Curare Institute for Christ-Centred Counselling

Birth Announcement

2010-11-16T00:23:00.000+02:00

Praise God with us as we thank Him for His goodness. Our daughter Monique gave birth to our 7^th grandchild, but first granddaughter today, 15^th November, on Hendrik's 67^th birthday. He is absolutely delighted because he wanted a granddaughter with all his heart. Both mother and daughter are well. Both the brothers, Sebastian and Reuben, are delighted with the arrival of little sister Meke.

Love in Christ,

Hendrik and Nehlsie

Premarital Counseling

2010-10-12T19:55:00.001+02:00

This weekend we had a Conference with a black pre-marital couple who
brought along another couple who wants to know more.

The young man gave us a short testimony of his life. We could only
praise God for His faithfulness and love. He grew up without his dad.
Since the age of 5 he was in a boarding school with a very strict
disciplinarian as a teacher. When at the age of 7 his mother could
no longer afford to keep him in school this same teacher took him in
as her own and he stayed with her until grade 9. Then he went back
home and did his grade ten from home. He then went on to university
and got his degree. What is so amazing is his conduct as future
husband. When you listen to him you would think that he had the most
wonderful father who taught him how to treat his future wife. Which of
course he did have since he was born again.

During the long weekend he went home to make sure that his extended
family understands that he will not partake in any ancestor worship or
allow it to happen at their traditional wedding. It caused quite an
uproar in the family but he gently stood his ground and said: "You all
know that I am born again and that Jesus is my and my future wife's
only mediator between us and our heavenly Father." (See 1 Tim. 2:5.)
He asked them gently to respect his as well as his wife's wishes. She
then had to go through the same with her extended family. We are so
proud of them and so blessed by the work God has done in their lives.

We do not always realize the cost for our black brothers and sisters
when they become born again and have to say no to a tradition that is
deeply rooted in their culture and an integral part of their religion.
It can be confusing to distinguish between honoring your parents and
being obedient to God, because the ancestors are seen as mediators
between the people who are still alive here on earth and God. They
have a deep respect for their ancestors and therefore are seen as
rebellious when they do not want to participate in ancestor worship.
Some are even cast out of the family and many times a curse is spoken
over them for abandoning traditional customs. When they say they are
born again, they truly are and acts accordingly.

Therefore, Dr Solomon's line diagram is such a powerful instrument to
illustrate what happens to us when we are born again. We praise God
and thank Him again and again for this ministry. Please pray for us as
we minister to these lovely young people.

Love in Christ
Hendrik and Nehlsie

Birthdays and Blessings

2010-10-06T15:41:00.001+02:00

I have been to my brother's 70th birthday celebration in East London whilst Hendrik stayed home and did all the ministry work!

We have 7 students who are doing training with us on a one on one basis. (They could not all come at the same time so we organized it in this way.)

We will be starting at the Bethel Bible College this month as soon as the director is back from holiday.

Late in October we are going to Oudtshoorn to train a pastor and his wife and two church members because they want to start the Cross teaching in their church. It is a young pastor, 32 years old.

Next year we will be going to Schweizer Reineke where one of our co-workers, Amanda Nieuwoudt, is busy training a number of students. During that time we will also touch base with Hannetjie Myburg and her group of students.

We are doing pre-marital counseling with a precious young black couple. What a privilege and what a blessing!

I had a wonderful experience with my [relative] at the family celebration. (He has been suffering from depression and has recently been admitted to hospital again.) We have been trying to bring him the message over the phone and in letters many times. However this time was God's timing. He asked me if he could be free from the pill because deep in his heart he believes there is another way, but it seems that not one of his psychiatrists or psychologists can give him the answer. He asked me if I can give him the answer. He is saved. It did not take us long to bring him to the cross and he made the exchange. He is so excited. He is now looking forward to go back to work and make a difference there in other people's lives. God is great!!!

God's work is going on in small ways and the effect is great! We thank our praying friends for their intercession.

- Nehlsie

140 Taking Course

2010-02-27T20:15:00.001+02:00

We praise God for His work in South Africa and that we can be
honoured to be part of His work .

