More memorable experiences and reasons to smile in a very memorable country!!
The pace has slowed considerably since most of our team departed for the good old USA last week. Now it's just Leona Matson, Thomas Questad and myself left to continue the work God has called us to do together with the Bishop Mphahlele and other members of the United Lutheran Church here. Later this week Leona and Thomas will leave for a two week mission in Kenya and on November 30 I will be heading back to Finland.
Now let's take a few minutes to look at what has been happening here in the mission field in this most southern part of Africa for the last few weeks:
"Let the little children come unto me!"
With the team we had many memorable visits to pre-school daycare centers or "creches" as they are called here. In this happy shot you can see Bob Maki and some of the rest of us thronged by the children we met that day. Leona led us in an enactment of Jacob and the ladder. The children were enthralled. It is so amazing how when we are ministering to these little children that they truly end up ministering to us, too. In another one of the creches the most unforgettably animated little boy punctuated all of his very loud and shrill "Allelujah's" by waving a full size plastic model of an automatic pistol. Unfortunately I did not have my camera that day.
Almost uncounted are the times we visited outdoor school assemblies in many towns and villages with up to 1200 primary, middle school or high school students in attendance. Sometimes we had access to a microphone, but usually we pushed our vocal chords to the max and the students were attentive. Just imagine being able to freely preach the Gospel in all the public schools like this. That in itself was reason for rejoicing! In this picture we see Jacob Seppanen pronouncing the benediction over a group of some 1000 students.
Personal prayer walks
Hardly a day has passed that we have not been involved in very specific and personal prayer encounters with individuals in their homes and villages. Here Pastor Bob Maki prays for a needy soul. What a thrill it is as hearts are opened and the needs spoken to in the cleansing and healing name of Jesus and the power of His blood.
The Thusanang 16
In the village of Thusanang our team split up into three groups in order to reach as many people and pray for them in their homes as possible. We visited a lot of people that day and many were the hearts that reached out to God. Returning to our "base shack" with Calvin and Debra Matson, our translator David and a lady from the local congregation, we were passing one shack when a man poked his head out of the door. He called to us, seemingly in jest, "Dumela (Hello), I have never had a white man lay his hands upon me!" We walked a little further, but his words really spoke to my heart! "Why not?! Let's go back and talk to him!" We went back to his yard and I confronted him in that same doorway. "We are here as representatives of the living God and if it is His will we can in fact lay our hands upon you and give you His blessing!" Other men working in that yard and the neighbouring one were attracted by what they heard. "Come on everyone," I called out to all the men working in the garden, yard and other places. "Jesus Christ is paying you a visit today! Come let us gather together in His name and hear from the Word of God!" They all put down their shovels, hoes and hammers and began to gather in the shade along the wall of the original man's shack. As I began preaching some ladies and children also joined us. Sixteen people in all. I opened the word around God's love for all mankind, for them particularly there along the shack wall in Thusanang, and how He gave His only begotten Son to die that not one of them needed to perish but could have eternal life.
The United Lutheran Church in South Africa is not a large organization. All of the eleven small congregations meet for their Sunday services and other occasions in little shacks, mostly put together with corrugated metal sheets. There is certainly nothing ostentatious about this church, even as this sign in the township of Bekkersdal suggests.
Bethlehem
The only ULCSA church not made of metal sheets is the "stable" church called Bethlehem - out in the middle of a field where cowherds and shepherds often pass the front door. Here Calvin and Debra wait with some of the congregation members for an evening service to begin.
Spontaneous Sunday School
As with so many times for children's Bible stories and Sunday Schools in South Africa the gatherings are spontaneous. Here Joyce Karnes leads a Bible lesson for a group of kids in the front yard of a village home. The group started with four children and ended up with forty! Almost all of whom attended the evening service for people of all ages in a school classroom later that evening. Speaking of the Kingdom of Heaven!!
The incredible balloon!
