Greetings from Africa!                                                                            October 09, 2004

 

While it was good to be back in the US, and necessary (psychologically speaking) to be at my mother’s memorial service, it is very good to be back home here in Rustenburg. I just returned from breakfast with Johan Louw (founder of New Life Mission Station) and Jan Berger (the principal teacher there). We went to an old German part of town – actually a little way out of town – where we enjoyed excellent food and even better fellowship. There is also a large (for Rustenburg) shop with a large variety of items, specifically catering to the German population. Germans have a greater tendency than most in South Africa to require garments in larger sizes, so they have a good stock thereof. So, I also did some shopping! Johan was also here on Thursday to collect the check for Erton’s tent, which will hopefully arrive and be set up this coming week. You can be sure that such news, and photos, will come via email as soon as such news and photos exist.

 

It has been very nice to return to the meetings of the Healing Group at the Methodist church. Those people are becoming genuine friends, and a number of them are interested in the one year discipleship program that I will start next year. Of course, it’s easy to be interested, and certainly a lot easier than making the substantial commitment required, but perhaps one or two of them will actually go through with it. Oupa came for our usual Tuesday mentoring session, and it was wonderful to see him again. He DEFINITELY will be in the discipleship program! Erton says the same thing.

 

On Sunday I began the series of 15 minute teachings from the ‘Fresh Bread from the Word of God’ course. These occur before, and are separate from, the sermon each week in Rustenburg Presbyterian Church. When I started I asked the congregation to pray for me, that God would grant me special grace to actually finish in the allotted time. Apparently they did, because I did, and without special help that would have been quite unlikely.

 

Rev. Ruth has been kind enough to offer me lifts to the gym when she goes, which is Mon.-Thurs. Since I have been under some conviction on the subject of “glorifying God with our bodies”, I have joined the gym and commenced going when she goes. I am glad to report that I did not ‘overdo it’ and injure myself, and that I am actually in better shape than I had feared. I think it probably stems from months of walking, but in any event I am grateful.

 

Despite the fact that Rustenburg is very much in need of rain, the flowers are blooming beautifully. I will try to take some pictures this week and include them next week – hopefully after a good rain shower! In the absence of new pictures from Rustenburg I though many of you might like some from my mother’s memorial service, so several are attached. Her urn was in the shape of a book, which many commented was very appropriate for her. The portrait of her and my father is from around 1970 (I think). Thank you all for your prayers before, during and after my trip to the US for that service. Everything, including the LONG flights, went extremely well.

 

      

 

Love from Africa

Lary