my friend Carol Tink

"Who wants to be my pen pal? Email me!"

These words were the beginning of a wonderful friendship. Back then I worked at the Disney Store in Frankfurt as a cast member aside from studying French and English. It was my dream job. I loved it. As I read that message from a cast member named Carol Scarpino in Massillon/Ohio, I decided to answer right away. Carol told me later that I had been the first to answer her. We started emailing and getting to know each other. Soon we emailed every other day. I really enjoyed getting to know her. She had such a caring open heart full of joy. I had my first online instant message experience with her. It was the aol messenger (grin). SO fun. We also called each other and sent each other care packages. This all started in 1999. I went overseas to study for 6 months and it was Carol who sent me a care package as I went on to my adventure. Her favorite Disney character was Tinkerbell and mine was Tigger: so she was Carol Tink and I was Tigger girl. One year later I became a Christian and as we chatted, she told me she was too. What joy, now we could even pray together! My highlight was in 2004 when Carol was able to come for a tour with her church choir to Europe. We met for precious few hours for the first time after 5 years of friendship. It was wonderful and I prayed with her in person. Since then I have not seen her again. We kept in contact via email and phone. 2 Years ago, my dear friend told me that they had found colon cancer in her and I have been praying. Sunday the 12th of December, she lost the battle with cancer and went home to Jesus. I am glad we emailed in the month of November. My heart is soar but also really happy for her - no more sorrow, no more pain...she flies on eagles' wings now. FLy Carol Tink, fly......

Another way of supporting me - I sell my art

Dear friends, I found a way of "tent making". This link brings you to my profile on a website that features artists and their work. You can buy my art through PayPal and bless friends with cards or prints etc. In this way, you would support me in the mission God has set me to here in Table View, South Africa!!!! I am excited. I am busy setting up the page and sharing lots of pieces of art work from my recent and early years. You can purchase gift cards with my art on, or canvases etc. Have a look at the site and tell your friends about it.

Courting....

Kerstin, I am courting you! I am on a great journey with Jesus these days. I’ve had some rocky weeks but last week it turned a corner. It all started with me reading in Psalm 40. I was touched by the fact that God hears my cry, HE hears my prayer. I had been contending for something in those rocky weeks and here was HIS answer that HE HEARS me. It touched me deeply. I love the way God moves me and the way HE helps me deal with things. In all this, HE rekindled my love for my God so much more.The next evening as I felt taking a walk around my safe complex, I felt HIS hand touching my hand and I could see us walking hand in hand. That felt so good! I walked with my Jesus. The day after I saw my favorite roses in a store. As I walked in, I saw one rose bud on the floor. I picked it up and asked the security guy if I could have that one. YES, of course! I walked home and I felt Jesus HIMSelf had given me that flower. He is indeed courting me.

FineArt

I am excited about this part of my journey. I signed up with a website that displays art work. In the future, I am able to share my artwork on a broader basis. This could give some people the opportunity to support the mission work that God has called me to here in Table View Cape Town South Africa. I am busy creating my profile but can already have a look if you like http://fineartamerica.com/index.html When you go on FINE ART AMERICA type in my name int he search engine :) God has created me as HIS masterpiece with beautiful talents. I am excited to share this talent with you

