“The angel told him, “Get dressed. Put on your sandals, bring your cloak, and follow me.””
— Acts 12:8 TPT
Friends! Family! Kingdom Partners!
I am on my way to DR Congo
After (nearly) two years of ministry (and waiting and praying and preparing in the throws of Lockdown) in my home country, I AM ON MY WAY to DR Congo!
I have eagerly been waiting for the opportunity to return as a sector missionary to DR Congo with Overland Missions, and it is finally here! I am leaving in SEVEN DAYS!
We often find ourselves in in-between seasons, and for me, the in-between was from October 2019, shortly after my return from Zambia when my father passed away, through Lockdown, until now. One of the toughest lessons I’ve had to learn is to actively wait while I’m in the in-between.
As Westerners, we’re conditioned to be time-conscious — not to waste time, but to save it and steward it.
— active waiting in the in-between
What I’ve learnt is that ACTIVE waiting is very different from PASSIVE waiting.
The in-between is a time for growth.
A time for stewardship, for cultivating, for digging deeper wells.
I have spent this in-between season doing just that — and now it’s time to put on sandals, grab my cloak (or at least 1 bag as per airline allowance) and GO!
As you may know, at the end of 2019, I received a new assignment to work with Overland Missions’ team in the Democratic Republic of Congo to pioneer the Gospel to unreached people in remote locations.
During the worldwide lockdown of 2020, our faithful team of Congolaise missionaries and ministry partners worked with zeal to expand the Kingdom and to share the Good News of the Gospel with their fellow Congolaise people. I have shared many of their testimonies— and the victories in which you share — over the past months. It’s a celebration of God at work in the Nations!
it’s moving day
ninety days
Over the next three months, I’ll be joining our Overland Missions team in our NEW HOME — Kolwezi, where we’ve got a full ministry schedule!
- Teaching Bible studies in the villages
- Hosting Leadership Meetings in Mpande, Kapalowe, Kolwezi, and Likasi
- Doing First Aid training and Trauma Prayer Counselling with Julie in the clinics
- A SECOND Expedition to follow-up on the first Expedition that our Zambian team hosted in August
- Hosting Farming God’s Way Conferences
- Preaching (this also counts toward the Bachelor of Theology that I am currently pursuing while working full-time)
- Doing various recon missions around Kolwezi
- And — one of the ministry highlights I am personally looking forward to meeting Emperor Mwant Yavwa on my birthday!
4 vehicles 6 motorbikes 32 people
At the end of July and into the beginning of August, the Expedition Division partnered with the DR Congo team to run our first ever DR Congo expedition.
It was an expedition that pioneered great things for the future!
Follow this link to check out awesome testimonies from the expedition!
Two of our expedition leaders took on the challenge of this trip into this unfamiliar and difficult nation. A huge part of the expedition was that instead of bringing westerners with them, they brought a group of our full-time time, Zambian staff! For many of our Zambian missionaries, it was their first time doing international ministry.
This is from Jessi Schwertfeger, who serves as Director of International Operations along with her husband, Jake. Overland Missions is made up of normal people who love people, and the nations, and have a passion for the Gospel. We’d love for you to join us in taking the Kingdom to the unreached people and tribes. To sign up for the next Expedition season, head over to http://www.overlandmissions.com/expeditions 
4 vehicles. 6 motorbikes. 32 people. Here we go! It’s the first day of Expedition in DR Congo! 🇨🇩🙌🏼✨ 
Farming God’s Way transforms entire communities through sustainable agricultural development 
Testimonies!Tapio from our Expedition team shares: Today a lady (the lower right corner) saw us passing by at a nearby neighbourhood of Likasi, DRC 🇨🇩 She had heard that prophets are in town and ran after us to ask for us to come to her house and share the Word of God. We went in and found a group of people who were discouraged by life and thus had slipped away from their relationship with God. We shared a powerful word and said we want to introduce you back to the loving Father. We prayed for all who were sick and they all were healed After them seeing and feeling God coming close to them it was time to step into that living relationship through Jesus. They were all saved… and that was because of the faith of the woman who ran after us in the beginning. Thank you, Jesus! In the other pictures, we see people who were healed and touched by God today. Hearing was restored, stomach problems gone and people were filled with the Spirit and joy! God is working mightily through the local and the Zambian team. 
