17th August 2020
Rev. Hendrik du Plessis (D’Kar Reformed Church Botswana)
The other day Pieter (our son) and I were on our way to the quarry here in D’kar. We saw a Naro man and his wife approaching us with firewood they are collected. They do not live far from us. “Pieter, do you see that man?” and I draw his attention to him. “He is a miracle on two legs. Was it not for the Lord’s intervention and grace, he would not be here today. ” “What do you mean by that?” Pieter wanted to know.
Perhaps I did mention this in a report years ago. I can not remember. However I did mention it to reverend Rev. Piet Venter from RC Potch-East. One night I was watching a program on television. I felt hundred percent fine. All of a sudden, out of the blue, I developed tremendous stomach cramps, so much so that I had to hurry for the toilet. The bathroom was occupied … what now? The only solution was to take toilet paper and head for the bushes. I rushed out the door at a lightning speed. Anyone who has been through this ordeal knows how your stomach can make you run!
Heading for the bushes, I heard someone talking and scurrying right in front of me in the woods. When I flashed in that direction, it was a Bushman attempting to commit suicide. It was just a matter of putting the rope around his neck and jumping off the tree! When he saw me he protested loudly, “Leave me alone so that I can commit suicide. Why are you following me?” At first he did not know who I was until he recognized me in the light of the torch. Somewhat embarrassed, he explained to me that he had an argument with his father-in-law and then decided to end his life. We probably talked there for an hour before I could make him abandon his intention and accompany him back home.
Afterwards there was no sign of the upset stomach or stomach cramps – not even the next day. I thought about it a lot later on. If you listen to atheists who claim that there is no God, I wonder how many out of a million times or even a billion times, can chance work so well together for something like this to happen?
Here in D’kar, suicide is a common occurrence. Police have already removed several people from trees here. About 50 meters beyond our house, someone once committed suicide. He first killed his wife and on the way to hang himself, he turned around and walked back just to make sure she really was dead, otherwise he was committing suicide for nothing. Then he went back to a ledwood tree and hung himself.
About a year ago, another man hung himself again about 80 meters from our house. When we woke in the morning he was hanging from the tree with the rope around his neck. Even our counselor’s son hung himself behind the door in their house opposite that tree.
It is very traumatic to see someone you know well in such a situation, but in this case the Lord did not allow it to happen and He sent me to him with cramps and all. I believe that with my whole heart.
Please keep our people in your prayers, think of our people in these area who are seeking refuge in suicide as a solution. The words of our Lord Jesus is one of our major themes in this part of the country trying to address this issue: “28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Greetings and blessings,
Hendrik du Plessis