FUNDRAISING TIME - gearing up and interesting report on my 2 1/2 years so far

Dear friends, prayer partners and supporters! It is time to recap what God has done here in Cape Town and what you have been apart of. Thank you for your support in prayer, in being a friend and lending me an ear, or in sending me a care package or a postcard. You all have been of great support here to me so that I can do what God has called me to do. What did God call me to do? My heart is to help people to find their identity in Christ, to walk with them and help them to spiritual health. God has stirred me to pour myself out to the people, to serve and to give. Matthew 7:12 inspires me in that: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophet (NIV) June 2006, God began to stir my heart for South Africa. Back then, I was still an intern in training at East Hill in Restoration Ministry. A year later, I followed God’s call and Pastor Xavier’s invitation to help him and his wife to build a restoration ministry in their church in Cape Town, South Africa. I was sent out by East Hill as Long Term Missionary in July 2007. My time here in Cape Town started the following year in February of 2008. I have been serving here as a long term missionary since then. I started out by connecting with people. Relationship is the key and through relationship I can build trust with people. During my first year, I started to walk alongside Pastor Xavier, go with him to minister in an old people’s home every month, even preach there. In my second year (2009), I helped out with the Youth every week. This has been a constant area where God has been using me in the last 2 years. I lead the Youth (teens aged 12-15) together with Zakhele. We try to bring God’s truths on their level and in a very practical way. Recently, we transformed our room into a tabernacle and let them walk through every step. One of our teens got baptized this year and 3 of them received the gift of tongues. Our heart is to invest into the next generation. Throughout the first two years I was able to walk with Coastlands Community Church into their new building. We all pitched in: painting, patching, plastering, cleaning…the list goes on. I am privileged to have been here at such a time as this. Every day there are new miracles to experience. I learnt a lot of how a building is built as well. All in all, my ministry is quite hands on: HIS hands extended. This year (2010), God has opened up opportunities for ways to serve this community in healing and restoration which has been my heart from the beginning. Pastor Xavier, his wife Heather and I started Genesis groups in our church. The Genesis Process is a book of 10 processes where one is challenged to face his fears and his pain and as a result to change and become free from unwanted and unhealthy behavior. As leaders, we walk 3 to 4 people through in each group. I have two groups right now; all in all I walk 7 women through the stages of inner healing. We see this as the foundation of the healing and restoration aspect in the church here. The vision is to start more groups in this community. During my time at Coastlands, I have been part of the intercession team, which has helped me to follow God’s heartbeat with our church. Moreover, I am at the church office during the week to be a blessing to Pastor Xavier and Heather in any way I can. I feel God has called me to love on the people in this church, to listen to them, to be with them and to be God’s hands and feet to them. Lots of things are happening and I don’t see my time ending here. I believe it has just started. We just started the foundation of the healing and restoration ministry this year. The 3 pillars of this church are: Reach, Restore, Release. Restoration is a big part of this ministry. We are getting started but it is important that we train up leaders and we help them understand the vision, too. Within this past 2 years, my financial support has gone down substantially. My prayer is that I find more people who can support me financially. I am praying for a broader base of people in that regard. I would like to ask you to consider being a partner in this ministry. I will always need people who pray for the needs that arise on the mission field, and people who cover me in prayer. Likewise, I would like you to consider being a partner financially towards this ministry of healing and restoration. Please bring this before the Lord and see if HE puts it on your hearts to give towards the long term mission God has called me here in Table View, Cape Town. If you are able to participate financially in my ministry, if it is a one-time gift, a monthly or a yearly gift, please let me know. I know that times have not been easy. Any gift from $ 20 onward helps me to reach out to the people here and touch their lives... to be a blessing and to change lives. This is how you can do it:

Please send a check to East Hill Church, PO Box 650, Gresham, OR 97030 with the memo line: South Africa- Long term Missions Let me know your thoughts, your feedback and know that I appreciate you. I am blessed by your interest in what God is doing here.

Much love to you all and may this day be filled with the soothing, joyful, tender voice of our Almighty Father, the one who made the Heavens and the Earth. Seek the Lord and let HIM hold your heart in HIS big hand. He is in control and HE will do what HE has promised! Count your blessings and feel a hug coming from far away God’s abundant peace be with you In HIS tender grip, Kerstin @-mail: kerstin.berthold77@gmail.com my blog: http://lightonlichtan.blogspot.com Kerstin Berthold c/o Coastlands Community Church, PO BOX 45, Table View 7439 C ape Town, South Africa

God's tender walk with me

I am amazed at our GOD, my God. I just come back from a short walk around my apartment complex after a great thanksgiving day. I was able to spend it with dear friends (old and new).I was able to laugh and share….and I got my toenails done in such a cool way . As I came back from the gym, I felt I needed to walk outside for a few minutes before turning in for the night. I could see the stars so brightly – how beautiful! As I walked, I talked to Jesus. I knew, He was walking right beside me. After a while, something shiny on the floor grabbed my attention. It was a 5 cent coin. Those who follow my blog remember maybe the post on 5 cent coins – guys this is really cool stuff. In the past half year, God lets me find 5 cent coins…randomly. Every time, He reminds me of the truth: Kerstin, I am faithful and I provide for you, in every way! So I’ve become aware of this, I can see a pattern in it and I know it is God – I know it is my Jesus. He knows my heart, He knows my desires and He provides…all the time. Thank you Jesus for reminding me again!

