It has been a while since we last sent out a family update, and a lot has happened.
Riëtte’s parents were here for another visit, we had the privilege of celebrating her dad’s 70th birthday together, we moved house, Evan has started his integration at a new Kindergarten, and there has also been a significant development regarding Switzerland.
So, I’ll start there.
Switzerland
After our attempt at a visa through Campus for Christ was rejected, we explored another religious worker/missionary avenue. However, we soon realised that this route would be very difficult. There were a number of legislative barriers we would need to overcome, the process could potentially take years, and even then there would be no guarantee that it would ultimately work.
After praying about it, we decided that we would make one final attempt at finding a viable way into Switzerland. If that door did not open, we would accept and embrace that God was not opening it and that we were to remain in Germany.
We felt that it was not healthy for us, our family, or the future church plant to remain indefinitely in a state of “limbo”.
In January, Riëtte applied for another position in Switzerland. After more than three months of waiting for feedback, we eventually received confirmation that they had decided to move forward with other candidates.
And so, we have accepted that God has chosen not to open this door.
We truly believe that God does not have a Plan B.
He is the Creator of the universe. He is able to do anything. He is able to open any door, and He is equally able to keep doors from opening.
During January and February, I had already begun personally processing the possibility that Switzerland might not happen. I had to wrestle with some questions, disappointments and unknowns in my own heart. And I can honestly say that we are at peace with God choosing not to open this door.
We believe that His plans are good and perfect—both for His Kingdom and for our family.
The church plant in Bern will continue under the leadership of Harry and Wendy Griesel. They have been faithfully labouring there and have already begun gathering people on Sundays. We are excited to see what God continues to build through them.
Nürnberg
Within Every Nation, there is currently an opportunity in the city of Nürnberg.
The church there has been looking for a new leader for quite some time. This year, the church celebrates 25 years, but it has been in a significant season of transition for approximately two years while seeking new leadership.
Because of this, taking responsibility for the church would not simply mean stepping into something that is already established and running as before. It would require a rebuilding and, in many ways, a relaunch.
We have already visited Nürnberg once to get an initial feel for both the city and the church.
This week, our sending leader from Pretoria is visiting us, and we will travel to Nürnberg together from 4–7 September. During this visit we will spend focused time with the current leadership, work through some important questions about the church, and talk practically about what a leadership handover could look like.
There are many things we want to understand clearly: the health and finances of the church, its governing and leadership structures, the property and existing commitments, the current congregation and leadership team, and what exactly is meant when we speak about a “handover”.
Most importantly, we want to determine whether we are all seeing the future of the church in the same way.
If all the lights are green and we sense clearly that this is what God is calling us into, we would then begin preparing to move to Nürnberg.
The timing of such a move would need to take into consideration the stability of our family and especially Evan. He has literally just started at a new Kindergarten, and another move would mean another Kindergarten transition. We therefore want to approach the timing carefully and prayerfully rather than simply moving as quickly as possible.
As a family, we are trusting God for very clear guidance.
We also deeply long to begin putting down roots—to build friendships, community and a sense of home rather than continually living with the question of where we will be next.
Please pray with us for 4–7 September.
Pray that God will speak clearly.
Pray that we will see what He wants us to see and hear what He wants us to hear.
Pray that nothing important will remain hidden or unclear, and that there will be unity and honesty in every conversation.
And if, while praying for us, you receive a Scripture, encouragement or word that you feel God has placed on your heart, please share it with us.
To Our Ministry Partners
We also recognise that this represents a significant change in vision and direction from what we originally invited many of you to partner with financially and in prayer.
Because of that, we do not want simply to send an update and assume that nothing has changed.
Firstly, we want to say thank you.
Thank you for your patience with us and for continuing to stand alongside us while we have been waiting for God to bring clarity.
Your faithfulness and generosity have given us something that we did not fully realise beforehand how much we would need:
Time.
Time to settle.
Time to be with Evan while he settles.
Time to adjust to a new country and culture.
Time to learn.
Time to process what we left behind in South Africa.
Time to listen to God.
And time to allow the next season to become clear rather than forcing something to happen.
Thank you.
Over the coming weeks, I will also reach out personally to connect with many of you, share more about where things currently stand, and give you the opportunity to ask questions about the season ahead.
Evan and his new Kindergarten
Evan started his Eingewöhnung—his Kindergarten integration—last Wednesday.
They approach the process a little differently here, with new children starting at different times over several weeks rather than everyone beginning together. Thankfully, having already gone through this process last year, we have a much better idea of what to expect this time around.
So far, it is going really well, and Evan seems to be settling in remarkably quickly.
One of the things we are especially grateful for is that this Kindergarten is one of the few explicitly evangelical Christian Kindergartens in the city. His teachers are committed Christians, and it was even wonderful to see the head of the Kindergarten at the church we attend on Sunday.
We are deeply thankful that Evan received a place there.
Please continue to pray for him.
We are incredibly proud of the way he continues to navigate so many changes. His German is developing really, really well, and it is incredibly precious to watch him grow, communicate and become increasingly confident.
Please pray for the protection of his mind and heart.
Pray that he would become sensitive to the presence and voice of God, and especially now that he is in this environment, that he would encounter God more and more as he grows.
A new home
We have also now settled into our new house, for which we are incredibly thankful. We are on the ground floor with a young married couple living above us. Then we both have a room in the roof, which is where our guest room is awaiting anyone wishing to come and visit. Nudge, nudge, hint, hint.
Around 90% of the furniture in our home was given to us free of charge by the previous tenant—from a washing machine to couches, cabinets and even a bed.
It has been such an unexpected provision and blessing. If we do move again, though, we are definitely going to need something slightly bigger than a van! 😉
Luka and Nikki are also very happy to have grass to run around and play on again.
Riëtte’s work
Things are going well at Riëtte’s work, although this is currently an extremely busy season for her.
Please pray for wisdom, strength and discernment as she navigates a number of different responsibilities and projects alongside real limitations in both time and resources.
Pray that God would give her clarity regarding what to prioritise, grace for the workload in front of her, and strength for each day.
Prayer
Finally, please continue to pray for us as a family and for our marriage.
Pray for a continual fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit in our lives.
Pray that He would nourish us from within and that, in every decision and every unknown, we would remain deeply aware of His nearness, His care, His provision and His Fatherly love.
We do not simply want God to show us what to do next.
We want to know Him more deeply through the process.
Thank you again for all your prayers, generosity and continued support.
I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the fact that so many of you have continued to stand with us during such an uncertain season. There are moments where I feel that we are “supposed to be doing more”.
And so, thank you for trusting God with us.
Thank you for trusting His timing.
Thank you for allowing us the space to follow where He leads rather than trying to manufacture an outcome.
We are deeply grateful for every one of you.
With much love,
Jaco, Riëtte and Evan
(and Luka and Nikki)
