SOUTH ..

FRICaN mission
D. L Smaage Fred Crawford Forwarding Ag*t
I4-6 Ferguson St. 1279 Martha Washington Dri^io
Plumstead, Cape Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53213
South Africa
OUR TRIP OVER We boarded the big Convair 990 Jet at OH^-RE field
in Chicago after having said goodbye to Donna's folks Just the week
before and my folks at OHARE Just a few minutes ago. Cheryl and Kevin
could see Grandma and Grandpa waving as we looked through the little
windows of the big Jet. My only brother, Denis, had flown in from
California to see us before we- lift for ..frica and he had already left
from the seme airport to return to California. .Now we were leaving as
well and the strain on Men and Dad was very much. Kevin had almost
cancelled the ih OI0 flight out and this added to our anxiety as the
Doctor wasn't sure that Kevin should fly because of an oar infection
discovered Just hours before the flight. We didn't know ih at to do.
Our ship, the Queen Mary was to sail that afternoon. Tickets already
paid for, barrels already loaded on board, cabin reserved, etc...and
the only way we could possibly make it from Chicago to N.Y. in time to
board the ship was to flyi I called the trains to find out the only
one that would got us there in time had Just leftl Bus station sane
answer. So we prayed. Dad advised us to fly, and we flew and
Kevin was fine with no adverse effects from the flight as wo found
out from the shipboard doctor later.
We had 11 suitcases to cariy-so we arranged it so that every one,
including Cheryl and Kevin carried 3ome-tLing. We took a taxi from
Newark airport to the Queen Mary berth and there arranged to have every-
i^ing loaded on the ship and placed in our cabin which was a 6x6 box
just big enough to turn around Ini We went tourist clas si along with
1100 other passengers. There were 1,000 crew members on the QMJ
The QM is a huge ship and by the time you've walked around the prom
enade deck^once, you are ready for a restl The trip was relaxing, the
food^was differenti The scenery was tbe same. Water, water everywhere^
We didn't see any^ fish while on ^ but we saw some airplanes and some
other ships crossing the Atlantic. For a Christian, there was not a
great deal to do on either the QM or the S.A. Oranjo as most of the
entertainment was of the nightclub -variety. We could swim in the pool
in the ds^time, play ping pong and road. When you are on the back end
of the QM (also Oranje) everything vibrates and shakes. Like sitting
in a vibrating ahair. This is due to the giant propellers on the ship.
CHERBOURG, FRj.NCE.. .Our first stop was at this lovely little French
village wl-th its narrow streets and-crazy drivorsl We had a Ij. hour
stop and so w took advantage of it and for the first time in our lives
set foot on foreign soil. We quit soon became accustomed to the fact
that now we were the foreignersi We went into one of the shops where
no one could speak a word of English, not even the manager. This didn't
seem to bother them one blti But we couldn't speak any French and they
vjidn't want to take aiy merican money so we couldn't buy anything therc
Took several pictures and then had to return to ship.
GROSSING THE^CHANNEL ... .from Cherbourg, we crossed the famous English
channel at night, on our way to Southampton, England. We arrived very
sarly in the morning, had breakfast on the QJ-l and then, having said
goodbye to all our shipboard friends, went through customs and then
boarded the boat train bound for London. Guess who we met on the boat
"urain? You're right, all our shipboard friends. Everyone was going
to Londoni
LONDON... .impressed us as being an extromomlydirty city and extremely
uangerous city for pedestrians...which we werei ^ny one of these
London drivers could qualify to race in the 500 at Indianapolis! In
fact it looked as if everyone was practicing for some big race as they
arove through Londoni We soon discovered the London Subways called
'^Tubes'* and rode them everywhere; We sure saw the bottom of Londoni
We also saw Buckingham Palace, changing of guard, the Horse guard,
ower of London, Crown Jewels, Westminster Abbey and other places.
