HELLO FROM THE HORNES:                                         July 31, 2008

RED, HOT & BLUE!  Warm-hearted June had already shown us sizzling summertime temperatures when her sister, July,
came along and joined in -- just in time for July 4th celebrations. We were blessed to be able to make the second of two trips up to Fort Worth this year so far to see our children, Lisa and Steve, and their families. In fact, each time we could only manage 3 days away from our local congregational duties, but "half a visit is better than no visit at all," right?

HEAD FOR THE HILL COUNTRY:  A New York Times article has named The Texas Hill Country the Number One summer
destination in the United States. To quote, "The Texas Hill Country, west of Austin and north of San Antonio, might be the next best
thing to crossing the Atlantic." It added (and this is the area where Kerrville is located), "The region is lush, colorful and, unlike much of the pancake-flat state of Texas, dotted with beautiful green hills that are evocative of Tuscany or the south of Paris." With sky-rocketing gasoline prices and the average family not able to afford long summer vacations, the Hill Country could see a sharp increase of visitors this summer. Meanwhile, Hill Country folks are proud of the fact that they were selected the number one travel destination on the New York Times list which included New Hampshire (#2); Las Vegas (#3); and  Myrtle Beach, SC (#4).

SOUTH AFRICA'S DOUBLE-LEG AMPUTEE:  When Oscar Pistorius had to have his lower legs amputated at the age of one year old, few people would have banked on his challenging world class sprinters when he grew up. At 20-years-old, when Oscar began to best the 400m qualifying time for the Olympics, experts put out the word that since Oscar's times were so good, his bladelike prosthetics must be giving him an unfair advantage. A study was initiated that found that more energy is returned to Oscar's upper legs from his blades than from ankles and calf muscles and that he uses less oxygen. When Oscar decided to run at the Olympic Games in Beijing, the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) ruled that he couldn't compete against able-bodied athletes. Many disagreed. "We mustn't lose sight of what makes an athlete great," they argued, "It's too easy to credit Oscar's success to technology. Through birth or circumstance, some are given certain gifts, but it's what one does with those gifts, the hours devoted to training, the desire to be the best, that is at the true heart of a champion." Of course, Oscar himself, now 21, appealed.. He tried, but without success,  to turn the perception upside down that living with prosthetic legs is a huge impediment. Nothing changes the fact, however, that not only is South Africa's Oscar Pistorius a world-class sprinter but he is also a world-class hero.

MANDELA AT 90: Speaking of world-famous heroes, South Africa's former president and internationally acclaimed Nelson Mandela celebrated his 90th birthday on July 18th. The anti-apartheid icon spent that day with his family at his home in Qunu in south-eastern South Africa and the whole village turned out. Elders in traditional dress came to pay their respects and troupes of young women sang and danced in his honor. In his first interview with journalists in years, Mandela, who has become an international symbol of peace, lamented about the demoralizing poverty still suffered by so many of his countrymen. His message was that the rich must do more to share the wealth. Mandela expressed regret that he had taken so little time to be with his family over the many years he spent fighting apartheid and then leading South Africa as its first black president. His third wife, Graca Machel,whom he married at the age of 80, was also interviewed. She said that Mandela was a very lonely man after his divorce from firebrand Winnie
Madikizela-Mandela in 1996.  Graca modestly stated that she was able over their ten years of marriage to help him reconnect with his family. [Mandela was  incarcerated in Robben Island Prison for twenty-seven years for his leading the struggle against apartheid. Released in 1990, he took part in negotiations that ended decades of a white-ruled South Africa. In 1994, the first democratic elections that included African (black) people were held and he was elected president].

NOT A PRETTY PICTURE:  And we think gasoline and groceries are expensive here in the United States! Super-inflation is raging so fiercely in South Africa's neighboring country of Zimbabwe that it's threatening to wipe out their supply of local currency. Every few days, prices there double so that the official inflation rate is now running at more than 2 million percent! This means that their central bank has had to print even larger denominations of currency. The biggest banknote this month was 50 billion Zimbabwean dollars (worth about 70 U.S. cents) which forces Zimbabweans to carry literally a basketful of bills to buy a loaf of bread! The corrupt government has taken steps to deal with their currency crisis by knocking 10 zeroes off their inflated currency! New banknotes are being issued and on the first of next month. Ten billion Zimdollars will become one zimdollar. Meanwhile, the German company that was providing Zimbabwe with the paper for its banknotes has canceled its contract which poses yet another problem for Zimbabwe.

THE CHURCH MARCHES ON!  In a world where there is so much uncertainty about the future, it's heartening to note that the church of our Lord continues on. Both Kerrville's Riverside congregation and the Benoni church in South Africa march on! Riverside has grown to an average attendance of 155 on Sunday mornings while Benoni averages around 275 in morning worship. Last month, Benoni reported two baptisms and this month of July, two additional young people in the Jenkins family were baptized. On July 13th, there was an area-wide meeting at Thembisa, a township located thirty minutes northwest of Benoni. It was very well attended with sixteen different area-wide congregations represented in that great assembly. Eddie Nkosi, SABC dean of students at SABC was one of their speakers. He states, "These churches rely so much on us at the Bible College in terms of their spiritual growth and survival."  Then there is the newly-established congregation at Cullinan near Pretoria and Johannesburg which has invited our SABC students back at the end of August for another door-knocking campaign. Reports of successful outreach come in from various regions in South Africa where students labor for the Lord. 

DON'T DROP US! Have you heard about the construction worker who fell 110 feet? He'd stood on a tower to reach some pipes but first he unhooked his safety belt. The wind shifted and he plummeted down 110 feet! Miraculously, he fell face down in a puddle. When the paramedics arrived and loaded him onto a stretcher, he said three words. Well, what would you have said? He said, "Don't drop me!" That is what we are requesting as well but in a different context. Southern Africa Bible College still needs funding and we are appealing to those of you who have so faithfully supported it over the years: "Please -- don't drop us." We are aware that many of our American brethren are experiencing tough times financially, but we need your support to keep our doors open.  Please  help us with your prayers and contributions to train evangelists who will go where you and I cannot go to reach the lost in Africa.  Please make out your contribution check to Memorial Church of Christ, (900 Echo Lane, Houston, Texas. 77024) and please earmark it for Southern Africa Bible College. Though the Lord sees and blesses abundantly, we, too, appreciate your kindness and laud your generosity.

ONWARD AND UPWARD!
AL & DONNA HORNE

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