YOUTH work - the Tabernacle

This is pretty amazing. Pastor Xavier preached about the tabernacle a few weeks ago. He led us through explaining each thing in it. The tabernacle is the temple and it is explained in great detail in the Bible. Everything has a reason and deep meaning. I am amazed at it. A few months ago, God showed me a part of the tabernacle and talked to me about it. As Pastor Xavier spoke on it, I felt the Lord say:

Why don't you do something for the Youth? Why don't you let them experience a real tabernacle?

The idea stirred in my heart and a few weeks later we had the plan for the teens. We took 3 consecutive weeks. The first week, we led them through the courtyard. The first station in there is the altar of burned offerings. In the old days, the priest would have to kill an animal and burn it as an offering to ask forgiveness for the sins of the people. Forgiveness was only given and possible through the shedding of blood. Because of Jesus' offering on the cross, because of His blood that was shed once and for all, we can come to cross and bring our sins and burdens. The second station is the tank of water or Lavar. That is where the Priest had to wash and cleanse himself. This symbolizes that we don't stop by forgiveness. Our relationship with Jesus goes beyond forgiveness. We give HIm our heart and ask HIM to cleanse it. The 3rd station in the courtyard are the 2 Pillars where we go through in order to go into the Holy Place. The following YOuth meeting, we walked them through the Holy Place and right into the HOly of Holies. It was a great time. The third time we met, we actually transformed our room into a real tabernacle. It was an amazing time. As the 1st station, we had a big cross and bowls where the kids could burn all the sins and burden they had written down on paper. Then the 2nd station were two big bowls of water and soap - they could wash their hands and think about preparing their hearts as they would prepare for a date. We wanted them to think about meeting Jesus and preparing for it. We then had two pillars where they had to go through and proclaim God's truth out loud. Those are the only two pillars that have names in the Bible. Jakin (=He establishes) and Boaz (In HIM is strength) - both together they could mean: God establishes my strength. We let them say that out loud as they walked through. In the Holy Place was the table of SHowbread. We had real bread and the Bible and a lamp (as the Lampstand). As they ate some bread, they switched on the light and prayed that the Holy Spirit may help them understand God's word, then they read some Scripture verses. There was a table with incense on it. They had to smell it and think of that fact that they are a well pleasing aroma to our God. Now they stood in front of the Holy of Holies. The High Priest could enter that place only ONCE a year. Because of Jesus' death on the cross and HIS resurrection the curtain is torn and we can enter the intimate place with God. We asked the Youth to stay int he Holy of Holies thinking about who God is to them in this season. Let me tell you, it was a special time. I really treasured it and could only encourage you to try it too....with your YOuth or small gorup, with your friends. We do have an experiential mind and God's deep truths sink in much better with an experience that goes with it!

PRAYER - I fly to Frankfurt in 2 days

You can support me by praying over me and / or by asking God how you can be part of this adventure. You can send a check to East Hill Church, PO Box 650 in 97030 Gresham, Oregon and on the memo line put: South Africa - Long Term Missions. If you want to be part receiving my newsletters, let me know as well, kerstin.berthold77@gmail.com

Prayer request - I CAN GO TO FRANKFURT!!!!!

Dear friends and supporters, I included some of you in this email and hope that was OK. I would love for you to pray for me in this situation, please pray for HIS protection and wisdom, for the guidance of HIS Holy Spirit. Prayer to our Jesus is my lifeline. I thank you for your prayers and see you in the THRONE ROOM ;) This is a prayer request out of the normal. Let me explain the situation: I AM ABLE TO GO to Frankfurt for 2 1/2 weeks (roughly form the 1st of Oct. until the 18th of Oct.) I will..... - meet with the mission’s director of my foursquare church in Frankfurt and discuss how they can come alongside me financially in the future (they started to contact me 2 months ago and we have been emailing back and forth - they want to create and build a core team around me to support me with prayer, finance and fundraising- they want to be more involved which is such an answer to prayer - I have been praying for that during those past 3 years!) - be able to see and have quality time with my parents!!!!!!!!!! - and actually go and be part of my good friend Aris (The Greek)'s wedding The whole trip would cost me as an estimate of budget: 1400 $. The plane ticket will be about 900 $ and the rest is my budget for Germany which will be taken care of there. I do need to raise the money of the plane ticket in the short time between now and the next 3 to 4 weeks. ALREADY THINGS ARE LINING UP AND FALLING INTO PLACE IN THOSE LAST 2 DAYS. I CAN SEE GOD OPENING THIS DOOR. I am praying and trusting God since I really long to go and see my parents and work on a big picture strategy for my financial support coming from my German church in the future. I think it is possible and if God wants it to happen, I know HE will make a way. I have been praying for my German church to come alongside me and now this opportunity comes where I can actually have meetings and discussions with them face to face. Please consider and pray about maybe chipping in to those 900 $ - I can tell you that every amount of money could help. You can send a check to East Hill church (find details on the bottom of this email). Let me know what your thoughts are and thank you for reading this and praying about it. in HIm, Kerstin -- Kerstin Berthold, a long term Missionary for God in South Africa/Cape Town/Table View -"carrying God's message of restoration & healing to an aching world in need." Please send any support to: East Hill Church PO Box 650 Gresham, OR 97030 Checks made out to East Hill, memo line:Long Term Missions South Africa