At the Tower of London (Tower Hin actually) I got into a debate with
a Catholic lay leader concerning the Scriptures and the Papacy. This
was an open-air meeting where anyone that wanted to could climb up on
his soap box and 3y whatever he wanted to say. Since it was such an
Informal affair I challenged the speakers' conclusions and soon the
crowd was quite interested in our particular debate. (There were
other speakers also speaking on different subjects on different soap-
ooxes at the same time.) Just then Kevin cancelled out dl my brilliant
logic..."Dad, I havtu go to the BATHROOM!" That ended the debatei
Three days in London made us anxious to be on the boat bound for Cape-
tovm and so w were ready to take the boat train back to Southampton to
board the S.A. Oranje. Almost forgot...we saw Prime minister HErold
Jilson cb #10 D-vrnln/: St. si org with his guest U, THANTi We were no
more- then 20 f-j.^t av:.-.y and I get several pictiLros of the two, Jackie
Kennedy vjas also in London when we were there but we didn't see her
Tae Queen was gone so I didn't talk t6 her about the vrorlds pro-
Moms ei
DOVJIT TO THE CiiNixRY first and only stop on way to Gape-
town was at Lgs Paimas in the Canary Islands. We took a taxi tour of
this^city where Christopher Columbus stopped on 3 of his i). voyages to
/rniorica. This is a Spanish speaking country and you guessed it...our
cab driver could not speak one word of Engllshl....yet he was our guide
to all the scenic and historic spots of interest in this ancient cityi
We soon^realized it was either his language or nonei Donna had 2 years
of Spanish in High Sdiool and was straight ii student. I had 3 years
of Spanish in High School and was a straight... .well let.*s not go into
thati I passed anyway. So we fumbled along and amazed ourselves at
how much came back after so many years out of H.S, By the end of the
22 hoiar tour we were actually carrying on a two way conversation with
our cab driver and even Kevin had learned to say "se senor". This re
ally amused our driver and he complimented us on our excellent
Spanish. I think ho was being a little bit more than polite thoughl
ACROSS TH-tij equator . * .and the same diet of British food now for more
than 3 weeks was beginning to take its toll. We longed for some good
old fashioned yjnerican Hamburgers or hot dogs. British food is quite
tasteless- as they use no seasoning, salt etc. We sure dumped the salt
on whatever they brought usi By the way, if you ever travel to England
on a British ship DON'T ..SK PGR ICE TEAi They may bring it to you as
they^dld to us....complete with milk in it, very cold, but no ice, and
10 times^stronger than you can possible imaginei They can't understand
why Americans like Iced tea and after tasting THEIR ice tea I see why
they are confuafdl They also do not use cream in their .coffee. They
make it. 3 times as strorg as it should be made and then they put one
fourth cup of coffee and three fourth cup hot milk in the cupi Ughl
No wonder they don't like coffee either. They can't londerstand why
Americans like coffee so much.
We had the usual equator crossing ceremonies. King Neptune and his
court- ate. some were thrown in the pool, Cheryl and Kevin were fright-
^ed by some of the hazing and cried through the whole ceremony for
the children. Saw some dolphins and flying fish on the way down. Some
saw a whale but we missed it. I swam in the swimming events both on the
Queem Mary and the Oranje and represented the b. S. A, I won two races
on the QM and one race on the Oranje (the British are lousy swimmera).
CAPETOWN AT LAST....18 days at sea and more than 22 days in total trip
time finally brought us within sifeht df the lights of Capetown at
5:00 m May 11, 1966. The last night on the ship we couldn't sleep
bRCfiuse of excitement, getting suitcasesready--etc^Ou-r-shi^-doeieed-
ol". V.nn /"M n 3 ^ .
it 7:00 /iM and there were Gordon and Estelle waving from the Docki An
hour and one half later we had clpared customs and were driving through
Capetown on our way to Nelson's and to service in the chaL lencinc field
of South Africa,
/J)DED TO THE LORD. ..Our first two weeks serving the church at Wynberg
in Capetown were blessed by two young people giving their lives to
Christ. Sebastian Hendricks, a-fine young man of twenty-eight, was
baptized at fee Wynberg Church our second Lord's Day here. The follow
ing Lord's Day, Rene Hendrick, a twenty year old University of Capt-
town student, was also baptized into Christ, She will be helping Donna
with Donna's class in ^ible School, Sebastian will be helping me both
^In our work at Wynberg and with our Native work. We ask that Christ
ians in the States be praying for these two fine young people as they
dedicate their lives to the Master's work.
jUR i^POLOGIES.. .for being so late with this newsletter! We have run
into technical difficulties and a mountain of work...It has always
been my conviction that if supporting churches don't hear from their
missionaries, they should consider dropping support('01 Waddy Rogers,
'^Ider at Worthington, has the right idea about this, bless his ofnery
neart!). So you all back home are going to hear plenty from me 'cause
we can't afford to have anyone drop their support of us now! We are
really counting on all of you to aipport us in this work and we are
o.oing our best to be worthy of your support. Not only must the folks
oack home hoar from their missionaries, but the missionary must estab
lish a good record on their behalf! We have a very good beginning
with two already won to the Lord. .. .PR^iY WITH US PGR Douglas Pierce,
Mr. Meyer, Mr. Dahl, Lennie, Joyce and Janet.....all adults that need
to make this decision for Christ!
