30Mar 2013

Memorial Library and Reading Center Project

The last two weeks has been a challenging time for our family. In September my Dad was diagnosed with various lung diseases. On Tuesday March 19, 2013 he went home to be with the Lord. My Dad was one of our biggest most enthusiastic supporters, he truly believed in what we were doing. When he passed a memorial was set up with our ministry as the beneficiary. We were truly humbled and grateful. Through this seed money and money we already received from Maranatha Christian Academy, we are being led to purchase books. We are in the planning stage for a new library and reading center in a Zulu village just outside of Newcastle, where we will be serving full time in South Africa. God has also started to open doors for us to obtain more books and assistance through our sending agency in organizing this project and setting up the library. The library/reading center will in essence be ground zero in providing literacy education to an area which sports among the lowest literacy rates in all of South Africa. illiteracy is a problem best described as epidemic among the poor in South Africa. Once established this center will offer regular Christian themed reading tutoring for children/youth within the village, conduct tutor training to older students, and provide various christian centered activities within the community. We will also reach out to local schools offering reading supplement programs for their students. We also plan to be mobile and go out to other areas and villages to conduct tutoring and eventually set up other reading centers throughout the entire area. The library and reading center's main purpose will be to present the gospel in all it's power and make disciples through reading education and community outreach. We ask for your continual prayers as we move forward.with this project and the ministry as a whole. Please pray the God will grant us wisdom and we will hear his voice with clarity and that all obstacles will be removed from our path as we prepare for full time ministry.

We also would ask prayer for finances. We are still working to build personal support that will allow us to live and work in SouthAfrica. Currently we are seeking financial support from individuals and churches to help us meet our goal. If your church or you know of a church that may have an interest please let us know and we will contact them. And we would ask that you seek God to see what he may have you do to partner with Him in this endeavor. Please contact us through our website www.simmons4africa.org or by email [email protected]

09Dec 2012

The Upheavals of Transition

Transition, when leaving a settled world nestled in a culture and way of life you're familiar with can become extremely difficult. The picture below was a part of training exercise that demonstrates chaos within the transition is pretty much automatic. It is extremely important to have a support team around you to help with  keeping balance in these times of extreme stress and turmoil. We are so thankful for all of those who have supported us and continue to do so in a variety of ways including, prayer, encouragement, friendship and finances. We know all of these are of equal importance and we are so blessed to have so many good people coming along side us as we walk through this chaotic, turbulent and exciting life changing transition.  We are so richly blessed and thank God for you daily!

06Dec 2012

Missions Training and Beyond

Since November 26 we have been attending Missions Training in Palmer Lake, CO along with nearly 30 other missionaries slated to go to various points all over the planet. It has been a pleasure to get know each of them as they prepare to answer's God's call overseas. We have learned a lot in the short amount of time being here, especially about ourselves personally, inter cultural communication and how to deal with our worst fears. Yesterday we participated in a real life simulation that challenged all of us and caused us to look deep inside ourselves and face the worst of fears. The simulation was based on a hostile take over of missionary conference by military rebels opposing the host country's government. We hid a small box with about 10-15 in the box (standing room only) and were told to wait. We were eventually found by the rebels and were given instructions with a few (3-5) in each box taken out form the group and guns shots were fired indicating the ones taken were executed. It stirred up a myriad of emotions among both the the men and the women in the group. It was quite frankly gut wrenching and caused a great deal of reflection on what it meant to give your all for the gospel. The exercise was designed to test us under extreme stress and to face our worst fears. Mission accomplished. What it did for us personally was to look at ourselves and answer the question are we in fact to willing to risk undue hardship, persecution and death in essence risk it all to share the eternal gospel to a dying hostile world. The answer is Yes!!!

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About us

We are Dan and Deena Simmons who are currently serving in Newcastle South Africa for two months along with our sons Josiah and Micah. We will be leaving in March and hope to return as long term missionaries here by the end of 2012.

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What are we doing?

Deena has 21 years teaching as a primary school teacher and she also has 11 years experience in reading curriculum development. She is working with a new Christian school here in Newcastle and is assisting with developing their reading curriculum, remedial reading and teacher training. When we return on a more permanent basis Deena will continue to assist the school with whatever is needed in regards to academic development, teaching and/or training. Dan has teamed up with local pastors in developing a youth soccer organization that will be centred around promoting the gospel to potentially thousands of children and giving these kids an avenue to improve their soccer skills and development. There are currently no soccer leagues or formal competition opportunities for youth in this area. Additionally, literacy in South Africa is low, especially in the more rural areas. Because of this we feel the Lord is leading to start a mobile reading workshop ministry we can take to mission schools, townships and rural locations in the northern KwaZulu Natal region. This workshop would provide reading materials, parent training and tutoring for youth free of charge.