Cool and wintery greetings to everyone! Cape Town has experienced the coldest and wettest winter in many years. It has left snow on tops of the eastern mountains and floods in certain areas. At the same time, in a very bizarre twist, forest fires have raged in the northeastern province of Natal where there isn’t any rain!
GENERAL
Gasoline and the volatile exchange rate have been our major financial problems during this year. The government announces gas price increases whenever they wish – a month ago, they dumped a 46 cent per liter increase on us! In addition, the Rand/Dollar rate fluctuates as much as 50-70 cents in a few days, depending upon the American economic indicators and the strength of the Euro. (The Rand is linked to the Euro.) It means we must juggle each Dollar and make the most of it.
The trade unions go on strike whenever they please. A government admin sector strike dragged on for a month, slowing down every kind of delivery service from government hospitals to drivers licenses! Crime, AIDS and abortion are all on the increase.
BOOK/CONTAINER PROJECT
There have been so many exciting things occurring all at the same time that it is difficult to know where to begin. The storage problem for the Bibles, books and Sunday School materials has been a nightmare for the past year or so. When I finally was assured that we had a good facility at the Elsies River building in their annex, it also turned out to be a major headache.
The owner, a Christian man, assured me that we could use the annex for a long as we wanted. There was even some discussion at one stage that the building might be purchased, which would’ve solved many problems – not only ours but also for the congregation, too. But with three different factions all fighting for control, it soon descended into a $1 clearance sale at Macy’s. We then pulled out. Since that time, despite my neutral status, I have not been back to Elsies River to teach and Bro Sam Jacobs hasn’t bothered to call either. I do not know what is happening there but I do know they all need urgent prayer.
In the meantime, Pat Stephenson has offered a piece of her land in Kuisriver. She runs “Anathoth”, a Christian retreat center, for different programs, which various churches and Christians can use. It is a sizeable property, a former wine farm, and there is space to build a small warehouse for our needs.
Pat does not own the farm any longer – she donated it to a trust, which oversees the property and its operations. Besides Pat Stephenson, there are two other Trustees — a lawyer in Johannesburg and a local businessman. Her proposal to allow us to build a storage facility is a Godsend. It dovetails nicely with her missions outreach to the countries immediately to the north (Zimbabwe and Mozambique). I have donated many boxes of Bibles and Christian materials through Pat for Christians in those places.
In order to ensure a proper continuation of “Anathoth” and the distribution warehouse, Pat also nominated me as another Trustee for the Board. I have agreed to continue her projects and work should anything happen to her. Right now, the documents have been drawn up and are awaiting her signature. (Pat is currently in the US right now.) Ground and floor plans have been drawn up for the warehouse, which must be okayed by Pat, the Trustees and then the municipality. One approved, then building can begin.
There are many other common uses for the property – Cape Bible Seminary classes, etc. So this is an answer to many prayers.
In the interim, Shirley Neuenschwander has forwarded an idea which might solve our immediate needs. There are more than two Container loads waiting for shipment on the Snyder’s property! (Thanks for your patience and hard work, Bob and Roberta!) Perhaps one can be sent, packed very carefully to give access to the most important items, and stored at “Anathoth” until the facility can be built. Again, this must be cleared with Pat Stephenson.
BAVUMELENI CHILDRENS CENTER (BCC)
Our involvement with this project is changing. Wayne and Barbara Ferguson have indicated that they wish to hand over the reins of their mission work with Primrose and the children’s center. They have faithfully served and sacrificed such much in order that many African children are cared for – physically and spiritually. BCC has grown steadily over the years. For various reasons, the Fergusons have approached the SACM.
I am already serving on the board locally, along with Reinaldo and Lorna Rutter and local Christians. Through some of the Cape Bible Seminary students, there have been many donations and assistance given to BCC. In my mind, we are already involved and working with them.
Personally, with the SACM Board’s approval, I would nominate Tom Dumez to head up BCC in the United States and form a committee under SACM. During the time Team Dumez was here, everyone worked so hard and did so much for so many that I feel Tom and the Team should be afforded the opportunity to continue with this project.
Primrose and her daughter, Syntyche, visited the United States a few months ago and some of you have met them personally. Lorna Rutter has become more involved with the center, along with some of her co-workers at a pre-school where she is employed. There are many exciting new projects which Lorna will be proposing in the future.
CAPE BIBLE SEMINARY
The classes and courses haven’t stopped! There have been major shifts in the CBS schedule. Elsies River has dropped out of sight since late 2006. The Monday evening group has split into three parts: Bro Andre Brandt and his wife, Rogene, have bought a property in the eastern mountains to establish a Christian outreach and drug rehab center. Bro Henry Nigrini and his wife, Hester, have established a home congregation to attract those who would not normally go to an organized church. New faces have replaced them.