SCREEESECHI ....Gordon's little VW skids around the corner as we stop
at Guguletu to pick up our interpreter Mdladlana. I had seen this
man's picture a hundred times in the states during slide presentations
concerning our work in S. A. Now I was meeting Him for the first time
in person! Mdladlana stuck out his hand and shook mine as he flashed
a wide smile in my direction! ZOOOOM, off like a rocket as Mdladlana
falls back in the seat and Gordon goes through the gears heading for
the mountains and the little town of Ashton on the other side! We are
late and Gordon is in a big hurry to get to i^shton for a Sunday morning
service.- Wo have 120 miles to go but it's over the mountains. Up, Up,
Jp we chug in the little W as Gordon downsnifts to make the grade....
then up to the top of a pass and down,, dow^n^ DOOOOOWW'wWN wo goj
around the tight curves tnat look out over 1,000 foot dropoffs I And
Gordon is always on the wrong side of the road I I am in driver's
seat (left side) but for some reason they put all the steering wheels
in these cars on the right side I I had one hand on the dash and the
other wrapped aroung, the back of my seat...I was really holding onl
Gordon just kept on talking about the mess our African church was in
at Ashton and what we need to do about it
Mdladlana just sat in the back seat and grinned as he and Gordon
talkedi I talked a little#..as we chugged up a grade....and held on
when we went downl I soon was praying as we zoomed down around the
mountain side....,"Oh Lord, help us to get'an airplane REAL SOOWi
AFRICAN HAMQNY VJe arrived, safe at last, and the thought of the
return trip over the mountains was forgotten as we met the members of
our Bantu church at Ashton. They had been waiting for us and now one
of them was ringing.a bell to signal to others in the location that
the white missionaries had arrived. They all shake hands when you
meet them....EVERYONE....including the babies and children. The ser
vice is atarted, after introductions through our interpreter, as a
young Bantu girl begins singing. She sings a phrase and then congreg
ation responds in beautiful Xhosa harmonyi Surprise I Surprise I ALL
THE MEN ARE SINGING! Every man I and all the women and children tool
They sing until it's time to kneel and pray when all kneel and a
Bantu older prays in Xhosa. Scripture and the Lord's Supper follow
the prayer, then more singing. Now the elder is leading a song. He
sings snd congregation responds singing. I couldn't understand the
words but I was m.ovod by their beautiful harmony as they sang songs
of praise to the Saviour in their native tongue.
SWEDISH SERMON... .It struck me as we listened to Bro. Gordon Nelson
preach that this was quite unique. I'm Norwegian and Gordon is
Swedish and yet we were here together represonting the Christ to our
African brothers I Truly as in Acts 17i26, "and he made of one every
nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth...." Mdladlana
really worked harder than anyone as he had to interpret not only
Gordon's sermon but also what the brethren at Ashton said to us after
the sermon.
MINISTER TROUBIE ....After the service wo had a business meeting. This
is why the congregation at Ashton had asked us to come. They were
having trouble with their minister. He had boon ip pointed to bo tnoir
minister by the annual conference. Ashton was just one of tho churches
in his circuit and tho brothers there were not very happy about having
him as their minister because he had been taking the offerings and
other funds for himself. They docuirtenteQ their claims against him
by idieir treasurers books. Now they wanted the white missionaries to
do something about it! Bro. Nelson explained (thru our interpreter)
that they themselves must act and that they should not depend upon
the white missionaries to solve their problems for them. This was the
Bible way....every church was responsible for ditself and would have to
deal with its own problems... .and that if they did not went this
man as their minister they did not have to have him....that they could
select and call whoever they wanted to be their minister..They thought
this was too good to be true, nevertheless, agreed it was the Bible
way. Gordon assured them it was and that they themselves, being child-
red of God and led by the Holy Spirit, were capable of solving their
own problems if they took the scriptures as their guide. These natives
know their scriptures very well, can qhote long passages from memory,
but they have been depending too heavily upon the missionaries and thn
conference to make their decisions for them. We must make them see
that they are to depend upon tho scriptures to guide them in their
decisions. They had already decided they would like Mdladlana as their
minister if he cd uld include them in his circuit so they asked us if it
would be alright to call him as their minister. Again Gordon pointed
out to them that they didn't have to ask for the white missionaries'
approval.... that they could call anyone they wanted for their minister.
Mdladlana said he would try to come and preach to them and help them,
FAREVJELL TILL WHEN? We left A^shton hoping tnat we had brought them one
s'tep closer to the N.T. pattern. They wore reluctant to have us go,
even wanted us to stay and they would make sandwiches for us, but
Mdladlana, Gordon and I all had to be back in Capetown for evening
services at our respective churches. Vje will go back to Ashton to see
if they have been able to solve their problem but it will not be soon.
There are 2i|0 othei Bantu churches besides Ashton and each one is be
set by many problems. The greatest problem at present, is an untrained
and poorly educated native ministry with all its resultant problems.
