It’s a cold, windy and wet winter. Not that we have room to complain! For the past few years, during the long summer months, there have been strict water restrictions. So God has blessed the Western Cape with plenty of badly needed water, filling up all the dams and piles of snow on the eastern mountain peaks!
Poland
I have just returned from a trip to Poland. It was an unexpected journey that came about very quickly – I’d never considered travelling to a former Eastern Bloc country but a series of “coincidences” led to this visit.
In June, I sat next to a Polish man at a dinner to celebrate the wedding anniversary of our Polish friends, Zbyszek and Maria. The man couldn’t speak much English and I’d been sick the day they taught Polish in school (joking!). I tried to be friendly and we sort of had a conversation during the evening. Later, he asked Maria who I was and she explained my purpose in South Africa. After the man returned to Warsaw, he called Maria and said that he’d contacted the mayors of two Polish towns who badly needed advice to set up benevolence programs for the poor, elderly and unemployed. They wanted me to come!
By “coincidence”, Zbyszek and Maria had already arranged to take a break at the end of June to visit their relatives in Poland. I didn’t have the finances to make the trip and also Pat had her mid-year exams to complete. So, it looked like a bust. But the Lord works things out way in advance and suddenly, it was all put together quickly.
I personally met the mayors of Nysa (Knee-sah) and Gostynin (Ghost-en-nehn) who threw open the doors to their towns. (Maria translated for me since their could speak any English.) Both had already transformed their administrations to provide an infrastructure for the needy. Unemployment is high and many are on the bread line. I was able to help and provide advice, which they greatly appreciated. Both want me to return at some stage.
I have made a few inquiries to see if there is some way used clothing, canned food, etc could be containerized and shipped to these places to assist the poor. (Both of these resources cannot be sent to South Africa due to strict restrictions.) I have been praying that the Lord will open the doors.
Impressions
There is a strange anomaly in Poland – in every city, town, village, crossroads and busy corner, there are cathedrals, churches, shrines and statues. Many are decorated with flowers or ribbons and dedicated to Mary, one of the apostles, Pope John Paul II or a saint of some sort. The churches are beautiful and awe inspiring. Yet, they are for the most part, empty.
One cathedral in Lichen (Lee-hen) is enormous and can hold thousands. It has a tower stretching 27 storeys into the sky. Aside from feast days and religious holidays, perhaps forty or fifty people worship. God is everywhere but nowhere. I usually asked to pray whenever we stayed with a family or after we visited the mayors. Everyone looked at me strangely – I was not a priest, hadn’t taken holy orders and not under the supervision of any religious manager. Yet, they all allowed me this simple request. A few were impressed and asked questions. Others just smiled wanly and said nothing.
There is an enormous need for the gospel in Poland. They are good people, hard working, enjoying their new found political freedom from Communism. God needs laborers in this vineyard. The fields are white with the harvest. Let us all pray that there are laborers willing to go. Personal
Pat and I will be returning to American on furlough in 2008. It seems that we just get back to put our hands to the plough and it is time to return again. We ask for your prayers in anticipation.
For those of you who have asked, my folks, Al and Jean Zimmerman, are still fine – it’s just that they are getting older. They also need your prayers.
We thank you for all the praying, caring and concern for us. We always ask God’s rich blessings for all of you.
Steve and Pat Zimmerman
S.A. Christian Mission, Cape Town
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