My dear friends
South Africa is also where I experienced university life.
In January 1976 I entered the gates of the University of
Natal's Medical School; fresh from a protective environment of a very good boarding
school, a Christian home and I dare say to God's glory, on fire for my Lord and Saviour.
Here I was on my own in a free adult world where the slogan
could easily have been 'You do your thing and I do mine.'
The Medical School (later renamed The Nelson Mandela School
of Medicine) was highly regarded for its academic standard. Some of the finest brains in
this country have gone through that institution.
One of the areas that tested my spiritual discernment was
the intense political activity that challenged not only residence and campus conditions
but never shunned being at loggerheads with the South African State machinery.
How can I forget June 16, 1976, the day the Soweto riots
began? The student leadership called an emergency meeting where anger and frustration were
expressed; a public demonstration was planned for the following day.
In all these explosive situations my reaction wasn't going
to be a matter of an intellectual exercise; through earlier experiences God had stressed
to me the importance of maintaining my peace with Him. Prejudice fed on my inner peace.
The Lord had warned me against allowing myself to be intimidated by parties in conflict
situations. In the final analysis He, not they, mattered.
Despite hard work during the day at the university a party
atmosphere during evenings and weekends was not uncommon. There was no shortage of loud
music, alcohol and women.
From the first day I realised that the sooner I nailed my
colours on the mast the better. The fact that I was a Christian would not be something for
the closet. Before long I discovered dear fellow pilgrims in the Student Christian
Fellowship. Our leader was Eddie Mhlanga, currently a professor in the same Faculty.
On Sundays I'd visit some of the local Coloured and Indian
churches. It's from there that I remember Pastor Robin Oliver's beautiful earnest voice as
he sang,
"I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad...."
I also took time to visit the brethren at Umgeni Road
Baptist Church and the respected man of God, Pastor William Duma.
Two Christian lecturers, Prof Ross and Prof Philpott, had a
special heart for the students. Some of us were often at the Rosses, who kindly showered
us with love and hospitality.
In my room I poured out my heart to God, nourished my soul
with His Word and feasted on good music like Haendel's "Messiah". The King's
Messengers Quartette was my constant companion. A song that often echoed from deep within
was "I must tell Jesus."
"I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.
Refrain
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone. ..."
When I entered the Medical School it was with the goal of
qualifying as a doctor. However, early in my second year God spoke to me in no uncertain
terms that my time at the university was up. The call to the ministry was clear and the
destination was KwaSizabantu Mission. In fact that development was the culmination of a
process the Lord had been taking me through since my last years at Dlangezwa High School.
The decision to bow to God's will in this matter came after
a long struggle. One of my main considerations was the anger and disappointment the news
would cause especially amongst my former teachers and colleagues - and it did! But as
dedicated as I was to my studies I loved the Lord dearly; I couldn't face the prospect of
proceeding without His blessing.
Looking back, I can only confirm that the path of obedience
is the best for all of us.
One tender moment that I revisit with much gratitude happened at the end of the 1976
academic year. Unknown to me, our lecturers had clubbed together to buy me an exquisite
set of pens as an expression of their appreciation for my friendly attitude. God knows,
whatever it was that I had done had not been aimed at impressing anyone. My desire was to
live out the grace that I had received.
"You are the light of the world. A city
on a hill cannot be hidden.
In the same way, let your light shine before
men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew
5:14,16)
Have a blessed weekend.
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