1 won't forget the man who wept as Gordon preached, the Bantu mothers
with babies strapped to their backs, the heartfelt prayers and singing
of these precious brothers and sisters in Christ and their earnest wish
to live for Jesus Christ, their genuine Christian love for us all in
the midst of extrorely trying conditions for thorn. PRAY FOR THEM AND
FOR US A3 WE TRY TO HELPl
MISSIONARIES SCHEDULE iJJD PROBLEMS SINCE ARRIVING
Sund^--Services at VJynberg churchBible School morning and Eve,
services
Wedne sday--Svening ^ible study at Vjynberg
Tueaddy-Women's fellowship meeting every other week.
Thursday--nv0nlng s tudy in homesfllmstrip lessons
Saturday--Hope to start teaching classes concerning Eldership and the
N, T. church at our native locations
Problems; 1. communicating with the storekeepers,etc. in South Africa.
Things here don't have same names as things in states. Trying to buy
a common item can be a frustrating experience if you don't know the
right name for it I
2. Driving on left side of street thru Capetown traffici
3 No .telephone; takes months to get one installed,
Ij-. High prices on things such as cars, v;ash machines refrigerators
etc. We sold EVERYTHING when we left. Have to start from scratch
again
5. Having only ONE electric outlet in entire housei
6. Mountains;
? Money;
God bless you all is our prayer and God be praised for bringing all
of you together in your desire to help us in reaching the lost of
the world.
GNI 'NOIONIHiLHOM " OOSSV IVIHaiSIHIK
-M-E HVOHO IIHOHl-NON
lEv'^ GNI 'NOIONIHIHOr.
aivd srovicod HOHnno nviuihho iSHid:
SOUTH ATRIC/^ MISSION
D. L, Smaage Fred Crawford Forvrarding Ag*t
46 Ferguson St y 1279 Martha Vfashington Drive
Plumstead Cape j Milv/aukee, l/y"isconsin 53213
South Xifrioa
Yj"HA.T ' S THE ytfEjaJTHHiiyiilKE OVER THhIhii With the recent heat v;ave experienced
by all our friends back home in the good old United States, many have asked us in
their letters about our weather here in Sunny South Africal Well, if you all could
send a little of that extra heat over here we would really ^predate itl Brother
it s cold here down at the bottom of Africal We are right in the dead of winter here
now as seasons are exactly opposite of the States. Snow covers the upper portion of
the Hoiland-Hottentot mountains Just fifty miles from us here at Capetown. We have
very windy and rainy days and we shiwer every morning as v/e quickly (very quickly)
get dressedl There is no central heating in any of the homes here so everyone here
wears very warm clothing in winter. At night we Jump into bed quickly WITH OUR HOT
WATER BOTTLES', (We bought 4 of them soon after we arrived.) Cheryl and Kevin think
they are great and mom and dad do tooO The men wegr sweaters as vests under their
suit-coats. The women all wear leotards. The weather here in Capetown is also a8_
changeable as that in Indiana'. We had alternate sunshine, heavy downpour, bright
clear skies end solid overcast all rolled into yesterday as Donna ran in and out of
the house every half hour to hang out the wash and "rescue" it. She missed on the
last trip out and had to do the v/hole v/ash over.
HELP', i-i, ,7ILD l-JRIC7d3 i^lMjIi IS iiFTER ME'....,."liVhere is he?"' Therel Can't you see
him?i Look outj He's ohargingl Get a weapon, quick! Hurry he's attacking and
there are others tool Hit himl Quickl Vfhap, missed'. Whap, Whap, Whap'. Missed
againl Get the bombl Nov/ spray himl Psssstt, psssssst, l'think you got himl Boy
was that a close calll Well now maybe we can get some sleep'. Yea, those South
are really toughl
"ll 11 bet you never heard a wild onimal story about Africa like that beforel)
BBlPTIZED at KIMBERLEY REVIViJj.,... We have Just returned from the famous city of
K^berley kiown the world over for the "Big Hole" diamond mine. Kimberley is the
.-diamond capital of the world but the people that live there are far from what the
world would call rich. The wealth has gone to but a few individuals. The many who
live in Kimberley and work there are rather poor, li've held a one v/eek DVBS in the
morning. Revival at night at tlie Kimberley cburch where Bro, Bob Mills and his wife
Phyllis minister. They hav e 4 daughters vho also helped in the VBS. Vse had a very
pod week. The Lord blessed our effort and 3 were buried with the Lord in Chriatian
Baptpm, Bob Mills is presently the Superintendent of our African work also and
carries on a printing ministry in which he sends literature to many other African
countries outside of South Africa, He is doing a very fine ^ob in Kimberley. The
Mills took us around to see the sigh-fe there, including the "Big Hole" diamond mine
and muspm, largest man made hole on the face of the earth was originally a
prge hill*. They found diamond in the hill and kept digging until they had turned it
