22–29 September 2024
Louis Boshof (member reformed Church Lyttelton)
1Thess 3:6–7 “But now that Timothy has just arrived from you and brought us the good news of your faith and love, and that you always keep a good memory of us and long to see us, just as we also for you – therefore, brothers, in all our tribulation and need we are comforted because of you through your faith.”
To summarize the outreach, Rev. Hendrik shared these verses with us on the last night of the outreach and said that he was truly encouraged by our visit. It helps to charge his batteries so that he can continue with his ministry again with zeal.
Motopi
Service takes place by aunt Doret Cronjé. Every Sunday she acts as a “catechism teacher” for about 80 children at a hall in Motopi. She gives sandwiches and shares a message in Tswana.
She herself lives on a plot some distance outside Motopi. She receives sufficient help to continue with her ministry, but she is already 80 years old and her husband has already passed away. Nor is there anyone who is ready to take over the ministry from her.
Aunt Doret suggested that someone might come for a week or two to offer lessons for the children on how to run a small business (or something like that), because many of them feel they have no hope of finding a job. In the long term, the ideal would be to be able to expand ministry to adults
Mababe
The dirt road from Shorobe to Mababe is in a very bad condition. I would not suggest that an outreach group drives with a two-wheel drive van (or other two-wheel drive vehicle) try to go there again.
We got stuck a number of times and had to rely on passers-by in 4×4 vehicles to drag us out.
Rev. Hendrik still describes Mababe as “raw mission field”.
His contact person there — a man called Idea — helped him get a plot of land in Mababe from the state. However, the yard is still empty and the buffaloes and elephants have destroyed the fence. Rev. Hendrik comes out there approximately one or two weeks every 3 months.
Then he visits homes, talks to people at the shebeen and shows the film “Walking with Jesus”. He also distributes Bibles to staff of the lodges in the area. The inhabitants of Mababe speak a language related to Naro (the language of D’kar), but they also understand Tswana. The biggest immediate need for ministry at Mababe is fuel money for Rev. Hendrik to be able to go there more often. Next they also want to erect a structure on the premises in Mababe.
Dekar
The ministry at D’kar continues well. Rev. Hendrik makes a home visit to one family and then asks that family to refer him to the next family. Then the first family comes together to the second home visit. The process repeats. In this way, he reaches new families efficiently.
Rev. Hendrik is busy with a series of Bible studies from Genesis, of which he makes audio recordings and distributes them. There is opportunity for upgrading and maintaining the infrastructure in D’kar, but it is not urgent. Rev. Hendrik’s colleague in D’kar, Gaobolelwe Ngakayaja, still helps with ministry, but is already very old. Rev.
Hendrik believes that there should not be too great expectations that a young member of D’kar will soon be trained as a minister, but rather that the focus should be on the vocation and equipping of elders who perform their service work faithfully.
The project to finish translating the Old Testament into Naro continues under the leadership of churches from the Netherlands. D’kar’s church council is given the opportunity from time to time for feedback on the sections that have already been completed.
Bére
The ministry in Bere is also less established than in D’kar, but already further advanced than in Mababe.
There is a full-time catechism teacher who is supported by an NG minister from Maun.
Rev. Hendrik (and usually someone from D’kar who comes along) mostly camps in the field outside Bere when they go there, but there is a building in the town where the catechism classes take place.
The language spoken at Bere is very different from Naro, but Rev. Hendrik is busy learning it. He also makes a home visit there and shows the film. We didn’t spend much time there.
On the way from Mababe to D’kar, we spent one night at Pel’s Island, a lodge in the Delta that belongs to Ernst Labuschagne, our own priest Christo’s brother-in-law. He showed a willingness to help Rev. Hendrik’s ministry where he could.
General
Although the main focus must be on supporting Rev. Hendrik’s permanent ministry, there is an opportunity to undertake outreach more effectively. If an outreach group spends longer time in one place, there will be an opportunity to also build relationships and worship with the Christians there.
It can also be encouraging for them to hold Bible study and worship together with believers from another country — something for which there was no opportunity during this outreach. Through outreach, someone may also be identified who can continue Rev. Hendrik’s ministry should he retire.
We are grateful to see how the Lord takes care of his flock in D’kar and surroundings.
We were also strengthened in our own faith by being able to witness the outreach.
Louis Boschoff
October 5, 2024