It cannot emphasized enough that this is the objective of the CBS courses: to teach, train and equip Christians for practical ministries. For me, personally, it is such a thrill to see such growth and maturity in these men and women that they take their places on the front lines of evangelism. I do miss them so much but they are doing the will of God!
Thompson Ntobie was sent on a missionary journey into the Queenstown area. He spent a month traveling, teaching and preaching in places where no one has ventured for many years. The Queenstown churches found accommodation and helped where they could to ensure that Thompson could spend the maximum amount of effort seeking those who needed to hear the gospel. Many came to be baptized and more returned to the fold. (I do not have any numbers but I understand that more than a hundred accepted Jesus as their Savior and were immersed in the ice cold waters of the rivers. It is midwinter, remember!)
Thompson conducted Cape Bible Seminary classes most afternoons and almost every evening wherever he went. He returned safely and has to rest up for a week or so. Item: Thompson has been offered a car for $1400. The old Ford Sierra which my father purchased, then I used and afterwards passed to Thompson, finally “rode off its wheels” (as they say in Xhosa). It clocked nearly 750 thousand kilometers, well beyond its specs. The car that has been offered is a 3 lit Ford stationwagon in very good condition, owned and maintained by a local mechanic. It would be very valuable for Thompson to have such a vehicle if it is possible.
The Thought for the Day via e-mail has been growing in leaps and bounds. I write a short column from Monday to Friday and post it via e-mail. I do not know the exact number of subscribers but within the past few months, entire church communities in Zimbabwe, the Congo and Rwanda have been added. There is no way to tell how many are enrolled. This has been an unexpected growth area and already, I have had suggestions of submitting these Thoughts for publication! I don’t know where this is going – I can only praise our Father for opening doors.
TRIP TO POLAND
Never in my wildest dreams would I ever consider a journey to this country. It began by “coincidence” when I sat next to a gentleman from Warsaw, who could not speak English, at the dinner table of friends. My Polish has been a little rocky ever since I missed a day in school so I tried to be friendly and communicate in simple words and many gestures.
From this simple encounter, an invitation was extended to me to come to Poland and assist with the benevolence programs of two cities! They helped with my airfare and my Polish friends, who had planned a visit to their homeland, took me with them.
It was an amazing experience. Not only did I find my ancestral roots there, but also I met wonderful people. The Mayors of the two towns (Nysa in the south and Gostynin in central Poland) welcomed us with open arms and showed us their needs. I explained each time that my work was in South Africa and that I could only assist by helping them set up programs to channel resources. I also told them that I would contact a few organizations in America and see if I could organize containers of clothing for their poor and unemployed. (Remember, we used to do the same in South Africa but are no longer permitted to do so.)
I also had the opportunity to speak to several families and small groups about the gospel. The Catholic Church has an enormous influence in Poland but does not teach the Word. All duties (prayers, forgiveness, etc) are performed by the priests and the people do not understand the concept a “personal” Savior. I do not know where this will lead but I do know that there are fields white with the harvest in that country. We can only pray that the Lord sends laborers.
PERSONAL
There have been several serious medical problems emerging in recent months.
First, my father, Al Zimmerman, took a bad fall and has been hospitalized. Two brain operations have been performed to relieve fluids. He is recovering very slowly and is still under medical care. My brother, Dr John Zimmerman, has been watching over him. My sister, Sara, flew out to Seattle to look after my mother but has since returned to Grand Rapids. She and her husband are seriously looking at moving there in 2008. In the meantime, my niece, John’s daughter, Charity, is caring for Jean.
Second, Dave McLaughlin will tell you of his condition.
Third, Reinaldo Rutter (BCC) will have to have a neck operation to replace two disks in the top of the spine. He has been having serious numbness problems in his arms as well as other symptoms.
Please keep these people in your earnest and heartfelt prayers.
All our sons are still living and working in South Carolina. They are doing very well and have been blessed.
There will be several visitors to Cape Town within the next six months. My brother, Dr John will come in December. Walt and Bea Mielke from the Zephyrhills congregation (FL) wish to visit in Jan/Feb 2008. Through the Polish contacts, a Russian Christian woman is interested in coming out, too!
Pat is completing her counseling qualification this year. (It has been tough on her since her Mom died but she is coping well.) Once all her academic studies have been completed, she will have to serve 200 hours in a counseling center or hospice.
THANKS
There are so many of you to thank and I don’t quite know where to begin. So much has happened, so many doors have been opened and so much has been done by so many people that I might forget to mention someone. (If I do, please forgive me, the oversight is inadvertent.) From our perspective, all of you are co-workers with us in Africa’s vineyard: the McLaughlins, the Verniks, the Snyders, the congregations who lend their support and the Neuenschwander Clan (esp Shirley who handles so much on our behalf).
The Lord’s work here such a success because of your involvement. We are so thankful for your involvement and ask God’s rich blessings for each and everyone of you!
Steve and Pat Zimmerman
Cape Town.