It needs to be a party of LIFE - it is good to know where I am going

Ok this might be a weird post for some but somehow I thought about it the other night. It came to me and I liked it. Although I do not really think about it much. I had to think about how I would want my funeral or memorial service to be whenever God would call me home. First of all, I don't believe in cemeteries and graves. When I go, I will be with Jesus and the body I leave here will be dust and nothing more. It would cost so much to uphold a grave, to pay for the place and all. So I would want to be burned and my ashes to buried at a random beautiful place on a pasture under a tree, a willow maybe. Then I would want a time for friends and family to come together, not like a memorial service, not like a service at all, more like a party, a party of life. Everyone would get a balloon at the entrance, a colored balloon. A friend, a leader or pastor or family friend would share my heart in simple words:

"Kerstin is sorry to leave you but she is finally HOME, she wants to share her joy with you she also wanted you all to come to be there for each other, to hold each other up and pray for each other, to form new friendships right here right now. This is a time and place for something new to be born - a place where we say good-by but also where we welcome something and someone new!"

I know some of my favorite songs will be sung and joy will come through the tears of sorrow. I love life and I love Jesus, I love people and I want to share this joy even beyond the day that my DADDY will take me :)

May I introduce?

Working through things in life, I have come to know this specific person quite well. Most of the people would not see her as a person, but rather a thing, a system. I have come to understand that she actually is a person and she changes her gender when in a man. What am I talking about? WHo am I talking about? Let me introduce you to Mrs. L - Mrs. L is as old as I am. She has a specific mission in my life, a task so to speak. She is my bodyguard. She is there so I won't feel pain or fear. She helps me to survive. L stands for Limbic System. I blogged on it earlier. I have come to understand that she is a person, a person who wants to intervene so much :) Let me explain. When a situation does not feel "safe", she picks it up immediately and then she wants to jump to my rescue. When I was little and not able to resolve issues, I needed her to survive, to be ditracted from pain and fears. However, now that I am an adult, I don't need her like that anymore. I have had this converstation with her where I tell her that I don't need her in the same capacity anymore over and over again but she does not seem to listen. In a male person, she might be called Mr. L and Mr. L has the same task in life. Mrs. L is the one that acts up and I am learning how to coexist with her, how to calm her down, how to make her some herbal tea and let her relax in a nice hammock so I can deal with pain and fears in my life to actually resolve them. This is a slightly different look at the limbic system and how it stands in the way of true healing. - hope you had fun :) I am making some herbal tea now to give to Mrs. L and then I go on with my day. haha

More on dancing

I love dancing and I know that God is redeeming something in me while I dance. That is so special to know. As I said in my earlier post, dancing is more spiritual than we think. Dancing is part of God's healing plan for our lives.I am reading a book on dancing right now..and I go dancing twice every week. I am blessed and I learn a lot. In dancing a man becomes a man and a woman becomes a woman. Let me unpack that again. When the man starts to learn how to dance, he also learns hoe to lead and be assertive, how to be strong and confident. This is an important part a man needs to learn in life to be the man God created him to be. When a woman learns how to dance, she learns how to follow the man's lead, how to trust the one who holds her and guides her. She learns how to be confident and how to shine. This is part of what God has initially put into the sould of a woman. Isn't that beautiful?

