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 Elize and Marieta
| As Moms in Prayer groups started to grow in South Africa and Namibia, there was a great need for the Afrikaans Booklet translation. The Afrikaans language is also spoken in parts of Botswana and Zimbabwe, however, we knew that finding a translator and proofreader could be a challenge. What we’ve discovered is that when the Lord leads us to a new translation, He not only opens the door, but goes ahead of us, putting the pieces together in a miraculous way.
In 2000, Elize moved with her family from South Africa to the U.S. Shortly after, she was invited to join a Moms in Prayer group in San Diego. She noticed that many of her prayers for her kids were answered immediately while others took more time. Looking back over the last 12 years she reflected, “I marvel at the Lord’s perfect timing and the many lessons He taught me and my family along the way.” Through church, Elize met Nancy who volunteered with Moms in Prayer headquarters helping with the Booklet translations. Nancy asked Elize if she would consider translating the English Booklet into Afrikaans and Elize jumped at the chance.
Then in September 2011, the Field Ministry department at Moms in Prayer International welcomed Marieta as a volunteer. She introduced herself to Kathryn, who now manages translations and Kathryn noticed her lovely accent. When she asked where she was from, Marieta said South Africa and that her first language was Afrikaans! Amazed, Kathryn exclaimed, “Have I got a project for you!” Marieta graciously agreed to proofread the Afrikaans Booklet.
Both Marieta and Elize also helped to update the Booklet, making Afrikaans the first to be published with the new Moms in Prayer name. At the end of 2011, Elize was asked to be Moms in Prayer Country Helper for South Africa. She now communicates with the moms in South Africa and also Namibia in both the English and Afrikaans languages. Another blessing came through Rolinda who is now our Booklet Shepherd in Pretoria, South Africa. Rolinda is helping to get the Booklet into the hands of Afrikaans speaking women.
We thank the Lord for bringing us these incredible women who have a heart for Moms in Prayer and for the precious mothers in Africa. Only the sovereign Lord is able to orchestrate such an incredible full circle of events and place Booklets in the hands of mothers in their native language so they can gather to pray for their children and schools!
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