My dear friends
My Father's world
By the way, I did not share with you about my very special
Christmas present from Rev Stegen and KwaSizabantu Mission - a glass-room that was added
to my bedroom, for me to enjoy the sun, fresh air and a wonderful view. It is just too
lovely!
It is the world that this room has opened up that prompted
me to sing once again, "This is my Father's world ..." How refreshing to see the
green grass, grazing cattle and horses and cruising birds taking advantage of the currents
in the valley!
Motor Neuron Disease has confined my body but thankfully not my memories and imagination,
that is why I could soar from the beautiful scenery down the valley to past experiences of
the splendour of my Father's world.
Driving past Chibini Dam towards Chibini Store on a clear
day presents one with a nice view of Umvoti River in the valley. Towards the horizon lies
Maphumulo, Endlovini (the place of the elephant). I love Chibini, my physical birthplace
which by God's grace happens to be my spiritual birthplace too.
It was in 1975 as a matric student at Dlangezwa High School
that I got to see the Oribi Gorge in Southern KwaZulu-Natal and got to appreciate the
flora, sea, lagoon and sand-dunes in the Mtunzini area. The Wildlife Society took us on an
unforgettable tour of Botswana and Zimbabwe's game reserves and national parks. Time
seemed to stand still as we explored the Makgadikgadi Pans and stood in awe before the
Victoria Falls. My Father's world!
KwaDedangendlale - The Valley Of A Thousand Hills. It was
one thing to recite the poem "KwaDedangendlale" by Dr B W Vilakazi at school;
visiting this area between Durban and Pietermaritzburg and later seeing it from the air
was truly gratifying. It is as if one can see God's fingertips at work.
KwaZulu-Natal is my number 1 province but I must confess
that the Western Cape has a special corner in my heart. It's unique natural beauty bowled
me over. In the Zulu culture the concept of a honeymoon is non-existent, so the day we got
married I took Lindiwe to my parents' home. There she had to prove that she was worth the
11 cattle paid for her. The following days she had to endure close scrutiny by the family
and neighbours. Years later we made up for the missed honeymoon in the Cape Peninsula. The
climax was an early morning excursion to Cape Point. Nearly out of this world.
The first trip to Europe in 1980 and many subsequent ones
introduced me to another part of my Father's world. How can I ever do justice to all the
spots in Europe that made songs of praise to well up from within? Let me rather touch on a
few representative ones.
Relaxing and refreshing walks through the Aglasterhausen
forest with Prof Koch were the first of more that I would enjoy later in Germany. Another
climax was a visit to the Brechtesgarten area towards Bavaria's border with Austria. Who
but a God of beauty could create such wonders for generations to admire and cherish?
On the way into Switzerland a stop worth one's while is the
Rhine Fall. The rushing cascading waters, the rocks and the steam shooting up capture
one's imagination. How great Thou art!
Switzerland took me by surprise, I never imagined that there
was such beauty this side of the sunset. In the early 80s friends hired a plane in Thun
and from the air we marvelled at the high mountains and lakes like the Geneva one
stretching for many kilometres.
A view from the Eiffel Tower in Paris takes me beyond the
human genius and magnificent buildings; I lift up my eyes to the Creator of heaven and the
earth.
And of course, there is my beloved Dutch spot, the
lighthouse in Urk. From there I get carried away as I watch the sea and the lands beyond.
My Father's world.
My first USA trip in 1986 was to the Santa Rosa - San
Fransisco area. Embedded in my memory is the walk amongst the giant redwoods at Yosemite
National Park and the flight over Lake Tahoe. Later on when the Bathmans took us to the
Superstition Mountains I just loved the famous saguaras of Arizona. Are they not part of
God's sense of humour?
Kjell Olsen will remember the lovely flight we had with our
Canadian friend Tom Siimes in his plane on the Ontario side of the Canada - USA border. It
was in winter and the glaciers were very impressive.
From Toronto friends drove us to the airport on the USA
side. On the way we stopped at the Niagara Falls. I thanked God for the privilege of
seeing with my own eyes what so far had been a far-fetched Geography phenomenon.
In South Australia the Trinkles took us to a vintage point
from which Mr Maengele looked down the Barossa Valley and was very impressed. So was I,
not just by the sight but also by the music from the churches of subsequent settlers in
the valley.
During a visit to Rwanda and the DRC we had the most
interesting voyage under modest circumstances. We left the town of Bukavu and headed for
the island of Idjwi, cruising in an open wooden boat for many hours on Lake Kivu. Humanly
speaking, the careless attitude of the 'pilot' and 'first officer' was a cause for
concern. Risks aside, we enjoyed God's creation in the heart of Africa.
It was in 1989 that one of my biggest wishes was fulfilled
when we landed in Tel Aviv and then headed for Jerusalem. From Jerusalem we travelled to
many other parts of the Holy Land right to the Sea of Galilee. I feel something of what
the composer must have felt as he sang,
"I walked today where Jesus walked ..."
A leader of a ministry in Jerusalem told us that you cannot
pray anywhere else in the world like you do in Jerusalem. I have my reservations about
that statement. As much as I love and pray for Jerusalem and the land of Israel I look
forward to the new Jerusalem in heaven - my ultimate Father's world!
'I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her
husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with
men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with
them and be their God."' (Rev 21:2-3)
Have a blessed weekend!
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
