The Big Five
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The Big Five
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Hello From The HornesSeptember 30, 2004WHAT A LECTURESHIP IT WAS! Two months ago, we were sorely tempted to stay on in America to continue with our fund-raising for SABC's new proposed library. But returning to Africa for these two months in order to prepare for and be present at SABC's 38th Annual Lectureship was well worth it. [In all these years, we have only missed one of our Lectureships and that was ten years ago when Al had his cancer surgery that September in Baltimore]. Several people commented on the final night of this year's Lectureship that it was "the best yet!" and we are compelled to agree. Both Donna and I spoke on this Lectureship but our overseas speakers were overwhelming in making this one such a benchmark. In fact, not only were there 8 baptisms during the week, but on the final evening when Houston's Memorial minister, Bill Watkins, spoke, ten precious souls recommitted their lives to Christ. It was a deeply moving spiritual experience. Brother Milton Wilson, minister from Sugarland, TX, also touched many hearts deeply with his outstanding preaching. He also conducted two pre-Lectureship seminars at the College. Family Minister from Lewisville, TX, brother Tony Hall sparked unparalleled youthful enthusiasm in the teens. Several other American guests (June & Ira Hill from Austin, TX; Debbie & Bill Elliott from Knoxville, TN; and Susan & Larry Carter of Tennessee, as well as Brother Curtis Hayes from Lewisville, TX) all made significant contributions to this most wonderful Lectureship. Though we were emotionally drained by week's end, we hated to see the event come to a close. If we only had the stamina to go on for more!! SNAKES ALIVE! The first "guest" to arrive was the creepy-crawly kind. It's now springtime in Africa and that time of the year when snakes come out of hibernation. Jerry Hogg was in his second-story SABC apartment one morning when he spotted a large snake making its way straight towards the building. The Africans who came running to help kill it said that the snake was a deadly Puff-Adder. They say more folks are killed by Puff-Adders than any other snake in Africa. Puff-Adders may seem slow and sluggish and yet when confronted, they strike quickly and agressively. When attacked, this snake raised its head and characteristically spread its "hood". It was, by the way, about six feet in length! Other "self appointed experts" reckon the snake was a Mozambiquan Spitting Cobra. They are extremely dangerous when disturbed and also raise their heads from the ground and expand their necks to form the intimidating "hood". Especially scary is the fact that they don't always raise themselves as they can also spit from beneath a log or rock, ejecting venom as far as 2-meters through two hollow fangs to accurately target the victim's eyes. During our association with SABC, we've personally seen only two such snakes on the campus, though overall 5 or 6 have been killed on the property. Unfortunately, we are prohibited from enrolling them in the College. And no wonder, because when they slither in, we pass out!! THE BIG FIVE: Since Al was previously committed to brother Milton's pre-Lectureship practical seminars, he was unable to accompany "The Big Five" (Bill, Beverley and Tiffany Watkins, three of our house guests, as well as Donna and her close friend at church, Margaret Tonkin, making up the five in all) to the Pilanesburg Game Park for one night and two days. He really missed out in both our own day tour and the specially organized "Night Drive" in an open hunter's vehicle. Chills went up our spine as we experienced "jungle" lions walking down the road toward us in the dark as they were involved in a Zebra hunt. We also saw almost every wild animal there was to see. And now, for interest sake, let us share with you some of the info gleaned from that landrover trip into the wilds. First a question: Which animal do you think is reponsible for more human fatalities than any other animal in Africa? Answer: The Hippopotamus which surprisingly, to be sooo heavy, can move at a speed of 30 km. per hour! The Elephant has an acute sense of hearing and smell but poor sight. He eats about 300 kg. of food per day (and you thought you had a weight problem). [At one time on our tour, eighteen elephants walked in front of and behind our vehicle at the same time! Talk about exciting!] The Cape Buffalo is normally docile but old bulls have been known to kill lion. Wounded buffaloes are deadly to humans! The Giraffe weighs up to 2000 kg. It has the same number of vertebrae -- seven -- as humans do. It also has "a special system of valves in the neck to prevent excessive blood pressure to his head" when he stoops to drink. The Kudu is extremely agile and can jump a 2m fence from a standing position. The Zebra is unique because no two striped zebras have the same pattern. [Obviously, that's so they can tell one another apart when they look at their photos!] The White Rhinoceros, as a calf, will follow his mother but after a few weeks, it will run ahead. So there is, in the Tswana language, a saying, "Tshukudu kwa gobe e isiwa ke