mits

Cape
rOEORGE, SOUTH AFRICA

The Laughrens, Pete, Fran & Denzil

Spring & Summer 2011 -- Vol. 21, No. 4 & Volume 22, No. 1

Workers Together
One of the joys of living and working in South Africa is hosting teams who come to help with the Vacation Bible Schools that are held in various parts of the country. Some years we have done as many as 5
Vacation Bible Schools with one team and sometimes

Alyssa Jake, Krystal Jones, Kyle Burks, Sandy Tate and Terah Jo Mulvany all came from St. LouisChhstian College, and many were taking it for a mission course
completion credit.

done the same numberbyourselves. Thisyear we were spoiled by having two teams for two sessions. In May, Stacy Garner brought 9 students from St. LouisChristian College and Ferguson Christian Church in Ferguson, Missouri. They were here for a little less than two weeks and we had a great time together. Stacy has always managed the group's affairs with
great leadership and the kids were tremendous. Kara

Wilson and Alex Crumpcame from Ferguson Christian Church while Britnie Waddelow, Brittney Tepovich,

The first couple of days were taken up with craft completion and then we did a one day Vacation Bible School at Life Community Services in the township of Parkdene in George. On both Sundays that they were here, they all took part in the local services with Stacy preaching the first week and Kyle the second. Between the two Sundays we held a Vacation Bible School at Kidstop in the township of Borgas in George. We had less than 100 kids per day so it was a smaller group than usual, but it went very well. The students all took turn giving the lessons and they enjoyed the fellowship

(L-R) Stacy Gamer, Kyle Burks, Alex Crump, Krystal Jones, Kara Wilson, Brittnie Wad

delow, Brittney Tepovich, Alyssa Jake, Sandy Tate, and Terah Jo Mulvany.

The group with Stacy did the VBS at Kidstop with great enthusiasm.

with the kids. Kidstop is a feeding center for the underprivileged of the area, so the students took time to feed and fellowshipwiththe kids and learn of their plights. Two of the students, Brittneyand Kyle, are presently working on coming back to South Africa next year to work in the areas of human trafficking, helping these kids in their plights and their plans are well under way. On the 23rd of May we said our good-byes
to the team. It was a short visit but it was one

The group from McDonough Christian Church (L-R): Toju Mil<ie, Andy, Jerri, and Amy Daugherty, Ashlyn Zool<, Stefanie Broom, Matthew Daughtery, Elizabeth Mil<ie, Sandy
Johnston, and Wanda Brewer
Above: Since Terri was

hiding in the group pic ture from McDonough

Christian Church, here

of the most productive visits of a team that we have ever hosted. Thanks to all for coming and thank-you again Stacy for coming and directing. It as a great time together. A month later the second group arrived. On June 24,1 flew to Johannesburg to meet a group from McDonough Christian Church in McDonough Ga. Stefanie Broom headed up this trip for the group of ten that included Sandy Johnston, Wanda Brewer,Ashlyn Zook, Elizabeth and Toju MIkie and the family of Andy,Terri, Amy and Matthew Daugherty. On two separate flights from Johannesburg, we arrived back in George on the 25th. There was no rest for the weary as we immediately got to work doing the finishing
touches for the Vacation Bible School that would

she is after getting her

hair braided in the "Afri

begin on the 27th in Graaff-Reinet. On Sunday Andy preached at George and then we got on
the road in two vans arriving in Graaff-Reinet in time for their welcoming celebration that evening. The church at Graaff-Reinet is always good in doing their part in preparing for the work that
is done in a vacation Bible School. The week started on the afternoon of the 27th and while

can way."
Left: As you can see, craft time is always a time to light up faces!

we were expecting 500 kids for the first day, we

had 723! We were overwhelmed. Needless to

say we were up late getting more than enough crafts ready for the rest of the week so we would not be caught short again. The church in GraaffReinet supplied supper every evening and after the meal, Andy and Matthew did a Bible study from the book of Matthew the first four nights.
The week maxed out at 850 kids and it was a

wonderful week. The people from McDonough fell in love withthe people from Graaff-Reinet and vice versa and itwas a great week of working for the Lord and becoming friends.
55^ .:v