into a hole! Somewhere there should be a good illustration here about making a mole-
hole out of a mountain but I haven't found it yetl HTe couldn't resist the temptation
-f kicking at the rocks in the street etc., to look for diamonds. Evejiy once in a ,
v/hile someone finds a diamond lying the the streets or dirt of Kiiiberley', Vrfe were not
30 lucJiy ^d then thenkful to remember the message Jesus sent to John the Baptist when
John was in prison,,,.and the Poor have the Gospel preached unto them." (Matt 11*5,
-ind so it was at Kimberley that 3 of the poor of this Vtrorld had the Gospel preached
^ unto them smd they became rich in Christ by accepting Him as their personal Saviourl
ho can be richer than the man who has the gift of eternal life????? Praise God for
7hat He's donel Praise God for victories won','
7.HA?piD HE SAY? v\H/J DIP THE ELDER SAY? CQB ON TELL US TTK/J HE Si'JDl
,.,.^1 hope you are all following the situation among our iJ'rioan churches here in each
v/sXetter. Mdladlana is our interpreter when v/e go to the Bantu churches, Bro. Gordon
Lson and I sat on one of the wooden benches of the Worcester church as we listened
to the elder speaking in the Xhosa language explaining the great difficulty that the
prcester church was experiencing, I had Just finished preaching the sermon (in
English, of course, vAiich Mdladlana had interpreted into Xhosa, which was then inter
preted into Afrikaans) which was the shortest, longest sermon I ever preached'. All
three of us (myself and tv/o interpreters) v/ere worn out at the end of the sermonl
The church was, and is, dying'. The minister appointed to the church is the same
minister appointed to Ashton (see last newsletter). The Vvoroester church didn't know
what to do. There were Just a handful of men left of the once vigorous and strong
church. They had no one to teach them and nov/ services were not being attended and
the Lord's supper was and is not being observed. Neglect of God's Vvord was quite
evident! In short, Worcester's problems were almost identical to those of Ashton,
And the truth is that these problems are pretty widespread among almost all of our
Bantu churches in this area. They all need very, very much teahing. This is evident
from the wjy they lock upon the church, the ^ible and the mission... .To them, the
head of their church vhioh is called the "Church of Christ Mission" (not Just Church
of Christ or Chriatian ch'urch HUT "Church of Christ Mis si on") is the superintendent
of the mission and the executive oommitteo which makes the ministerial eppointments
at the annual conference. The executive coiiimittee is made up of 3 white missionaries
and a number of African ministers. The ministers then appointed by the oomraittee are
appointed to circuits of /African churches and they rule these circuits'. There is
bhen usually on'ly one elde-' in e'-ch '^hurch of a circuit. The one elder rules the
church! These elders are appoiiTtod not by tijo congregation but by the circuit min
ister.
Hii'der the elder will be one or two deacons and under the deacons, the congregation.
They consider themselves churches in good standing so long as they abide by the dec
isions of the executive committee of the annual conference. These decisions are re
ferred to as "The haw of the Churchli:" ^t is a continuous battle to convince them
that they should go to the iivord of God for their authority rather than the annual
conference. Our missionaries are trying to bring this cliange in their -thinking about.
In the past, missionaries, few in number', have not been able to ^_,ive enough time to
good sound scriptural teaching and-the result is that many unscriptural practices are
widespread among our Bantu congregations here, vve are, at present, devoting much
time to the preparation and distribution of material to correct these unscriptural
practices. Bob Mills at Kimberley is working on such material as we also are in
Capetown, Pj'e plan -bo begin week-end teaching clinics right at the African churches
to train an eldership -bo do the work. The airplane vdll aid greatly in helping us
to hold additional clinics in distant churches. Y/e really need your prayers as we
teach the ./ifrican brethren'. Some of the present iifrican circuit ministers will not
v/elcom the planned teaching as it will mean that they vdll no longer be able to rule
their churches as they please'. As could be expected, the African elders are all for
it as it vdll give them more authorityl So we have the additional task of teaching
the elders to not use such authority to promote self but rather to oversee the flock
and be responsible to the- Church, It is going to be difficult, but we believe tl
Bible v/ay is the best way and that God will bless our efforts to te^ch these brethren,
to ^overn themselves according to God's YVord.
