Freestate Farm Outreach

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During 10 to 15 June a team from KwaSizabantu, Smithfield Mission and Martha Mabakwane from Petrus Steyn, held services in the Parys and Vredefort District situated in the northern Freestate.

The team from KwaSizabantu consisted of Bruno Hlongwane, Richard Cebekhulu and Tom Erasmus. The team from Smithfield included Gideon Jacobs, Lelani Magasi, Lydia Magasi, Nobizwa Magasi, Anthonie Kruger, and Xoliswa Magase.

Over 5000 people were reached during the time and sometimes up to 8 or 9 meetings were held on a day.

We stayed in the township of Parys. This proved to be key in reaching the people. Early in the morning as we walked to where we all gathered for breakfast every day, the local people would ask each other: "Lekgowa lena le tswa kae? Lerobetse kae?" which means: "This white man, where does he come from and where does he sleep?".

At some services this was mentioned, and the people were amazed, that white people slept in black people's houses, ate their food and feels at home and relaxed with them. They really appreciated this fact and many friends where made.

The schools were open to the Gospel. The youth displayed a hunger for the truth and accepted it. Teachers came to us and testified of their faith and were so thankful for the short devotional visit. At the schools a story was usually told with a spiritual lesson; the children listened attentively waiting eagerly for the unfolding of the story. There were no real discipline problems, as the principals and teachers take their responsibility seriously. The children greeted us with beautiful singing of well known hymns and other choir songs. About 4000 children and youth were reached during the week.

A real blessed time came during the visits at the clinics. Mostly young and old mothers were there and the ladies of the team could testify what the Lord did for them. The message was received openly.

We also visited the old age homes. At one place the workers complained and didn’t want to attend, but one team member encouraged them and they did attend. After the short message, two were crying and one stood up saying with tear-filled eyes how thankful she was for such a message and that we came. She expressed her agony for her children and the youth going astray.

Gideon Jacobs testified of his life as a farmer before he was a Christian. The workers on the farm were touched, and at some places where the farmers also attended, they were moved by the message. One farmer asked if services could be held every month or at least every 2^nd month on weekends. Many friends were made on these farms, they all appreciated it very much and said that we are always welcome to visit whenever we can.

The Smithfield choir sang at most of the services. However they then became ill with flu. Only two were left. So Lelani and Xoliswa continued in song at the other services. The men at the jail were touched by their singing and at the hospital they walked from room to room to sing for the people. During a visit on a certain farm, we stopped at a local farm store. Inside we asked if they don’t maybe have honey (we wanted to mix it with milk or with lemon juice to help remedy the sore throats). The lady thought for a moment, hesitated, and then remembered that she does have. She picked up a box covered with dust and opened it. Inside were about ten bottles of pure and creamed honey. Then she placed one on the counter, and asking how much it would cost she replied that we could just take it for free! But then she didn’t stop there, she took out three more, two creamed and two pure honey and said that we could just take it with no payment at all! That was amazing and we thanked the Lord for providing us with that and we could use it for the sore throats.

Many times the day was packed with services and there wasn’t really time for eating during the week. But when we ate we really ate a wonderfully prepared meal each time. But for those in between bites just to keep us going, uncle Bruno supplied us regularly with crunchies, not the chocolate but the flat one you bake and can buy at the bakery.

During the weekend, all the services were held in Schoncenville, a coloured residential area. Here again the people were more than just open for the Gospel, they were so thankful and many friends were made and many hearts were reached.

During the Saterday afternoon service, a team from Vereninging came to present True Love Waits. Henri Slabbert brought some of the youth. They did a short drama of ‘sticky sin’ and presented the message of TLW.

Sunday morning we had a speaking opportunity at radio Lentswe, the local Sotho radio station. It was a great opportunity and we had a real blessed time there. Questions about the week and personal experiences were shared and the mission was discussed. Since it was then fathers day, listeners phoned in and gave short requests and others gave their opinion also.

There is so much more to be told and we experienced a great working of the Lord there. It is evident that people (workers) are needed to help with the follow-up work there in the Parys- Vredefort-district. The Lord prepared the soil before us, and He must receive all the praise and glory for the work there, and what an enormous privilege it was to be a part of the team, it was by no means a small thing.