THE TRENTON BULLETIN

THE TRENTON BULLETIN

Trenton Church of Christ, Trenton, Florida

Editors Note: I have included the recent report from Les Maydell in the bulletin today for reflection upon the bountiful blessings you and I share in this country; and the struggles the Maydell family endures to preach and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not their aim to receive accolades from men for their work. It is evident by their monthly reports of their love for the Lord and dedication to the King. Our blessing will come when we reflect upon our lives and see how blessed we are and then to stop – examine – question our devotion to the work of the Lord. With so many obstacles faced by the brethren in Africa and throughout the world and those families forfeiting their lives to the cause of Christ – how do we measure up in the work we are engaged in to preach the gospel to our neighbor, friend or coworker? May the spirit of this family instill in our families the desire, the dedication and the willingness to not simply say we are workers in the vineyard but to roll up our sleeves and go to work.

SEED - We cannot give enough praise and glory to our great God for your overwhelming response. Even to those who gave “small” amounts - it made a big difference to someone. For example, if God sends the rains, $25 will enable two farmers to feed their families for a year! After the first load was delivered to the brethren in Gwanda South and other areas south of Bulawayo, we were able to place a second order to help brethren far south at Beit Bridge and north of Bulawayo all the way to the Vic Falls area (Binga).This seed was delivered last weekend.

During the week we spent in Zimbabwe, they had rain just about every day, from the southern border all the way to Bulawayo and west to the Botswana border. We hear the rain extended up to Binga. Many have plowed and planted their seeds already. We have had many sincere expressions of thanks from the brethren for the seed -- not only for the seed itself, but for the opportunity to do their work. “We are some word above happy.” “Our prayers have been answered.” There was much difficulty in getting the seed paid for and delivered. We give grateful thanks to God, not only for you brethren, but also for those in the banking and business world who had a heart for the suffering of the people and went the second mile to make it possible.

TRIP TO ZIMBABWE - We had not been to Zimbabwe for exactly one year. We were impressed that the preachers had been working hard to build up the brethren. We found the brethren as strong in the faith as before, if not stronger. About 100 people from 7 congregations gathered for a two-day meeting at Tongwe (Beit Bridge area). We were late getting started the first day because of car trouble (a mud dauber had clogged the fuel filter) and a nightmare traffic jam at the border. So they made up for it a bit the second day by starting at 8 am! Linda and I came prepared with some new lessons we had written on marriage – a subject they had requested. They really expressed appreciation for the lessons. One preacher told Linda that from past teaching she has done; he can see a big change in the lives of the women. Samson Musandiwa accompanied us. He had a stroke a few months ago and is slowly regaining his speech – but he can still lead singing very well! The brethren had heard of his illness, and were so excited to see him. We think the trip was encouraging to both him and them – as it was to us.

From the congregations in this area we received several letters of thanks for the clothing which Brewer delivered on his way back to Bulawayo after Sibonakele’s operation. This is the clothing many of you shipped when the US Post Office still allowed surface mail. We did not see any signs of malnourishment among these brethren. Although they have received some sporadic drought relief, they are mainly coping because they are near to the SA border and able to purchase maize by giving money to their headmen.

From Tongwe we moved about 200 kms northwards for a single evening at West Nicholson. Bigboy also brought brethren from Gwanda and Colleen Bawn. The brethren were so very happy to see us. Two of the men had received very severe beatings during the election violence. Several residents were herded into a vacant corned beef factory and systematically tortured and beaten with cudgels and tire rubber. One man showed us his hospital report. It states that his injuries are severe and likely to result in permanent disability: renal failure. Several months later, he still has trouble sitting and urinating. I had specially prepared a lesson on spiritual comfort, using Psalm 23: 4, Romans 15:4-6, and the OT examples of Hoshea (no comfort) and Hezekiah (comfort). I concluded with the beautiful prophecy of Isaiah 40. The man with the worst injuries is one of the most kind-hearted people we have met. He gives almost his whole salary to helping others.

On Sunday afternoon, I preached the same lesson at Kensington, near Bulawayo, a large congregation with about 100 in attendance. In the morning, I preached on Personal Discipline at Queenspark, Bulawayo – a congregation of about 50. Even though these brethren live in town, their extended family property is out of town, so they also received seed. Most of them are now either unemployed or earning so little they cannot survive, and so they and their extended family are dependent on subsistence farming. For example, a teacher earns Z$80 000 per month. A loaf of bread costs Z$500 000. Many schools have closed their doors. But many teachers elected to remain at school until the end of the school year out of love for their students. [Picture: One of the men who was beaten is thanking Bigboy for bringing bread to the meeting at West Nicholson. “We have not seen bread for months.”]