Things are going so well with Johan Els's group. There are 140
people doing the course. On Sundays Johan or Dirk, the co-pastor,
brings a message related to the topic we have covered during the
sessions of the past week. Johan also develops a guideline for
discussion in the cell groups. In this way he makes sure that those
who do not attend the course are also exposed to the content of what
the rest of the church is learning at the Conference Training.

The pastors and their wives are living the Cross message and are
inspiring the congregation to do likewise. The past weekend I spent
time with Black Pastors' wives in Pretoria. It was a feast!!! I was
blessed to find that through Isaac and Rachel's influence these ladies
have come to the Cross, accepted their true identity in Christ, and
have moved on to be with Christ in the heavenlies above all power,
principalities, and names. I have hope for South Africa with young
women like that.

To say the truth I am thankful to be part of this plan of God. We will
be going to the North Province in April where Hannetjie Myburg has
started a satellite center for Exchanged Life Training. She has
trained 10 women, and we will be going to do the last section of
practical training. We rejoice that God is building His Church and
that we can be these tiny little wheels in His big network. Thank you
for guiding us and leading us and equipping us.

May God always surround everyone of us with His wall of favour.

Love in Christ,
Hendrik and Nehlsie

Ministry in Bellville West

2010-02-02T20:24:00.001+02:00

Jan. 26, 2010

Dear friends,

We are well. Busy just now training a young lady from Polokwane, which is right up north (previously Pietersburg).

On Sunday we start with the 40 days of Exchanged Life in the Dutch Reformed Church in Bellville West. Piet du Toit will have a week of teaching in the evenings. Thereafter we will have seven weeks each Thursday night. After that, we will be training the counselors for the Soccer event. And, hopefully, after that Helette will betraining the youth leaders.

We will also continue with those who want to be trained as counselors. Johan, the pastor, says that this is not just another course which they will tick off with "DONE"! and then run off to the next one. This is going to be a life style in their church. From here on they will have regular Exchange Life Conferences in their church. He is now focusing on his church board, the elders and deacons, and cell leaders.

This event is a dream come true and an answer to prayer. May his church be the first of many. We are blessed and we are so secure in God's provision.

Love in Christ,

Hendrik and Nehlsie

Who am I?

2009-10-23T08:37:00.001+02:00

Since discovering my identity in Christ, I am on a constant discovery journey--discovering more and more Who is He that lives in me.

John 13:1-4:

Now before the Passover Feast began Jesus KNEW ( was fully aware) that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return to the Father.

Jesus KNOWING ( fully aware) that the Father had put everything into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God got up from supper, took off His garments and taking a servant’s towel, He fastened it around His waist then He poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the servant’s towel with which He was girded. ( Amplified Bible. Capital letters and bold mine)

O, what a change this brought into my life!

The disciples had an identity crisis. "Who is the most important among them?” was their question. Jesus answered their question with action.

To me He demonstrated what identity really is.

He KNEW three things:

1. Where He came from.

2 What He received from His Father.

3. Where He was going to.

Do I know where I come from ?

O Lord , how have you revealed to me through the years how I was born in Adam. I know because of where I came from and what I have received; I was dead, I was in enmity with God, I was blind, full of unrighteousness, alienated from God, hard of heart, proud. And I know I was going to hell.

But, my Father, you called me: “ Where are you?!” and you delivered me out of this darkness and brought me into the Kingdom of the Son of your love (Colossians 1:13)

Now I know I am your daughter, I come from You.

Now I know what I have received.

I have received ALL spiritual blessings in Christ(Romans 8:31, Ephesians 1: 3). What was given my Lord of which I have received also? According to the beginning passage, I was given His humility, His knowledge of His identity.

O, how do I need your humility, Lord. How do I need for your humility to be worked out in my soul!

And now my Father, I know it is time for me to stand up from the meal I have been enjoying with my brothers and sisters; the place I was comfortable, safe, accepted, nourished. I must get up and take off that which covers me and stand naked before You. Then you will clothe me the cloth of humility, willingness to be who You ask me to be in order that Your love and grace can be seen.

