Tom/Cindy's Journey

Greetings from South Africa! It has been quite some time since you have probably heard from us last. There are a few reasons: my lap top died, I bought a Mac when I was home in June for a ministry trip (not compatible with PC Outlook), it took time to try to transfer all the information which never worked right, I had to type all the e-mails in myself (that took forever!) and now we are back!

Much has happened in these last few months! We have been to Guatemala, Ireland, the US, Romania and obviously here in South Africa! We are helping with the World Race as Life Coaches (www.theworldrace.org) and that requires doing Debriefs with our Squad of 32 young adults. What a blast all of them have been on the journey! More stories to come! We also continue to work at Pneumatix which is the Ministry Training School here in South Africa. We are Coaches for the young adults there as well! WE ARE COACHING THEM UP! It has been a great year there!

Our home continues to welcome people on a regular basis! We seem to have never been empty here this entire year! What a joy that has been as we have had the opportunity to love on so many God has brought our way! We will be leaving our South African home to visit family over the Holidays again. We leave on a jet plane November 21 and land home on the 22nd. What a joy it is to be with family and friends! I plan to return to South Africa at the end of the year so I can be back for the start of Pneumatix and Cindy will return the end of January so she can be with her family a bit longer.

There are so many other random ways God has us minister over here that we never limit ourselves. For example we will go to the Karoo and minister to some farmers there in a home. I am looking forward to what the Father may have in store for them. These random opportunities happen quite often. I have attached a Newsletter that I trust you will enjoy. It was done in July but because of all the complications it is now in your e-mail bin! SO SORRY!

We have been nothing short of amazed at how God has met us financially without consistent supporters. If you want to bless us we would be grateful but as we always say, Pray and obey. We are in need at the moment but continue to learn to trust Him above all else. Two ways to give:

1) Mail a check to:
    Joshua Journey Ministry
    1601 Susan Lane
    Mechanicsburg, Pa. 17055

OR

2) Go to www.30kd.org and make a deposit on Pay Pal.

Thanks so much for believing in us and the many prayers that have been prayed on our behalf! If you want to be deleted from this mail please just let me know and I will delete you from the list.


On the Crazy Journey,

Tom and Cindy Sipling

The Road Less Traveled

We need your HELP! It has been quite the amazing journey in South Africa as we live by faith and trust our Dad for his provision. We have done our best to live by:

Acts 4: 32…All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”

We have shared our home and what we have since being here and rejoice at the moments that has created. We are in need! Isn’t it incredible to read in Acts that no one had need! Cindy and I have chosen to live by faith and never directly ask people for money while we have been here. We will never ask one to make a monthly commitment nor call an individual personally. We prefer to pray and at times like this share the reality of our situation. I sat again last night and read the comments that were written in our guest book at home and it touches me to hear the comments left by so many passing through our home. What a variety we have had from Argentines ministering in SA to World Racers to Pneumatix students to random requests from those we have never met to ministry teams training at our home. It has been so rewarding to share our home and all the that is in it with so many!

MY APPEAL IS ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WE HAVE POURED OUR LIVES INTO IN THE PAST! World Racers, youth (now adults) from ministry past, friends and family are the ones we would like to ask to pray and obey what the Father puts in your hearts. We will continue to pray and ask Dad to provide. He is faithful! We have gone from a secure lifestyle when living in the States to this crazy adventure here in South Africa. Pray with us! We will be forever grateful!

DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO:

Pay Pal at our web site…www.30kd.org OR

A check can be sent to:

Joshua Journey Ministry

1601 Susan Lane

Mechanicsburg, PA. 17055

The Road less Traveled will take us to Guatemala at the end of the month as we Coach the World Race Squad starting their journey around the World! We fly from South Africa May 27^th and return to South Africa June 13^th. They will launch from there! We will also visit our son on the way through the States.

We also have a former World Racer, Stacy Utecht, coming to spend two months with us at our home in June and July from the States. Cindy and I look forward to sharing our lives with Stacy. She will serve along side of us while she is here.

On the Road Less Traveled,

Tom

The Road Less Traveled

To Know Dad Better

 

I have just returned from home in the States to South Africa. It wasn't just a 7 hr time change but an unbelievable climate change as well! Jet lag was in full throttle and the transition from winter to summer was crazy! My heart is at rest to be back but my emotions are challenging my obedience. Why? My son is going through extreme marriage issues and my momma is battling serious health problems. Oh how I love them and for that reason would love to return home today. My heart goes through the tussle of my obedience to my Dad and the love of my family. I know my loyalty is to my Father first. Many fellow followers would say, "Tom it is fine if you come home or Tom you should come home" but the reality is "Tom, what is your Dad saying to you?"

As I sat at my mom's in Florida over the Holidays it seemed the Lord was saying, "Go sit on the bench by her home looking over a lake and read Ephesians. I obeyed the tugging at my heart and as I read the first chapter I got to v. 17 and stopped and meditated on that verse and have since then.

It said, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."  Eph. 1:17

I was stuck on two parts of this verse, one that Dad will give us a Spirit of wisdom and revelation and secondly, so that YOU may know Him better. I have been asking for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation since that morning. I WANT TO KNOW HIM BETTER! It really has been my mission for the last several years. How do you do that? One way I know is to sit with Him without the interference of my Bible or a journal. I am not saying to throw them away BUT please by all means sit with your Dad and BE STILL AND KNOW. Secondly, I have decided to live less by plans/agendas and to trust Him where I used to take control. Is it easy? Not by a long shot and it isn't too popular! I have made some decisions that without question I have wavered on a time or two BUT I know I am learning to KNOW Him better because there is no where else to turn. When you trust Him for your schedule, your finances, etc. you find out who your Dad will BE as you journey through life!

My thoughts have become more eternal than ever. I am not too attached to the things of this world anymore. Am I still attached to some things? Of course, but I am learning to break those attachments each day. This is not a journey to become "Super Spiritual Man' either. Religion, as I define it, makes me gag even though I realize there is still some in me! It is a journey to live like a son of my Dad! I want to be a "chip off the old block". Love, joy, peace and so on are what I want to BE and who I am. The chase for influence, status, success, position, material things, etc. is dying in my heart. They are not yet dead but they are dying slowly.

The challenges exist on the journey through this life! Trials and tribulations mature our faith. Anybody want more trials? Probably not. It is in those times our faith grows. Honestly, we are in a time where the trials will increase and it will purify the Bride's faith and love.

Today you might want to consider two things:

1) Sit and BE still with Him!
2) Pray for the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that you might know Him better

Much love from His son,

Tom