BENEVOLENCE - As you know, for the past 2 years, Bigboy and I have been messengers for the 19 congregations in the Gwanda South province; and Foy Short, Gumpo and Bigboy have been messengers for about 55 congregations in other provinces, mainly to the south and east of Bulawayo. As you also know, in September the congregations in Gwanda South experienced difficulty due to the fact that locally produced maize is no longer available to the general public, and virtually no maize is available in the rural areas. Therefore, all maize has to be imported, and this cost over twice what we were paying. This same problem happened to the other 55 churches. Another problem is that Foy is now well into his 80s, and is just no longer able to continue the excellent work he did for so many years. After much discussion with Foy, Bigboy and Gumpo, the most sensible and the most economical solution to these problems, at least in the short term, seems to be for me, together with Bigboy and Gumpo to become messengers for all 74 congregations and to ship maize meal from South Africa up to Gwanda and Bulawayo, where Bigboy and Gumpo are committed to working tirelessly to travel hundreds of miles down terrible dirt roads to deliver it all. (We are looking at about 28 tons per month – and they each have a one-ton pickup truck.)

After speaking with Bigboy and Gumpo, we determined that at this time everyone is in need, even in city congregations. (Previously we were only sending help to some of the Christians (the neediest) in each congregation in Gwanda South, and none to brethren in cities.) The brethren who receive parcels are extremely grateful for them, and those who send to them need to keep doing so, but the brethren also need their staple food. Please understand – 10 kg per person per month is not supplying all their nutritional needs. Those in the cities need supplementary food parcels and those in the rural areas need to supplement with roots, insects, wild fruit, and small gardens near rivers. We did not go into the rural areas, but Rob Buchanan and Bob Buchanon found some malnourished children of Christians just about everywhere they went, but particularly in the areas north of Bulawayo. They did not receive any specific names of people who had starved. However, it is a shame to us that any of God’s children should even be malnourished. Please pray that those endeavoring to help our brethren have the ability to get the job done. Seriously, we need God’s help in this matter as the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe worsens daily.

Finding out the government regulations and finding a reliable supplier of maize meal and transport company has been extremely stressful, difficult, and time-consuming. The first shipment, bought a month ago is still stuck at the border. However, once the wrinkles get ironed out, we should have a consistent availability at a consistent price. A full report of exactly how much money was received and all costs involved is being sent in a separate email to all those who contributed in any way – seeds or drought relief or generally. It is also being sent to all congregations/individuals who contribute to my monthly support. If you contributed and do not receive the report, please contact us. If you are interested in contributing towards drought relief and would like more information, please let me know. Presently, we are looking for about $14 000 per month. We have received about $7000 for January, but in order for the maize meal to arrive in time, we need to order and pay within the next 2 weeks.

With deep thanks to God, my brethren, and my far-above-rubies wife, Les Maydell.

NYSTROOM SCRAPBOOK - The landscape shimmers in the breathless dry heat of an African spring. The stark dead look of the bush is relieved by splotches of pale green (large trees whose roots go deep down to damp soil). Sudsy clouds build up in the beige-blue dirty sky. The air becomes close, and sweat-drops trickle down face, arms and legs.

But at least the clouds give some relief to the “queue” of people that extends outside the immigration facilities at the border (they have gone to SA to get food). Queue for the SA passport stamp, queue for SA customs (twice), queue for police clearance, queue to cross the bridge, queue again on the Zim side to pay for crossing the bridge, and again for customs, and again for car insurance – all the while watching with eagle eyes that no one “jumps the queue.” Two and a half hours later we are ready to go through the final car inspection queue – BUT we are parked in by abandoned cars whose owners are in some “queue” or other! With infinite patience in the 100-degree heat, Les negotiates with other drivers in the throes of their final exit to back up and allow him to back the camper plus trailer (which he can’t even see) around a tight corner between rows of cars. My job is to direct - backwards and forwards, literally over 10 times – and finally we are in the final queue! The customs official decides that the goods in our camper and trailer are worth less than US$900, and we are free to go! Welcome to Zimbabwe – the land of queues! In the inexplicable manner of Africa, people “hear” that maize meal or sugar or bread is arriving at a shop – and a queue forms.

Finally the commodity arrives -- but the police have also “heard” about it. They arrive and take it all, forcing the people to look for another queue. The water/lights/phone companies do not have enough paper to send accounts – so first you queue to find out how much you owe, and then you queue again to pay! Children have quit school and one spouse or the other have quit a job – just to stand in food queues or bank queues to withdraw the maximum the government allows anyone to draw each day – about what a loaf of bread costs. One of our widowed sisters leaves work 2-3 hours early each day – just to queue – day after hot, breathless day.

But finally, one day is different. A distant throb of thunder heralds the possibility of relief from the heat. A quick look at the horizon indeed shows a curtain of water several miles away. Suddenly a short burst of cool damp wind sends everyone scuttling to close windows and take the washing off the line. Lightning splits the sky, thunder bellows, and the rain pelts down. Within the hour, the sun is out and the birds are singing more sweetly than at sunrise. Within 48 hours, the grass has sprouted anew and the stark trees are delicately clothed in lacy green.

