Sid and Karen Halsband (Andrew, Jonathan, Nicolas)
Commended from:  Shoreacres, Burlington, Ont. '91

  

 

July 2005     

 

Dear friends and colleagues
 
Just a quick note to update you on the recent health care visits we have had here in Canada.  We do have some positive news which I believe is an answer to prayer.  Some of you know that my ability to walk has been deteriorating over the last few years.  Our concern was that there was an  additional neurological problem that was contributing to this.  In 2003 when we were back in Canada for a furlough we had an MRI done which showed that there was a sack of fluid on the spine.  This apparently is quite normal for those who have had a spinal cord injury.  This sack of fluid I have been told should remain unchanged, but there is always the possibility that it could expand and cause more difficulties.  Since that MRI was done in 2003 my walking had really deteriorated and we feared that it could be the sack of fluid growing. We thank that the Lord that the MRI that I had done last week showed that there was no change whatsoever and that it was exactly as it was in 2003. No further deterioration! Praise the Lord!
 
We also visited with a rehab physician that my neurologist kindly hunted down for me.  He examined me and came to the conclusion that my main problem was that my right Achilles tendon had shrunk and shortened causing my toes on that foot to drop.  When I walked I would trip over my toes so the body naturally compensated by swinging my leg out as I stepped so that my toes would clear the ground.  This action caused inflammation in the piriformis muscle which lies next to the sciatic nerve.  The sciatic nerve was then affected which caused a lot of pain and a number of other secondary problems. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made.
 
The rehab physician showed me some exercises that I can do to stretch the Achilles tendon and also told me to put a 1/4 inch lift in the left shoe just to give the right foot a bit more clearance until things normalize.  We have followed through with his instructions and are glad to report that there is already some improvement in my walking.  Thank you for your continued prayers.
 
In the Master's service,
 
Sid and Karen Halsband

 

 

April 2005   

 

Beloved Saints

 

Warm Botswana greetings in the lovely name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The time has come for an update on the Lord’s work in northern Botswana .

 

Family Life

It just doesn’t seem possible that almost 14 years have past since we traded the lush green province of Ontario for the Kalahari sands of Botswana .  Karen and I often reminisce of the excitement of those first few days with three wee lads in tow. It has been quite an experience for them to grow up in a developing foreign country. Local customs, language and culture were all learned on the street not a text book. It has been a fantastic time! In 2001 we brought Andrew back to Canada for University, 2003 found us repeating the same procedure for Jonathan  and now in two weeks time we will be boarding the plane to head back to Canada to settle our last born Nicolas into post secondary education.

 

Furlough

We will be arriving in Ft Lauderdale USA May 2. Andrew and Jonathan will fly down from Toronto and we will spend some time as a family together vacationing. In June we will drive up to Greenville SC for Nic’s home schooling graduation ceremony at Bob Jones University . We then drive the rest of the way to Ontario arriving mid-June. In Mid-October we will be returning to Botswana but of course this time with out the boys this time.

 

Joe and Ramona Marquez

We are thankful to the Lord that Joe and Ramona Marquez (commended to Paraguay ) have agreed to come out to help in the Lord’s work here in Maun while we are on furlough.  They will assist the local believers here in ministering the word and preaching the gospel, providing transport for Sunday School children, and just being here for support.

 

The Assembly

We thank the Lord for the little company of believers gathered in the Lord’s Name at Maun.

 

We have recently had a week of gospel meetings in the assembly.  It was good to see the assembly all pull together inviting family and friends.  We had an average of 15 to 20 unsaved attending most evenings and we sensed that the Lord was working in hearts. One lady in particular was out every night, her sister and niece are in assembly fellowship and we just pray that the Lord would open her heart.

During the Easter weekend, 22 from Maun traveled to Serowe for one of our national conferences.  It was so good to see so many of our local brethren capably handling the Word.  It was also good time to renew our fellowship with our missionary colleagues.

 

Children’s Work

This year has seen quite a growth in the Sunday school. Our classes are bursting at the seems and we are having to split one of the younger classes as there are just too many children.  We also need to organise more benches to be built. What a great problem to have!

 

Construction

Praise the Lord! We have recently learned that the Tribal Land board has approved the transfer of the land to the assembly. We are now waiting for a letter confirming what they verbally told us.  Then we can take this letter to the Power corporation and get power on the plot.  We presently use a small portable generator which is ok but not very user friendly.

 

 

We roughly designed a building that would meet our needs as an assembly. We look forward to working with some brethren in Canada who have kindly offered to help with the building plans.  It would be good that when we return to Botswana in October that we begin on the foundation work.

