My dear friends
Dr Albu van Eeden came by and shared about their appointment in
Mozambique early last week for discussions on Doctors for Life's application to add
an operating theatre to the clinic they are building in Zavora.
DFL needs to negotiate further with health officials on this
matter. They will value your ongoing prayer support.
As you know, Mario Rocha has a special burden for
Portuguese-speaking countries. He is giving invaluable support to DFL's outreaches to
countries like Mozambique and Angola.
Mario has shared that a Dutch team that will be working further on
the clinic building arrived on Tuesday. The team, together with Mario, were expected in
Zavora yesterday. He has requested our prayers for this project.
We are rejoicing with Andries 'Driesie' van Tonder and Lisa
Sutherland together with their families and friends as the pair will be tying the knot
tomorrow. We wish them God's blessing.
If a man in my situation feels time is flying by swiftly
then I wonder what it is like for a healthy person. I can hardly believe that we are only
three weeks away from the 2008 CFT International Conference (5-7 September). This year's
theme is "Put on the whole armour." Even as preparations are being made it is my
prayer that the Lord will prepare us for His working.
A story that Onkel Erlo told during the sermon on Sunday
caught my attention and brought back one of the saddest pictures from my boyhood days at
Chibini.
Onkel Erlo's main point was about having a goal in life. He
told the story of a man who was known for constantly walking up and down. One day
when he was asked where he was going he replied that he also did not know. It then became
clear that he needed the assistance of a psychiatric institution.
It was that man's story that reminded me of
Phelezela Maphumulo. In my mind I put together a few lines that sum up my memory
of Phelezela.
Wearing the same clothes,
Singing the same song.
Living in the past,
Disconnected from his surroundings.
Shall we ever know his story?
It lies hidden in some corner of his chest.
There were rumours about what led Phelezela into that
state but the full account must have been locked up in his conscience. Be that as it
may, whatever the cause was, Phelezela's life came to a dead end. From then on he was
a walking dead, living in the past.
It is as if I can still see him in his military-style
outfit, singing his song,
"Wayilobola ngendlal' intombi ..."
The song was about the sadness of paying 'ilobolo' (bride-price) for a young woman
during a time of famine.
Phelezela's story is indeed a sad one but it is by
far a greater tragedy when for some reason a Christian's spiritual life is brought to a
standstill. Frozen.
A stagnant spiritual life is certainly not to God's
honour. A vibrant, fresh life with an ever-new song should characterise our walk with the
living God.
Let us eat today's manna today.
Have a blessed weekend.
- Pressing on!
In His love
- Fano Sibisi
