Kujifunza Kiswahili

The past month has flown by so fast, if it wasn't for this extra day I would have missed it completely! Learning Swahili has been an overall good experience so far, it has been a lot of information to take in and it will still take me some time to confidently speak, but I feel I have a good foundation to work from.

Darasa

We can all identify that a language is much more than a method to communicate, so much of our culture is embedded within our language. As a friend has recently said: "spoken language is a tool for building relationships, and plays a key role in the identity and life of both individuals and communities." As much as knowing Swahili will practically help me on a day to day basis of working and living here, it will be the key to building lasting relationships and speaking to the hearts of people.

In just over a week I will be moving on from here, not because I think that there will be nothing else for me to learn, but I have to go study for the theory exam for my Tanzanian Pilot's License. Which I have to write in Dar es Salaam before going to South Africa.
I will keep you updated...

My banda

Thank you for your continued support and prayers

Karibu Tanzania!

The friendly greetings and welcoming people of the past couple of weeks have truly given meaning to "Karibu Tanzania." Great effort was made that I could spend time with all the international staff families in Dar, Arusha and Dodoma. It has been quick visits and there are still many more people involved with MAF who I have not met, but it has been a great start! God has also provided excellent people around me at just the right times to help me ease into my new surroundings. Although there has not been time to really settle in anywhere, tomorrow’s move to Iringa will be the fifth place in 2 weeks; it has been great to get a complete overview of all three MAF bases.

Maasai Evangelists we took to Loliondo

The highlight of this time was without a doubt the opportunity to join on an evangelism outreach among Maasai people. Better known as the Malambo Safari, it was wonderful to experience firsthand MAF’s role in assisting local Maasai evangelists to reach their own people with the Gospel. A true picture of the slogan: “Giving Wings to The Gospel.”

Maasai Evangelists at the Seminar

Now that I’ve had the chance to whet my appetite and experience what I can look forward to, I am ready for the 8 weeks of language school.  Tomorrow I head to a place called Riverside Camp close to Iringa where I will stay as I learn to basics of kiSwahili. I look forward to it, I know it will require quite some effort and patience, but it is a vital part of getting ready and essential to maximize my effectiveness in the long run.

Please continue to pray for the whole induction process and also for the remaining 20% of my monthly support. Check out some of the photos I’ve uploaded to Facebook (1st of Tz & Malambo) and I’ve added a map so that you can see the places I talk about and a schedule to see when what is supposed to happen.

Thanks for your continued support; I would love to hear from you too...

the time has come!!

The first 10 days of 2012 has flown by and the time has come for me to start the next phase of this wonderful journey and adventure. What a privilege to be able to go out and serve God's kingdom in this way!

My bags (and crates) are packed and ready go! I am also ready to go, saying goodbye is not the easiest thing in the world and going at this solo has its challenges. I look forward to what God has in store for me and to go and serve Him and the people of Tanzania.

From now I will do my best to update more frequently with shorter new snippets.

Have a Christ-filled-blessed day

into 2012

2012 is only hours away and we look forward to a New Year with new opportunities and inevitably new challenges. The challenges build character and prepares us to make the most of every opportunity. May we all grow through the challenges and make the most of every opportunity as we follow God's lead into 2012.

Keep company with God,
      get in on the best.
 Open up before God, keep nothing back;
      he'll do whatever needs to be done:
He'll validate your life in the clear light of day
      and stamp you with approval at high noon.
Quiet down before God,
      be prayerful before him. (Ps.37)

make me an instrument

I am patiently excited as time for my departure to Tanzania gets ever so close. In the mean time I’m enjoying the time with family and the opportunities to share with others about MAF’s ministry and my passion. Without a calling to ministry I set out to become a pilot more than 10 years ago. A dream that was finally fulfilled in 2008 only after God called me to ministry and taught me to trust Him completely. I’m sure that most pilots will testify that giving up command is not an easy thing; we enjoy being in control of a situation, or at least we like to think that we are. While I believe that this is a much needed characteristic of a pilot, personally I need to constantly remind myself that God is the ultimate Pilot-in-Command for my life. When I give Him his rightful place, He puts me in the best position to best serve Him and others, which in turn brings purpose and fulfillment to my life.

My application and preparation with MAF has been a continuation of this learning process. At every junction there is a lesson to learn in order to be a useful instrument in God’s hand. During my recent flight standardization course in Nampa, I had to learn that it is not about me doing everything I can and then trusting God to do the rest. It is rather about trusting God first, for everything and then doing my best. Besides all the excellent training I received, I had to realize that I will always be the instrument in the Maestro’s hands. No matter how polished or well tuned there will be no music without the Maestro’s input. The purpose of the training was not to turn me into a maestro but to make me a useful instrument for Him.

Now I’m looking forward to become part of what God is doing through MAF in Tanzania. I know there will be many challenges, but seeing people physically and spiritually transformed for God’s glory will be worth every effort behind me and every obstacle ahead. Thank you for all the faithful prayers and support, please continue as I finish off to move to Tanzania in January. By God’s grace and with you behind me we can overcome barriers, transform lives and build God’s Kingdom as MAF plays its part in The Whole Church taking the Whole Gospel to the Whole World. 

Lord make me an instrument in your hands.

Kirstein Combrink

excited nervousness or nervous excitedness?

I'm sure nobody needs to be reminded that there are only 15 days left in 2011! For me 2011 had three main acts: 4 months preparation; 4 months training and orientation and 4 months final preparations. Besides some crazy (safe) flying skills, I learned to be patient, obedient and wholly dependent on God.

Now, 15 days means that I have 25 days before I leave Cape Town! So, for this phase I will not need that much patience, but obedience and dependence will come more into play. I'm sure the patience will be needed again once I'm in Tanzania.

We recently had a MAF stand at the Wings & Wheels Airshow at Ysterplaat Air Force Base. It was a great opportunity to meet new people, see old MAF friends and share with others how we serve God's Kingdom through aviation. Besides talking at churches and men's groups, I had some great opportunities to share at a local primary school, my old high school and the members of SAAF 22 Squadron!

It is funny how the mind works; I have known for a long time that I will be leaving early January, but when I received the official date to report in Arusha, it was as if it all dawned at once. The last week has been an emotional roller-coaster; I am extremely excited to go, but at the same time the reality of leaving is quite scary. 

Thank you for the wonderful support in many different ways, I know with your continued prayers and God's provision the move and transition will also go well and soon I will be able to effectively serve in Tanzania.

missio Dei

As Christians we are all sent out into the world to live out and proclaim the gospel on a daily basis. As the Body of Christ, the Church sends all of us to be missionaries wherever we go. However, sometimes we are called to go to a foreign country and become part of what God is doing there. Of course everyone cannot 'go', but we can all be part of God's mission locally and to the nations. Bellville Uitsig Church stood in to represent the Church by sending me as a missionary to Tanzania.

Thank you to everybody who is sending me as we all play our part in Missio Dei. The three wholes of the Lausanne slogan captures it well: "The Whole Church taking the Whole Gospel to the