Simmons 4 Africa

I was doing some research trying to learn the latest literacy rates for the Newcastle, South Africa area and was truly surprised by something. I did a google search for literacy rates for Newcastle, South Africa and to my amazement two of the six listings that showed were our own blogs from our missions hub blog page (the other four had little to do with literacy).

Two frames of thought struck me as the information popped on the screen. One it stated very clearly to me that literacy or illiteracy issues in that part of the world isn't at the top of the news and something not too many people are worried about.

Second, I could not help but be saddened that a group 500,000 people living in abject poverty and in dire need are so forgotten. On the other hand I feel honored and privileged that God has chosen us to bring encouragement, hope, love, light and divine attention to these wonderful Zulu people. No other missions organization at present are doing anything in this particular region a region that is desperate for the hand and love of God. 
We are so grateful to Into All the World for believing in us and coming along side and ordaining us in this important mission. Would you please ask God what you can do to help us get there and fulfill what the the Lord is sending us to do. Whether it be prayer, monthly financial support, telling others or providing encouragement, we need you!

Blessings!

Dan

Last year in April we made a blog entry regarding our literacy ministry and the urgent need to teach reading in the South African Province of Kwa Zulu Natal. Even today if you google Literacy Outreach Kwa Zulu Natal, that particular missions hub blog is the first that pops up. This in one way is quite encouraging to see something you wrote come up first on a search. But what it actually does is underscore the lack of missionary assistance and efforts being conducted in the region. The area around Newcastle in Northern Kwa Zulu Natal Province accounts for nearly 500,000 people and the large majority of these precious souls are living in abject poverty. Even though Newcastle is a modern city of about 20,000, the vast majority of inhabitants reside in villages and squatter camps in close proximity of the town. These folks for the most part lack the basic necessities such as electricity, running water and adequate food supply. Additionally, there is a dire need to share eternal plan of God’s salvation through His son Jesus. We will be working with local churches in uniting this effort in evangelizing the lost. The needs here are countless and the opportunities to provide help and present the gospel are immeasurable. However, believe it or not there are absolutely ZERO foreign missionaries or missions organizations operating in the area. We believe fervently this is a main reason God called us to serve these people, in this area at a time such as this. We as the body of Christ are now presented with a wonderful opportunity to share the Father's love and make a real impact in the lives of people that are pretty much forgotten in terms of mission outreach. Our family and wonderful mission organization Into all the World (www.iatw,ca) are committed to getting us back to Newcastle to serve full time providing literacy and soccer ministry programs. Will you pray and ask God what you can do? So far we are at about 30% in monthly pledged dollars needed to live and work in South Africa. We are asking individuals and churches to pray how they may be able to assist in this ground breaking, grass roots ministry. We not only need financial support but also, an abundance of prayer and encouragement which are just as important as money. We also would like to establish relationships with churches and missions organizations that int he future could send people and participate in short term missions projects with us. Again the opportunity to serve and impact lives for the Gory of God are endless. Please visit our website at www.simmons4africa.org to learn the latest in regards to our efforts to reach 3 to 5 thousand children with the gospel of christ through reading education and soccer ministries. You can personally contact us at [email protected] or by phone at 913-284-4873.

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]

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!!!

We have been back from our mission vision trip to South Africa for a little over two months now.  If one word can sum up our status since returning it has to be PREPARATION. Life has been fast and furious these last two months as we aim to head back to South Africa on a permanent basis in late September or early October of this year.

Needless to say we are in full gear preparing to go back to South Africa to fulfill  what God has called us to do. The  highlights of our ministry will be gospel centered outreach programs via reading education and soccer. We have an opportunity to reach 3000-5000 children and youth in the next 5 years just through these efforts alone. We are currently working with a contact in South Africa to develop and define these ministry opportunities and lay the foundational groundwork that will allows us to hit the ground running upon our return. I will write and post blogs in the very near future presenting more detail in regards to each respective ministry. Look for those in the next week or two.

We have also been working to dismantle our life here in the States which has proven to be quite a chore.  We are in the process of selling our home and making plans to liquidate approximately 75% of our belongings via a bazaar to be held the second weekend in June.  Only items that are absolutely necessary to maintain our existence the time we have left here will be spared a price a tag.

The other activity we've been busy with the task of fund raising. One avenue in this area we are pursing is the development  of a website that will provide free reading education and missionary resources along with product reviews. It will also offer discounted Christian books, study materials, reading curriculum and and other services. A portion of the sales of these goods and services will go directly to our ministry. I will post on this blog when the site is operational. Please check back soon! We are also of course contacting people and churches in an effort to share our vision and see who would like to prayerfully consider partnering with us either financially in prayer or for the more adventurous perhaps joining us on a short term mission trip sometime in the near future.

If after reading this you would like more information how to get involved with what God is doing in South Africa, please feel free to contact us at 816-398-3005 or by email at [email protected]. We would love the opportunity to share our hearts, vision and answer any questions you may have.As always we covet your kind thoughts and prayers. Blessings to you in the wonderful name of Jesus!