Back from Africa

Wow--where to start? For one thing, it felt like our missionary books had come to life:

• we had several meals with Ted Esselstyn who with Mark Moore was instrumental in the starting of ANU;
  
• we met NTC Muldersdrift Principal Mashangu Maluleka (pictured left), and we'll share his story of life as a child in Soweto in a later Africonnection post;
• we sat next to Dr. Richard Zanner who was the regional director of Africa during most of the growth that has occurred there.
  
• we had a visit with Dr. Hynd(pictured right), the 83-year old Scottish Nazarene doctor who delivered the current Swazi king and queen;
• We also got to meet Eugenio Duarte, and to spend several days with Fili Chambo, the current Africa region education coordinator. These are wonderful men of God. We've already profiled Eugenio Duarte, and we'll introduce Fili Chambo to you in a later post as well.

Highlights:

• visiting Soweto, including Mandala's home, a Catholic church where students met and were fired on by South African troops, and the Soweto museum;
• attending the dedication of the new Helstrom Student Center at ANU;
• walking within a hundred feet of a herd of zebras a couple of miles from the ANU campus;
• having a meal with fellow-missionaries Randy and Mary Jane James at the Masai Lodge, near the ANU campus;
• attending the launching ceremony for the new Swazi Nazarene Higher Education Consortium (see attached video--sorry about the sound); and
  
• attending a morning worship service with 800 other worshipers at the historic Sharpe Memorial Church of the Nazarene on the campus of the Nazarene compound in Manzini, Swaziland;
• waiting at the Manzini airport while a prince and lots of troops prepared for the arrival of the Swazi Queen Mother from a trip away from the country.

Southside and Southport--Thanks for your hospitality!

We had a genuinely wonderful time in Indianapolis the weekend of October 7, and we're sorry it's taken us so long to post our appreciation! Sunday morning, we spoke at Southport Church of the Nazarene in suburban Indianapolis. The church has a beautifully remodeled auditorium and we enjoyed our time in Hal Hutton's Sunday school class and in the morning worship service very much. Thanks to Pastor Brewer and Hal for your kindness and hospitality.

After lunch at Jonathan Byrd's, which advertises itself as the world's largest cafeteria, and an abbreviated Nazarene nap, we were part of the evening service at Southside Church of the Nazarene. This service was special both because of the high energy music, because of the extra effort that Phyllis Richards and her team made to assure that the media was working right, and because we had lots of family with us. In addition to Phyllis and Pastor J.D. Bailey, we want to thank our "sister" Mary Mercer, Uncle Phil and Aunt Mary, Chris and Tom, and Carol and her daughter and son-in-law for making the trip to visit us--it was wonderful!

Finally, we got to meet the legendary Martha Bean. She is working with two missionary intern couples for the Indianapolis District right now (Us and Steven and Dana Porter), and we all agree that she is a model deputation coordinator. SOOoooooo--thanks to everyone at both of these churches! We have wonderful memories of our time with you and look forward to being with you again!

Thank You Anaheim, Long Beach, and Rancho Cucamonga

We had a wonderful time in California last weekend, both because of the warm welcome on the Anaheim District and because of a chance to be with our kids.

On Saturday morning we did two presentations at the Anaheim District "Power UP"--a kind of fall focusing rally for pastors, NMI and NYI directors. Heard a powerful message from Gene Tanner, lead pastor at Valparaiso, Indiana Church of the Nazarene. He does podcasts of his sermons and on the basis of the one we heard, we'd really encourage you to check him out (put "Valparaiso Nazarene Church" in iTunes).

On Sunday, we presented in two services at (one of our favorite church names to pronounce) "Rancho Cucamonga Highland Avenue"--about an hour east of LA. The church is attracting a wide range of people, had a strong worship band, has a very successful pre-school and does a restored car rally every year that has become a community-wide event.

Sunday evening, we spoke to a district-wide missionary service at the Long Beach church. The planning team had decorated the tables with African artifacts, had Ladysmith Black Mambazo on the PA, and prepared refreshments. Many veterans of African Work and Witness trips were in attendance. It was a wonderful time of inspiration and celebration.

Monday was a family day. Nan went out with Nathan and Andrew and Mark went out to breakfast with Ben and then on a "photo shoot" of craftsman-style houses east of Hollywood and then to a coffee shop where the picture at left was taken. For lunch we all went down to Koreatown for some Korean barbecue--yum!

Thanks to Karen Benlein, Anaheim NMI President; Pastor John Watkin at Highland Avenue; Pastor Jerry Cordell at Long Beach; and sll of the other wonderful people who helped with logistics, gave words of encouragement, shared their OWN "Africonnections" and otherwise helped to strengthen the bonds between the American church and the African church.