For the past two days, I have been in Emmaus, South Africa with North Carolina Baptists on Mission ministering to Pastor Musa and his congregation. Pastor Musa has a heart for his Zulu community and bringing them to Christ. We worshipped with them Sunday and the belief that Baptists do not dance is not true in South Africa. The people have such a worshipful spirit and are so gracious. We sat among the congregation- a suggestion of one of them. At the end of service, the pastor instructed us to shake hands with everyone and we had to dance while doing it! Afterwards, his wife made an amazing meal of Zulu bread, chicken stew, and chocolacca, which is kind of like a salsa.
Monday and Tuesday, we held eye glass clinics and installed a fence around church yard for pastor so that the preschool he has will be recognized by government and he can possibly receive funding. We had almost 90 people in eye clinics and each clinic the Creation to Christ story was presented. The South African who mentors Pastor Musa commented on how people would drive or walk by to see the white people working alongside the black people. That is not a sight they usually see. And we were definitely a bright spot in the Zulu village! People will stop by the church just to see why we were there and why we would do what we did. One the second day several ladies came to eye clinic with a mud like substance on their faces. The interpreter told me they work outside and it was like a sunscreen.
The Zulu people were soft spoken. I would have to lean near to hear the interpreter when he spoke to me. Even when Pastor Musa spoke to us, not preaching, it was soft spoken.
We stayed at a beautiful camp where I had the opportunity to see African trees and plants. I even found an orchid growing along the riverbank!
On our first evening there, one of the camp directors was informing us they had snakes on property. But most were not poisonous, only spitting snakes so if you came across a snake that was bowed up to cover your eyes. Oh, but if it did get in your eye you could just wash it out. Well, nobody wants snake spit in their eye.
Wednesday on our way back to Village of Hope, we stopped to meet a wonderful lady named Pebble who has been ministering to the poor of Africa for many years. As she shared a small portion on her story, you could see her excitement in what God has done. She began ministering to the HIV-Aids people and also the poor. She provides food as well as started a sewing clinic. Currently, a nearby resort gives her old sheets and towels which the sewing ladies repurpose into usable sheets and towels. She is currently seeking a venue to sell the products to produce revenue for the ministry and the ladies sewing. Pebble also needs knee surgery and uses crutches to move around. Please remember Pastor Musa and Miss Pebble as they minister to the Africans of South Africa and share the gospel with them.
Rainbows and Otter Pelt 