...that involves enough travel...to circle the globe 6 times?
Exciting prospect, yes?
There is a catch, however.
Much of the time you'll be living in remote areas with no electricity or running water, ministering to a people descended from a warrior nation:
The Zulus of South Africa, during the dreadful apartheid years.
Enticing?
For most people, the answer to that question was a resounding no.
But for the family of a friend of mine...
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| my friend Peter is the young lad standing on the far left |
...the answer was "Here am I Lord; send me." (Isaiah 6:8).
Through their decades of service to the Lord, they really did travel enough miles to circle the globe 6 times as they made repeated trips from the states to South Africa, as well as the European continent, Britain, Norway and Israel.
Beginning in 1946 and ministering under the auspices of The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM), Peter's father and mother were involved in training African pastors, overseeing the building of a 175 bed hospital at the top of a mountain, 300 miles from the source of their needed supplies, as well as supervising area churches and 30 different schools.
What was life like for Peter, growing up in South Africa in the 1950s and early 60s?
He has fond memories of playing with a Zulu friend named Mgaai (Oom-guy-ee) and roasting flying ants on an open fire...
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| seconds, anyone? |
...so they could eat them like peanuts. Yum!
Another time he and Mgaii found a can of sardines...
...which they decided to share.
We should pause at this point to consult "The Chef's Resource" re: this "delicacy":
"Sardines are small, oily fish with a salty, briny and fishy flavor..."
Considering that ominous description, it’s impressive they actually ate them, but there's more:
They also used the remaining oil like an all over body lotion, because Zulus liked to make their skin shiny.
Predictably, you could smell them coming a mile away for a couple of days, and Mom was less than pleased.
But childhood in South Africa was more than just exciting culinary adventures; when Peter was old enough he attended a boarding school, rooming with other boys his age.
Enterprising and resourceful, he used to read after lights out...
...by Nature's Nightlight: a jar full of fireflies he caught earlier in the evening.
He also got a job at a local bakery, starting work at 2 am, then attending school at the regular time during the day.
Why did he keep this punishing schedule?
So he could earn enough money to buy a 50cc Honda motorbike, of course.
Eventually his hard work and perseverance paid off, and he was one happy camper when he finally reached his goal.
No doubt he was also the envy of his classmates until that fateful day when he collided with a hapless dog on a tar road.
It's easy to imagine our canine friend casting his eyes heavenward wondering, "why me?" as he trotted away unscathed.
Peter, on the other hand, was left with the unenviable task of accounting for his ruined school blazer, which effectively turned the page on his Easy Rider days.
By his high school years he'd developed a love for rugby...
...swimming and playing tenor drum in the marching band.
On family vacations he enjoyed seeing wild life at the Kruger National Park of South Africa...
...and swimming in the ocean...
...off Durban, Natal.
By age 16 he was back in the states where he graduated high school, went to college, got married...
...and eventually had to choose a career.
What do you suppose he chose for his life's work?
No, he did not go pro...
...in rugby...
...or - to the relief of dogs everywhere - motorcycle racing.
Here's a hint:
Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
Like his parents, Peter chose a life devoted to full time Christian ministry.
Serving as a pastor at several churches, he raised his family while preaching the gospel and shepherding his various congregations.
I met Peter when he was doing visitation work at several local companies, the one I work for included.
His friendly, open, easy going demeanor invited frank conversations about life's challenges, and through the years I've come to appreciate both his wisdom from and dedication to the Lord.
He's retired now, splitting time between California and Michigan where his children are, but he and his recently visited South Africa again, returning to several places his family lived and ministered so many years ago:
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| the hospital Peter's father helped establish |
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| the hospital chapel Peter's father helped build and at which he held worship services |
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| the hospital's doctor and administrator |
Pretty simple, really.
One, Peter's a good guy who's led an interesting and impactful life, ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of those under his care.
That's worth sharing.
And two, because it's Scriptural to do so:
He's labored in the Word and doctrine for decades, and only God knows the souls saved and spirits lifted due to his faithful service.
I'll be fortunate if I get to polish a few of his crowns now and then when we both get to heaven.
Woke up this morning to find even more of my favorite form of precipitation blanketing the grounds:
Quite annoying, but I think I've found the source of the problem:
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| what the heck were we thinking? |
...and hit upon the solution:
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| much better |
Some encouragement on your way out the door:
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later, mcm fans...