Father I do not even want to begin to try in my own wisdom and understanding to fathom what it means. Jesus Christ lives in me and He will serve.

I am willing, because I know who I am, what I have received, and where I am going to, therefore I will take this servant’s towel and wipe the feet of those whom You have send across my path.

I am His

2009-09-25T09:38:00.001+02:00

I am His

God, my Father, started my year with the message: You are Mine.

Since we started our walk with God many many years ago at Oyster Bay my song, taken from Song of Songs, I sang to the Lord went like this:

He is mine, and I am His ( 2:16)

I am His, and He is mine ( 6:3)

I am His, and His desire is towards me ( 8:10)

This year my Beloved overwhelms me with message upon message delivered to me in one week.

First in Hannah Whitall Smith's book, The Christian's Secret to a Happy Life. The chapter deals with total commitment. Just one single sentence brought a world of joy leaping in my heart. She says we need to look at the sacrifices of the Old Testament to understand our consecration to God. The animal which is sacrificed is not holy; can never be holy. As soon as it is placed on the altar, it is holy ― consecrated to God; placed aside for Him; His.

I t is the same when we are placed in Christ. He is the altar. He consecrates me ―puts me aside for God.

Since I was saved, I was consumed with sanctification; did I strive to be sanctified: do, do, do, do, ad infinitum! When we came to the Cross, however, it dawned on me that I am a new creation, totally new. Already sanctified. Yet, the striving seemed to remain to a certain degree.

But now it is written on my heart: I am His! Consecrated to be His; only His.

But my Beloved was not finished yet.

The Holy Spirit lead me to read an article in a Christian magazine, Prepare the Way: I am My Beloved's and He is Mine by George Müller. His Scripture verse is Song of Songs 4:12-16. Verse 4 says: "A garden enclosed and barred is my sister, my [promised ] bride― a spring shut up, a fountain sealed."( Amplified Bible)

When a garden is enclosed, there is not only a wall around it, but there is also a gate which is locked (the Hebrew word means barred).

In other words, this garden is there only for the pleasure of the owner.

He will decide who shall enter.

He will decide who shall enjoy His fruit, flowers, herbs and spices.

Not even I myself can decide who, when, and how. Only He will determine that, because I am His.

What a relief.

I no longer worry about "outreach," "touching someone's heart," "serving," "love," "minister to," "being a witness."

My job is to remain in Him, and allow Him to cultivate, nurture, tend , and ENJOY His garden.

The rest is His prerogative. Blissful surrender!

With the message of the closed, barred garden, the spring shut up, a fountain sealed, He puts an exclamation mark after the message He wants to bring home: "You are Mine! You are Mine alone!"

The living waters are His to let gush forth as He pleases.

But the Closed fountain is also not a public place any more for people and wild animals to come trample underfoot what belongs to Him (Ez 34:18;32:13)

If I allow what people says about me, be it I thoughts, action or words, to affect me, I am allowing them to come past the Gate (or over the wall) to come and pollute His water.

All these are just a commotion outside the gate. The water cannot be polluted again.

The third reenforcement of my message from my Beloved was from a book by Henry Nowen, Reaching Out.

For a long time I thought it was lost, but suddenly in these days I found it, and my Beloved talked to me again!

Through a very bad accident in which he was seriously injured, Henry came to the understanding of a God with unending love. From out of this place he could live and be the person God ordained him to be.

"The great spiritual task facing me is to so fully trust that I belong to God that I can be free in the world — free to speak even when my words are not received; free to act even when my actions are criticized, ridiculed or considered useless; free also to receive love from people, and to be grateful for all the signs of God's presence in the world. I am convinced that I will truly be able to love the world when I fully believe that I am loved beyond its boundaries.

I understand now that 'making known' is not primarily a question of words, arguments, language and methods. What is at stake here is a way of being in the truth that tries less to persuade, than to demonstrate. It is the way of witness."