"UNDIFUNA UKITFUNDA ISIXHOSA" which means "I VvAMT TO lEjJgJ XHOSA" Two days after
our trip to n'orcester and my first sermon to the i'J'ricQn Brethren through two inter
preters (see article above) I was sitting in the Dean of Admissions office at Capetown
diversity saying the words above (in English). V;elTj"''Khycould
ntrBT)dssTDiy be more difficult than speaking through -bvra interpretersl "Sorry", the
Decn said, "The Xhosa course is half over ai'jd we don't accept students at mid-year
for this co'jrse, but you can talk to the head of the iifrican languages department if
you vdsh. He miuy make an exception." So I headed over to see Professor Tvestphal,
head of African languages department. After explaining to the professor my desire to
learn Xhosa, he startled me by saying, "Yve've been looking for someone like you', We
are in the process of developing a new course in the Xhosa language that will teach
students to speak Xhosa in 6 months time and we need someone who doesn't know anything
(he must have noticed ray stunned "intelligent" expression) about Xhosa to take this
course before v/e ihclud it in the university's curriculuml" When God opens doors
He really opens them'. The professor would like to know if I would be interested in
being the "Test" student (Guineau pig) for the new Xhosa course'. YvOULD I? OH BOY*.
YSS'. ivKERE DO 1 SIOI?' .,1'M REiiDY FOR THE FIRST LESSON', If I can learn this language
it vfill cut our time in half that we spend at the African churches. Vv'e can eliminate
--a% -^1 oaat--onr-Tn terp"ret^-and--T~wlTr"'b"e- -atrTe^to ' spe-ak"\1i rectty" Wth^'ATr rcahs" In the^
quite lengthy business meetings that follow every service we attend.
SG-^ details of the special course ...I, start the Xhosa cour 27.. I am the
^ student I I have^J: professorsl. Their purpose is to teach me to- actually speak
[Xhosa in 6 months timei Xhosa is a difficult language with "click" sounds. The Xhosa
language is the most widely spoken language of all native languages in South Africa.
I am to take the course which will be, g.iven by means of printed lessons, tape record
ings ajid then give my suggestions to the professors concerning the lessors. Revised
lessons -will than form the final course which will become part of the University of
Capetown's curriculum, in African languages department. Please pray for someone who
^ doesn't know anything (me) about Xhosa. It will mean much to our African brethren and
\ to the work here if we can speak to the Bantu in their o-wn language. Since I will be
\a guest of the Languages Department, it -will be tuition free'. Praise the Lord for
N|;his v/ondsrful opportunityi
F^C--iRPTS from letters FRGvI the STifES.ii.. ,, .Yje receive the-most interesting mail
like these comirents from VBS youngsters at the Christian Church in H^rtsburg, 111.
Gary Ivriight is the minister. The children used airplone banks to help us purchase an
..airplane for the v/ork here: Brenda Teaney v^rites, "I would like to knovj if it's fun
bein^ a missionary?" Kent Sherwood, "I like to shoot; a BB gun Yvhat kind of weapons
io you use?"' (See the wild animal story above Kentl) Karen Seaman, "I go to'.VBS
^-.%at do you do?" YYe are praying for you," Y^e received 22 letters from the youngsters
at Ear-taburg-Chri-stisn-Ghurchl YYe also received 3 letters from the Bill Davis family
r.at- Orchard Street Chruoh vdth 2 big ballons enclosed'. Cheryl and Kevin really like
that letter', Paul Burdick is the new minister and Virginia Davis tells us he's doing
a real good job at OSCC.
C-PD BLESS YOU PTaEASE REiBER US IN YOUR PPf^YERS
'"ciNi
12# Il fJGJ
.aivd ^^'isod.-un
^ 9
OOSSV TfIHgiSINIPl
TOHO XldOHd-NON
ani 'NOIONIHIHOM
Hsyru^o NVIXSIHHO XSHId
SOUTH AFRIC..N MISSION
D, L. Smaage Pred Crawford, Forwarding
P.O. box 91 Parklands, Jonannosburg 1279 Kartha wasnington urive
Transvac;!, South i,frica Milwaukee, Wise. 53213, U.S.A.
Nov. 7, 1966
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Dear Brothers in Christ:
Vje are writing to let you know that we have decided to stay and cont
inue to work in South ;.frlca. We have, however, moved from Capetown
to Johannesburg. This will enable us to do more work, for the Lord in
this country. Wo really appreciate your response to our request for
your guidance in helping us make this decision.
It seemed best to us, after hearing from our supporting churches,
and after more prayer, to remain in South Airica and continue our
work wo recently begun. The move to Johannesburg will afford us mo.re
opportunity to work, and also give the new missionaries moving to
Capetown work to do.