5 cent :)

I need to share this. For quite some time now, I randomly find 5 cent coins on the floor. I always pick them up and pray that God will give me increase in finance. I pray God's favor over my finances, over everyone that is supporting me financially and I start thanking God. It never stops...just yesterday I found another 5 cent coin. :) Thank you my LORD

The survival brain

In the past weeks, I have been thinking about this a lot. It is not only because of the fact that I lead Genesis groups but also because of incidents I observe. I want to write about the survival brain or how the expert calls it: the limbic system. I first heard about the limbic system in my studies in my psychology class (1999). Then I did not pay too much attention. You know how it is when you study, you learn to remember for an exam..that's it. At least that's how it was for me. The next time I heard about the limbic system was in my training in the States (2005-2007). This time I started to be very curious.The limbic system of the brain is a group of structures which govern emotions and behavior. The limbic system, and in particular the hippocampus and amygdala, is involved in the formation of long-term memory, and is closely associated with the olfactory structures (having to do with the sense of smell). That part of the brain records memories, experiences and puts them into three different areas: food, sex and safety. In other words: "

The activities of the body that are governed are those concerned with self-preservation (e.g., searching for food and fighting) and preservation of the species (e.g., reproduction and the care of offspring), the expression of fear, rage, and pleasure, and the establishment of memory patterns

". It is also called the survival brain because it is there to help the brain survive, to help the brain be safe. So everything, every situation that makes this part of the brain act up is then an unsafe situation. It must also be noted that the limbic system is part of the unconsciousness of the brain. Let me give you a wonderful example of how the limbic system starts to act up and takes control.I have memories (that are stored or engraved in the limbic system) that someone talked to me in a very disrespectful way which hurt me. The limbic system records thte feeling of pain and immediately kicks in and takes over since this situation is "dangerous" and not safe. The way it kicks in is that I get really angry when a person is disrespectul to me today. I REACT, I don't respond. Responding means taking a step back, not taking it personal and communicating well. REACTING means eather getting angry, running away or freezing. Reacting is the result of a limbic response. I have seen lots of limbic responses lately and it made me think of this whole issue. When we are in LIMBIC MODE we are reacting, we are not in full control of our behaviour and we say or do things that we could regret later on. I am fascinated by how God created us WITH this lymbic system. He created a survival brain that helps the brain to survuve trauma when young. Yet when we are older and we still behave out of our survival brain, then somthing is not right. Here is a short quote out of Michael Dye's Genesis Process from page 30:

"The part of the brain that controls your survival memories and responses is called the limbic ssystem. It has a seperate memory form the consciou part of the brain. It records experiences that have to do with pleasure and reward, hurt and fear. These memories are very important to your ability to survice. The limbic system sets up emotional (and behavioral) responses to AVOID things that have caused you FEAR and PAIN and it repeats things that have to do with PLEASURE and REWARD. This system is important in understanding coping behaviours. When you do something that takes away stress (in order to feel normal), the limbic system can associate it with survival and it becoems part of the CRAVING, pleasure and reward ("do it again") system"

Isn't this amazing? It explains addiction to its core and it can give realization in order to find healing, in order to get rid of coping behaviors (such as: shopping, comfort eating, social drinking and smoking, sex addiction, getting lost in romance novels, numbing out in front of the tv etc...) I am amazed and I am eager to learn even more.

fav pics of my friends

Here are my favourite pictures of some of my friends that I miss. I would love to be a bigger part intheir lives but that would mean that I cannot do what God has put on my heart to do here in South Africa. I want to honor my friends today!

THE DANCE - a blessing and a healing part

Here we go. I can finally write this post after the recent events enfolded yesterday. I should start at the beginning. My dad used to be a dance teacher. He actually danced in national tournaments and later became a judge to be asked to judge big tournaments in ballroom and latin dancing in Germany. He would take me with him when he judged..so I always was around dancing. My dad was also the one who taught me my first dance:

an internation Rumba to Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise"

