Missionaries to Gordon's Bay, Rep. of South Africa Rev David Haag came to South Africa with his parents as a 12-year-old boy and went back to the States with no desire to ever be a missionary. However, God gave him a definite call, and he returned with them to be a missionary in 1958, after meeting Donna, who had a missionary call since childhood. She joined the Haag’s in 1960, and in 1961 David and Donna were married in Port Shepstone. 

   Since then, they’ve worked with their parents, the late Paul and Helen Haag to build a growing network of churches, ministries, and resources. They called it the South African Evangelistic Mission, and, in the true spirit of its name, it exists to fulfill the Great Commission especially in the many untouched rural communities through:

   · Evangelism
   · Missions & Community Transformation
   · Church Planting
   · Education & Leadership Empowerment
   · Pastoral Care and various other ministries 

   This network extends to many countries and include South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Mauritius, India, England, USA and Mexico. The Mission’s national office is situated in Durban, and operates throughout several regional offices in the country of South Africa.

"Choice Morsels" Friends,
   God continues to bless in so many ways. We spent the weekend in the inland city of Estcourt with Pastor and Sister Steven Frank and their church. God did surely anoint the services. Tomorrow several of us plan to drive to Port Shepstone for a 70th birthday celebration for Sister Vonnie Freeman who has worked with the SAEM since 1971. Presently she is very ill in a nursing home, but will be brought to one of the churches where many of our Zulu workers will be gathered for the celebration. God bless you. David and Donna Haag

ONLY FOR A SEASON

   "He [Moses] chose...instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. Hebrews 11:25 (NLT) or "rather - than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." (KJV) or "passing pleasures of sin" (NKJV)

   Between missionary services in the USA, we stopped for a lovely scenic walk along Lake Huron. Posted along the shore was a sign warning visitors, who might be tempted to take some of the beautiful flowers, that the flowers are actually invasive. This meant they were obnoxious weeds, and if planted elsewhere would choke out good plants that animals need for food. It would be easy to wonder how such lovely-looking flowering plants could actually be so devastating.

   These deceptive plants remind us of the above verse about the pleasures of sin. It is true that indulging in certain practices can, at first, be much fun and gratifying to our fleshly appetites. At first, the results of this sinful indulgence do not become evident. The alcoholic, living on the street, never, ever thought he or she would come to this stage of life when they took those first few drinks. The drug addict, when the first time they smoked marijuana, thought that it was only to have fun with their friends - never, ever realizing it would lead to other drugs and addictions, almost impossible to overcome. The young person thought it great pleasure to indulge in sinful sex - never, ever giving it a thought that their partner could be HIV positive - oh, what disastrous results! Just as it is a choice people make, to take harmful but beautiful plants to their homes, so it is a choice people make to start enjoying pleasures that could eventually result in tragedy. How important for every person to keep every undesirable "weed" out of their lives - it could very well be a "matter of life or death"!!!

It Is Your Choice.

Dear "Choice Morsels" Friends,
   Praise God who gives us all good things. We arrived safely back in South Africa last night - for another six months. How thankful we are to be able to continue God's work wherever He would have us to be. Thanks again to every person and church that showed us so much Christian love while we were in the States.  Thanks to all our South African family for praying for us. May God reward you all abundantly.

     Tonight our people here are planning a 70th birthday party for me (Donna) here at the Mission office complex. It is so good to see our spiritual children again, and we are trusting God for great victories. God bless you. David and Donna Haag

ELEPHANTS

   "Because God's children are human beings - made of flesh and blood - Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying." Hebrews 2:14,15 NLT

   When visiting the game reserves in Southern Africa, my favourite animal is the elephant. With their enormous bodies, natural strength and stamina, even when they flap their huge ears in frustration, it brings fear into the hearts of people. They have been known to be able to push over a vehicle with a thrust of their bodies.  However, even these enormous animals can be trained, if their training begins when they are young. In the country of Zambia, we have ridden elephants, sitting behind a trainer. By the way, elephants have very hard and rather raised backbones, as well as wide bodies, making the ride rather uncomfortable. However, even these gigantic animals have their weak points. It is said that if you take a small elephant and every day tie a rope around its leg and around a tree, eventually you can exchange a stake in the ground for the tree and a grown elephant will stay there - thinking it cannot move farther than the rope. It could be free, but is in bondage the rest of its life.

   The life that many Christians live is far below the victorious life Christ wants us to live. When Jesus is truly Lord of our lives, the devil has no power over us, other than what we allow him to have. When Jesus died on the cross, He broke the power of the devil. It says in Romans 8:14,15, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God's very own children, adopted into his family - calling him 'Father, dear Father.'" NLT. Too often God's children are like the elephant roped to a stake. We get the mindset that we cannot be free from doubts, fears, unbelief, works of the flesh, or any other bondage. The Word of God says in John 8:36, "So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free." AMP. The Lord wants us to live a life of victory in every area of our lives.  It is not an impossibility, it is our privilege as a child of God. Even the devil knows he cannot keep us in bondage when Christ is in control of our lives.

Complete freedom can be ours.

