June  2005

Dear Family & Friends,

We are writing to connect with you before we leave South Africa for furlough in mid August.  What, furlough again?  I know that it does seem like a very short time ago that we were with you and it is true that we have had two years in the field rather than three.

We have made this decision because our Church and individual support base is now so widely spread we find it a real challenge to personally make contact with everyone in three months.  Our decision was to stay three months on the east coast this time and on our next furlough travel West.  “We are not as young as we used to be” – I never thought we would admit it – but I guess it boils down to the fact of – less energy!

We will be in Ontario, Canada with the family until early September and then travel to the Eastern U.S.A and the central states before leaving for South Africa again in December.  We plan enroute to spend Christmas with the kids in the UK.

John’s main work at present is the HIV/Aids CROSSROADS program teaching character development, and Spiritual Foundations, through trained teachers to the youth of South Africa. We actually evangelize and disciple teachers and also help churches to become involved in the program.

Part of this Spiritual Foundations program training for church members and school teachers involve taking them for practical ministry experience to the local prison weekly where they evangelize, follow up and disciple prisoners.  The results have been stunning …….Praise the Lord!  These strongly grounded Christians are experiencing a significant multiplying ministry.  Many inmates have led fellow inmates to Christ and are now equipped also to disciple these new converts.  This is the  same model we are beginning to replicate through teachers in the schools.  This is grassroots CCC discipleship and it works !!

Nathan and Michelle Robinson from New York who have been invaluable in their acceleration of the CrossRoads program will be leaving this month and we cannot thank them enough for the contribution they have made since they arrived 18 months ago.

Please continue to remember DAVID, our son in Iraq with the US military, that the Lord would protect him.

Please pray for strength as we live out of suitcases for four months.  Also pray for our hosts and hostesses for grace, patience and strength as they put up with us – we know it is not easy.

We love and appreciate you and look forward to seeing you face to face or speaking to you by phone.

Love John & Mary Jean Tempelhoff.

Our contact details while in N.America are:

              1. Canada, c/o Steve Size (519) 667-4044

                  (Aug 14 –   Sept 3)

              2. US., c/o Emmanuel Baptist Church (Sept 3 – Dec 5 )

              3. Direct contact with us via email jtemp@attglobal.net 

                  (anytime)