Isibingelelo (Greetings...in Zulu)
Ngokuba uNkulunkulu walithanda
iswe
kangaka, waze wanikela ngeNdodana
yakhe ezelwe yodwa ukuba yilowo
nalowo
okholwa yiyo angabhubhi, kodwa
abe
nokuphila okauphakade.
Ngokukajohane
I’m
hoping the above looks as foreign to you as it does to me. I’m sure if I added “3:16” after the last
word, most of my friends would know immediately what it says. In the beautiful, rich, deep language of the
Zulu people, you are reading “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might have everlasting
life.” John 3:16
The
language is one of the first barriers that an American missionary would find if
they came to South Africa to work with the Zulu people. Cultural differences abound. The foods we eat are different. The clothes we wear are similar. The homes we live in are very different. Attitudes towards children are
different. But God’s love for the Zulus
is the same as His love for Americans…and His Word contains all the guidance
they need, as it does for us. Why aren’t
we rushing to share God’s love with them?
Yesterday
a group of the students shared results of their “practical” experience (we’d
call it a weeklong mission trip) to Wellbedacht, an incredibly poor
neighborhood. The homes were nothing but
pieces of tin or wood somehow held together.
Holes were stuffed with material or anything pliable that could plug the
hole. There was no running water…no
electricity…no furniture in some homes.
The adults and children sleep on the cold ground, shivering under
threadbare blankets. The children
arrived each day for the Bible activities…noses running, faces dirty, stomachs
aching from hunger. And these precious
students washed them up, fed them…and then shared that there was a God Who
loves them like no other. The students
went into the homes to meet and witness to adults…some who had not heard of
Jesus Christ. When the team left to
return to the college, 55 adults and 110 children had professed a saving
knowledge of Jesus. The prayer now is
for consistent follow-up to help the new disciples grow.
I
watched the slide presentation in awe…and horror…and distress…and
blessing. I thought, “That’s *REAL*
mission work!” I felt ashamed that I
continue to live in warmth…without hunger…with running water and
facilities…when so many have none. Why
in the world did I think my being here to teach these college students was
“mission work”. God convicted me almost
immediately. In my heart I felt Him
saying, “You are making disciples of those who will carry My Word to their
people.” From this point forward, the
investment I’m making in the lives of these students will give them training,
knowledge…and I hope inspiration…so that they are able to continue working with
the poor…the oppressed…the many who have so little. I’m doing something that has “eternal value”
and there just isn’t anything I’d rather be doing.
God is
teaching me so many lessons here. He’s
spoken to me about the affluence that I live.
It’s funny…at home I’ve certainly never felt affluent. I look around me at all the beautiful
homes…beautiful clothes…beautiful “stuff” that so many have and it’s hard not
to want the same thing. It’s difficult
to understand why I’m not *entitled* to my share. But here…I feel almost sick. I not only have my share…I’ve got enough to
share with so many others that it’s ridiculous!
I’m ashamed of my selfishness and hoarding. I’m ashamed that even after being here four years ago
I went home and fell right back into the practice of grabbing all I could
get. It’s so hard to get rid of bad
practices, but God’s giving me enough evidence to rid myself of the *stuff* of
my life. No wonder He has trouble
getting my attention sometimes…there’s too much *stuff* in the way for Him to
get through!
I long
for the days of romance with God. You
know…those “first love” days. I found
myself watching this mission report and remembering when I had that kind of
fire in my life. My only desire was to
serve God and let nothing get in the way.
But then life happened…marriage…children…school…illness… grandchildren…losing
my parents…so many things that I let pull me away from the call of God to my
heart to let the world know about Him – about His love for them. There are children in Salamanca, New York,
who need to know that life offers hope for a better future. That better future CAN be in Salamanca, but
most of our young people think they’ll have to leave town to find something
better. Instead, we need to make our
town better. We need to make it
safer. We need to make it friendlier. I refuse to let the gambling crowd, the drug
crowd, the lazy crowd win the battle for my town. I will go home and let God lead me to make a
difference at home…not just across the ocean.
Last
night we went to Julian’s house (a former student here). His older brother’s church was having their
midweek service in the home. Twenty-four
people crowded in to the living/dining room/kitchen area. We sang for about 20 minutes…the pastor
preached…the church members prayed.
There was an older woman present who had buried her nephew and his two
children yesterday. She came straight
from the funeral to church. Where I live
there’s a tendency to excuse ourselves from church after something that
traumatic. The young man that was buried
had driven his vehicle with his 3- and 5-year old children in the backseat,
into the harbor where all 3 drowned.
Only a month ago his father had been buried after dying from cancer. This woman knew where to find her strength
and her peace – in fellowship with other believers! I need to stop making excuses for missing
church and live the truth that it’s in the fellowship of my Christian family
that my spirit is often strengthened and renewed.
We
continue to enjoy new and unusual foods.
Last night our new food was grilled chicken… delicious, SPICY, grilled
chicken. The emphasis really is on the SPICY because I thought flames would
shoot from my lips after I took the first couple of bites. The flavor was awesome if you put some potato
in your mouth at the same time to help soften the blow of the curry
powder. We had curried beef and curried
beans…can you tell the Indians love curry?