. Even before it was time for us late teens to join a dance studio in 9th grade, I was able to dance already quite a bit. My dad is my ultimate heron in this. I could dance any dance with him since he led so well. I only had to stay in rhythm and remember my basic steps: how awesome!! From early on it became my wish that my future husband would dance like my dad (grin)...or lead like him. A BLESSING PART: I have not been able to dance for over 10 years now. Lots of things took precedent in my life. However, this year God wanted to bless me, my heart and my inner desire in a special way: 4 weeks ago, one of my teens from church gave me a voucher for 2 free dance lessons. I felt like as if it were my birthday or Christmas. I counted down the hours until that very day and I loooved it. I was able to attend 2 social dance evenings.....and let me tell you...I never really sat down...I danced all the time and I loved it! I really wanted to attend that dance studio since I found really great people there as well. Nevertheless, my financial situation would not allow me to. I felt very sad but pressed on and prayed for God to make a way. Last night I received an email where dear friends and supporters from the States wanted to bless me with the finances for going dancing!!!! My heart started jumping, I can hardly put it into words. God has seen my heart and my heart's desire. Now I can go dancing!!!!!!!! A HEALING PART Now I want to tell you about the healing part dancing can be. God has been speaking to me about it for a looong time. There is more to this world than the things we see. There is a spiritual reality. Everything that happens in the natural effects the spiritual and everything that is birthed in the spiritual has a lasting effect on the natural. Where do I go with this? Stay with me and read on: The dance of a woman and a man is a very spiritual thing. It shows a natural order of things. Have you ever noticed that when a man leads well,he makes the woman shine? When a man leads well, the woman is very eager to follow his lead. In this way she can shine the most. Now lets take this as a metaphor for how God intended the relationship between a man and a woman to play out here on earth. If the man leads well, the woman is very happy to let him lead and follow his lead. IF a man does not lead, the woman needs to take over and if you look at such a couple when dancing...it does not look so wonderful. When the woman knows that the man takes care of her and knows where to go, she can trust him and follow his lead. When a man goes dancing God actually wants to heal the man's identity in being a leader, being the man but also being sensitive to the woman's needs. When a woman goes dancing, God actually wants to heal the femininity in her, the overflowing grace and the ability to trust the man. Now you hopefully see that THE DANCE has a blessing part but even more so a healing part!

I give glory to God who knows my heart and helps me to balance out my ministry life with a beautiful dance!!!

What a SMILE can do

Have you ever noticed what a SMILE can do to the countenance of a person? Place yourself in front of a mirror. Look at yourself and DON'T smile....then all of sudden give yourself a big SMILE. When you are out and about, observe the people around you. Check what a difference it does to a the appearance of a person when he/she smiles. What a SMILE can do!!! A SMILE can show the bring forth the inner beauty of us all. The radiance that is found within. This weekend, I was honored to be at a ballroom dance competition. Two teens of my Youth group were competing and did a great job (Go Kylie, go Lawrence!! As I sat there watching, I observed all the other people dancing as well. What a difference it made when I see a person smiling. Go and check it out :) Let's give each other a SMILE and see what it can do

Thankful

I am so thankful. Where do I start? Every morning when I drive to the office: the church here, I am speechless. It looks so good and I remember whenI came over 2 years ago. The building did nothave a roof, nor windows or doors and look at it now. I am thankful for my health, for getting up in the morning and feeling strength, for being able to go out of my house, for being able to drive around, for being able to sleep well uring the night. I am really thankful, grateful and humbled in the presence of my GOD.

4 1/2 weks sick

I am glad I am on the mend. After 4 1/2 weeks of being sick, on bedrest and so weak that I had to stay in my flat all the time...I am soo happy to see the world again. i am still pretty weak but it is much better. I am on vitamin b shots now for a month which is boosting my immune system. The thing that concerened me the most while i was down was that I had never seen and experienced my body to be like that. During this time, God really taught me about Faith and I learned and grew closer to my Creator,t he one and only God HImself. I did let Jesus build new pipelins of Faith for me where could only pray: I Believe but help my unbelief. More abot that at another time, sorry for not posting so often. I will try to update my blog more often

Creative Writing – What was on Malchus’ mind?