Before we went to the service that evening Leona had time to do a Bible-related balloon demonstration that is close to unbelievable. She first filled several balloons with air and threw them out into the crowd of children. One at a time she asked for them back explaining that as people, if we don't have anything in us (meaning lacking faith in Jesus) we often do just like a balloon does when you put a candle under it (representing the heat and discomfort of personal difficulties). It pops of course! Naturally all of the children were holding their ears and cringing. She repeated this lesson accompanied by the repeated popping of balloons until it was very clear what happens to an empty life facing trials and temptations. Then she produced a balloon that was filled with water and explained that when we are filled by the Spirit and Jesus as the water of Life something very different happens. Then with all of the kids gasping she put the candle directly under the water filled balloon and lo and behold IT DID NOT POP no matter how long the candle was held right under it. Again and again she held it directly to the flame and it never popped!!! All the while she explained the meaning of this. You almost have to be present to see how powerful and convincing this lesson demonstration is, but it is very convincing. And not just for kids!!
Lion king in court camouflage
A trip to South Africa could hardly be really complete without going on a safari and meeting some of God's great wonderful creations in their natural habitat. Here we chanced upon the Lion King resting not far from the three lionesses in his pride. Such a close-up encounter in an open safari jeep can't help but get the adrenalin going a little.
Bibles for Bosasa
As many of you know bringing the Gospel to prisons and detention centers has been a highlight of my life for many, many years. South Africa this time was no exception. We visited prisons four times and were privileged to visit the Bosasa Boys' Detention Center in Kruegersdorp on two occasions, in addition to Boys Town.
The visits to Bosasa were especially profound and unforgettable. On our first visit fourteen boys ages 14 to 17, who are awaiting their court trial, gathered in the small auditorium for a service. Their response to the message was almost overwhelming. Every single boy crowded forward afterwards to hear for himself the blessing of the Gospel of Christ in the forgiveness of his sins, doubts, fears and guilt. And then came the questions - deep and thought-provoking - and the pleas for us to come back as soon as possible. Calvin Matson, who sat behind me with Debra and others, was deeply moved. Especially since I had made many references to the Bible and held it up several times. "Do they just think that it is some magic book," he wondered, "out of their grasp?" At that point he committed himself to seeing that each of those young men would get such a Book.
The problem was fitting a new meeting with just those boys into our schedule. There are 150 boys awaiting trial in Bosasa! But God led us wonderfully. Calvin bought Bibles in all of the necessary languages before he and Debra had to return home - before the rest of us. And then came the tricky part of figuring out which 14 boys had attended our first meeting, since we didn't take names, of course. It was decided for our second visit that we would first meet all of the boys in the courtyard on some bleachers and give a short presentation of why we were there. That went great! That rowdy crowd became quiet as church mice while I told them Who we represented and why we were there in the name of the living God and His Son Jesus. Then I invited them all to a full service in the auditorium. This was also to kind of separate out the more serious boys so the "Bible boys" would be sure to be present. I was warned not to mention the gift of Bibles yet then in case we would suddenly be committed to giving out 150 Bibles - which of course we did not have - and many of those who were not true believers would very likely use them for cigarette papers and other less honourable purposes.
Almost 50 boys crowded into the auditorium - singing beautifully - and fully attentive during the sermon. With Thomas Questad as Goliath we did a re-enactment of that Bible story and lesson using one enthusiastic young detainee as David. We showed how the "Goliaths" in our lives can be overcome by faith, prayer and the Word of God. The message appeared to answer deeply in their hearts.
Then I simply asked for the fourteen boys who were with us the first time to raise their hands, which they did and to their great joy received their Bibles in Zulu, Tswana, Sotho or English as appropriate. Each boy then put his name and date in the Bible they had received. This Bible will always be theirs now but they were not allowed to take it back to their ward since it would probably meet some ignominious end. They can, however, return to the auditorium to read it under supervision at any time they wish and then can take it with them after they leave for their court sentencing. We also had extra Bibles for several of the other boys.
We left Bosasa that day rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit to lead and to guide and to provide even the Word - as in the Bible itself - for young men who need that leading and guiding more than anything else in their lives. (Faces blurred for identity protection).
And so my two months of service in South Africa this time comes to an end. I mentioned at the beginning of this article that there have been many, many reasons to smile for joy and celebration at the goodness of God and His wonderful love towards people of all ages and life situations in the villages and townships of the Randfontein area and the Northwest Province not far from Johannesburg. As we have brought them the Living Word and the Love of God, so have they beautifully reciprocated by enriching our lives with the same love, peace and joy.
