Thank You!

Hello again friends and family!

I think Neil Diamond said it best when he said "We're coming to America"! I know a bit cheesy ...But it's true. We are coming to America.

Thank you all so much for responding to the need by praying for us and for financially contributing for our visit back to the U.S. God has provided in very natural ways through many of you and for that we thanks to God and you. God has also provided for this trip in very supernatural ways as well, ways in which truly have humbled us and in ways that are causing us to give Him much glory.

We will be arriving in LAX at 6:45pm on the 25th of this month. I will be returning to S.A. in four weeks, Misty and Michael will stay an additional two weeks.

If any of you are in the southern California area on Wednesday the 27th of May. We would love for you to join us at Calvary Chapel Tustin at 7:00pm as we will be giving an update of what the Lord has done and is doing through the ministry in South Africa.

The Church Address is: 330 w. sixth st.
Tustin, Ca

We do hope to see those of you who have been so faithful to pray for us and support us financially. We appreciate your friendship and most of all your commitment to pray for us.

If you think of it please remember to pray that our flights and traveling will go well and that none of us will get sick. Also, for Michael as the flight is 24+ hours long. Hope to see you soon.

Many Blessings to you,
Mike, Misty, and Michael Portland

Fall is our favorite time of year!

These past several weeks have been packed full of God's blessings and also with many opportunities to show the love of God to the people of Paarl. As a family....We are blessed and healthy and really looking forward to our visit to the U.S. in May-June (Lord willing). We are still praying and waiting for God's provision both for the finances for the trip and also for a faithful man to watch over the flock in Paarl while we're gone. Please join us in prayer for these things. We also are still waiting and praying for a worship leader at the church. Last Sunday I led worship for the first time (not as bad as I had imagined it would be...God's people were gracious). We would love to see someone emerge from the congregation in that way, but however God wants to do it we're open to.

March 1st through the 9th I had the privilege of going to Malawi and teaching about 50 pastors and their wives at a pastor's conference. Pastor Demitri and myself flew up there and had such a blessed time just ministering to these guys and their wives. Please pray for Calvary Chapel Lilongwe and Pastor Tom and Caroline when you think about it and for all the pastor's there in Malawi. They need bibles and good biblical resources to help them in their ministries, but mostly they need Jesus to guide them and use them (don't we all?). I've posted some photos for you from our time in Malawi.

Pastor Tom and Caroline Mambo (CC Lilongwe)

CC Lilongwe

Misty and I don't usually do this, but we have been encouraged by a friend and fellow veteran missionary to let our specific needs and requests be made known to our friends and family. As a ministry we have really come to the realization that technology though not essential is extremely beneficial in the moving ahead of reaching our city for Jesus in this visual age we live in. So we feel that the Lord would have us to let you know our needs in this area in the furthering of the ministry in South Africa. We are asking the Lord and asking you if you would join us in prayer or maybe even contribute if so led, to us as a church in receiving the tools we need. We are asking for a Macbook Pro laptop and also a graphic design program called Adobe Indesign. If we add up the costs of having graphics designed for us these tools would pay for themselves relatively quickly. Again, Misty and I were a bit hesitant to ask so specifically but these are real needs and this is God's ministry so please understand we just want you pray with us and see what the Lord will do.

While I was in Malawi Misty had some of the girls from the "Dream team" over for an "all nighter". Then the next night she had about 5 kids from the one of the farms we minister on come over for an "all nighter" too. Here's a couple of pictures from that.

Playing some "Catch Phrase"...Misty says it was hilarious.

Zane, Michael, Raltan, and Joey

Jaques and Lillian
(Please pray for them..They have been such a blessing to our church)

Calvary Chapel Paarl Valley




We love you all so much and ask that you would continue to pray for us and the work here in Paarl.

Blessings,
Mike, Misty, and Michael

"I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26

Happy new year to all of you! Sorry for the long delay in updating our blog, It's been a busy season. Misty, Michael and I are healthy and being blessed. Michael just started pre-school this week, he seems to be really enjoying it more this year...so we're grateful for that.

These last couple of months have been a whirlwind. First of all...The Sexton family who were here serving along side of us decided to move back to the U.S. They left about 1 month ago. We appreciate so much all of the prayers and support that have been given to us through this season. The Lord has been faithful to send us guys from CC Capetown and CC Kommetjie to lead worship for us on Sundays which is a real blessing. We are praying that He will raise someone up from within the fellowship eventually to fill that gap. We are expecting great and awesome things from the Lord this new year...as He is a great and awesome God!

Please pray for David and Vicky Emerson who are answering the call of God to move to Paarl to assist us here in what the Lord is doing. Please pray that their visa's will go through and also for the financial support they will need to come here and live. We are really looking forward to them getting here.

We have added some pictures of recent ministry events, We also want to remind you that your prayers and financial support open the door for an abundance of ministry to take place here in Paarl. We love you and miss so many of you very much.

Youth Beach retreat with the youth from the 3 local farms we minister on.

They were so excited to be at the beach

Church picnic this last Sunday

Vahl and Lillian enjoying some fellowship (Vahl was baptized later that day)

Tanya and Willem (Tanya was Baptized as well)..they are a blessing

Calvary Chapel Paarl Valley

Blessings to you...Please send us an e-mail to let us k now how you are doing.

Mike, Misty and Michael Portland