The food was delicious and Julian’s parents, Ronnie and Mano, were as
gracious and welcoming as they were when I met them four years ago. Dan got his computer and shared some pictures
of them. They have never experienced
snow…so when Dan showed pictures of our home in the snow two years ago, they
actually gasped! It’s so much fun to
watch people do something for the first time.
I gave
my first “test” today…here they are called “assessments”. In two weeks…six hours of class…we had
managed to cover enough material for me to put together a 4-page test. I didn’t think it was that difficult…but no
one finished early. I’m looking forward
to grading them this evening to see if any of what I’m teaching is “sticking”. Understanding “worship” and their need to
help draw different kinds of worshippers together for corporate praise and
worship is important for these young men and women who are preparing for
leadership positions in future churches.
I
continue to be amazed at the maturity of these Bible students. They’re still teens and early 20’s, and that
shows a lot in their laughter and joy.
But when it comes time to get serious, they get serious! The young men that are training to be pastors
lead the morning devotions each day and we are just so blessed at the truths
they are pulling from the Scriptures that encourage and challenge us. Today we were encouraged to “fellowship with
the Holy Spirit”. Thabni pointed out
that you cannot share fellowship with someone who is dead. The Holy Spirit is alive and longs to have
fellowship with us. Fellowship is not a
one-sided relationship. Both sides share
and receive information. I know I’ve
always thought more of the Holy Spirit as the comforter and guide…but today I
was challenged to accept and enjoy the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
This has
been a longer blog…so many things have stirred our hearts since I last
wrote. Sunday’s sermon was about reaching
out to the lost. Yesterday’s “practical”
report was about reaching the lost. In
these final days we must make reaching the lost a priority. We are running out of time to share the Good
News with them. WE MUST GO AND TELL AND
MAKE DISCIPLES OF MEN.
Dan and
I will rest at home in Marcie’s apartment this weekend as she heads off to
Pietermaritzburg for a TEAM meeting with the other missionaries from
school. We’re trying to really enjoy
these next couple of weeks because things will really be flying after that. We are scheduled to do a 2-hour, fund-raising
concert for the school on Friday, August 10th. On Friday, August 17th we will
help with the school’s Mission Conference.
On Saturday, August 24th, Dan will facilitate the “Lead Like
Jesus” conference with approximately 50 pastors and students in
attendance. And the weekend after that we’re
hoping to visit Krueger Game Reserve to spend the night with the rhinos and
elephants and other wild, indigenous animals of South Africa. Much to look forward to, but our weekends won’t
be as restful.
I cannot
write this blog without also sharing of a crisis on the homefront this
week. My beautiful daughter-in-law,
Jennifer, suffers from mental illness.
Most of the time (approximately 355 out of 365 days a year), her
medications help her to live a very stabilized life, one that we all
enjoy. She is an extraordinary mother to
Shannon and a loving wife to my Andy.
But occasionally her medications get out of whack…and the result can be
especially devastating for her…and those of us who love her. In her pain this week, she called and asked
me to come home and “adopt” her daughter.
She explained that she could no longer mother Shannon, and why. I was heartbroken…and afraid that we’d have
to turn our back on the call of God to come to South Africa. I quickly sent out an “emergency” prayer
request e-mail to many close friends…and then I told God I would have to trust
Him with this. We headed out the door to
church. Before the day was over, Shannon
was in my daughter LeeAnne’s home…brother Stephen was lined up to help with
babysitting duties when LeeAnne had to work…and two very good friends had
stepped in to be an encouragement to my children. I watched God show that He’s MUCH GREATER
than the one that’s in this world seeking to devour and destroy families. My daughter has amazed me…she’s continued to
encourage us to stay and fulfill the call.
Jennifer is now receiving treatment in a hospital to help re-establish
meds that will help her function again…and Shannon will go home with Daddy this
weekend for some much needed daddy sugar…and I suspect daddy needs a lot of
little girl sugar. As a mother…I’m so
proud of my children and so grateful to a loving God Who is a much better
problem-solving parent than I could ever be!
Thank you to my beautiful, strong, amazing kids for handling the crisis
with so much love and help for each other.
I’m so proud to be your mom…as always.
God answers
prayer. God carries us through
storms. God is faithful to provide. God is the healer of what pains us. God is God…a most high God…who created the
universe and decided that loving me would be something else He’d do. I’ve felt His love, His strength and His
peace that passes understanding this week.
Thank you to all my friends and church family who have prayed for us. I understand now where some of the
missionaries find their strength…it’s in the faithful prayers of friends and
loved ones.
God bless you all
till next time!
Matthew
28:19-20: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching
them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you
always, even unto the end of the
world. Amen.”
“Ngalokho hambani nenze izizwe zonke
abafundi, nibabhapathize
Agameni lika Yise neleNdondana
nelikaMoya oNgcwele,
Nibafundise ukugcina konke
enginiyale ngakho;
Bhekani, mina nginani izinsuku
zonke kuze kube sekupheleni kwezwe.”
Kngkukamathewu
28:19-20
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