After the week of Vacation Bible School

Kids came to the VBS in Graaff-Reinet any way they could.

ended on Friday, we did some sight seeing on

Saturday, had a huge meal with the church on Saturday evening and the weel< ended with Andy preaching for them on Sunday morning. On Sunday afternoon, we headed bacl< to
George for the last two days of their visit doing some sightseeing in and around George. On Monday evening, after sight seeing the ostriches
and other animals in Oudtshoorn across the

mountain from George, we attended the first night of the winter youth camp and Andy preached to open the week for them. On Wednesday the 6th of July we said good bye to the group at the airport and they all headed home after a very productive time here. We thank all of you for coming and for helping with the work as you did. We and the people of Graaff-Reinet will never forget you and we look forward to spending time with you when our furlough starts in 2012. We also thank the leadership of McDonough Christian Church for all that you did to make this trip happen.

Andy and Matthew Daugherty at the scenic headwaters in Knysna.

Etc.
* Our furlough stars in January 2012 and we are lookingfon/vard to seeing ail of the supporters of the work and tell you in person what has been happening here in South Africa. If you have special dates in mind for us to come please let us know. * I taught youth ministry for two weeks in September at the South African Bible Institute in Kimberley in the northern Cape. I had 6 students and it went very well. * We have made numerous trips since our last newsletter to other areas for times of teaching. We have gone to Knysna and Graaff-Reinet more frequently than other places and we have even participated in a wedding near Cape Town. * We had a very pleasant visit with Keith and Jan Exum and Bonnie Hunt, all high school friends from McDonough Georgia who came to visit in January and February. We picked them up in Cape Town, attended church there, toured the sights of the Cape, and then came to George via Cape Aghulas (the

Even in modern south Africa, transportation is found in many different ways.

Keith and Jan Exum and Bonnie Hunt of McDonough, GA who visited us earlier this year.
3

Mission Services

Outreach InternoCional
Addresses:

2004 E. Magnolia Ave.

Knoxville,TN 37917

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid

Knoxville, TN
Permit #374

Return Service Requested

PeteJ8L.EraD_LaugliLen
P.O. Box 10421

George, 6530
South Africa Phone: 011-27-44-873-0448 Fax:011-27-44-873-0548

e-mail: laughrn@mweb.co.za Forwarding Agents:

Mark & Annette Tuttle P. O. Box 22

Granville, Ohio 43023

(740) 321-3377

southernmost tip of Africa). On the way home we stopped and went to a game farm to see the "big five" of Africa. After two days in George, we went to Graaff-Reinet for a weekend of teaching. Bonnie taught the youth while Keith did the Lord's Supper in their services. We then visited a local farm for a South African Sunday meal before coming back to George for the last few days of sight seeing. They flew back to Atlanta on the 10th. Thanks guys for coming to visit, and thanks for a great time together.

Prayers
* Please pray for our accommodation needs in furlough. God has always provided and we are trusting in his provision.

* Please pray for my mother, Flo Blackmarr, as she has relocated to California to live near my sister and brother in law, Lisa and
Mark Andrews.

* Please pray for Fran's dad, Al Hamilton who is dealing with

some medical conditions, as is her mother, Annette.

* Please pray for a good furlough in 2012.

Praises
*Denzil is still making straight A's and we are real proud of him. *We have had some baptisms in George and for that we are very
thankful.

*We praise the Lord for safe travels in the last several months.

*We are thankful for good health.

May God bless you as you continue to serve Him!!
Since our last report, we have had several baptisms for which we praise the Lord!

