Duplantis Update, Dec 13, 2011

Dear Friends!

Another month has flown by - another month in which we have seen the Lord's gracious and loving hands upon us. 

First of all, thank you for your prayers on behalf of Peter's medical check-up in Windhoek last month.  The doctor was encouraged and encouraging and Peter has continued to improve since then also.  These last few days he has felt almost back to "normal"!  We are so grateful!   Peter has also just started taking some one-on-one Portuguese classes and is enjoying them.  He even has homework to do! 

We are in the throes of renewing our visas - yes, it seems we can't get through a year without talking about visas!  We had everything ready that they had told us was necessary, but then yesterday we found out that three more things had been added to the list!  So we have been scurrying about trying to get these three things because it is all supposed to be turned in by tomorrow!  Pray that once all is turned in that the renewal process would not be too long as we would like to have our passports in hand by March as we are due to come on furlough in March. 

Yes, our furlough is just around the corner!  By March, it will have been two years since we were in the US, so it is time to come visit and be refreshed.  We have booked tickets to arrive in the US on March the 6th and we plan to stay until early July.  Obviously, these are just plans and the Lord will direct our steps as He sees fit!  Please let us know when it would be best to visit you, if you are outside the Greensboro, NC area, and we will try to outline a plan.  We plan to stay at 1824 New Bedford Dr in Greensboro when we are not traveling so hopefully we can connect with most of you Greensboro folk while we are there!

Mom and Dad are stable in their rather fragile state.  Dad recovered from his pneumonia of end of October, but has a more and more difficult time talking.  Please write to him via Peggy Foster at peggy@fosterangola.ca and she will print emails for him as he really cannot use his computer anymore or talk.  He and Mom still love to get notes and letters, however, so please write!

We are in Lubango for the next couple of weeks to help care for Mom and Dad over Christmas originally in the planned absence of Steve and Peggy, but they have not received their residency cards yet so unless a miracle occurs they will not be able to travel as planned.  It has been very disappointing for them, but they are trusting that the Lord has the perfect plan for them in all this.  If Peter is still doing well over the next couple of weeks we hope to be able to go to Cavango in the New Year. 

The end of the year also brings to mind finances as we all want to end the year in the "black" as they say!  We are currently about $6000 in the red in our ministry account.  We basically have about a $500/month need for ministry funds that has never been pledged and we have just worked on in faith that it will come in.  Each year it has and we are thankful to the many of you who respond to God's nudging.  Please consider whether you could join the regular donors to help meet this need up front, or whether you could help us with a year-end donation to cover the deficit.  Thank you to all of you who support us so faithfully!  

As you all anticipate the New Year - with all of it's unknowns and possible anxieties this is a verse that has held us as we have waited...."Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait (emphasis added)for him." Isaiah 64:4 

May you all be full of His Joy and Peace!

Peter and Shelley Duplantis
Advancing the Gospel in Angola, Inc

 

Field Address:
C.P. 33 Lubango, Angola via Portugal

 

Home Office Address and Donations:
25 Maple St.,  Addison, NY 14801 USA
Acct:  01002

 

Website: www.hopeforangola.org  (can donate online at the "just give" icon)

Blog: www.duplantisdialog.blogspot.com

 

Emailing: IMG_5259, IMG_5261

These are a couple of photos taken when Stuart and Sharon came to visit!

Duplantis Update, Nov 16, 2011

Dear Friends,

How on earth did it get to be the middle of November already!??

We have been busy since our last update - two trips to Cavango, another week or so at Tchincombe helping out while Donna was away, time visiting family and now a trip to Namibia!

We went to Cavango for Oct 13-17 taking Dr Annelise Olsen to do medical consults and again on November 9-14 to host another medical team - Dr Steve Foster, and Dr Eduardo Ferreira.  Both trips went very well and the time there was precious.  This most recent trip we actually had quite a gathering - as Stirling, Donna and kids as well at the Ferreiras family, Gary Goertzen(the MAF pilot and friend!) and an Angolan anesthetist

came as well so we were 13 in total!  We celebrated Thanksgiving dinner a bit early, because we had promised the Ferreiras a Thanksgiving dinner at Cavango last year and then it didn't work out - so it was now or never as they return to Brazil in a few weeks.

