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May
NYLSTROOM
NEWS — APRIL 2005
Les Maydell
P.O. Box
2744
Nylstroom 0510 Rep. of
South Africa
Tel.011 27 14 717 4100
LECTURES
Our lectures this year
seemed to go particularly well. We had more attend than ever before. (We counted
230, but some of the children were not counted.) The 15 subjects (all on how a
Christian must be different from the world) were dealt with in a fine manner and
there was a lot of exhortation to change. Our main aim was to build up the
brethren and also to enable them to go home and teach those who were unable to
come. However, we are also very happy to say that four souls obeyed the gospel.
One of the speakers on
our program was our son-in-law, Samuel White. Our daughter Gloria also taught
classes for children during the lectures. They flew to SA a week before the
lectures and plan to spend a total of three months here. During this time they
are helping with the work in South Africa and Zimbabwe. They are also visiting
different preachers and congregations in South Africa to give them a feel for
the work and to help them in their possible plans to locate in South Africa in a
few years. It is wonderful to have them here although we and they are so busy,
we do not get to spend a lot of time together.
NAMIBIA
We have had some feedback
from the brethren in Namibia. The brethren in Luderitz who were attached to
World Bible School have written, thanking us for the teachings we gave them,
especially regarding authority and the autonomy of congregations. They have made
a definite decision to stand alone with Jesus and not let men tell them what to
do. They have asked us to come back to teach them some more as soon as possible.
Our schedule does not permit this until the end of the year, but hopefully some
other brethren will be able to go.
Some Luderitz and Dorado
Park brethren went up to the north of Namibia over the Easter weekend. They met
the new convert, John. He is very excited to be a Christian and anxious to teach
others. He went with them to Oshikati, the home village of sister Elly at
Luderitz, where the brethren went door-to-door teaching. Elly’s older sister and
another young man obeyed the gospel. They also discovered that one of the men in
Rundu is actually a member of the International Church of Christ, and so they
are keen for us to go back there to teach so that the brethren up north will not
be drawn into those false doctrines.
TRIP TO USA
As mentioned in our
February newsletter, our daughter Melody is marrying Jeremy Harbig, Lord
willing, on 16 July. Further exciting news is that our eldest daughter Joy and
her husband Jared Murrell are expecting our first grandchild in October. Joy has
expressed a desire to have Linda’s help at that time, and of course we are only
too thrilled to comply, if possible. Therefore we thought it would be expedient
to make a trip to all the churches who support us during the months of August
and September so that we can be present for these two important family events.
(Hopefully Joseph will wait a few more years before getting married!) We are
presently contacting various brethren, and should have an itinerary worked out
by next month.
We want to especially
thank all the churches who have so faithfully supported us, and have actually,
without me asking, increased support to supply support that was lost. Because of
this we were able to purchase our plane tickets in advance at a considerable
savings. We also thank Bob and Conny Harbor who are again loaning us their van,
so our costs to travel around the USA will be minimal compared to if we had to
rent a car.
ZIMBABWE
We are thankful that the
elections in Zimbabwe passed peacefully. However, although there were some crops
last year, it seems as if there were no crops this year. Lord willing, in the
next 2 weeks we will be traveling to three different areas of Zimbabwe and will
try to see for ourselves the extent of the drought. We are taking up about 150
Bibles, 200 songbooks, over $300 worth of desperately-needed grape juice, some
used clothing and eyeglasses, and money for food consumed during the meetings.
We want to thank all those who have supplied these things.
Lord willing, I will be with
my family in the USA to celebrate my 65th birthday on 29 October. I
still feel strong and able to do the Lord’s work. We are thankful for the
opportunities God gives us and pray for continued strength and help to do this
work. We solicit your continued prayers. Your fellow-servant in Christ,
Les Maydell
Dear friends
It seems that Les and I have now reached a new and exciting milestone in our
lives – grandparenthood! It seems a bit unreal at the moment – I guess because
we are so far away. When Joy has a rare time of wakefulness :-) she phones to
let us know the latest exciting events in the life of our grandbaby like, “This
week the baby is on his second set of kidneys,” (The baby goes through three
sets) and “This week the baby lost his/her tail!” These were all things we never
knew about back in the “olden days” when I was pregnant! Of course some things,
like morning sickness, never change! Another thing that never changes is God’s
truth – and we pray that our grandchild will grow up to be obedient to that
truth.
Melody also phones
now and then to let us know the latest on the wedding. They want to get married
on a small island in the inter-coastal waters near Clearwater, but
transportation for the guests (via boat) is proving to be a bit of a problem!
We shall see what they work out! Whatever it is, I think it will be a fun, happy
wedding – more like a picnic. I think the only traditional part of the wedding
is going to be Melody’s long white gown. We have been amazed and humbled yet
again by the wonderful love of our family in Christ in helping with the wedding
plans.
Joseph even phones
now and then, bubbling over with joy that he is able to be at Florida College
and make such wonderful friends. Sometimes our children can buy a phone card for
$5 that lasts almost 2 hours. It is fantastic how technology has lessened our
separation.
Gloria and Sam
visit every now and then and share with us the same kinds of joys and
frustrations and inadequacies that we have also experienced in our work in
Africa throughout the years. (Although we will work some together, it is a
better use of manpower to work separately.) Their visits have been truly special
to us, and their happiness is beautiful to behold. Though their stay here will
be brief, it will always remain a precious time – a bonus that we never
expected.