See you in Finland next week!!
Remember that orders for my new book "Listen, The Cry" can be placed through the Foreign Mission Shop or outside the USA/Canada directly to me. The possibility of being a representative for book distribution in your congregation is still open in some areas. Please let me know if you are interested. Also remember that it would be so nice to mover the book as much as possible before Christmas. I deeply appreciate the interest so far!!
In God's love and peace!
Dennis
The pace has slowed considerably since most of our team departed for the good old USA last week. Now it's just Leona Matson, Thomas Questad and myself left to continue the work God has called us to do together with the Bishop Mphahlele and other members of the United Lutheran Church here. Later this week Leona and Thomas will leave for a two week mission in Kenya and on November 30 I will be heading back to Finland.
Now let's take a few minutes to look at what has been happening here in the mission field in this most southern part of Africa for the last few weeks:
"Let the little children come unto me!"
With the team we had many memorable visits to pre-school daycare centers or "creches" as they are called here. In this happy shot you can see Bob Maki and some of the rest of us thronged by the children we met that day. Leona led us in an enactment of Jacob and the ladder. The children were enthralled. It is so amazing how when we are ministering to these little children that they truly end up ministering to us, too. In another one of the creches the most unforgettably animated little boy punctuated all of his very loud and shrill "Allelujah's" by waving a full size plastic model of an automatic pistol. Unfortunately I did not have my camera that day.
Pistol-packin' praise warrior - minus pistol
When we returned to that creche a week later I did get a picture of him "in action".(Boy in center in green shirt). His enthusiasm was completely captivating. Unfortunately on the second occasion he had left his dramatic pistol at home, but his energy had not subsided at all. It is just amazing to see Leona working with the small children in all of these creches... to see how the seeds are being sown in these preciously enthusiastic young lives and then on the flipside of the coin to be ministered to by these little angels of God.
The Good News brought to thousands in SA schools
The Good News brought to thousands in SA schools
Almost uncounted are the times we visited outdoor school assemblies in many towns and villages with up to 1200 primary, middle school or high school students in attendance. Sometimes we had access to a microphone, but usually we pushed our vocal chords to the max and the students were attentive. Just imagine being able to freely preach the Gospel in all the public schools like this. That in itself was reason for rejoicing! In this picture we see Jacob Seppanen pronouncing the benediction over a group of some 1000 students.
Personal prayer walks
Hardly a day has passed that we have not been involved in very specific and personal prayer encounters with individuals in their homes and villages. Here Pastor Bob Maki prays for a needy soul. What a thrill it is as hearts are opened and the needs spoken to in the cleansing and healing name of Jesus and the power of His blood.
The Thusanang 16
In the village of Thusanang our team split up into three groups in order to reach as many people and pray for them in their homes as possible. We visited a lot of people that day and many were the hearts that reached out to God. Returning to our "base shack" with Calvin and Debra Matson, our translator David and a lady from the local congregation, we were passing one shack when a man poked his head out of the door. He called to us, seemingly in jest, "Dumela (Hello), I have never had a white man lay his hands upon me!" We walked a little further, but his words really spoke to my heart! "Why not?! Let's go back and talk to him!" We went back to his yard and I confronted him in that same doorway. "We are here as representatives of the living God and if it is His will we can in fact lay our hands upon you and give you His blessing!" Other men working in that yard and the neighbouring one were attracted by what they heard. "Come on everyone," I called out to all the men working in the garden, yard and other places. "Jesus Christ is paying you a visit today! Come let us gather together in His name and hear from the Word of God!" They all put down their shovels, hoes and hammers and began to gather in the shade along the wall of the original man's shack. As I began preaching some ladies and children also joined us. Sixteen people in all. I opened the word around God's love for all mankind, for them particularly there along the shack wall in Thusanang, and how He gave His only begotten Son to die that not one of them needed to perish but could have eternal life.
It was truly a divinely appointed meeting. Before we finished the "service" every single one of the adults requested prayer individually and the proclamation of hearing that all of their sins, doubts, fears and guilt were forgiven and washed away in the name of Jesus and the power of His blood - of course with the laying on of hands!!!! Sixteen people who had never before been touched by a white man were now touched and cleansed by the very Spirit of the living God.