mijE

CapB 'SIimBS
GEORGE, SOUTH AFRICA
Fall 2011, Winter 2012 - Volume 22, No. 2, 3

The Laughrens, Pete, Fran & Denzil

Conference 2011
The yearly conference is always the highlight of the year for the churches in South Africa. People who attend conference save and workthe entire year forthis one week and they look forward to seeing the other Christians that they do not see the rest of the year from other parts of the country. This year's conference took place in October in East London, which is 7 hourseast ofGeorge. Having said
the previous, imaginethe people's disappointment when we arrived in East London and nothing had been planned. It would be like you're going to yourarea's yearly gathering and the host church had made no plans whatsoever for the hosting of the event. It was absolute chaos when the gathering started. It was not a good way to start. Plans usually call forthe first evening(Wednesday)to have the opening service and then forclasses and sessions to start for three days on Thursday morning. The first evening was cancelled and new plans had to be made for another meeting place starting Friday morning. The leader of the local church and its preparations never showed up even forone session. Since Iam no longer in charge ofthe planning committee and everything has been turned over
to the local brothers, we let the brothers take care of the

Fran, as usual, had a good time with the kids.

problem and ifthey need us to help we do where we can. I was real proud of the current planning committee during this time in that they sorted out a new school to meet at, got the kitchen going to feed the 300 people in attendance, and with only a few hiccups after the first morning, ran conference well. AfterThursday morning, classes met on time, preaching sessions were taken care of. and people enjoyed a great time of fellowship. Fran taught the kids and women several times and as usual was great with the kids. Even when nothing was planned for the kids, she had classes to keep them occupied. The parents were very grateful for this as otherwise, the kids would be running everywhere. Itaught men's classes and preached for sessions and was well received. One other missionary family, the Caulleys' from Kimberley, were there and Steve also preached forsessions and taught classes. Elections were held for the new planning committee to lead the conference for the next two years and it was
chaotic. One brother was elected and then declined

the office when he thought he would be elected to the

assistant's position. The chairman was voted out, and then asked to step in when the first brother was elected and then declined. Then when the vote was retaken, the
Pete preaching at Conference.
chairman was voted out for the second time for someone

else

it was an interesting conference to be sure.

When it all ended on Sunday, all had a good time of fellowship, enjoyed the times ofteaching and learning and hopefully all grew spiritually during the time. We had people in attendance from Cape Town, Upington, Kimberley, East London, George, and all areas in between. Attendance was bit lower this year because of
the remoteness of East London from other parts of South Africa, but overall it was well attended. Please pray for the new planning committee that will serve for two years. Please pray forthe churches as they work together forthe kingdom and for the yearly conference so that this year's planning was just a blip in the usual preparations and next
year the committee gets back on track. Fran with two dear friends, Mary George (r) from GraaffReinet and Rose Makwena from Upington.

Jerome Calvert
If you are like me, I do not always understand why things happen. AndrewCalvert is the ministerthat we have worked with in George. His nephew, Jerome Calvert is one
of the best workers that we have seen in South Africa and

Pete with Andrew Calvert from George and Patrick Jantijies from Cape Town.

a committed worker in the kingdom. He is presently the principal of a local school after having returned to George five years ago afterteaching in a townabout 1000 kilometers from George for five years. He attained his college education in Cape Town before going away and he met his wife, Nita, in George before he left. She also received her education in Cape Town, and after receiving that education, she also taught in the same school as Jerome so far away. Fiveyears into being away, they both got teaching positions back in George and came home to do their work. When they came back to George, they worked together, carried on their romance and then decided two years ago to get married. They had a beautiful ceremony in November of 2009. Fifteen months intotheir marriage they gave birth to their son Ruan who is full of smiles and laughs like the rest of the family. Sadly about three months after his birth, Nita went intothe hospitalfora routine procedure and something went horribly wrong. She started to lose use of her muscular faculties and slowly got sicker and sicker, being

-] in and out of the

hospital for months.
to the hospital in
'

[x;

passed away

November, she

short of their second

anniversary and was

^

26th of November. ' _ It was one of the hardest funerals that

Ihave had to preach

Brother John Jacobs, who is 95 years old, attended con ference from Upington.
jp Qup jp South

Jerome Calvert and his son, Ruan.

Africa. Jerome and

his son are doing as can be expected and they have something that a lot of people in South Africa do not a strong Christian famiiy support
system that has surrounded them and helps in any way possible. Over the last several months, we have spent a lotof time with him, and though things are as tough as you can imagine, they are doing well. Please keep Jerome and Ruan in your prayers as they adjust to this new reality
of their lives.