A couple of weeks ago, my dad took quite a turn for the worse with an aspiration pneumonia and we thought he would be taken to Glory in the very near future.  As a result, my brother, Stuart and sister, Sharon, both came to visit.  It was great to have them around and Mom and Dad both really appreciated their visits!  Dad has improved alot with antibiotic treatment, but is still very frail.  We had a dinner on the 8th of November with 6 of us 7 siblings around the table!  Quite amazing!

We arrived back from Cavango at 5pm on Monday the 14th and left at 4am on the 15th for Namibia coming out in convoy with Sheila and Daniel who have come to pick up Brent and Helena.  We spent last night at a lodge just 3-4 hours from Windhoek so today our drive was much shorter!  All has gone well, though on Monday we did discover a rear axle leak on the Ford so that caused a bit of worry, but Steve had the suspected necessary spares and the car is already at the shop to be worked on tomorrow.  We trust it will not be a complicated repair and that it will continue to serve us well.

We have come to Windhoek for Peter's medical checkup and we have that appointment tomorrow morning at 9am.  We ask for wisdom and guidance for the doctor and all of us to know the best treatment to help Peter continue out of his depression.  Thank you for your prayers!

We are truly Thankful in this Thanksgiving season!  We have been so blessed in so many ways as we look over this past year despite it's apparent difficulties as we have seen His faithful provision of peace, direction, and strength.  God is GOOD!  Have a very blessed Thanksgiving too!!

Much love,

Peter and Shelley Duplantis
Advancing the Gospel in Angola, Inc.,

 

Field Address:
C.P. 33 Lubango, Angola via Portugal

 

Home Office Address and Donations:
25 Maple St.,  Addison, NY 14801 USA
Acct:  01002

 

Blog: www.duplantisdialog.blogspot.com

Website: www.hopeforangola.org

Duplantis Update, Oct 8, 2011

Dear Friends,

This past month has been full of milestones for us and our family!  My dad and mom's birthdays, 87 and 85 respectively, our 12th Anniversary and Peter's birthday!  Milestones are always a good way to reflect on God's faithfulness over the years and we are constantly reminded of His goodness and grace.  This year more than most we feel that we are totally upheld by His strength and grace as we can't say that "we" have accomplished much for the "Kingdom" or even for Cavango.  It has been a year of resting in Him and trusting that He has a plan amidst all the confusing circumstances that He has allowed.  We were listening to a Charles Price sermon on Abraham's life and could identify with the "famine" that came even when Abraham was exactly where God wanted him to be.  We too feel that we are where God wants us to be and that He has continually confirmed that to us by His provision and peace, and that the current "famine" is a time to grow in our faith.  Pray that we would not "flee to Egypt" taking matters in our own hands as Abraham did, but that we will remain resting in the Lord - our Jehovah Jirah(the Lord God Who Provides). 

Peter is much better than he was in August, Praise God!  He is still lacking "spark" and motivation to initiate doing things, but at least is no longer anxious.  Thank you for your prayers!

We plan to go to Cavango next week with Steve Foster as our vehicle is still awaiting parts for repair.  We will just go for a long weekend again as a chance to catch up with the mission folk again and see some patients at the clinic.  Until our vehicle is repaired we will probably spend the majority of our time at the Tchincombe ranch trying to be useful wherever we can be - feeding and training horses, sewing and cooking(Shelley), fixing things and making things(Peter).  We have also been able to pick up the leading of Sunday morning adult Biblestudy while Stirling has been away. 

Mom and Dad moved to Lubango last month - in fact exactly a month ago this weekend.  They have settled in quite well and Peggy and Steve are also gradually getting settled into the new house.  Dad continues to lose strength, and finds it more and more difficult to talk, but still smiles and enjoys conversation around the table. 

Thank you for reading this and for your prayers and support.  We are all members of One Body and we are your fingertips touching Angola!  Without you, we could not be here!

Running the Race Together,

Peter and Shelley Duplantis
Advancing the Gospel in Angola, Inc

 

Field Address:
C.P. 33 Lubango, Angola via Portugal

 

Home Office Address and Donations:
25 Maple St.,  Addison, NY 14801 USA
Acct:  01002

 

Blog: www.duplantisdialog.blogspot.com

Website: www.hopeforangola.org

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Here are some photos of Maedchen and friends, a brand new filly foal born to one of the original mares on the farm, and Bella with her brand new babes!  Praise God for all the blessings and new life in nature! 

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Friends and family at the prayer cairn made at Spiritual Life Conference 2011

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Here are some photos of the work and team from All Nations Church in Windhoek, Namibia

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