And now the Spirit is busy teaching me. It is one thing to receive these things. Now the Spirit is working these things into my heart whilst the commotion is still going on outside the gate. Torrents of messages from the enemy saying:"You are a failure!"

But clear above the noise I hear : "You are Mine!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ek is Syne

Hierdie jaar het Vader my jaar begin met die boodskap: Jy is Myne.

Van Oesterbaai af al sing ek my lied:

Hy is myne, en ek is Syne( Hooglied 2:16)

Ek is Syne en Hy is myne( Hooglied 6:3)

Ek is Syne en Sy begeerte is na my.(8:10)

Hierdie jaar oorval my Geliefde my met boodskap op boodskap wat binne een week aan my afgelewer word.

Eers is daar in Hannah Whitall Smith se boekie, The Christian's Secret to Happiness.Die hoofstuk handel met totale oorgawe. Net een sinnetjie het 'n hele wêreld van vreugde vir my laat oopgaan. Sy sê ons moet na die offerhandes van die Ou Testament kyk om ons toegewydheid ("consecration") aan God te verstaan Die dier wat geoffer word is nie heilig nie; kan nooit heilig wees nie. Sodra dit op die altaar geplaas word, is dit heilig— toegewy aan God; eenkant gesit vir Hom, Syne. Net so is dit wanneer ons in Christus geplaas is. Hý is die altaar. Hý heilig my— sit my eenkant vir God.

Van ek "gered" is STREEF ek na heiligmaking: doen, doen,nie-doen-nie,doen, ad in finitum! Nadatt ons by die Kruis uitgekom het, het dit tot my begrip deurgedring dat ek totaal en al 'n nuwe skepsel IS. Klaar heilg. Tog het die strewe tot 'n mate gebly.

Maar nóu is dit op my hart geskryf.Ek is Syne, afgesonder vir Hom alleen.

Maar my Geliefde is nog nie klaar nie.

Die Heilige Gees laat my weer 'n artikel lees in Prepare the way: I am my Beloved's and He is mine. Die skrywer is Müller. Hy gebruik Hooglied 4:12-16:My beminde is 'n geslote tuin, 'n bron wat afgekamp is, 'n geslote fontein ( My eie vertaling deur kombinasies van verskillende vertalings)

Wanneer 'n tuin gesluit is, is daar nie alleen 'n muur om nie, maar die hek is gegrendel( Hebreeus).Hierdie tuin is m.a.w net daar vir die Eienaar. Hý sal besluit wie kan van Sy vrugte, blomme, en kruie geniet. Niemand, nie eers ek self, kan bepaal hoe,wie,waar en wanneer nie. Net Hy sal dit bepaal, want ek is Syne.

Wat 'n verligting. Ek bekommer my nie meer oor"uitreik","liefhê, "bedien", "getuie wees" nie. My werk is om ín Hom te bly en Hom toe telaat om Sy tuin te bewerk en te GENIET. Die res sal Hy doen. Salige oorgawe!

Met die beeld van geslote bron en verseëlde fontein plaas Hy uitroeptekens agter die boodskap wat Hy wil tuis bring: JY IS Myne!

Dié lewende water is Syne om te laat stroom soos Hy wil en wanneer Hy wil.

Maar ook is die fontein nie meer 'n openbare plek vir mense en wilde diere om te kom vertrap en bemodder nie ( Ez 34:18;32:13)

As ek toelaat dat dít wat mense oor my sê , hetsy deur hulle gedagtes oor my, hulle uitsprake oor my, of hoe hulle my behandel, laat ek toe dat hulle by die Hek verbykom en die water kom besoedel.

Alles wat gebeur is 'n gedoente buite die hek. Die water kan nie meer besoedel word nie.

Lankal al soek ek na my boekie deur Henry Nouwen,Reaching Out, in my boekrakkie. Skielik kry ek hom en my Geliefde praat met my.

Deur 'n ernstige ongeluk kom Nouwen tot 'n besef van God se oneindige liefde. Dit is nie ál nie. Hy kom tot die besef van die plek vanwáár hy moet leef. Vanuit hierdie plek kan hy leef en die persoon wees wat God hom bestem het om te wees.

