The Underwood Family

Missionaries to Argentina

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Merry Christmas! December 2018 Prayer Letter!

Underwood Family Prayer Letter PDF Download

Merry Christmas to each and every one of our faithful prayer partners!

This is a busy time of year for our team here in Port Elizabeth. As we prepare for camp next week, continue serving and working in our own ministries, and in between, try to do a little Christmas shopping; I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Jesus!

A couple of weeks ago, I was privileged to have the opportunity to preach the Lord’s Supper in Xhosa for the second time! Soweto Baptist had a special combined midweek service with New Life Baptist, and we worshiped by partaking in Isidlo seNkosi!

The next day, roughly 40 folks gathered at our house for Thanksgiving! I smoked 6 turkeys, we had four pans of dressing, two things of the most heavenly sweet potato casserole ever, and several other trimmings! We had a great time of fellowship!

Please be in prayer with us over the next several weeks for the following:

  1. Camp Rhino. We are grateful to have Camp’s Abroad coming to help with training and overseeing our camp this year! While this will be mine and Ashlee’s third camp in South Africa, it will be our first at the Camp Rhino property!
  2. Missionvale Bible Study and Thulasizwe! As we prepare for furlough, I am thankful for a friend that desires to reach his community with the gospel and share Jesus with others! Please pray for Thulasizwe as he will be overseeing our bible study in Missionvale. He is also praying about attending the bible college at Camp Rhino in February. Please pray for the Lord’s will and direction for Thulasizwe.
  3. Our furlough! We are just under 3 months away from our departure date for furlough. Yesterday, I made the purchase of our plane tickets and we are thankful for a direct flight to the States!

In between all the other aspects of ministry, I am calling, emailing, and texting to schedule meetings with supporters and new churches alike! You can imagine with a 7 hour time difference the planning that is involved.

    I’m excited to be able to report in all that God has done during our time here in South Africa! I’m also excited about the opportunity to present our ministry in some new churches. We are praying to raise some additional personal and ministry support during our furlough. If you would be interested in hearing from us about our ministry, please do not hesitate to email! It would be my honor to schedule a time to come by and encourage your church family!

Thank you all for your continued love, prayers, and support for our family!

Your Missionaries to South Africa,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
southafricamissions.com

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October 2018 Prayer Letter

     

Underwood Family Prayer Letter PDF Download

I have been blessed and challenged this month as we hosted the last of our groups at least until December when camp starts! I am always encouraged when folks sacrifice their time and finances to travel over to see the work God is doing here in South Africa! May I labor for the Lord worthy of such sacrifices!

Currently, I am enjoying time with my mom! I am super excited that she took the opportunity to come visit us on the field! It has been 2 years and 3 months since we last saw her in person; Eli was still 2, and Neyland was only 3 months old! It has been amazing to watch him bond with his Nina so sweetly!

Church Property Update:
Last week, I had a man from Kevin Hall’s church, Pete, who is a surveyor, come and check out our potential property. He gave his “seal of approval” stating that we have sufficient space and good layout to build a church building on the property. As we continue moving forward, we are awaiting some legal steps the home owner must complete in order to purchase the property. I will be sure to keep you all updated as we are on this side!

Lastly, if you recall from last month’s prayer letter, we made a special request about the Bond Family and their need for a vehicle for their family. Praise the Lord, an anonymous donor sent $1,000 that was designated to help meet that need! We are eternally grateful and know that God will bless and multiply those funds with souls for the Lord Jesus Christ! There is still a need for additional funds, so if you would like to give toward this need; please send you gift to:

Vision Baptist Missions
Attn: Stephen Underwood (Bond Family Vehicle)
P.O. Box 442
Alpharetta, GA 30009

Thank you all for your continued love, prayers, and support for our family!

Your Missionaries to South Africa,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
southafricamissions.com

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We are buying church property!

Since February of this year, we have been holding a Wednesday evening bible study at Thulasizwe’s house in Missionvale. God has greatly blessed our efforts in this area and we decided that this would be the community in which we start our first church. After several months of praying for properties to come available, one finally has!

Not only is the property available, but it is a very good selling price (R140,000), it is in a great location, and within walking distance of our faithful bible study attendees!

I’m also thrilled to share that Lighthouse Baptist Church and Pastor Chad Gordon voted last night to purchase the property for us!!! This is a tremendous blessing and answer to prayer! As we move forward with the purchase, I am utilizing a local attorney that attends Kevin Hall’s church for the legal documents. We will also be doing some minor remodeling on the house, and then preparing the property for a church building!

Our goal is to be ready to build as soon as we return from furlough in 2020! Being able to secure a property now, especially with the current exchange rate will make this task much more efficient! We are looking to raise an additional $10,000 to build the church building! Please pray with us that God would supply the funds to see this become a reality!

If you would like to be a part of supplying the financial needs of this church plant, please feel free to contact me via email at sunderwood52@gmail.com! We are so grateful for the generosity of God’s people and their willingness to support our ministry!

Thank you all for your continued love, prayers, and support of our family!

Your Missionaries to South Africa,

Stephen, Ashlee, Peyton, Eli, and Neyland
The Underwood Family
Acts 20:24
southafricamissions.com