While doing house to house evangelism, we found an informal bar. After a brief hesitation, the guys decided to invite us in. They shared of some of the struggles that have driven them to be drinking at 2pm. We told them that God had directed our steps to their house – 3 nationalities (Zambian, Congolese and an American) had found this place in their village because God sees them and their pain. After hearing that Gods love and forgiveness was available even in their state of brokenness, they chose to receive the grace of Father God. — Fredrick Malambo, Ogla Kabamba 
Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for women in many developing nations. Those who live in remote areas are at an even greater risk as it is exponentially more difficult to find rural clinics stocked with adequate medications and equipment- and staff rarely receive any continuing education after they graduate. But every time we take time to facilitate a class for these midwives and nurses they are hungry to learn, and immediately put into practice what we have taught. We encourage them to pray over impossible situations with faith, in the expectation that God’s power and the truth of his word is never hindered by geography or circumstances. He surely is the same yesterday today and forever! Every time we follow up, we hear their testimonies of God touching many lives through them. Four more clinics are now better equipped to respond to emergencies. Thank you for your continued partnership and prayers! — Julie Engeman 
Exploring new areas and building relationships. Really thankful for our team who jumps on board with some of our crazy ideas. “If you are searching for comfort and purpose at the same time, you will always come up short. Who told you it was too difficult?!” — Jessi Schwertfiger 
Sherrill shares: A glimpse of yesterday’s leadership meeting in Kapolowe with Pastor Humphrey preaching! Despite some chaos of cancelled plans, the testimonies over the last week are incredible! Healings, deliverances, salvations — the Lord is working even as we adjust to the changes and scramble to jump into different ministry opportunities. Today, we’re on our way to Mpande, everyone is full of expectation for all the week holds. The Lord will be faithful to fulfil His promises, and we are ready to see His Kingdom come everywhere our feet step. 
After travelling several thousand kilometres by taxi/bus/bike from Livingstone Zambia, our Zambian expedition team arrived in Likasi yesterday afternoon. It’s not about the glamour of travel or the destination, but doing whatever it takes to get to those who have not yet heard the Gospel. We are expectant of miracles and the advancement of the Kingdom of God! 
THEY ARE HERE! Overland Missions’ first ever Expedition team has arrived in DR Congo — we are expectant for Heaven to touch Earth! Please keep praying for our team!
What an amazing expedition filled with powerful testimonies, cross-cultural leadership, miracles, and expansion!
you are a part of this team
Through your faithful partnership in finances, prayer, and support this ministry can grow, bear fruit, and share in the joy of the harvest!
I would like to invite you to partner with this ministry!
You can CLICK HERE to give every month, or a once-off gift, using 3282 as my staff code in the reference.
As always, a grand THANK YOU to each of you! I’m so blessed by your encouragement and prayer as our team continues to believe in a great move of God here in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and my home country, South Africa!
Because of you, and your support in every way, we can participate in the mission — to see the sick healed, the oppressed set free, the dead raised, and the Good News proclaimed to those who are without hope.
Thank you for sowing into this team, and specifically into my life! Because of your commitment, remote communities are reached with the Gospel of the Kingdom — thank you for being a part of that!
Thank you to all of you who sow and continue sowing into my life and the lives of others who are growing in Christ, receiving Christ, and are sent out by Christ.
I love each one of you and am so excited for what the Lord is doing and going to do through your lives as well. Giving it all might require finances, time, and sacrifice, but it’s worth it. He is worth it. The greatest gift was given when Jesus laid His own life down for us. Everything else falls short. He deserves eternal glory!
meet the DR Congo team
If you missed out on the DRC team introduction, you can find it here (on any Podcast platform), or where my newsletters are published: http://www.corneliainafrica.com
testimonies from our international Overland Missions team