Along the roadsides, in their back yards; and in their traditional family lands, men, women and children are wielding plows and pick axes plus wheelbarrows of mulch and manure. And everywhere, everyone is praying – praying for seed, praying for more rain, praying for help – any kind of help. A few days later, Maina Nyembezi, a widow in her 50's, with calloused and blistered hands from preparing her lands, attends services – like she always does.

But today something is different. After services an announcement is made. Brethren have sent seed. After worship the brethren sing, as they always do, while they greet. But this is a song I have never heard before – in English – “I just wanna thank you Lord forever and ever.” As the song ends, Maina grabs the hand of another widow and brings her to me. “THIS sister said, ‘We are going to die,’ but I told her – we are NOT going to die. See! We are NOT going to die – God has helped us! I plowed in faith that God would help us, and He did!” Later that afternoon, as we sing the greeting song at Kensington, the brethren look me in the eye, giving handshakes are unusually fervent and strong, and many stop singing for a moment to say, “Thank you,” or “God bless you.” As the song ends, an elderly frail-looking widow with a face like a wrinkled prune virtually dances up to me. In her halting English she hops up and down in excitement as she exclaims, “No mielie mealie. No seeds. We die. Now, tomorrow -- I plow!”

People are always worried about us when we travel in Zimbabwe, but honestly we feel more safe in Zimbabwe than in South Africa. On our way home, the camper broke down halfway between the Botswana border and home. We were, of course, in the middle of nowhere. After two hours of Les trying this and that, he finally broke down and phoned the Automobile Association. We really don’t know why we belong to it since every time we have ever phoned them, they have some reason why our particular circumstances don’t fit their criteria, and this time was no exception. The nearest tow-in service wasn’t interested, and no one had the necessary part (a fuel pump) without taking several days to order. Les had a spare one, but no one was much interested in driving to the middle of nowhere to install it, and Les was missing a special wrench he needed to do it himself.

As it began to grow dark, an African man in a half-broken-down car pulled up. He thinks he knows of a mechanic in the village who will come. About 20 minutes later he returned. “The mechanic refuses. Do you want me to try someone else?” “Yes.” Another 20 minutes goes by, and he arrives with a mechanic. (The mechanic’s car is broken down so he can’t come by himself.) In a mixture of English, Afrikaans and Tswana, the three men get down to business, using a florescent light that runs off the car battery. Another car stops, and some more local villagers join the party, expressing sympathy and giving their advice. The job is finally finished and guess what? The spare doesn’t work either! So it’s back to square one with Les, the mechanic, and the “help” trying to make one working pump out of two dysfunctional ones. As the hours went by, the party gradually broke up, and eventually the mechanic says, “I am going to fill your carburetor with petrol so you can go a little way at a time. You are not safe here. (How astute! HA!) You can come and sleep in the village.” (The good Samaritan!) So he proceeds to take a large mouth full of petrol and blow it through a thin pipe into the carburetor! Les starts the car and we proceed about 50 yards. After doing this three times, the mechanic says, “This is not good enough. I am going home and getting the petrol pump out of my own car.” Forty-five minutes later he is back with an electric fuel pump “one size fits all.” By midnight we are 5 kms off-road in a tiny village. Les falls asleep so fast that he misses the RAIN - and what rain! At 5:30 am, he says, “Wow, I slept great!” and I replied, “Well, good for YOU - have you given any thought as to now we are going to get OUT of here? There’s not even a cell phone signal.” Les looks out the window at the soggy landscape and says, “Oh – Did it rain?” Well I would never have made it out of there, but Les did – giving all the villagers their main topic of conversation for the day!

Before we left though, the mechanic first fiddled with the electric pump to make a more permanent arrangement – and managed to break a wire off right at where it joins the body of the pump! “Oh. What can we do now? I can’t solder this – we have no electricity today.” So Les put his thinking cap on and drilled a screw into the place where the wire must go – so the wire can attach to the screw and the electricity can flow! The mechanic went with us to the nearest town (50 miles away) where Les bought him a new fuel pump and paid his taxi fare back to his village, plus, of course, payment. We arrived home with $10 cash in our pockets – this mechanic obviously did not accept credit cards! Ha!

We stopped in the driveway to give a prayer of thanks as we always do – but to be honest, I just felt kind of numb. I walked to the kitchen counter where Justice had stacked our mail and opened a note of encouragement that was sent to me by a lady who has known me since I was born. She ended her note with these words, “God will preserve you from all evil. He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and coming in from this time forth and forever more.” The tears poured down my face, the numbness began to ebb, and I could then truly give thanks to the wonderful God that we serve. Have I not told you all so many times how important your prayers are to us?

Please offer them now on behalf of the so-many brethren who truly need their lives to be preserved by the Lord. Please pray fervently that He will expedite the delivery of the maize meal to ease their suffering. We are waiting for government permits – and losing sleep over trying to think of other avenues to pursue as we are so very concerned about our brethren. Truly, we offer supplication as well as thanksgiving to our wonderful God. Les and I also give thanks for you all – for both your prayers and your gifts of love.

Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.