A series of "lasts"

The "few days" mentioned in the last post has turned into 2 weeks, but we do want to backfill on some things we never had a chance to post.

During our final couple weeks, we went through a long parade of "lasts" - last time for this Bible class, last time to see these people... It was hard, saying goodbye over and over, but we certainly wouldn't have wanted to miss any of them! And in a way, the prolonged farewell helped ease the pain of parting.

After returning from Sodwana Bay and St Lucia, we plunged into transition to Cam and Kim Beeler, who arrived in South Africa from Arkansas the day before we got back to Durban. It was a whirlwind, and we apparently neglected to get any pictures of them! We pray that God is blessing their work. Cam has taken on the management of the Bible Education Centre and related activities, and Kim will be home-schooling their 3 children. She will also get involved in the work, of course. As far as we know, they are still house-sitting for a family who is out of the country, but will move into the flat above the Durban hall soon.

Among the "lasts":

Last Sunday afternoon class with students from the BEC and others, mostly newly baptized. The top picture shows many of the regular attendees, but unfortunately doesn't include Boniface and Mary Wilondja, who are the anchors of the African contingent of the Durban meeting.



Last visit to Mariannhill, where we saw the newest BEC to open for business. We had helped provide young Bro Kwanda with materials, Bibles, and training in a visit a week earlier. At this visit, it was all set up and operating. Paul led a Bible class for a smaller-than-usual group (it was a holiday week), and we said goodbye to Bro Phinda and Sis Sylvester, the key anchor couple in the ecclesia, as well as Kwanda and all the rest.





















Last Lamontville study day. We had leafleted in the community the Saturday before. The talks were give by Tom Farrar (from Canada, in SA working for Africaid), who sprinkled his talk with Zulu, and Dumisane Qwabe, who sprinkled his with English! Then it was goodbye to Sis Rose, Sis Lungile, Dumisane and Nonhlahla, and young Andrew, who is one of the most faithful attenders and helpers; we pray we may hear of his baptism before long.






Farewell dinner and last meeting in Durban. On Saturday evening the Durban ecclesia hosted a going away feast for us. Many from the area ecclesias attended--the one picture shows just a small portion of the group. Bro Barry van Heerden put together a slide & music presentation, and we were given parting gifts. Most moving was the Zulu crown for Paul, and necklace & bracelet for Jane, presented by Bro Mhloli Malunga. None of our eyes were dry. Then Sunday morning we were at the Durban meeting for the last time, and said goodbye to so many. Barry and Wendith, Anthony and Pat, Boniface and Mary, Mhloli and Buyiswa, Ryan and Rose, the whole Wilcox clan, Dieudonne, Charlotte, Terrance, Clement, Serge & Mary, Nick and Gill, Eddie and Olive...we should list the whole directory! We grew to love you all so much!





Last meeting in Westville, which was a "witness" meeting Sunday night, where Paul gave his last talk in the Durban area. Sorry, no pictures. We said goodbye to some, but didn't have to say goodbye to some others, because on Monday morning we attended our...

Last 2010 weekly meeting. This one was tough. We were literally on our way out of town, and it was the last time to see some of the people we had worked with the closest: Cathy Strachan, Matt and Petru Blewett, Craig and Nicky Blewett, Tim and Ilse Genders, Yvette van Rooyen, David White, Christy Beyers, Carmel Woodman.

It was a bittersweet couple of weeks. Many invited us to their homes for meals during this time, and we so enjoyed the fellowship, made all the more wonderful by the knowledge that we would soon part.

Home again

We're home! Arrived about noon (Illinois time) on Friday.

Lots of emotions - glad to be home, sad to have left South Africa. Mostly, we feel just incredibly blessed.

On Friday Esther & Isaac came over to visit, as did Jane's dad briefly. Talked to Caleb & Andrew by phone, then early to bed, and a long night of sleep, and we felt pretty good on Saturday. We visited Jane's dad and brother, then went for a short visit to her mom in the nursing home. Then over to Mahomet to visit with Paul's family, including some out-of-towners, for a celebration of niece Abigail's graduation. Congratulations, Abby, on being a certified teacher!

Happy Mom's Day to all the mothers out there! We'll be with the Champaign ecclesia (and Paul's mother) this morning, then visit Jane's mom this afternoon.

We will try to do some catch-up postings in the next few days. For those following this in Illinois, we hope to see many of you soon.

Hippos & crocs

We mentioned that on the way back from diving in Sodwana Bay, we had a chance to take a hippo & croc tour by boat, in the St Lucia estuary. Here are some pictures. Hippos & crocs of course. And also an African fish eagle (we were about 3 meters away from him), and a goliath heron (indeed a giant - stands about 2 meters tall). Plus other things not pictured: swimming crabs, mud skippers, egrets, and more. All of them our Creator's handiwork!

Award ceremony for course completers

On 25 April we had a certificate award ceremony for those who have completed courses at the Bible Education Centre. (These used to be called "graduations", but we've changed the name, to try to avoid an implication of a qualification--and to try to dissuade people from renting caps & gowns. Seemed to work! No gowns, even for the 2 people who had said they were going to rent them.)

To North Americans, having a ceremony like this may seem strange. Here in South Africa, education is truly valued, but higher education is not possible for many. So, rather than a degree, many people take specific courses that lead to a certificate. Having evidence of educational achievement is worth something to them - and our students at the BEC are no different. On our side, we are very happy to recognize time and effort spent in Bible study, and to encourage them to keep it up.

