April Newsletter (posted a little late)

April 2016 Quarterly Newsletter  View this email in your browser

Warm greetings from the Boersema's! God is a God full of love, provision and blessing and we give Him all praise and glory for all that has been happening during this last quarter at Beautiful Gate. The picture above is a precious reminder of why we are serving in Lesotho. These beautiful, innocent, vulnerable children need love and care. And their caregivers need encouragement and spiritual refreshment so they can pour into the children they care for each day. Praise God we have the privilege and call to love, support and encourage the staff and children at this beautiful place called Beautiful Gate. Our temporary role as directors was uneventful and went well but are happy to have Bryan and Anita Geurink back from their furlough to resume their positions as directors. Our son Ryan had a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit us in Lesotho for about 8 days. This visit was such a blessing for him and for us. We enjoyed some family time in South Africa on a safari and then spent some time with the staff and children and showed him what we do at Beautiful Gate. Ryan easily engaged the culture and our wonderful staff, they loved him! As a chef, he offered to sharpen the housemother's knives to make their cooking duties easier. This was a great time of connecting for everyone! At the end of February, we came to Michigan on furlough for a little more than 5 weeks. We came to meet our new grandson, to continue to bond with our 5 year old grandson and to connect with family and friends. We are so thankful to God for a healthy baby boy, Samuel James! Congratulations Rachael and Adam!   We enjoyed our time in Michigan with family and friends and had the privilege to speak at a few supporting churches. This was a wonderful opportunity for us to give an update and share what God has been doing this past year. Ron and I had the privilege of presenting in our son in law's classroom about Lesotho and Beautiful Gate for their unit on Africa. This was a joy to see the children's interest in our ministry and country. We have one year to go in our two year commitment. We are praying for what is next after that year. We have the option to stay longer at Beautiful Gate but are open to following God's call wherever He leads. Grace's time at Beautiful Gate has come to a close. She went home April 11 with our church mission team.  She did not have the same two year commitment they we did and her care giving in the baby house is finished. She is feeling led to come back to Michigan, start a whole new mission field and put down roots. She will look for work and will hopefully be able to share an apartment with some friends.  We see God at work in so many ways at Beautiful Gate and now that we have been home on furlough, we can see God at work in so many ways right in our hometown. We have been encouraged by all of our loved ones! Each year the children at Beautiful Gate receive a pair of new shoes for Christmas. My parents happily agreed to head up a shoe drive for our children through their church, Ridgewood CRC in Michigan. We asked for approximately 50 shoes with specific sizes for boys and girls. The response was overwhelming and the Ridgewood congregation gave over 100 pairs of shoes!!! We now have enough shoes for next Christmas! On behalf of Beautiful Gate, we thank you Ridgewood for your generous gift and thank you Mom and Dad for your work in putting this shoe drive together!

Christmas Day visit to BG. Bouncy House play wore him out! While we were acting directors for 10 weeks we were also privileged to conduct two adoption ceremonies and host our Annual Staff Christmas Braai. This little girl was being reunified with her parent. A sad goodbye for us all. Prayer items: For the staff at Beautiful Gate and the unique needs that they have. For the emotional health of the children of Beautiful Gate and the current adoption process which has been quite slow. For wisdom as we hear from God as to where we serve next. For our specific jobs as we set goals for the next year. For Grace as she transitions back home to Michigan and as we live apart from one another.

Copyright © *2015* *Beautiful Gate Lesotho* All rights reserved. Our emails: kkboersema5@gmail.com (Karen) pastorboersema@gmail.com (Ron) Our mailing address: Beautiful Gate c/o Ron or Karen Boersema PO Box 339 Lady Brand 9745 South Africa Donations: Please visit our blog page for donation details. Our blog page: http://boersemablog.blogspot.com/ Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list