After discussing the needs of this mission field with two other
families hero, we have launched out on an evangelistic campaign be-
/ginning in the Johannesburg area. The work will be very difficult
and will take us to some "rough" areas similar to the slums of
Chicago or New York. A1 Hamilton, Jerry Spaulding, and myself, along
with our wives, will form an evangelistic team for the purpose of
winning others to Christ and ostablisning new churches nere. V;e are
just starting this endeavor and are making arrangements to have one
meeting each month. This will Involve two weeks of calling and two
weeks of preaching in an area using Bro. riamilton's tent or renting
a hall. Jan Spaulding and Donna will bo taking care of the necessary
correspondence with the Government and follow up with correspondence
to the new converts. They will also assist Annette Hamilton witn
organizing VBS's or youth classes to be hAld along with the meetings^
This past week Bro. Hamilton and I flow to Capetown (via airline) to
pick up the bus that Johnson Bible College seat over for the work
here. The students at the college helped in raising funds for the
bus. It can best be described by tno name we have given it: The
Jolly Green Giant" I It Is really big." V/e had quite a time getting
it over the mountains from Capetown to Jo'burg. 29 hours of con
tinuous driving, one blow-out, one flat tire finally got us herf at
2 m this past Friday. This week we are fitting it out as a mo'ile
chapel and new paint, bill also have to buy 6 recaps for it at #50
each. Could use some financial help on this if any youth groups^ or
classes have some extra money they don't know what to do withl We
hope to have the bus ready this Lord's Day as we already have it
scheduled for five services in the Jo'burg area. Last Sunday Ero,
Hamilton and I conducted five services; two with the i^fricans, two
for Coloured groups, and one for some Chinese people. This next
Lord's Day we will be travelling to one of our j.frican churcnes 65
milos from here for a baptismal service that is scneduled for 7;30
.After this we will return to Jo'burg to take the bus on Its circuit
of five more services.
Eight now, Donna and I are trying to sort out our belongings, be are
not unpacking everything, for we will have bo move again tne end of
the month. The house we are in is available to us for only one month-
be do not have a house yet ibut are confident that the Lord will pro
vide for our needs. Cheryl Is in scnool and getting along much butter
here than sne did in Capetoifn.
We would appreciate your prayers as we work here in this country. We
have many problems to deal with and your concern for us is a great
encouragement to us. We will be preaching to all race groups nere.
The message will bo the same for each one. We nave already had some
limited experience In doing this and have found that the Gospel is
the same regardless of the listener's race or background. I will
send you a schedule of our bus clrdult and our scheduled revival
meetings as soon as we have it mimeographed. Please pray that we
will be able to do all these things and that the Lord will give us
much streng^hl
Your brother in Christ,
* Oerronn> and Donna Smaage
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South Afi'ican
Chi 'istian Nission
I Fr.'.-.jrclitig A(icnt
J rrv.i Crawford
r f/'iCr.: .'Vaiiiinoton Drive
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DERRENCE and DONNA SMAAGE - P.O. Box 91, Parklands. Johannesburg, Tvl., S.A.
... , jOi-A
GREETINGS P'-.f V A.F:-ISA, . . .To all our brothers ar^
sisters in Christ in A^'iv-'CA! Donna is holding Grac-
who is the baby dau.ghter of Mdladlana, one of our ver
fine African preachers. Grace is just 9 months old an
a very pretty baby. She will learn to speak Xhoea be
fore she learns Engli.'=;h and she will be working by th
time she is 6 years old to help earn a living for th
family. She has brothers and sisters. Her family i
a happy one because mother and father are Christians!
When we -eaw Grace for the first time I said she was a-
"ubuhle usana" which means "beautiful baby" in Xhoaa.
Her brothers and sisters were very nroud of their '-it
tie sister and this pleased them beyond words. Some c
Kdladlana's children are just learning English. The,
know how to say "hello" and they say it over and ovei
again. The younger children were quite impressed wit)
Cheryl's long, light brown hair' "hey thought she wa'
"ubuhle" too!
ThTSE A^KSi.'iTVTNG, 19f^6....It really -rAemed strange to us Northerners to have s-'
feast as this in the summertime during a heat-wave! Holiday time is difficult
ssionaries in forelm fields for it is especially on these days that v7e are used
ing with our families. Having Thanksgiving in the summertime was not the only d"
rence! South Africans, of course, do not celebrate this feast but what made qu!
difference wa.^ having Egr-foo-young, Noodles and beef strips etc, instead of Pof
rkey, cranberry sauce and all the trimmings! Jerry and Florence Ho had invited
share their specially prepared Chinese dinner as a substitute for the tradition-
rican Tom Turkey! Our thre mis.eionary families here in Johannesburg, Stuart
ilyn Cook, A1 and Annette Hamilton and o^irselves plus T children plus other mr
"s of the Beit Street Church really enjoyed this fine hospitality! Cheryl and Kev
listed on using Chop Sticks alon.g with everyone else and did quite well to our su
r.e. Donna learned a little bit about Chinese cooking and now knows how to m-'
-foo-young, Christians the world over have much to be thankful about. The lo
redeemed us and forgiven us. We pfs'ise God for victories won. k were added
; Lord here in Johannesburr during the American Thanksgiving season! We thank y
your prayers on our behalf.
