Returning from South Africa and settling back into life in Austria.
Dear Friends, Family and Partners,
‘The Benns are back in town!!!!’… and to be more specific, the Benns are back in Linz, Austria.
July and August was our first furlough/home assignment since we moved to Austria and what a wonderful, whirlwind time it was.
The Benns were back in town – Furlough 2025
Our time started off with Dané and the girls heading to South Africa and spending time visiting my family in Durban and Hilton. While they were there, I (John) visited friends, partners and a new church in Switzerland (adding a new country to the list :D), before spending a week at TeenStreet in Germany as a small group leader for the Austrian teen boys.
I then flew from Frankfurt to Windhoek and met the rest of the family there. They had already spent a week there – with Lily and Dané visiting Etosha National Park with Dané’s sister, brother-in-law and dad. This was the first time in 6 years that we were all together and it was a wonderful.
Then came the week of epic road trips. 1400km over 2 days from Windhoek to Pretoria. 1200km the next day from Pretoria to Port Elizabeth. 2 awesome days with my cousin and her family and some good friends in Port Elizabeth, followed by the 350km trip to East London. I grew up in East London and we were able to have 3 amazing days showing the girls around, swimming in Nahoon river, meeting up with old church friends and partners, and drinking delicious milkshakes. We rounded out the week with the 650km trip from East London to Durban.
Our time in Durban was such a blessing. I was able to preach in our sending church the first Sunday we were there, and we could share in the services (included Kids Church) on the second Sunday. We were invited to a few life groups to share, and had so many cups of coffee with so many precious and important people. We didn’t see everyone that we wanted to, but definitely left feeling reconnected with Homeground.
Finally, we did the last stretch together from Durban to Pretoria. The girls and I flew back to Austria for the start of the new school year, while Dané stayed on a little longer and was able to spend a bit more time with her parents and grandparents and attend the wedding of her best friend from high school.
Thinking back on our furlough time – Switzerland, Germany, South Africa, Namibia – I think the most important thing we did all along the way was tell our story. Sometimes, so that our wonderful prayer and financial partners could get a deeper idea of what we do and how it’s impacting missions. Other times it was to encourage those listening and challenge them to take the step that God has been inviting them to, and often it was just to reconnect – to hear and be heard.
Coming back has confirmed something that we had been suspecting would happen – Linz and Austria has become our first home, and Durban and South Africa our second home.
God has blessed us abundantly in the season of settling and now we are in a place to be generous in how we invest in the people and places He has called us to.
Will you consider investing with us?
We believe that God has lead us to care for, coach and encourage – wherever and with whomever we are, but also specifically the church in Austria. And we are so grateful and excited for the myriad of ways that we get to do that.
With OM, I am responsible for the mobilisation and church partnership effort in Austria and Dané ensures that all the OM team members in Austria, as well as those we send out, are cared for well. From November this year, she will also take on the role of Area People Care Facilitator for Europe – supporting and resourcing those doing people care across the 33 fields in Europe.
In addition to this, I have the privilege of being an elder and preacher in our church. Dané is part of the hospitality team and together we invest in the young adults. Once a month we host the local student Christian group in our home for supper, fellowship and a missions focused prayer time. We also continue to invest in many of the friends we made during our time on the ship, and we especially enjoy hosting those close enough to visit.
We are able to do all this because of all our wonderful friends and partners that invest their encouragement, prayer and finances in this Kingdom work with us. Without each of you, none of it would be possible. So thank you!
We want to continue doing this! And so we have an opportunity to present. Would you consider partnering with us in the work God has called us to? We are praying for at least 20 more partners willing and excited to give between 10€ and 50€ a month towards our financial needs, helping us to sustainably keep doing what we are doing.
In the coming weeks we will be prayerfully reaching out to many that we think might be excited to partner with us, but if you already feel like God is prompting you, please feel free to reach out and we can find a time to call.
As always, we would love to hear your news and how we could pray for you!
Lots of South African love from Linz,
John, Dané, Cori and Lily
The Benns 