Choice Morsels" Friends,
   In one week's time we are due to be on our way back to S Africa. We will miss the graduation of our grandson, David Donyes, but will be able to attend his graduation party this weekend. Several of our family, including David, plan to visit us in S Africa this summer. David plans to spend time assisting us in any way he can in mission work. We need your prayers.   David and Donna Haag

TUMBLE WEED ANXIETY

   "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." II Timothy 1:7 - "perfect love casts out fear, because fear has
torment." (I John 4:18b) (MKJV)

   While driving on the interstate highway across the western Kansas prairies in strong winds, suddenly our quite new vehicle started making a strange grinding noise.
Immediately, fearful thoughts entered our minds. What if it were brakes, or a wheel, or even a broken transmission? We had been visiting churches and telling about the work in South Africa, and had a schedule to meet. What if mechanics in the nearest small town could not fix it? We reasoned that the nearest garage for our type of vehicle could be a few hundred miles away. Praying for God to see us through this difficulty, we got out of the vehicle, but saw nothing underneath the vehicle or under the hood, that could be making that bad noise. Finally, we drove slowly and found a tire garage where they jacked up our vehicle. A short while earlier, while driving in the strong winds, we did see thistles (tumble weeds) flying across the highway and, unbeknown to us, one had come across our path and had firmly lodged itself between the front tire and frame of our vehicle. All that had to be done was pull it out - whew, there we were, breathing a sigh a relief and offering up a prayer of thanks that there was nothing seriously wrong.

   How often in life when some disruption comes into our lives, fear at that moment becomes more prevalent than faith. We feel a pain in our bodies and the enemy tells us, "what if it is cancer or some other serious illness?" We hear that people are losing their jobs where we work, and we think "what will we ever do if my spouse or I lose our jobs?" Someone in our family is late arriving home, and fear comes of what if they are in a bad accident? Newspaper reports tell of dreadful things happening in our country, and fear arises in our hearts making us think, "What will ever happen to my family?" The list goes on and on.

   Now we know just as oil and water do not mix, so faith and fear do not mix. God is not the author of fear - the old devil is. Therefore, when fear takes over our minds, we need to first stop and realize that it is not God talking to us. Then, we need to remember that things are likely not as bad as they may seem at that moment.  Sure, there may be a problem, but we are serving a God Who wants us to just trust and believe Him in faith. God may not always keep us from problems, but He has promised to be with us and bring us through those problems. "I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be)."  (Amp) (Matthew 28:20b). Perhaps the perceived problem may only be a minor one - like a tumble weed rubbing somewhere!

Fear Has Torment - So Why Go There

Dear "Choice Morsels" Friends,
   We, along with Pastor Tyrone, arrived safely back home in Wisconsin Sunday evening from our eastward journey. We traveled over 3000 miles together, visiting churches, pastors and friends. The Lord was with us in a very special way. Pastor Tyrone left for South Africa yesterday, and we are due to leave on the 25th of May. We are expecting the Lord to do great things in South Africa. David and Donna

ANGEL MECHANICS

   "But angels are only servants. They are spirits (ministering spirits) sent from God to care for those who will receive salvation". Hebrews 1:14 (NLT)

   We were traveling in the mountainous area of Eastern United States, and our car hit high center when driving up a steep, unpaved driveway. The next morning we started once again on the itinerating road, visiting churches and friends and relatives across America. While on the freeway, our car started making a strange noise, and the automatic transmission (gearbox), which had worked perfectly the previous day, now was not changing properly. Here we were, two older people on a road where garages were few and far between. I began to pray, "Lord send an angel and fix this gearbox, and when we stop at a garage may they find nothing wrong". After a while, we found an exit and a gas (petrol) station. Without going in, David lifted the hood (bonnet) checked the transmission fluid, and it was fine. We drove back on the freeway, and that gearbox never bothered us again. We truly believe God sent an angel to fix our car.

   Angels are sent to assist the heirs of salvation, you and I, who have accepted Christ as our Saviour. According to Barnes' commentary, "A 'ministering' spirit is one that is employed to execute the will of God"; they are appointed by God, or employed to give 'aid' or 'assistance' to others - to Christians. A few years ago, some people went to the extreme in their admiration of angels. We are not to worship angels. However, that does not rule out the fact that God uses them to help us in many dangerous or difficult situations. Certainly, many times the angels kept us from having an accident; kept us from an attack from the enemy of our souls;  comforted us in difficult situations. After all, Jesus was ministered to by angels after He was temped by the devil. (Matthew 4:11). Also "an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him" (Luke 22:43) when He was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Angels Are "Ministering Spirits"

Dear Friends,
   We have traveled many miles since sending out the last "Choice Morsels", and are now in Ohio for a convention. Pastor Tyrone has been traveling with us, and God has surely blessed us as we have visited churches and friends. May God bless you. David and Donna

GREENER GRASS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE

   "To him to overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My Throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." Revelation 3:21

   While driving along the road after some lovely spring rains, we saw a cow that found an opening in the pasture fence, and stretched her head through as far as possible - even bending the fence somewhat - just to eat some grass on the other side of the fence. The same kind of grass was on both sides of the fence; the grass was the same colour and surely the same flavour. However, that cow decided the grass looked better on the other side and did all she could to reach it. If possible, she would have gotten out of her pasture to get to the other side.

   How this is similar to some Christians! Some people are never satisfied because they cannot find the perfect church. They are called "church hoppers", and can only stay in one church for a few weeks, months or years and then they find fault and move on to another church where the "grass looks greener". In all our years of ministry, we have never seen a perfect church because churches are filled with people who will only be truly perfect when we all reach heaven. Unless someone is in a church teaching doctrines contrary to the Word of God, or in a 'dead' church like the Sardis church in Revelation, likely that person will receive just as good spiritual food where they are as what they could find in another church. Maybe it would be better to stay where they are and be able to show others the love and life of Jesus through their lives.

Only Heaven Has True Perfection