We had 32 people who completed courses since the last award ceremony, of whom 9 had completed more than one course. Twenty of them came to the ceremony, and we had 40 total visitors at the Durban hall (most people brought a friend or a family member, or two). Paul conducted the proceedings, Barry van Heerden from Durban gave a great talk encouraging the students to carry on, and Mary & Jane presented the certificates. (Jane had also done all of the food shopping and preparation.)

The most exciting thing is that two of the students are very close to baptism. Almita, an older woman who has done all the courses, has been talking about baptism for some time. Her sister has been trying to talk her out of it, but on this day she said to Mary that she wants to go forward. The other student is a man named Crispin, who has completed 3 courses and is mid-way through a fourth. He just seems to be on fire. At the ceremony, besides asking Paul how he would go about being baptized, he made a financial donation to the work. (The two weren't related - it's just clear that he believes in the message and wants to support spreading it.)

The Lord is indeed blessing the work here! There are other positive things happening as well. The niece of one of the early BEC students has asked for baptism preparation classes, which Mary is going to arrange with her. A man named David has resumed The Way of Life classes with Bro David White. A young guy named Zipho, who had been very keen, but whom we hadn't seen in the BEC for some time, was at the ceremony and engaged us in a great conversation. Another young guy named Jerom has done all the courses and has been attending regularly in Durban. A woman named Nokuthula is mid-way in her 4th course and attends regularly on Sundays, and has said when she completes this one she wants to talk about baptism. On and on. God be praised!

Many thanks to those who helped with the day: to Barry for the talk, the music, and the A/V help. To Wendith & Christy for the help in the kitchen. Of course to Mary for her ongoing work with these students, as well as for contributing to the ceremony. To Cam and Steve for fetching people, helping with the setup, and to Steve who acted as usher/doorkeeper. And thanks to David, Dieudonne, Charlotte, Rose, and Mhloli for attending & supporting the effort, and engaging the students in conversation later.

It was an exciting day. Please join us in praying for the students, for God's direction in their lives and for their continued spiritual growth. And for laborers to work in these white fields!

Crazy month

If anyone is still out there paying attention...sorry it has been so infrequent that we've posted anything! Just hasn't been time.

Following our last post in early April, we had a group of P2P (Prepared to Preach) volunteers here from UK for almost 3 weeks. There were 16, divided into 2 teams. We worked primarily with one of the teams. During the first week, Jane and the team worked each day on a Holiday Club (what we would call a Vacation Bible School in the States) in Lamontville. The other team was doing the same in Mariannhill. Classes, crafts, games, lunch, soccer...each day was full! Meanwhile, Paul took one volunteer from each team into the BEC each day.

The pix are of the 2 teams at the wrap-up hosted by Tim Genders; a couple people had to leave early so one team looks smaller. By the way, for those in the Bloomington & Champaign ecclesias - one of the volunteers was Luke Bamford, whom many will remember from the year he lived in Central Illinois.

Then came a long holiday weekend over Easter, and the Durban area ecclesias hosted their annual fraternal gathering. Paul did 3 adult classes during breakout periods. The P2P teams taught the children. Over that weekend, there were 12 people from Candu and Johannesburg staying at the Durban hall, downstairs from us, and we helped out with transporting them to & from the gathering. (Too many people to hold it at the hall - they rented a private school.)

After the fraternal the P2P teams hit the road for a few days, one team visiting Margate and the other traveling down to Candu, which is on the "Wild Coast" quite a way south from here. It's a rural community and you probably won't find it on a map.

While the teams were away, we got a chance (finally!!) to do some diving. We drove north of Durban 3+ hours to Sodwana Bay, which is part of the Greater St Lucia Wetlands park, a World Heritage site. The weather was bad, and the first day of diving was scrubbed. But on the second day we had two terrific dives. Very nice reefs, and of course the corals and fish are all different from what we are used to in Florida & the Caribbean. On the way back, we stopped in St Lucia and took a hippo/croc boat tour of the estuary. Very cool -- we'll try to post some pictures. These few days were our only days off during April.

When we got back, we dove straight into final preparations for an award ceremony for people who completed courses at the BEC. Of course prep had started much sooner, but there was still a lot to do, especially for Jane, to get everything for the meal bought & ready. And the P2P team was back, this time staying here at the hall. The P2Pers and the Mariannhill youth group did a concert at The Workshop (a mall near the BEC) and handed out over 2,000 cards with info about the BEC. One person came straight over and signed up for a course, and we expect more will come in as a result. Both of us manned the BEC while the concert went on, although Jane got away to see part of the concert.

Another important development: while we were away, the Beeler family arrived! Cam and Kim with their 3 kids are our replacements. The past week has been spent doing knowledge transfer regarding the operation of the BEC and all the educational activities. Only a one-week overlap, so there won't be time for much reinforcement, but we've promised to be available from afar as consultants.

During this last week in Durban, we've also been invited to a number of meals with the brothers and sisters we've gotten so close to over our months here. It is really, really hard to think about leaving. There will be a farewell for us tomorrow night, hosted by the Durban ecclesia. Jane is afraid she'll spend the entire evening in tears, and Paul's eyes may not stay dry either.

On Monday we will drive to Johannesburg, where we'll spend 3 days with the folks there, and then with God's blessing we fly out on Thursday. For those of you back home: we look forward to seeing you soon! For those of you in South Africa: we are going to miss you terribly. We hope that it will be our Father's will that we can come back some time!