Who is Malchus? He is mentioned in the Bible only once in only one of the 4 Gospel accounts (John 18:10). I should take you back to the Garden of Gethsemane right after Jesus was done praying to His Father in his dark hour…the last free night before he got arrested and taken to the cross the following day. Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus came along with the Priest’s servants to arrest Jesus. As Judas betrayed Jesus handing him over, the guards/ Priest’s servants took hold of Jesus and tied him up. Then, Simon Peter jumped forward and cut off the ear of one of the servants with his sword. “The servant’s name was Malchus - His name is mentioned by neither of the other evangelists, nor is it said by the other evangelists who was the disciple that gave the blow. It is probable that both Peter and the servant were alive when the other gospels were writte” (E-Sword Comment on John 18:10). So here we go. I have been very intrigued by the character of Malchus. He actually is a minor character in the Passion of the Christ. After watching the Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson, I focused more on the side characters in the events. Malchus, one of the Priest’s servants came alive for me especially last Thursday when I watched it last. Getting into the character: He must have been an important one of the guards since he was chosen to go and arrest Jesus in the evening hours of the day before Jesus was crucified. My thoughts started to go with the flow of this situation. Here is what could have been going on in Malchus’ mind during the scene in the garden of Gethsemane: “Here we go. We found this guy, this blasphemous man. I wonder if he is really guilty. He does not look like it.” This is when Judas came forth and kissed Jesus calling him – My Rabbi – which is an official title of honor (Mark 14:45). “Ok, now we know it’s him. Let’s just arrest him.” At this moment, Simon Peter jumped forth, ready to defend Jesus cutting Malchus’ right ear off. “Oh my……what just happened? Is this Galilean crazy? What is this excruciating pain? My right ear?????Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah?” As Malchus goes down in deep pain holding the right side of his head, Jesus reprimands his disciple, speaks and reaches out his hand, touching Malchus’ right side of his head and healing and restoring it completely (Luke 22:51). “What is happening? I cannot put this into words? My ear? My ear? My ear!” This moment is the moment that intrigues me the most. What must Malchus have felt, have thought? I bet there are no words, only appreciative silence and surprise, a gasp maybe and then…. Then Malchus could hear again, his right ear was back where it belonged. WOW. Malchus had a visitation from the Lord himself. He was healed and restored by Jesus in one little instant in the later hours of the day before Jesus’ crucifixion in the Garden of Gethsemane. I wonder how this must have felt. I have felt Jesus’ hand in healing myself but not in such a physical way. I am not here to draw attention to this healing. I want to draw attention to the encounter that Malchus had with the living Son of Man: Jesus Christ. He looked into Jesus’ eyes. I like the way Mel Gibson portrayed the scene. According to his movie, Malchus fell down on his knees suffering from the pain when Jesus got on his knees in front of Malchus and touched his right ear to heal it. In this second he looked deep into Malchus’ eyes. The moment freezes for me. It becomes eternity itself. A moment of deep healing and restoration. After that, Malchus stays on his knees deeply in awe watching the other guards taking Jesus away. He cannot move. He is amazed and touched. He had an encounter with Jesus. We all need an encounter with Jesus to understand that HE is real, He is true and He is the way to eternity! One encounter with HIM and we are never the same again. Malchus was not the same man after that night. That is what I am very sure about! The name Malchus means: My King - I wonder if Malchus thought that after his encounter witht he Living God??

THOUGHTS ON HEALING

It has been a while and time really flies these days. I feel inspired to share some thoughts about HEALING since we start up new healing groups at Coastlands Community Church next month. Healing sounds easy and desirable. Yet, it is really hard work in different ways. First it requires a hard look at oneself...Denial has to go out the window. This first step is one of the hardest. Denial is hard to pass by and honestly, I believe that only a realization given by the Holy Spirit can bring about the change and let one look at oneself in the light of truth. After the wall of denial starts crumbling down, pain begins to surface….pain and fear. Pain and fear are not easy to handle. I would even say that everyone instantly wants to run away or cover up all of it. That is where the journey towards healing can end for a lot of people who cover up their pain and fear under lots and lots of different things. Believe me, that is the easy way out….it is an instinct to do just that. Furthermore, it takes more than will power and a conscious decision to look at the pain. Yet, if one wants change and healing, there is only one way. It is a process and it nothing changes in a day. It is a choice to go through the pain instead of around it. There are no short-cuts when healing is concerned. I don’t like that part and would love to run away every time pain surfaces…but that are definitely is not the answer. Besides, I have experienced it more than one time when I let the pain surface and look at it and let Jesus take it away, then do heal and change. I do know that it is not an easy road, but it is def. the most rewarding road ever. I have seen people set free from bondages, from pain, from fears. There is such beauty about the new and changed person…a beauty that comes from deep within. My heart and passion is for healing even though it is a hard road.