Check out the hair...
You might not realize it but there are hundreds of ways to do hair in South Africa. After I took this photo of these expectant children waiting for a handout at a day center for orphans and vulnerable children I noticed that even though they are youngsters with little to call their own materially, they still have pride in their cleanliness and personal appearance which is often expressed in meticulously arranged hairstyles which can take hours to execute.
The Word supreme
Another school. The focus of everything we do is the Word of God.
The aged remembered
We visited homes for the elderly. Here Jacob Seppanen listens to the prayer requests of one elderly gentleman and comforts him with the hope of the Gospel.
Boys Town
A very cherished place for me to return to was Boys Town. Here underage boys who have been remanded by the court or social services live in a kind of self government community. This is in order to teach them to function as responsible members of society. Spiritual education is encouraged. This picture is unique in that not only were most of the enthusiastic boys present but I think it is one of the only photos we have with all of the nine members of our Team SA 2011 present. On the far left is Calvin and Debra Matson, upper left you see Dan and Joyce Karnes (Joyce partly hidden), center back Leona Matson and Thomas Questad, upper right Jacob Seppanen and Bob Maki.
ULCSA sign
Check out the hair...
You might not realize it but there are hundreds of ways to do hair in South Africa. After I took this photo of these expectant children waiting for a handout at a day center for orphans and vulnerable children I noticed that even though they are youngsters with little to call their own materially, they still have pride in their cleanliness and personal appearance which is often expressed in meticulously arranged hairstyles which can take hours to execute.
The Word supreme
Another school. The focus of everything we do is the Word of God.
The aged remembered
We visited homes for the elderly. Here Jacob Seppanen listens to the prayer requests of one elderly gentleman and comforts him with the hope of the Gospel.
Boys Town
A very cherished place for me to return to was Boys Town. Here underage boys who have been remanded by the court or social services live in a kind of self government community. This is in order to teach them to function as responsible members of society. Spiritual education is encouraged. This picture is unique in that not only were most of the enthusiastic boys present but I think it is one of the only photos we have with all of the nine members of our Team SA 2011 present. On the far left is Calvin and Debra Matson, upper left you see Dan and Joyce Karnes (Joyce partly hidden), center back Leona Matson and Thomas Questad, upper right Jacob Seppanen and Bob Maki.
ULCSA sign
The United Lutheran Church in South Africa is not a large organization. All of the eleven small congregations meet for their Sunday services and other occasions in little shacks, mostly put together with corrugated metal sheets. There is certainly nothing ostentatious about this church, even as this sign in the township of Bekkersdal suggests.
Bethlehem
The only ULCSA church not made of metal sheets is the "stable" church called Bethlehem - out in the middle of a field where cowherds and shepherds often pass the front door. Here Calvin and Debra wait with some of the congregation members for an evening service to begin.
Spontaneous Sunday School
As with so many times for children's Bible stories and Sunday Schools in South Africa the gatherings are spontaneous. Here Joyce Karnes leads a Bible lesson for a group of kids in the front yard of a village home. The group started with four children and ended up with forty! Almost all of whom attended the evening service for people of all ages in a school classroom later that evening. Speaking of the Kingdom of Heaven!!
The incredible balloon!
Before we went to the service that evening Leona had time to do a Bible-related balloon demonstration that is close to unbelievable. She first filled several balloons with air and threw them out into the crowd of children. One at a time she asked for them back explaining that as people, if we don't have anything in us (meaning lacking faith in Jesus) we often do just like a balloon does when you put a candle under it (representing the heat and discomfort of personal difficulties). It pops of course! Naturally all of the children were holding their ears and cringing. She repeated this lesson accompanied by the repeated popping of balloons until it was very clear what happens to an empty life facing trials and temptations. Then she produced a balloon that was filled with water and explained that when we are filled by the Spirit and Jesus as the water of Life something very different happens. Then with all of the kids gasping she put the candle directly under the water filled balloon and lo and behold IT DID NOT POP no matter how long the candle was held right under it. Again and again she held it directly to the flame and it never popped!!! All the while she explained the meaning of this. You almost have to be present to see how powerful and convincing this lesson demonstration is, but it is very convincing. And not just for kids!!