The great spiritual task facing me is to so fully trust that I belong to God that I can be free in the world — free to speak even when my words are not received; free to act even when my actions are criticized, ridiculed or considered useless; free also to receive love from people, and to be grateful for all the signs of God's presence in the world. I am convinced that I will truly be able to love the world when I fully believe that I am loved beyond its boundaries.

I understand now that "making known" is not primarily a question of words, arguments, language and methods. What is at stake here is a way of being in the truth that tries less to persuade, than to demonstrate. It is the way of witness.

En nou is Die Gees besig om my te leer . Dit is een ding om hierdie dinge te ontvang. Nou werk die Gees dit in my hart in deur ervaring heen te midde van woelinge buite die hek, stortvloede van boodskappe:"Jy is 'n mislukking". Maar bokant dit alles uit hoor ek: Jy is Myne.

Anniversary of the robbery

2009-09-18T21:24:00.002+02:00

A year has passed since we were assaulted and robbed on August 10, 2008. I will post a couple of entries from my journal of last year:

The Lord is good. We had a good sermon last night at Isaac's Church. It went on late and we returned home with our host and her daughter. When we came home, Hendrik opened the gate and the lady reversed into her yard and was about to enter the garage when gun shots were fired and two men were holding Hendrik hostage. She jumped out of the car and left me and her daughter in the car. She went to the back of her yard to pray. The one without the gun wanted to take the little girl. I asked him what he wanted with her and called on the name of Jesus. He let her go and she ran in the house.

He then came for me. I put up a fight because he wanted to pull me out of the car. I called on the name of Jesus and I had such power that this big young man could not get me out the car. He then slapped me and kicked me. I think I have a cracked rib from that. Then the one with the gun came to me, while the other one held Hendrik. I thank God that Hendrik stayed calm, because if he would have tried to help me or resist they would have killed him.

The armed one then took my wedding ring which Hendrik gave me 41 years ago. (I don't think he will get R 5 for it!) He also took my watch and my handbag and all my bank cards, my ID book, drivers licence and my spectacles.

Then I got out of the car because I wanted to see what they were doing with Hendrik. They also took all his belongings. Then they forced him in the car and that broke my heart because I felt certain that they would kill him. I ran inside the house and just wept, crying out to God. The next moment my husband was standing next to me. They had left and not one of us was harmed!

South Africa is not a nice country to live in, but these people need us here. The neighbours came running and all felt so ashamed and asked our forgiveness. They love us so much and it is extremely painful for them that this has happened in their neighbourhood. They were so happy to have us here with them. But for Christ's sake I will remain where God has called us to be.

Three days later I wrote this follow up letter:

To all our dear friends,

Thank you for your prayers and loving support in this time. I have to share God's goodness with you. At the night of our encounter I asked God why He allowed this to happen, because I know that He is my Fortress, my Stronghold, my Shelter. This must have passed by Him. He saved our lives, but why did He allow them to steal from us? His answer was that what Satan meant for evil, He will change into victory.

The next morning I asked Him if I can be allowed to see the victory. I first had to repent, because I told everyone that I was praying that all their [the robbers'] peace must be taken away. The Holy Spirit convicted me. He said that these young men did not have any peace at all, if they had, they would not be doing such terrible things. They did not even know the meaning of peace, He said; they will not even notice the absence of peace. I repented.

Then Father God said to me, "You have made a list of all that was taken from you and you were amazed at the little gain they would have from those goods. Let us look at your list again. Not one of these items that were stolen from you was paid for by you. They were all gifts--love gifts.

"You know, my daughter, that just like Peter's apron could bring healing [Acts 5:15], just so those things taken from you can bring healing. Do you know that I have allowed those men to be sent into an arena of love? The house where you were staying, according to your own words, was a house of such love. You commented on the love you have experienced in that community. The robbers entered into that love. Everything they have taken, was a token of love."