Furlough Plans
Furlough starts for us in the middle of January. We hope to settle in the Hampton/

Cornell and Pethro George, teachers in Richmond and leaders of the

- M
Andrew Calvert's son and

youth.

Denzil's friend, Emile.

McDonough Ga. area as it is a good point from which to travel. As of this writing, we have no housing plans in place and will look for a settling place once we arrive in Georgia. Please be in prayer with us for these plans and if you can help us in any way, please let us know. We are gathering speaking dates as we go, and if we can come and present the work of South Africa to your church, please let us know. We are willing to come be part of yourVB3 or camp, so please just let us know how we can help. Our US telephone
number is: 678-200-2103. Our current e-mail

address is: pwclaughren@gmail.com.

We have had several baptisms since our last newsletter.

Misc.
* Denzil is doing well in grade 11 and is completing it as we travel. * I taught 6 students at the South African Bible institute in Kimberley for two weeks in September. Itwas the end of the school year and keeping their attention was difficult, but all in all itwent well and was time well spent. * As we start furlough we are starting by visiting my mother, Flo Blackmarr in Grass Valley California. She is in an assisted living facility suffering from Alzheimer's after moving here to be with my sister and brother in law, Mark
and Lisa Andrews. Mark and Lisa have done

The final class gathering that I taught in Graaff-Reinet before we

left.

a tremendous job of making sure that Mom is cared for and Mom is doing well. Thanks for praying for her and thanks Mark and Lisa from the bottom of my heart for the tremendous work that you are doing in her care.
* In November in South Africa, Fran's sister in

law, Dale and Sonya Hawkins from Bethel Missouri visited us in George for ten days.

These are the students that i taught at South African Bible Institute in Kimberley.

Outreach InternQtlonol
Addresses:

Mission Services 2004 E. Magnolia Ave.

Knoxvllle, TN 37917 Return Service Requested

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Knoxville, TN

Permit #374

Pete & Fran Laughren Phone: (678) 200-2103 E-mail: pwclaughren@gmail.com

Forwarding Agents:
Mark & Annette Tuttle P. O. Box 22

Granville, Ohio 43023 Phone: (740) 321-3377

They a ccompanied us on a trip to Kimberley to visit two

churches there. Dale preached in George and was well

received.

Pra jcOQ

aioco

We made several preaching and teaching trips to GraaffReinetand Knysnaand other places since our last report.

We are so pleased with the new lives in Christ that we witnessed as there were several baptisms since the last
newsletter.

Prayers
* Please prayfor the churches thatwe work with to be strong bothnumerically and spiritually, but mostly spiritually. We have learned over the years that many churches are not growing spiritually and just depending on everybody else

Denzil is now 17 and we are so proud as his parents of the fine young man he is becoming.

We traveled to Cape Town, Kimberley, and East London with safety. In all of the travels that we have done in SouthAfrica, we are verythankful that we have onlyever
broke down once.

to do the work. Most churches have only a few really strong members thatget In and work and many thatjust sit and watch. Please pray that they would all be willing
to do the work. Please pray forthe churches that we work with in George, Graaff-Reinet, Knysna, Mfuleni, Macassar, Port Elizabeth, Kimberley, Upington, Richmond, East London, Thembalethu, Humansdorp, and others.

* We were able to get good rates on tickets back to the US for furlough. We are trusting for the Lord's provision to get them paid for.
We are thankful for the faithful supporters of the Lord's
work in South Africa. Your faithfulness assures us that God takes care of us.

* Please pray for the leadership of South Africa as a country. Corruption is rife in the new government and crime is growing unabated. People in the townships live in fear and the police do not do their jobs. Many church members are afraid to go out at night and some live in terrible situations. Please prayfor the Christians'safety.
* Please continue to pray for both my mother and Fran's

Lastly, we are thankful to our Father in heaven and praise Him for his guidance of His work in South Africa.

folks and theirhealth situations. My mother isin California

as mentioned and Fran's folks are in Missouri.

OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS HAS CHANGED TO:

pwclaughren@gmail.com

The scenery in South Africa is always stunning as seen by this picture of the desert area l<nown as the Karoo.