Greetings from Africa!                                                        17 Nov. 04

 

When I was on the way here in January, flying down to Johannesburg from London, I was awake most of the night on the plane. As you might imagine, one of my principal activities was praying about what awaited me in Africa. Sometime around midnight, somewhere around the Equator, it seemed to me that the Lord spoke to me in a song I listened to on my CD player. It is by Dallas Holm and the title is “Completely Taken In”, which is obviously a play on words. The message is that God ‘completely takes you in’. Now, that is obviously a nice message, but somewhat lacking in detail! My experience in Rustenburg from my arrival until now substantiates the idea that, indeed, the Lord was speaking to me in that song. Many of the events that constitute that substantiation are contained in the various emails sent from then to now, but now I need to add another story consistent with the theme of being ‘taken in’.

 

On Saturday I had another very nice time with my friend Jan and his wife and mother-in-law at the mall. After breakfast Jan had to go to the building site of the church he is now superintending the construction of, which is very close to the mall. So, he left and the rest of us went shopping. After that was done, they dropped me (and my stuff) at the site to spend some time with Jan and also to meet the senior pastor of that church, Theo, who was at the site. For the story to be communicated in its fullness it is important to try to paint a picture of life in Rustenburg. Rustenburg is not very large, and only has one real mall. There are, of course, many stores, but ‘THE MALL’ is ‘THE PLACE’. Similarly, there are many roads, but only one ‘HIGHWAY’, which is now under construction right through the south side of town. It passes very close to the mall (not planned; the right-of-way for the highway was obtained 20-30 years ago, long before the mall was ever thought of). The most up-scale housing in Rustenburg is also located in the vicinity of the mall, especially in the hills behind it. As you go north and east from there you go downhill, both geographically and in terms of housing. Eventually, on the other side of town, you come to lots of ‘informal communities’ (townships with tin shacks) and the mines themselves. The land for the new church Jan is working on is right between the mall and the new highway, just below the most expensive houses in Rustenburg (see attached pictures). The land was purchased around six years ago, and is now worth MUCH more than then, and is of a nice size. The point is that the new church will be in the best place in the whole area to be noticed and to be accessed – it is where people already go, frequently.

 

By now ya’ll may be wondering what the point behind all this might be. Well, on Saturday in conversation with Jan and Theo I described the discipleship program I am planning for next year, and Theo stated that, when there new facilities are complete, I am welcome to both office and classroom space there. Obviously this has to become real to be real, but in the greater scheme of things such an offer, within an hour of meeting a pastor, is not extremely common – at least not in my experience. From my perspective it is just another instance of feeling embraced in the arms of Rustenburg, or, as it were, COMPLETELY TAKEN IN!

 

Erton’s brother Barnett is down from Malawi on a business trip, and he and Erton are off right now in Mafeking visiting various friends and relatives. It is very nice for Erton, who is very family oriented and has missed seeing his family for some time now. He still wants very much to return home, but this at least partially scratches the itch!

 

My major activity in the past week has been working on the discipleship program for next year. I have a brochure nearly done, for distribution to various churches around town so that people can know about what is coming up. It has been an amazing experience, because a great deal of what is now included in the design is brand new ‘stuff’ – to me! I have been asking for help and guidance, and apparently God is rather interested in this thing being what He wants it to be, because I have been getting a LOT of help and guidance. Hallelujah! It seems to me, from the design that is emerging, that I will definitely require help in ministering to the participants in the program, and at this point the needed team is not assembled. Please pray for the team to come together! I am sure that God would by no means instigate the program as it is coming together without also providing what is necessary to make it work, but that does not mean that we all – and especially me! – can relax in our prayers. It is rather like a runner nearing the finishing line ahead of all other competitors in a big race. With the goal in sight and the victory almost in hand, the runner REALLY bears down with a special burst of energy until the line is actually crossed! So, please bear down with me!

 

Thanks to all of you who pray for me and the mission here – I don’t know, and I don’t want to know, what would have happened without you. Speaking of prayer, I am scheduled to try again for the cataract surgery on my left eye on Monday, so please pray about that as well.

 

 

 

Love from Africa

Lary