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Health Concerns

While on furlough we have several appointments with Doctors and specialists.  An MRI is also scheduled for Sid to determine the status of a certain area in his spine that was affected by the TB meningitis. A rehabilitation specialist will also assess what can be done to improve his walking.

 

Karen will be doing some follow up work on her celiac disease.  She keeps quite well as long as no gluten sneaks in to her diet. Rules for labelling food products are quite lax here compared to Canada and the US .

 

The Lord has been truly good and faithful to us and we are so grateful for friends like your selves who have laboured with us in prayer. 

 

Pray for

 

Prayer  Requests

·        Furlough – travel & speaking engagements

·        Joe and Ramona

·        The assembly in Maun

·        The Building  project

·        Health Concerns

·        More Labourers with a heart for the gospel

 

May the Lord bless you and keep you and use you for His glory.

                                                               

In the Master’s service,

 

Sid and Karen

 

Sid and Karen Halsband

 

 

November 2004    

Beloved Saints

 

Warm Botswana greetings in the lovely name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The time has come for an update on the Lord’s work in northern Botswana.

 

We would like to start off by thanking all of you who hold us up before the throne of grace. This is truly an invaluable part of gospel work. One has rightly said  “we can’t all go, but we can all pray!”

 

Seven times in Revelation 2 and 3 the Lord said “I know thy works”.  The works of the believer, though feeble they sometimes are, will be rewarded abundantly at the bema of Christ. Labour at home and abroad will be examined and recompensed.  The Lord is no mans debtor. No wonder Paul could say “ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”.

 

Family Life

In December we expect Andrew to be here for Christmas. He has taken this semester off from University and has been working fulltime to make a bit of money.  He plans to finish his degree as a part time student.

 

Jonathan is in his second year at University and enjoying it immensely. He has a part time job at a local hardware store and is kept busy at his local assembly in Waterloo ON. 

 

Nicolas is on his way to Canada as we are writing this letter.  He would like to enter the Royal Military College in Kingston ON when he graduates from high school next year.  He is required to be interviewed in person to assess his suitability for officers training.  He will be returning to Botswana in early December.

 

The Assembly

We thank the Lord for the little company of believers gathered in the Lord’s Name at Maun.  We are encouraged by the growth in some of our younger believers.

 

Dan Nguluka, a fellow elder and colleague is a great encouragement to me personally.  He was born in Zambia and was fostered and nurtured by some of the missionaries there. He and his wife and three children  moved to Botswana in 1991 and are actively engaged in the Lord’s work.

We had a short series of gospel meetings in August and as a result one young woman has come to know the Lord.

We are grateful to the Lord for the unity and oneness that exists in the assembly and pray that it would continue. 

 

We as an assembly recently went through the Seven Churches of Asia in our mid-week meeting.  We sensed the Lord’s help in the delivery of these messages and felt that we all were challenged.

 

The Prison Work

The work with the prison officers on Tuesday mornings is a blessing.  These men and women listen faithfully every week to the gospel.  There are some believers among them but most it appears are not.

 

Children’s Work

November is the end of the school year in Botswana and that is when our annual prize giving is held.  This is the time when the children receive prizes of clothing that has been donated to us through out the year.  They are awarded primarily by attendance, with the children attending the most getting better prizes. Some of these children come from very poor families and it is always rewarding to us to see their smiling faces afterwards.

 

We do thank the Lord for those believers who have made this a project for there missionary class or young peoples group. Good used clothing is always welcome.

 

Construction

We are waiting final approval from the Tribal Land Board before beginning construction of the Chapel. It appears that it is only a formality but nevertheless it is important to wait on them. Pray that this will get sorted out soon.  We are waiting on the Lord to give clear indication as to when we should start with the building project.  Also, pray that the manpower would be available when needed. 

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Health Concerns

Sid recently has seen one of the top doctors in the country who feels that there has been some improvement in nerve regeneration nevertheless he still needs to exercise.  He will be consulting with his neurologist in Canada when we are home in Canada for furlough next year.

 

Karen continues to keep well provided she is able to maintain a gluten free diet.

 

Thank you for your prayers.  This is really where the work is done and battles fought.  Pray for

 

Prayer  Requests

·        Andrew and Jonathan in Canada

·        Building  project

·        Health Concerns

·        More Labourers with a heart for the gospel

 

May the Lord bless you and keep you and use you for His glory.

                                                               

In the Master’s service,

 

Sid and Karen Halsband
 

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