The Hall Family: April 2013

Dear friends and family,

After many miles of road and air travels and many great hours of ministry here in Zambia, in The Democratic Republic of Congo and in Ethiopia, Lyle is now back in Kabwe for a month of sports discipleship training. Jette was able to join him for one week in Ethiopia.

Sports Disciple School:

Now I am back home in Kabwe again. My friend Joe Anderson flew in from the States to help with our 2^nd Sports Discipleship School which is happening this month.

Learning to trust in the tube and the life jacket...

To guide and to trust

I set up an experiential outdoor course in the bush on a lake last year and it has been a powerful tool for ministry. Last year we had about 90 participants go through it. In the 8-day course there are many activities: Swimming, which for many Africans is a really big deal, fear of drowning and of spirits in the water. Rock climbing, many problem-solving challenges, team building activities, a 24-hour solo time and a 32 km hike to a waterfall deep in the forest. The theme is always the cross and each team carries a wooden cross throughout their activities; here they gain a deeper understanding of the cross and its power. For many of them, this becomes a real life changing experience.

A few weeks ago 24 coaches from 8 different nations went through this. These coaches are going through a 30-day high-level training. Training these coaches to become life coaches to use sport as a tool to reach the youth with the gospel. 55-60% of Africa is below the age of 18.

Outreach with the sports team to a local school

The following week we took 40 college-age students through a very similar 3-day bush experience and will do yet another group in May.

Rock climbing and rappelling, having to trust the rope as well as the people below

Team building exercise

Rachel did really well, despite just having had malaria.
Here she is with her team on "Vision Rock"

Team decided to stay together and cross over
instead of trying to take the canoe over twice

Praying and singing around the camp fire

Soup Night every Tuesday

A full house:

The Hall’s house is an open place to people from all over the world, at present we have 2 German and 1 Danish volunteer staying with us and every Tuesday is “Soup Night”; our doors are always open, so the house is full from every tribe and nation.

Farewell party for our German friends

Our friends Roy and Sarah are taking care of all these kids(plus a handful or two of deaf youth),
here we had them over for a little swim and a snack.

Sabbatical:

There are many invitations opening up for us here in Africa, but we are in need of a bit of a break. It has been about 16 years of ministry for us; of course we are always ministering, but now we look forward to a change of scenery for a season. We will be flying into Seattle on July 3^rd this year. We will be in the NW area for about 5 weeks and then we head to Florida for 5-6 months to work with a YWAM discipleship school.

This next season is a needed time for Jette and I, also very much for our girls. Africa is in our hearts and a part of who we are, so this is by no means a good-bye; we will rent out our house here and take a good look at the future. We believe that the Lord has a wonderful plan for our family but not sure what all that means at this point so pray with us.

We hope to come to Denmark in March 2014 when Jette's parents have their 50th wedding anniversary.

My Little Ladies:

Rachel, 14, had a serious bout of malaria a month ago, but thankfully bounced back quickly after getting the proper medication. She is not so sure about leaving her friends behind but also looks forward to going to the States.

Acacia, soon 12, whose passion is close-up nature photography, is somewhat concerned, mostly because Rachel is.

Mikaela 10, who has recently become an avid reader, is excited somehow, trying to save up pocket money to buy herself some cool stuff in America.

Naomi, 6, who is in the wiggly teeth stage of life, is just loving it all, as much as we try not to spoil her, we are all victims…. What she looks forward to the most is to fly in an airplane again!!

Lots to do:

Still lots to do in the next 10 weeks as we prepare to leave. Sorting, packing, cleaning as well as keeping up with the usual activities of life. Please pray with us that we find good renters for our house while we are away.

Some of the deaf youth at church
saying goodbye to their friend Harrison

Praise Report:

As you may remember, we (esp. Jette) are involved in helping in a deaf ministry here in town. Jette teaches in their cell group once or twice a month. On Good Friday the church showed the Jesus Film, and at the altar call, about 10 of the deaf youth came forward and gave their lives to the Lord! What an answer to prayer!! Jette had been struggling with the dilemma of trying to teach them Biblical values for living, but knowing that there would be no true transformation unless their hearts were changed by the power of the Gospel!
Please keep these young people in prayer as they continue to grow as followers of Jesus!

Thank you:

To all those who have and are supporting and praying for the Hall family we so do thank you! We don’t always know how, but there seems to always be enough. Please continue to stand with us; even though we are in the US, we’ll need God’s provision there as much as we do here, medical check-ups, school books and fees, transport etc. For those who know, furlough can sometimes be more overwhelming than being here at home....

My challenge to you:

Continue to reach out to the world around you; you are Jesus to your neighbor. Yes, we are all busy but be Jesus in your busy-ness. Remember that we will be more discouraged because of the things we did not do in life rather than the things we did do.

Many blessings, and thank you for taking time to read this!

Very faithful pastors, most have been in prison for their faith

I was able to go to Ethiopia for 3 weeks in February for ministry. My first week there was in Gondar, a 15-hour bus ride away. We ministered at 13 different 3-4 hour services in 5 days, extremely tiring, but so awesome to see the Lord move in peoples' lives.

One of the many ancient palaces in Gondar city

Standing with men of God, Yared and Samuel

Spoke to about 3,000 students at the University

3 full days sharing with these pastors on 'The Purpose of the Church'

Some local transport

Bad hair day...??

Orthodox Funeral Procession

Need some pottery?

Local dress - Local colours

It's all in the smile

This priest has worked in this church 30+ years

Ethiopia is spiritually ruled by the Orthodox church, so much to say about all of this and the persecution against protestant believers.

Jette joined me the last week. We and some good friends, Dan and Tina, flew to Lalibela, North Ethiopia to see the old churches carved out of rock, some amazing historical sites! This is St. George's Church.