EVANGET.T.STT :
'OTE; Tf you will pray for us each noon Q^rOO) the following dates, you will
be praying at the same time we we will actually be preaching as we are
B ho'urs ahead of Eastern Standard Time, /e are planning on holding one
meeting each month beginning this January.
PLACE
BOSMOhT
PIVSRLEA
DATES
January
Jan - Feb 3
P.APTICULAl'^S
Bro. Hamilton and I will be
doing the preaching. Jerry
S-nauldinr in charge of music
V/e will be using a 200 capacity tent for these meetings. Bosmont and Riverlea
are coloured areas of Joh.annesb\irg, We have already been calling in these
area s.
?vin came running into the kitc'^en to tell Donna that there were "One thousand, o
indrea, and one" ants In his bedroom! After Donna cleaned out the room she agr'"
.lat that was about how many there were. One evening last week Cheryl found a 1..
"i in her room and chased him out of the house all by herself! She has a new kii.
.oee name is "Tommy" but Tommy likes to climb up the drapes which makes Donna qu:
gry!
.i-RPLANE NSWS>,. We need your help! Just yesterday bro, "Sonny" Hamilton And I vf
our regular "airplane hunt" (We've been searching for a suitable airplane for r
ork here) and found what we hope will be the end. of our search! Midst rubble
recks of airplanes in an old hangar at Baragwanath airnort here we found a beaut i'
-place French Nord Airplane (with one flat tire and no propeller but other-wtee
^ this ship is an all-metal airplane and cruises over 160 KPH curlcc
rompted us to investigate further. We found out that the owner wants to sell
dollars. We have been looking diligently and have
ound anything in this class of airplane for under S8,000. We are very esiich enthsB^
'Out this airplane as it only has 200 hours since major factory overhaul on the
^e and complete factory inspection of the airframe. Total tine of the airfraae
igine since new is also very low being only 1200 hours! The owner has ordered a r
.-oilier for it and we will flight test it next week. If it flies as good as we e
>ct. we will go ahead with the purchase. We are a little short of the 5^^200 neede
' now have 82.00 in our airplane fund so ah extra gift from any who would desire
>lp would .really be appreciated just now! An airplane would really be a bisr help
iv this ait'ninf "V! praying that the Lord will make it possible for us
this tooT We do aeS yoar help!
'angaltetie ^ African work but also .xtassively in o nfcallatie canpairna ia the different cities and towns of South AfricA.
Vweh^atJerrySpauldine and I trareled to our Afri
^ f Jo'burg for a baptlSBal serriee at 7:?0 A.M.! Well
out lO'OO th the African is not very tiipe conscious and it waah't un ttt 10.00 that eiKht Africans wore baptised into Christ in the river at Bank. We
CO any of the baptlztog among oiar African churches as our'work is limited to le
elders or ministers do the personal work and bantizing
believe that this is beet as rt encourages indigenous churches. Hen are bapti
rat and then the women. According to African custom, men face away.'frora the str
en the women are being immersed. As one elder was baptizing in the river another
e b^k was preaching from the third chapter ,of John and encouraging others to aiak
cision for Christ, we rejoiced with them for those that did make this decision!
Lehman a 19 year old South African youn
who will be flying to the U.S. this January! quentin is a European boy who wil
. inter^t at .Johnson Bible College in Knojcville, Tenn. All wht
L fj! the work of South Africa will be interested in this fine vounn mar
a nlana'ti i- helping quentin out of personal funds t'
1 h; uj* States. Cost for one way fare is S500 dollars. H.
th i *'* states because we are scrapingbotto
oa w? '''- '" ^ nderful if some of you folks in tL^od old U
ad help him out a little his first year at Bible College. "Kooa old U..
^ES AVAILABLE.. .Byobhor Fred Crawford, our ^orw4i*v?-iven* ^ u
ling the work in South Africa Anew of rt'r f sets of slides cc
- up and will soon be available. Pred aim is^k^I Johannasburg is now bei
resent our work personally, b; sSftffonla^ B^f Crawford? ^
hxffl to present a stiecIn1 -nrno^Am 4-^^ f > o Crawford if your church wot.
^ elder in the Orchard .street Christian Chweh Brother Crawfc
You Will enjoy his Presentation of this ehal^S'-isslfrfie'^d?"'
^niNGTON, INDJaWa
-i-R.^ofit Organisation
.nisterial Association
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tJ.S. POSTAGE PAID
Permit ^5^21
Sec. 3^-66 PL&R
WORTHINGTON, IND.
Mission Services
Box 968
Jcaiet, ni. i-"
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