Then the Holy Spirit led me to speak to the young man who pointed his gun at me and took my stuff. (He said in the Spirit realm there is no time and I could turn the clock back and speak to him.) When the young man took my things he said "Come Mama, give me the ring."

I spoke to him (in the spirit). I said: "If you call me Mama, I can call you son. Son, you want my ring, I will give it to you. It was given to me 41 years ago as token of my husband's love towards me. I still have that same love. Giving the ring to you will not take that love away. I will still be loved. Maybe the wonder of this love can touch you. Take this watch which my daughter has given me out of love. Take this bangle which my daughter in law has given me, take our mobile phones which our daughters gave to us. Take my husband's money pouch which I have given him as a token of my love for him on his birthday. Take even my Bible. In the front you will see a love letter which my husband wrote there when he gave it to me as a token of his love for me. Take it all and may you be flooded with the love of our heavenly Father, you, you who most probably have never encountered love in your life."

Then I experienced just love for these poor men. The Spirit then showed me, when they hit Hendrik, it was nothing compared to the beatings our Lord experienced when He was beaten for our sakes. When I was kicked, it was nothing compared to the kicks our Lord received.

That night I saw Christ in my husband. Although he was reviled and humiliated, he did not say one word. He was dignified in his silence. He just stood there, but I was encouraged by his quiet strength [1 Pet. 2:21-23].

I wish you all could have been there tonight when we had our first training session at Mabopani. One young girl stood up and gave us her cell phone. There was such joy and peace in our midst. They saw the goodness and mercy of our God.

Thank you for all your love,

Hendrik and Nehlsie

Meaning of 'Curare'

2009-09-12T02:14:00.001+02:00

In 2002, God instructed me: "I want you to call the place Curare." I inquired what it meant. "To cure" was His answer. Hendrik confirmed that it was the Latin word for 'to cure.' Whenever people asked us about the name, most would say "But Curare is a poison." Whenever this happened, I doubted deep down, although I bravely said: "Yes, it still is poison for the unsaved."

Then Helette Louw brought me this excerpt from a book. As I read it, I was filled with awe and joy. It was as if my Father was encouraging me and reassuring me:

"BEWARE OF CURARE

In 1799, the famous Prussian explorer and scientist Baron Von Humboldt discovered a potent drug called curare. On an expedition into the jungles of Venezuela, he watched an Indian hunter bring down a large animal with a single shot from his bow and arrow. The arrow had been poisoned with curare, a potion with two curious properties, derived from the jungle plant.

Curare injected into the bloodstream, as it was when hunting animals, was deadly. It immobilized the body, attacked the vital organs, and cause death almost instantaneously.

Humboldt discovered the second property of curare in a more dramatic fashion. He became sick, and a native witch doctor forced Humboldt to drink some curare that had been diluted with water. Terrified that he was going to die, Humboldt was surprised to find that after drinking the curare, he felt significantly better. Curare, when it was diluted and taken orally, he discovered, could have a positive medicinal value without causing any damage to vital organs.

The key to curare's impact lies principally in the way it is taken into the human body. Injected into the bloodstream, it's a deadly killer. Ingested orally, it's a soothing muscle relaxant.

Application:

Christianity is a lot like curare. Its impact depends chiefly on how it is received. Maybe people choose to take it orally, diluted as much as possible, so that it has few side effects and makes them feel better--but that's not the purpose of true Christianity.

Christianity's purpose is to change us into new creations in Christ. In order for us to become new creations, we must die to our old selves [1] and be born again, trading our old lives for new ones. Those who want "safe" Christianity that costs them little have a difficult time accepting death and new birth. True Christianity is not safe--it costs you your life. It cost God His only beloved Son, and it will cost you everything to follow Him. Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20a).

Don't settle for a watered-down version of Christianity. It can't be taken orally. It has to be injected."

Thank you Father for encouraging us in this precious way.

Crurare Blog is launched

2009-09-08T16:04:00.000+02:00

For some time we have been asked to have an online voice for personal and ministry news. Although stretched by the technical side, we will endevour to post some spiritual counsel, prayer requests, and ministry developments here in South Africa.

May God bless this tool for His glory.