While in the USA, a dear friend gave me a book written by Jane McWhorter called
“Special Delivery.” (It is available at FC bookstore, and probably other
religious bookstores.) It is a practical book on how to write notes and share
scriptures to encourage those who are ill, grieving, or spiritually weak – as
well as to express thanks, congratulations or love. I think all of us want to be
more encouraging, but we just feel so inadequate. I think you would find this
book to be really helpful.
Today Les and I
are “home alone” for the first time in several days – and so I had a chance to
read the little magazine that comes with the monthly medical insurance account.
There was an article about a study done on what brings happiness: “The ‘usual
suspects’ in explaining individual differences in happiness have almost no
effect. A person’s age, sex, race, income, geographic location, nationality, and
education level have only a minor correlation with happiness, typically
explaining less than 2% of the variance.” The article goes on to say that an
exception is a person who is hungry or diseased. “However, once they reach a
certain minimum standard of calorie intake and physical security, further
increases in material affluence do not increase their happiness very much.” I
thought this was very interesting because it is something I have seen in Africa
so many times –the ability of people living in what we would call abject poverty
to be such happy people. So what does cause happiness? According to them:
“Individuals who regularly engage in outwardly focused or giving activities.” As
Jesus said long ago: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
We are getting
ready for our first trip to Zimbabwe since last November. We have been waiting
for their elections to be over, a time that is often marred by violence.
Although the elections on March 31were not free and fair, they were at least
peaceful. However, there has again been massive crop failure due to drought, and
the country is on the brink of disaster. A study done by the S.African Institute
of International Affairs states that Zimbabwe is classified by the UN as the
fastest shrinking economy in the world – a drop in GDP of more than 30% in the
past 3 years. It is ranked 90th on the list of the world’s 94 poorest
nations. Only 1 in 10 has a job in the formal sector. Please pray fervently that
the Lord will intervene to help these people, especially our brethren; also that
we will have the wisdom and opportunity to help where needed. Also, believe it
or not, according to scientists, you there in the USA can actually help the
drought situation by lessening your energy consumption! The SA government has
undertaken to enact measures to reduce SA’s energy consumption by 12% over the
next 10 years. SA’s ten hottest years on record have all been since 1990, and
scientists believe that global warming due to energy use, particularly by the
first world nations, is causing droughts and floods instead of consistent
rainfall.
Many of you have
asked about sending used clothing to needy brethren and so I will explain how to
do it. It costs about $50 to send a large box, but that is still cheaper than
sending money to buy clothes. If you have used clothes, but don’t have $50,
perhaps someone else who doesn’t have used clothing would give the postage
money. The kind of clothes particularly needed are toddler - teen, although
adult clothes are also greatly appreciated. Please remember though that African
women and girls do not wear pants at all, and of course we could not give out
immodest clothing. Old square “silk” scarves are great as the African women wear
them for head coverings. Sweaters and light jackets are also useful, but heavy
coats and wool articles are not really needed – and cost a lot to send. Shoes
are gratefully received since many do without – but just remember that women
walking 5 miles to church would probably not want to do that in high heels! When
you take the box of clothing to the post office, you will have to fill out a
customs slip. On the slip write “Used Clothing – not for resale” and in the
place marked “value,” write “No commercial value.”
Each “lectures”
has its own joys....and challenges! The biggest challenge this year was water.
Someone left a garden faucet on all night. In the middle of the night, someone
else realized there was no water in the tank and switched on our pumps. By the
next morning the well was pumped dry and our tank was empty! Thereafter we could
only get a few gallons every two hours or so. Thanks to the foresight of the
previous owners, we have two water tanks that catch rainwater from our roof that
we could use for cooking and drinking. But to flush toilets for over 200
people?! I was so thankful when the lectures were over and no one got
sick! I really enjoyed teaching this class…and the ladies seemed to feel right
at home (look at their shoes). By the way, you have probably noticed that these
brethren (in South Africa) are considerably more affluent than those in
Zimbabwe.
This year again, I
had a really special helper, Tienie (tea-knee). Although she is nearly 70, she
was on her feet from 5 am til 10 pm. Tienie and her husband obeyed the gospel up
in Zimbabwe a few years ago when their children had all grown up and Tienie’s
husband was terminally ill. After he died, she received a monthly pension of
Z$3000. Now it will not even buy a loaf of bread. So Tienie left Zimbabwe and
moved in with one of her sons who happened to be staying in Nylstroom. She was
so thrilled to be in a place where she could worship. Her joy did not last long.
Last year her son moved to a farm far from any town, much less a town
where a church meets. Tienie was ecstatic when we made quite complicated plans
to enable her to come for a few weeks at lecture time. Below is a picture of
what she crocheted for me since we last saw each other. Although Tienie’s son
looks after her, no one gives her any money of her own – just to spend. So I try
to come up with little jobs for her. If anyone would like to order something
like this, Tienie does beautiful work.
Les and I want to
thank each of you who pray for us. We need wisdom to do the work of the Lord
properly, and good health to do it at all. From frequent blood tests we have
been able to determine that Les has to stay very strictly on his diet. We
just thank God that so far the diet is keeping his cancer in check.
We are thankful to God for
each of you dear friends!
With love, Linda Maydell