Becki Rusk

This post if about Becki Rusk. I met her nearly 2 years ago here in CapeTown. She came with her husband John to have COastlands Community Church to be their base and home church for when I travel. They are missionaries. I really like Becki and even now that she sngs with the angels int throneroom and is with Jesus, I cannot stop thining about her. She went to be with Jesus after 8 months of ling cancer. I enjoyed her so much while she was here. She was a real servant - someone who listened very well. Whenever I see lavenar bushes I think back of her andhow she would stop and smell them before wlking on. I love her laughter and her smiles. She really ad a gentle soul. When I drive arond here in Table View,there are so many little memories that pop up daily. I never saw her upset. When we had a small gorup that met every friday at 5:30am and I was not able to get my car, Becki would come and pick me up, take the extra time - it blessed me tremendously. She always had this peace about her, she was centered in Jesus and I could see it, feel it , even smell it. One day I met with her at the mall. It was shortly after Johnand her had moved here, found a place to stay. Becki told me that day tha she had always loved working out and walking but that there was not really a good possibility to do that here. Then she thought of walking around the mall for an hour with me....we walked and talked during that time, sahred hearts...and hse got her workout!! Whenever I am in the gym right now, I think of her. THen our outing to Paternoster: It was an outreach and Becki wanted to go so bad. She was already in pain during that time but did not know about the cancer. She drove and we took 2 of the YOuth and Zaks with us. It was an awesome experience that I will never forget. I guess I cosnider myself very blessd to have spent time with her. I miss her and my heart and prayers go out to John, her mom Novella and her dad Ralph and to all the family. Gone too soon..... but then God must have really wanted her with HIM....

My Personal Trainer

I’ve been going to the gym now for 4 weeks and I actually love it every time. I even have my personal trainer. How? – You might ask. A personal trainer is very expensive! I don’t pay a cent for my personal trainer. Let me explain. As I go and train, it is a still quiet voice that spears me on: “Come on, Kerstin, you can do 5 more. Kerstin, you can do it, I KNOW you can!” It is a voice that challenges me to go further and to succeed. This encouraging voice belongs to my Lord, to the same Lord that actually got me into this gym. I am not only going to gym, but I am in the gym of my life and training the muscles of faith, of trust, of patience, of persistence. My personal trainer is teaching me discipline right now and I am so thankful for that. I cannot even begin to put into words how thankful I am for my Personal Trainer. He has many different names, yet HE is ONE.

DOT

This is a little story about my new friend: a pigeon  Yes, a Pigeon! A week ago, while I was reading a book in the late afternoon, a bird smashed against the windows of my sliding door in the lounge. I got up and looked down in my neighbor’s garden (quite concerned). There she was (yes, I decided it is a SHE), the Pigeon. She was sitting on the grass….and seemed quite anxious and confused. I began speaking to her (yes again, I do speak to animals…..my neighbor calls me Dr. Dolittle hehe). Then I went back to reading my book. 5 minutes later, the Pigeon flew up to my balcony and sat down..making herself comfortable. She observed me as I started to blink my eyes and after a short while she did the same. It was soooo cute. She stayed a few more hours that evening before she left. Next morning as I went into the lounge to have breakfast there she sat, totally at ease watching me. I thought that was rather cool . She watched me have breakfast and reading my Bible. Then I laid down on my couch and did the blinking game again with her. I felt connected but not just to a little Pigeon…more so to her Creator, to God and I was thankful for such a sweet company! I named this sweet Pigeon DOT :)

How I went from 2009 to 2010

I loved the way my church here in Table View/Cape Town celebrated the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010. We were to come to church at 9pm on New Year’s Eve. Instead of meeting in the sanctuary, we met in our Coffee area. One of the men started a big fire in the back and we all started to nibble at finger food we all had brought. We chatted away and our worship leader entertained us with fun songs on the guitar. Around 10:30pm, we all came out to the fire and worshipped God. After that a time of testimonies followed. We could stand up and thank God for certain things in 2009. After a hard and challenging year, this was about getting into a mood of thankfulness. I was really moved. This is what I shared that night (only about an hour before it was officially 2010). “

I am so thankful for this year. It has been quite a challenging one in a lot of aspects. Yet I have observed a sincere growth in me, a change that I think is a miracle. At the beginning of the year, we challenged to GROW DEEPER WITH JESUS and I am thankful for seeing that in my life. I know God has healed me more. I was able to see my parents for a month, to visit with friends in Germany and the States which actually meant a lot to me. I was able to get my own apartment after such a long time of sharing living space. I am also thankful that Coastlands Community Church has become more of a home for me. 2009 was full of victories. Thank you God for 2009 and may 2010 be even better

” Now 2010 is here and as a church we are challenged by God to KEEP IT SIMPLE this year.

LOng time no see - 2010

Long time no see. I think I upload some pics to share my last few weeks with you. Happy New year!!!! it is finally here: 2010!!!