ZULULAND AND CYCLONE IRENE – MARCH 2012

Posted on: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012 11:58 AM

Back-to-back short-term Mission trips to Jozini/Shogela and Mbuswana/Manzibomvu in Northern Zululand took place during March 2012.

Five days at Jozini focusing on evangelism and church planting, two days break at Jozini Lake for relaxation, maintenance, cleaning, and recreation by those who were staying on for the second leg; and then on to Manzibomvu for six days, focusing on “church health/discipleship”.

This new model is an attempt to reduce mission costs, by staying on in a region. Rising fuel prices have made transportation the highest expense in mission. This way, we almost get two trips for the travel cost of one.

JOZINI/SHOGELA

God has enabled us to plant a church in each of these communities. Jozini is a small town inhabited by about 20,000 people, mainly Zulu; while Shugela is a rural community 17 miles from Jozini. It is situated along the Pongola River, which is continually fed from the Jozini Lake. Along this course of the river the South African government has introduced sugar cane farming in the hope that this empowerment program will enable the local community to reach self-sustainability in years to come.

The team – made up of members from Florida, Mooiriver, Scottsville and Cambridge Baptist Churches – chose to set up their bush camp on the church grounds at the Shugela Baptist Church. This community does not enjoy modern amenities. We had to generate our own electricity and haul water in drums from the closest communal faucet, about a mile away. A newly built pit latrine and cold showers from portable shower bags served us well. Two-man tents for team accommodation provided us with some creature comforts.

The bush kitchen produced an excellent menu and most tasty meals. Everyone was in high spirits and anticipating great blessings form God. Ministry was rich and rewarding. Thank you, Jesus. That’s why we are here! Cultural interaction was meaningful and joyful, especially when each other’s idiosyncrasies were uncovered.

Each day before breakfast we visited a school, shared testimonies, preached the Gospel and then distributed Gospel’s of John to the students. The high school opened its door to future visits and asked about the possibility of youth mission teams spending a week in ministry to all the students. They also asked us to help them set up a “Student Christian Organisation”. PG.

Breakfast at 09:00 and then time in the Word for our own edification. I had the joy of expounding the first four chapters of Mark’s Gospel, under the general heading of, “THE JESUS WE WANT TO KNOW”. Once again, the Life, Work and Ministry of Jesus both inspired us to live like Him and raised the level of commitment in our efforts to grow the Eternal Kingdom of God. After prayer we felt ready to face the challenge of taking the Gospel to this relatively un-reached people’s group.

By now the thermometer was peaking at 32 degrees centigrade – it was hot, very hot, and humid. But each home we visited during the next hours of door-to-door evangelism, brought life-transforming experiences of the blessedness, which is ours in telling others about Jesus. Most of the people we met were unbelievers, the majority belonging to African Animistic/Syncretistic Religions.

They were friendly [many never having had a visit from Christians], open to the Gospel and very appreciative of our interest in their lives. Some of the homes were very poor and needy. These we blessed with gifts of food, clothing and literature.

Soon it was time to return to our base camp. There we washed, ate lunch and began preparation for the children’s evangelism which would commence at about 15:00. Each day the numbers grew and eventually there were about 120 children attending. Thank you, Jesus.

Team members not involved in children’s ministry, busied themselves in construction projects on the new church building, installation of electric lights throughout the facility, replacement of rudimentary curtain strings with rails and new curtains – these gave the church a new look. Others helped in the kitchen while those up to the task went off to collect eleven drums of water.

Once these ministries/tasks were completed there was just enough time for the team members to catch a cold shower [most welcome it the heat] and prepare for the evening evangelistic service which was due to stare at 6.30pm. The attendance was good and improved each night. Everyone seemed to be soaking up the truth of the Gospel. 9pm came too quickly. Thank you, Jesus, for hungry searching souls.

The congregation is on its way home; in the dark; but that’s Africa. Now it was time for us to enjoy our evening dinner. Meat and vegetables and salad followed by desert and tea/coffee and sufficient time to reflect on and testify about the blessings of the day. There was no “dead air”. It was hard to get a chance to add your little bit. In it all Jesus was getting the Glory

“FOR THE GREAT THINGS HE HAD DONE – BOTH IN THE LIVES OF THE TEAM MEMBERS AND THROUGH THEM IN THE LIVES OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE”. PG.

This was generally our daily program; a few changes made here and there to accommodate special cases of poverty and need in the community.

AND THEN THE CELL PHONES BEGAN RINGING… SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING.

We were all consumed with the immediate and did not know too much about what was going on in Africa and beyond. But, family of team members had been watching the news and weather reports and simultaneously began informing us of Cyclone Irene, which was over the Madagascar Channel and heading in our direction at a speed of 24 miles per hour. Advice from the outside world ranged from caution, to “pack up and run for home, as quickly as you can”.

After discussion with the team, in which I was unable to answer most of their questions related to how Irene would affect us and what the outcome of her “mischief” might be; I’m delighted to say everyone decided to stay and complete the ministry assigned us, WITH THE GREAT ASSURANCE THAT OUR SOVREIGN GOD WHO HAD CALLED US TO BE IN THIS SIUATION WOULD TAKE GOOD CARE OF US.

AND, EVENTUALLY IT CAME, SOMEWHAT SUDDENLY, FROM THE SOUTH EAST. First a change in the wind direction, then an intensification of the wind, to gusts reaching gale force. The horizon started to boast a huge bank of clouds and the sky grew dark, there was an ominous threat showing in the elements which brought a measure of nervous anticipation to most of us.

