Dear Bethesda friends,
It is difficult to express the feelings one has at a time like this. In support of both Don and Rudi’s messages to you, I say thank you for your care and support of the ministry of Bethesda Outreach. We have been blessed by God’s faithfulness, provision and guidance in countless ways over the years. He has brought us this far, and He will continue to sustain us.
I have been privileged to witness God’s care for those whose lives have been touched by Bethesda since it began. Though I have not spent all of my years in South Africa serving at Bethesda, I have spent most of them working here either full time or involved in a volunteer capacity. I have been so blessed to watch orphans who came into our care as little babies reach adulthood through the grace of God. It feels like I have also “grown up” with this ministry, and if I count the years, I have lived here nearly as long as I lived my formative years in the States.
I have learned so much and been refined through my experiences here. Year after year I have observed God guide and sustain us through the hardships and the joys which are often intertwined with one other. We are in the midst of one of those intertwined moments again. We are witnessing the heartache of Rudi and his family as they face the uncertainty of an unwanted diagnosis and an uncertain future, mixed with the joy of knowing God’s hand is sovereign in it all.
For Bethesda, Rudi has been a consistent, kind, and faithful leader for many years. I have learned so much from him while under his leadership, and as I am entrusted with his role for a time, it is my prayer that I can continue well in the manner with which he has led Bethesda. My goal is to keep my eyes on the Lord, seeking His will for each and every person and child affected by this ministry, and looking to Him as our loving heavenly Father and guide as we continue to serve Him at Bethesda.
Our hope comes from Christ alone. He is our rock, our refuge and our salvation. We shall not be shaken, and we put our trust in Him. (taken from Ps 62)
Michele
