The Wedding Feast (~19.49) - Moriel Ministries

South Africa News
B
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Allen & Sue
E Z A L E E L
E W S L E T T E R
December 2009
FDear friends
Five thirty on a Saturday morning
saw the seven younger children and me
heading out the gate in the bakkie (van)
for Kwa Zulu Natal for our longed-for
visit (albeit a short one) to Salvador and
Dianne. We left Allen in the capable
care of Lizzie, Thoko, Rosie and Walter
to spend a quiet weekend at home
with Roxanne coming in to cook supper
for them. Four and a half hours later
found us at Vryheid after an uneventful
journey, including a long stretch littered
with potholes, and kilometers of traveling
behind four to five trucks at in
line ahead of us. Salvador and Dianne
met us in Vryheid and we followed
them out of town to the outlying
farmlands about forty minutes
away. We then turned down a sand
road (actually a mud road) and a little
way along arrived at their home.
It was such a joy to be with
them again, and the children were
very excited. Soon after our arrival
there came to have lunch with us a
couple I’d met at Elijah Ministries
and put into contact with Salvador
and Dianne. We then climbed into
the 4x4 and went to another family
who farm farther up, for fellowship
and supper. Before we left we were
introduced to Phumulani’s mom and
a family member and her baby who
live in the kraal together. Phumulani
was at work at the time and we saw
him later.
We were warmly welcomed when
we arrived at the farmhouse and not
long after, Dianne, Kim, Chanelle,
I and the children except Ruth and
Precious climbed the mountain on
their farm. It began to rain (it had been
heavily overcast all that time) but that
did not dampen our enthusiasm, and the
children climbed ahead. Benjamin, who
had gone ahead with the others, began
to cry and declared that they would never
see mom again, but Kim reassured
him that I was right behind and I would
find them. When we arrived at the top
it flattened considerably with a dam before
us. The view was magnificent and
declared the glory of the Lord. Johnny
fetched us at the top, taking another
route in his bakkie and we went slipping
and sliding back down to the farmhouse
to hot baths and dry clothes for the children,
kindly provided for by Kim.
At about eight thirty that evening
we negotiated our way back in poor visibility
and very muddy roads to give the
children their meds and sort out sleeping
arrangements. I slept with five of the
children in Salvador and Dianne’s hut
and they slept with the two older boys in
another hut graciously made available
by Gogo.
When we had arrived earlier on, we
all squeezed into the bathroom to have
a demonstration from Dianne regarding
the wonders of the porta-loo. We were
instructed that, once what needed to be
done was done, we were to press a lever
twice to rinse the bowl.
“Cool” exclaimed the children.
Needless to say, in their enthusiasm I
think the lever was operated numerous
times, and unexpectedly before leaving
for church the next morning the loo began
to leak. Salvador had to empty it in
the long drop nearby.
Church takes place at Celani’s (Phumulani’s
sister) home and we reach there
by car. Phumulani preached in English
and Salvador interpreted in Zulu. Later
in the day Salvador went out with Phumulani
for a Bible study, while Dianne
and I went exploring with the children.
We went down to the river, crossed it
(it’s not very wide at the moment), and
went up the other side. It is truly beautiful
out there with wide, very green open
spaces, and the clouds lying low over the
tops of the mountains. While I was there
two Scriptures which have encouraged
me in difficult times came to mind.
Psalm 118:5 (NASB): “From my
distress I called upon the Lord; the
Lord answered me and set me in a
large place.”
Psalm 121:1&2 (NASB): “I
will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From whence shall my help
come? My help comes from the
Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”
The simple act of physically looking
upward and outward at God’s creation
reminded me of the greatness
and faithfulness of our God. Bedtime
is a lot earlier because as much as
possible is done before dark and light
must be provided for by candles.
Phumulani came over for a devotional
that evening and by six thirty
the following morning we were on
our way home.
I was greatly encouraged to see
what the Lord is doing in and through
Salvador and Dianne’s lives, their
faithfulness to our Lord who has
called them to serve Him there at this
time, and also for the precious way
in which the Lord provides and cares
for them and their needs. For the things
that still need to be done we join with
them in looking to the Lord for provision.
We are also thankful to the Lord
regarding Clayton finding employment
after about five months of no work in
the UK. We would also like to thank
Bernard and Carmel from Bridge Lane
Fellowship, where Clayton fellowships,
for their generous hospitality in being a
home-away-from-home for him. Psalm
28 Moriel Quarterly • December 2009