pappy went along.

That evening, Pappy accepted Christ as his personal Saviour.

My Great Grandpa, "Pappy Frey"

As a Christian, Pappy Frey was differant than before.

The town drunk, no longer lived in that community.

Pappy tore down all of the bad posters on his garage wall. 

One of my Great Uncles told me that he put up pictures of great Christians instead 

(like Spurgeon and R.A. Torrey).

After salvation, Mammy and Pappy Frey gave thier children

 Bible names like: David, Samuel, John, and Martha.

The old man had passed and the new man was alive in Christ.

Pappy Frey working on oil burners

Pappy was a hard worker.

He taught his children to work hard, obey God's Word, and be kind to others.

One of his sons told me that he would come downstairs early in the morning 

and find Pappy on his knees in prayer.  

Many times the children would hear thier names being uttered in prayer.  

Pappy and Mammy prayed for thier children. 

 Many times the boys would come back in from the morning milking

 to find thier father still on his knees in prayer.

Mammy did her part in raising the kids to honor the Lord.  

Aunt Floss told me that she remembers coming to dinner while she was dating John.  

Mammy would have each of the kids recite a memory verse before they could eat thier dinner. 

My Great Uncle John is a pastor.  

He said that most of the Scripture that he has committed to memory

 is from his childhood, because of Mammy.

Below are some of the notes that I found while paging through my Great Grandpa's Bible:

Was he thinking of the wretched life he used to live, before he found Christ?

I am thankful to God for the godly heritage I have because of Pappy Frey.

I believe he would be proud of his sons and daughters as they serve the Lord in thier homes, 

at thier jobs, churches, and some even in ministry.

I can't wait to get to Heaven to talk to him about the people that God

 has led me to minister to in South Africa.  

I believe he would be proud!

Reading Pappy Frey's Bible

On Sunday morning, before going to church with Great Uncle John & Aunt Floss, I did my personal devotions out of Pappy Frey's Bible.  What a treat!

My Bible with Pappy's Bible

Pappy's Bible contained a story. 

His story started on the first page with his and Mammy's date of salvation.

God's Word contains the same story for each of us.

The story of God who loved us so much that He sent His Only Son to die for our sin.

The Bible shows each of us how we can be a new man, with old things passed away.

A heritage of faith can be passed down to our children,

 grand children, and great grand children.

The story of salvation can be shared by a loving family friend, 

who desires for others to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

This story of God's love, is the same story that I will take to the Zulus in South Africa.

What a story!