Hot sizzling greetings from South Africa! Summer is taking its vengeance while you’re freezing in America!
VISITORS
Mark Vernik arrived first at Cape Town International Airport. This was his first journey outside of the United States and he was pretty worn by the time he stepped off the plane. The contrast of temperatures from ice cold Ohio to the mid-summer heat here really raised his eyebrows. The next day, Mattie McLaughlin arrived via Atlanta. She is staying at the Christian Retreat Center at “Anathoth” where the new warehouse is rising skyward while Mark bunked down in our guest room.
One of the first impressions Mark had, which highlighted Africa’s problem so well, the differences in languages. He gamely tried to imitate various words in about ten different languages with varying degrees of success. He kept at it and by the time he left, he had mastered a few words in Afrikaans, Xhosa and Swahili. The food was different, the cultures vastly different and even driving on the wrong side of the road nearly gave him hiccups.
I tried to show Mark the various groups with whom I work. Each Sunday was a completely different cultural and linguistic setting. The first Sunday, he spoke for the first time in his life with an interpreter at a Congolese refugee church. He quickly adapted to shorter sentences and simpler expressions, which helped his translator, Kees, very much. The next Sunday, Mark spoke at a traditional farmland church among the Xhosas. The final Sunday was a special event – Robert James, a Cape Bible Seminary student, was ordained as a pastor by his congregation. Mark and I performed the ordination itself and Robbie stood proudly with his family, holding his certificate. (Most of the speaking was done in English although the group is basically Afrikaans.)
During the Cape Bible Seminary classes, Mark taught each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings to different groups around the city. (The Monday night classes have not yet begun.) Tuesdays are held in the apartment of Reinaldo and Lorna Rutter (he is Brazilian and she is an Afrikaner); Wednesday classes are held at “Anathoth” for the farm workers, their families and any visitors that are staying there; and Thursday nights found us at Stellenbosch in a brand new contact group. They all enjoyed Mark’s teaching very much!
Mattie and Mark also helped at Bavumeleni Children’s Center in one of the poorest townships of the city. Primose and her daughter, Euphonia, head up the programs and projects for the local street kids. They run a soup kitchen and provide shelter for kids in need. Mark and Marty Wallace, a Christian man from Colorado, who has been working there for over two years, worked on shelving and installations, painting and plumbing. It was another hands-on mission work that needed to be done.
DEDICATION
One of the highlights of their visit was the dedication of the new warehouse. Although the structure was up to roof height and the roof trusses stacked on site, the roof had not yet been installed. On the last Saturday, a small dedication service was conducted at the building to set it aside for the Lord’s work. Mattie cut the ribbon while everyone clapped. Her emotion was evident! Prayers were said and I gave a small talk, thanking everyone who helped with this project. There were farm laborers, roofers, visitors from America and others who were there to celebrate afterwards with cake, fruit juice and finger food.
Within a few weeks, I hope to unload the Container sitting nearby. It has about 300 boxes ready to be stored. Another two Container loads await in America to be shipped as donations come in. Everyone is so excited that this vision, first planned by Dave McLaughlin and I, has finally been realized.?We ask for your continued prayers and help until it is finished.
PERSONAL
There are so many people to thank for their support and donations and so many Africans will be blessed because of your dedication and faithfulness. My thanks to all of you!
May God continue and bless you as you continue to serve Him.
Steve Zimmerman
SA Christian Mission, Cape Town
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