By now we had dropped our tents and moved into the church building for protection. This had its own side effects – we were now thrown together with no place to hide. Moderate claustrophobia, I guess you could call it, and these situations bring changes in team dynamics.

The weather was deteriorating by the minute now, stronger gusts of wind with driving rain began to set in and we soon sensed that it was there to stay. There simply was no indication that this storm was going to let up and it didn’t, not for 23 hours. Torrential driving rain, during which about 8-10 inches of water was dumped across the Maketini Flats. Water, water everywhere, roads turned into rivers, vales now ponds and dams.

However, we were dry and safe and very thankful. THE MILLION DOLLAR SILENT QUESTION ON EVERONE’S HEART WAS “WHAT NOW?”

The answer came quickly at about 15:00, as children started to arrive for the children’s program, which by now had been moved into the church. While not as many as the day before, nevertheless more than sufficient children for a wonderful time of fellowship and inspiration in the word. We were somewhat rebuked by our sinful “lack of faith”.

AND the same response at 18:30 when the church began to fill with those coming for the evening service. Sopping wet, feet covered in red clay, but the church like the day before was comfortably full. Everyone in very high spirits, obviously anticipating rich blessings from the Lord. As a team we were speechless in the face of this hunger for worship and preaching of the Word of God. But the GUT-WRENCH, that finished us off was when a senior crippled lady came through the doorway in a wheelchair assisted by some young men, who had pushed/pulled her from her home; two miles away. In addition to her disabilities she appeared to be struggling with other health issues. Her confession, when asked about her presence on a night like this: “I’m a Christian in need of worship and a touch from God. I’ve come in the hope that the elders present will pray for me tonight.”

Thank you, JESUS, for this display of affection for you and your Sanctuary and all that it represents in her life of commitment to Christ and His cause. Humbled by these and other lessons learned from the inside of the cyclone, team members confessed how fickle our faith can be, and DECLARED WITH JOY that in the contest of MISSION VERSES CYCLONE IRENE – MISSION HAD WON; “HANDS DOWN” BY GOD’S GRACE AND FOR HIS GLORY. PG.

Sunday, and it was still raining, albeit not as severe as earlier. We were up early, to pack vehicles and prepare of worship. The team was split into smaller groups so that we could minister at Shugela and Jozini Baptist Churches. The rain suddenly started to change to drizzle. Thank you, Jesus. This will certainly help in getting the vehicles out of the bush on tracks now turned into streams to the gravel road, which leads back to Jozini. It was a challenge, but all the vehicles eventually made it. PG.

After blessed church services the team members headed for home, while four of us spent two days at lake Jozini in preparation for the second leg of the mission trip to the Mbuswana region near Sodwana Bay.

MBUSWANA/MANZIBOMVU

Here we have two large congregations, pastured by bio-vocational pastors. Manzibomvu has been in existence for about 20 years and is regarded as the mother church for the region, while Mbuswana is six years old. Both sustain themselves and are fulfilling a very effective ministry role in their respective regions. We are here to help train and develop these congregations in the crucial areas of discipleship, leadership training and individual spiritual growth.

However, this greater area of Northern KwaZulu-Natal is noted for its shortage of employment, which has over the years forced its population into escalating poverty. We are prepared with food parcels and clothing for the needy, whom we hope to engage through home visitation. In addition, we have brought about 4,500 Zulu Gospels of John, which we intend distributing to learners in the local schools.

Our daily program follows the usual pattern. 07:30 is school visitation and ministry, followed by breakfast and devotions, which last until 10.30am. Then it’s into the community for home visits. The afternoon is taken up with children’s outreach. At 6.30pm the evening service focuses on Biblical Exposition, which is hoped, will strengthen the whole congregation into greater spiritual maturity.

It only takes one day in the field for all of us to feel the agony of the ambivalence that has overtaken our emotional state of mind. On the one hand we are “blown away” at the open warmth of people everywhere who are very hungry and eager to receive the Word of God, while on the other hand we are torn apart at the inescapable poverty which seems to have reached epidemic proportions; there are orphans in great numbers, seemingly everywhere.

It’s not too long before we run out of food parcels and clothing. God in His goodness provides more desperately needed food. But the need is huge – far beyond our ability to solve in the long term. We feel such failures. But, take some solace in the fact that we have come in Jesus’ name, and have given all that we had available. We have to live in the hope that our Great God of Providence will by His grace make a way for these very needy people. We covenant among ourselves to prayer and seek all means possible to be agents of change through the Eternal Gospel for the Glory of the Eternal Kingdom. Please pray with us!

Soon it’s Sunday once again, and we have to return home after the morning services, which are well attended and blessed by God.

Thousands of people have been reached through Home visits, school evangelism, Literature distribution, children’s outreach and worship services. Thank you, Jesus, for the privilege of been counted worthy to come on this mission trip.

After emotional goodbyes we finally leave for home with the hope of returning in the not too distant future.

In the meantime, pray with us for the following:

·       Spiritual growth and development of those worshipping in the churches

·       Salvation of many souls as a result of the recent evangelism

·       Ongoing resources to help those living in poverty

·       The above four churches as they plan to plant a Baptist Church at Emangusi.

THANK YOU:

·       To all who made it possible for us minister in these regions over the past few weeks

·       To team members for your ministry

·       To those who provided resources for the needy

·       To those who prayed for us

·       TO OUR MIGHTY GOD WHO MADE ALL THIS POSSIBLE…FOR WITHOUT HIM WE CAN DO NOTHING

Trevor Eayrs
March 2012