We were up early to get to the office to have tea ready for the farming seminar.  Since there were only a few of us to do the work, we were really busy.  On Thursday there were about 50 people who came to the meetings and on Friday there were 40.  Over 60 had signed up.  A couple of the other mission ladies had prepared chicken a la king for the noon meal on Friday and Lorraine and I had made cole slaw.

The people who came seemed to really enjoy the meetings.  Craig Deal, who led the seminar, was from Zimbabwe and had lost his farm during the war.    In his testimony he told how he used to be very hard on the people who worked for him.  Even after he became a Christian, he said he was just a Christian ‘streaker’ —  having the helment of salvation on, but nothing else, none of the armor.  He told how the Lord brought him to the point of loving his brothers even if their skin was a different color and how he learned to be forgiving. 

He also taught how important it was to be on time with planting and to keep the weeds out when they are small tying these teaching into the christian life.  Some of the persons who are not Christians could not stay for all the sessions, but have asked him to come to their place and teach them and their friends.  What a great tool to reach these unsaved farmers.

Craig said that the shops in Zimbabwe were empty, but he was lucky because he could come into South Africa to shop.  Most of the people don’t have that priviledge. 

He said that the torture, maiming and killing that people had to endure during and after the recent elections was unbelievable.  The youth were recruited to inflict the torture and killings.  No one was allowed to help those that were hurt.  Journalists were killed if they tried to take picture or report what was going on.  As a result, the outside world had no means of knowing what was happening, and most are still unaware.

Ruth Crowie, Daphne and Ernest Bailey

Thursday night, Larry and I had dinner with Mrs. Crowie, who invited the Baileys.  It was so good to see them.  They look much the same.  Mr. Bailey has had a stroke and is not quite over the effects of that, but seems to be doing well.  It  is so nice to see old friends again.  Many have passed away, but many are left and it is a blessing to visit with them. We also enjoyed a favorite food called Samoosas.  They are a curry wrapped in a very thin dough and deep fried.  Yumm!

Work Team cutting groove in floor for wiring

Friday night we had supper at the transmitter site with a work group that came from South Africa. It was very interesting to watch them unpack and prepare for the weekend at the site.  TWR has a building across the river from the transmitter building that has several sleeping rooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen area as well as a big room for eating and meetings. There are beds there and the people just bring their sleeping bags. 

Busy Work Team

These people did a lot of different work at the site.  They pulled wires, dug trenches, fixed roofs, knocked down walls, and more.  It is nice to have work groups come and do things that need to be done, especially those that come organized and equipped with tools, supplies, and expertise.  They accomplished a  lot!

Esther Stavropoulos ready to go into wiring trench under floor