ngwana" which means, "Children always lead their parents into trouble". The Lion is at the top of the list of predators. The Cheetah and Wild Dogs suffer the most from him and they survive only by avoiding him. So while the lion sleeps in the daytime, they keep changing their habitats. From 6 months old, the male lion begins growing a thick mane to protect him from bites and blows. Adult males often eat first, followed by the females and cubs. When food is scarce, cubs are unable to compete with adult lions, and often starve to death so there is a 80% mortality rate. The Hyaenas--there is trouble in the family because the Spotted Hyaena will steal the Brown Hyaena's prey, harass him, and even kill him! The Leopard: When trapped or wounded, he is possibly the most dangerous predator, using his strength, teeth and claws with deadly effect. He is a very secretive, nocturnal animal and is considered a sacred animal to some tribal authorities because only Kgosi, the chief, may wear the leopard skin. The Cheetah is the fastest land-mammal on earth with an estimated top speed of 100Km per hour. Oh, we had a wonderful time at the game park, experiencing God's magnificent animal kingdom at close range. We came home awed by his creative power and ingenuity. CLOSE TO HOME: There was a massive drug bust this month less than half a mile from our house. On that Friday, the North East Rand Dog Unit received information about nefarious activities at a house on a street adjacent to ours. Inspectors raided the house and couldn't believe their eyes. They found heroine, cocaine, Ecstasy tablets and Mandrax with incredible street value. The police also confiscated stolen property like cell phones, etc. And here is the kicker -- the cops arrested three Nigerians at that house. It has been reported for years that refugees and foreigners, the majority being from Nigeria, are responsible for most of the crimes committed in South Africa and here is some solid proof of that contention. In the opposite direction from our house, two miles or so away, one of our church members had parked her car on the street overnight. The next morning, she discovered that all four of her wheels and tires were missing. The thieves were certainly boldly ingenious, too. They'd gouged bricks out of the driveway brickwork to hold up the vehicle as they moved their jack from wheel to wheel. Did you ever? Meanwhile, under the heading of "Be Safe, Not Sorry", a newly-designed reinforced steel door is being advertised. Boasting "No more forced entries", with its frame and multi-locking system, it claims to be South Africa's strongest door. In fact, it has 14 locking points with just one key! It features a stainless steel threshold and four layers of steel comprising the door itself. It has front and back steel surfaces with two other layers of Frothfill and Reinforced Steel Mesh within. Let's hope potential thieves are thwarted by finding it both theft proof and impenetrable! ALL IN A DAY'S WORK: Believing that evangelism is our most important task, at the beginning of this year we prayed that the Lord would give us some souls and that he has done. Doubling up on home Bible Studies on Tuesday evenings this month, two baptisms have resulted -- that of Callie Rooyen and La Rochelle.Murray. It was commendable that they'd been brought to church for several years now by their respective girl-friend and boy-friend. And now both young couples are members of the Lord's church. Al also taught an African man, Richard Sambo, whose mobility is impeded by crutches. He was permanently injured in a car accident so we always drive by and pick him up for services. Our Bible study with Les Edkins is continuing but is making slow progress. This month we also spent much time in hospital visitation which is time-consuming in the metropolitan area since hospitals are in different towns and far apart. A special event this month occurred when we took a small group of singers to Benoni's Hospice to encourage them with appropriate hymns. In thanking us later, the hospice chaplain wondered aloud why anyone would want to use musical instruments in worship "when a capella singing is so very beautiful!". Of course, most of our attention this month was on Lectureship preparation which is both time consuming and tiring. It involves our whole team working non-stop. Every day lectures were featured--from the 8:00 AM--"The Early Bird Lecture", as they call it, right through till 2:00 PM and resuming again each evening from 7:00 - 9:00. All that was tremendously uplifting and inspirational but also very tiring. Plus the fact that nights in Benoni, South Africa, are very short. One just has to "sleep quick!" Just ask our guests -- they know. SIGNING OFF: We have a first-year student from Tanzania, which is where we did our first five years of African mission work, so we often "practice" our once-fluent Swahili on him. That is why this month we are able to end this report with a very big "Tunakushukuru" (Swahili for "We are thanking you very much") for all the help and support and prayers given on behalf of our work here in Africa. We love and appreciate you all. WITH LOVE FROM A DARK CONTINENT LONGING FOR THE LIGHT, |
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