Sorry to be away so long...

New Photos Below.....

Janis and I took a drive through Pilanesburg game reserve a few days ago.  It was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy Gods beautiful creation.  I thought I'd share a few of my pics with you. Hope you enjoy them....we certainly enjoyed shooting the pics.

The girl on the swing is Mary.  She's one of our little ones in the shelter.  She is such a joy. Today, she said, "Dad, please spin me on the swing."  So, I twisted the swing until it was as tight as I could make it.  I let it go and she spun and spun and laughed.  What a joy.

the other little girl is my beautiful daughter, Hope.  One of the girls in our youth group fixed her hair.  Wow.  What a beautifl little girl.  I'm so pleased to be her father.  It was Hope coming into our life that has led us to establish Lighthouse Children's Shelter.  You can see more at: www.lighthouseshelter.co.za.  We've had over 200 children come through the shelter.  It's a privilege to have a role in the lives of these children.

Greetings from South Africa!

I see that it has been a very long time since I've up-dated this site. Frankly I 'd have thought Xanga would have dumped me by now. It seems that they are going to let me udate this....so here goes....

My family and I have been through quite a few major events in our lives over the past few months. The greatest change is the new addition to our family... Our daughter, Brittany, decided that she would marry a young man named Curtis McConnell. So, now I have a new son (in-law....but I hate that term). We're so very blessed that Curtis and Brittany have decided to spend their lives together. We think that they are an awesome couple and we know that God has brought them together. Congrats to them! We only hope that they are not in a hurry to make me...Grandpa!

The second big change in our lives centers around our missions work. For the past 15 years Janis and I have been part of the Assemblies of God World Missions program. We have been fully appointed missionaries with that organization and have served in South Africa this entire time. On March 1st, 2007 we resigned from AGWM. I am still an Ordained Assemblies of God minister and we will continue to serve as missionaries in South Africa. We've spent the better part of the last month talking to pastors and churches about our resignation. For the sake of this forum, let me just say that it has been wonderful to be part of such a great organization. However, as God leads us daily down the path of life, sometimes God begins to lead us in new paths and new directions. One of the characteristics of our God is that he is omnipresent - he is everywhere! AGWM is a wonderful missions organization, however they are not omnipresent. God is leading us down a path that AGWM doesn't go. That is not a criticism. AGWM is limited in its scope and reach and ability to facilitate vision. God is not. We believe God has led us down a path that AGWM doesn't have on it's map. We must follow God. What AGWM does, it does very well. What it does not do.....well....it doesn't do. We want to express our grattitude to AGWM for allowing us to be a member of the team. We also want to say thanks to the Missionary Fellowship in South Africa. They have been most gracious. A special thanks to Mike McClaflin....I'd work with him again any day.

I want to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to my daughter Brooke. She has finished her High School and will be moving forward in her life now. Brooke, I love you and am VERY proud of you. You make me smile every time I think about you. You're awesome.

Well, that's my update.... David Betzer