Lion king in court camouflage
A trip to South Africa could hardly be really complete without going on a safari and meeting some of God's great wonderful creations in their natural habitat. Here we chanced upon the Lion King resting not far from the three lionesses in his pride. Such a close-up encounter in an open safari jeep can't help but get the adrenalin going a little.
Bibles for Bosasa
As many of you know bringing the Gospel to prisons and detention centers has been a highlight of my life for many, many years. South Africa this time was no exception. We visited prisons four times and were privileged to visit the Bosasa Boys' Detention Center in Kruegersdorp on two occasions, in addition to Boys Town.
The visits to Bosasa were especially profound and unforgettable. On our first visit fourteen boys ages 14 to 17, who are awaiting their court trial, gathered in the small auditorium for a service. Their response to the message was almost overwhelming. Every single boy crowded forward afterwards to hear for himself the blessing of the Gospel of Christ in the forgiveness of his sins, doubts, fears and guilt. And then came the questions - deep and thought-provoking - and the pleas for us to come back as soon as possible. Calvin Matson, who sat behind me with Debra and others, was deeply moved. Especially since I had made many references to the Bible and held it up several times. "Do they just think that it is some magic book," he wondered, "out of their grasp?" At that point he committed himself to seeing that each of those young men would get such a Book.
The problem was fitting a new meeting with just those boys into our schedule. There are 150 boys awaiting trial in Bosasa! But God led us wonderfully. Calvin bought Bibles in all of the necessary languages before he and Debra had to return home - before the rest of us. And then came the tricky part of figuring out which 14 boys had attended our first meeting, since we didn't take names, of course. It was decided for our second visit that we would first meet all of the boys in the courtyard on some bleachers and give a short presentation of why we were there. That went great! That rowdy crowd became quiet as church mice while I told them Who we represented and why we were there in the name of the living God and His Son Jesus. Then I invited them all to a full service in the auditorium. This was also to kind of separate out the more serious boys so the "Bible boys" would be sure to be present. I was warned not to mention the gift of Bibles yet then in case we would suddenly be committed to giving out 150 Bibles - which of course we did not have - and many of those who were not true believers would very likely use them for cigarette papers and other less honourable purposes.
Almost 50 boys crowded into the auditorium - singing beautifully - and fully attentive during the sermon. With Thomas Questad as Goliath we did a re-enactment of that Bible story and lesson using one enthusiastic young detainee as David. We showed how the "Goliaths" in our lives can be overcome by faith, prayer and the Word of God. The message appeared to answer deeply in their hearts.
Then I simply asked for the fourteen boys who were with us the first time to raise their hands, which they did and to their great joy received their Bibles in Zulu, Tswana, Sotho or English as appropriate. Each boy then put his name and date in the Bible they had received. This Bible will always be theirs now but they were not allowed to take it back to their ward since it would probably meet some ignominious end. They can, however, return to the auditorium to read it under supervision at any time they wish and then can take it with them after they leave for their court sentencing. We also had extra Bibles for several of the other boys.
We left Bosasa that day rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit to lead and to guide and to provide even the Word - as in the Bible itself - for young men who need that leading and guiding more than anything else in their lives. (Faces blurred for identity protection).
And so my two months of service in South Africa this time comes to an end. I mentioned at the beginning of this article that there have been many, many reasons to smile for joy and celebration at the goodness of God and His wonderful love towards people of all ages and life situations in the villages and townships of the Randfontein area and the Northwest Province not far from Johannesburg. As we have brought them the Living Word and the Love of God, so have they beautifully reciprocated by enriching our lives with the same love, peace and joy.
See you in Finland next week!!
Remember that orders for my new book "Listen, The Cry" can be placed through the Foreign Mission Shop or outside the USA/Canada directly to me. The possibility of being a representative for book distribution in your congregation is still open in some areas. Please let me know if you are interested. Also remember that it would be so nice to mover the book as much as possible before Christmas. I deeply appreciate the interest so far!!
In God's love and peace!
Dennis
