As I write this update, Bay's in South Africa for 2 1/2 weeks.  It's been a tremendous opprotunity of ministry for him.  God has granted him favor with the public school systems, and he has been allowed to do assemblies in multiple high schools where he's been free to share the gospel!  And the students have responded! He's also spoken in several prisons and led a couple of evening crusades.  A group of several churches, who call themselves the Kingdom Network (K-Net) are joining together to do follow-up and encourage discipleship.  They are also already in the planning stages for next spring, when he'll return again.  If everything works out, I will join him for one week of the trip and do several women's events.  Both of us feel that God has given us a three to five year window in South Africa and long to take advantage of as much ministry as possible during that time.

While Bay has been away, I have also been on the road a considerable amount of the time.  Some of it has been personal, covering two spectrums of emotions: great joy and deep sorrow.  The first of March, I made a quick run to Colorado to hold and snuggle my newest grand-daughter (pictures are available under "family news."  She is beautiful (of course) and a very sweet baby.  I think all four of the Conway clan have decided to hang onto Ellie.  The middle of March, I flew to Oregon to be with my father, who was dying of cancer.  It's always a bitter-sweet time when you celebrate a life and have to say good-bye, too.  My dad was a gentleman and a gentle man.  I'm so glad to have had those days with him.

I also had the privilege of speaking to a wonderful group of ladies on retreat in Auburn, Indiana.  I made many "new best friends" from Woodburn Missionary Church and had a delightful time getting to know them and share life stories with them.  I guess I will never cease to be amazed at how God takes one message and seems to just divide it like the five loaves and two fishes among the thousands.  Somehow, he breaks the Bread of Life - His Word - and every woman seems to walk away with a taste of something different that meets a deep-seated need.  Thank you, God!

At the end of the month, I'll head to upstate New York, where I'll be speaking to a group of women that I connected wth last year in Skaneatles, New York.  Already their faces come to mind at random times, and it makes it easier to be much more specific when I pray for this upcoming event.  Our theme is "CSI:  Christ's Saints Identified."  We'll spend three sessions Friday through Saturday afternoon looking at our identity in Christ.  I find this to be a significant topic among women everywhere. 

If you're from South Africa and interested in getting more information about South Africa 2009, please contact Renier Grosch @  RGrosch@metropolitan.co.za