Hi from the cold and flat grasslands of Gauteng Province in South Africa, where I have arrived by road from the rolling hills of KwaZulu Natal. I blog from the next most dangerous place on the planet to Baghdad: Johannesburg.

My journey so far has taken in the Comrades ultramarathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. Two of my fellow 11000 runners were mugged at gunpoint whilst taking a toilet break in the bush. Both had their running shoes stolen. One continued running in his socks, only to to be found again by the police who had recovered his shoes and reunited them to their rightful owner, who proceeded to run on and finish the race.

Whilst I was running, 3 young women on their way down to the South Coas stopped at a service station to swap drivers and were attacked at random by two carjackers armed with handguns. The driver was shot and killed instantly, one passenger shot in the hip, and the other escaped.

Surrounded by such random potential for serious crime, I am aware of the precious nature of my life more than ever. I am praying a lot more than usual I can tell you! It’s not necessarily going to get any better either: I am due to enter Zimbabwe in a few days time.

The church seems to be thriving here, and many people faced with the challenges that there are here turn to God. Nominal, lifeless churches just don’t cut the mustard here. There is a spark to fellow believers here which is instantly discernible, and contagious!

Believers around the world need to be in prayer for the nation of Zimbabwe at this time. That God will work in the lives of the right people to have mercy, and to uphold justice, and to humble themselves before a greater power. Nothing else will change the dire situation that the country is in.

I would appreciate prayer for the team I am taking in. Simply that we will not be harassed, and that we will be safe, and that we can bring immense encouragement to the believers we interact with.

Blogging will be difficult, but when and as I can I will post stories from within Zimbabwe next week.