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Hello From The Hornes
July 31, 2004
OUT OF AFRICA BUT NOT FOR LONG! Even as we write, we are packing to
leave for Africa in a few days' time. Once again, we "have finished the course,
kept the faith, and the time of our departure is at hand". The last item on our
American calendar this trip is for Al to speak to the Kerrville Congregation at
two services this coming Lord's Day. That very day is also the 95th birthday of
Donna's mother. We teased her that we have "officially" moved her birthday this
year to the day before so we can give her party on Saturday afternoon. We're
excited about her birthday cake because we have just discovered the art of
"edible image" which means that her cake this year will feature a picture of her
from yesteryear. Guess we will have to come up with a new adage -- "You
can have your picture on your cake and eat it, too".
HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE! While in America this time, Al covered
thousands of miles representing the Bible College in South Africa. Except for
two flights, the rest of his travels were by road. Places where he spoke were as
follows: Bear Valley Church of Christ and the School of Preaching in Denver,
Colorado; Oklahoma's Owasso, Hennessey, South Yukon, and Durant; and the
following Texas towns: Saginaw and Smithfield in the Fort Worth area, Houston's
Memorial, Baytown's Lakewood, Borger in the Panhandle; Kerrville, and Ingram. He
had to fly to Kentucky to speak to the congregations at Horse Cave and at
Center. Al also made a road trip to Abilene, Texas, accompanied and assisted by
Kerrville brother, Tom Baird, who followed in his own van. At ACU, they filled
both vans with thirty used Pentium III computers obtained for SABC and drove
them back to Kerrville where Al will pack them for overseas shipment. (If
you, the reader, would kindly assist SABC in financing these computers, please
send a check to Memorial church of Christ for $150.00 per computer. One donor
already gave $300 for two, but 28 more need to be paid for. Please help!)
From Kerrville, they are to be transported to Houston to await space in the
ocean-going container. Packing 65 boxes of donated religious books has also
occupied much of Al's time this American visit. One full van load of 43 boxes
has already been delivered to the Katy Warehouse; whereas, another van load
still has to be taken. Special thanks to all who have donated these books to
SABC this time including brother Jim York, minister, of Sunray, Texas, and the
late Robert Bankes of Brentwood, Fort Worth. More are needed. Please contact
Carolyn Belin at Memorial in Houston for information about any donation of
theological books at (731) 464-0271.
TERRORISTS OBTAIN SOUTH AFRICAN PASSPORTS: Al-Qaeda militants and other
terrorists traveling through Europe are using South African passports.
Authorities believe they obtained them from crime syndicates operating inside
the government agency that issues the documents. Apparently, the sale of these
passports for as little as $77 has operated for years. The fact that these were
genuine South African passports and not forgeries is extremely troubling
This illicit acquisition of passports, which allows travel through many African
countries and the UK without visas, sent shock waves through South African after
one top police official said "boxes and boxes" of the documents were discovered
in London. The Department of Home Affairs is moving aggressively to counter the
threat, dedicating more senior officials to fight corruption and introducing
identity cards and passports containing microchips with the owner's
fingerprints. It's a big job considering South Africa's notoriously porous
borders which have made the place so easy for people to slip in and out. Scary!
Even inadvertently, South Africa can ill afford to be a sanctuary for
terrorists. We pray the loopholes will soon be blocked.
UP AND RUNNING! It took him two tries, but this month a South African named
Philip Rabinowitz made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. This makes
him the fastest 100-year-old to run 100 meters. The previous record was 36.1
seconds but Philip made his run in 30.86 seconds. The week before, he also broke
the record, clocking 28.7 seconds at the Mandela Park Athletics Stadium in
Khayelistsha outside Cape Town. But a power outage stopped the official
electronic clock so that the time was not recorded or recognized. But the man
known as "Rabinoblitz" and "Flying Phil" wasn't deterred and turned up for a
second try. Rabinowitz, who turned 100 in February, already holds the record for
the world's oldest competitive walker. He practices daily by walking 3.7 miles
so I think we can sum it up by saying that time doesn't stand still for him! Now
if we can just interest South Africans, both young and old, in walking in the
footsteps of Jesus and in running the Christian race, we too will be award
winners!
EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE: At Smithfield, we met the most impressive
centenarian we've ever know. Vera is fairly sprightly for her age and very sharp
mentally. The others in the congregation all bragged on her because she
specializes at soul-winning. When interviewed, Vera said it takes place
one-on-one in her kitchen from lessons she made herself. Then she quoted her
favourite verse in the Bible, "Do not forsake me when I am old -- let me live to
tell your glory to the next generation" (paraphrased). We will never forget such
an inspirational sister in Christ because at 100-plus-years-old, she is doing
what we all need to be doing -- soul winning. At that same congregation, we also
discovered an ACC couple from the 50's who were missionaries for a number of
years in China. He, Melvin Harbison, can still speak Mandarin Chinese. It was
interesting to renew our acquaintance with them as we have always admired them.
When they came home permanently from China, for instance, they brought with them
their adopted child who was half Chinese. That child is now grown up with
children of his own which you must admit, is a unique way of doing mission work
and keeping the saved saved.
ON THE MOVE AGAIN: To quote Romans 10:14-15, "How then shall they call on
Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom
they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall
they preach unless they are sent"? To all of you who are having a part in
sending us back to Africa to bring the light of God's the Word on that Dark
Continent, thank you. Please pray for us in this turbulent time with its
uncertain tomorrows.
ONWARD AND UPWARD!
AL AND DONNA HORNE,
YOUR MISSIONARIES TO SOUTH AFRICA
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