Tract Meet Diary

 August 30:  Clarity turned 3 today!  But that has nothing to do with my Tract Meet Diary.  I just want to jot down some of our adventures.  

 Today a little girl asked me, "Are you a whitey?"  I assured her I was, and showed my blue eyes as proof.  She just asked again, so I assured her I was and quit trying to prove it.  Paul wonders now if that means something we haven't thought of. 

I gave one tract to a lady and she started coughing and vomited (spit?) a few times. Hmmm.  

Paul had one little girl start crying as he gave her group tracts.  She said, "I read the Bible every night, but I don't understand it." And she left, but she came back soon after, and they talked, and she and two other children prayed and asked the Lord to save them. 

Tim and I got a bit lost.  We walked down one street, took a left and then a quick left to walk back, but it wasn't at all parallel.  According to my watch we walked 4.6 kilometers, finding lots of people to pass out tracts to, but not stopping long with anyone as we had agreed to meet at 6:05, and only found the car again at 6:23.  Tense times for punctual people.  

 Oh! Before we went out on the streets, we went out for lunch to celebrate our 28th anniversary.  We went to the V & A Waterfront, which is kind of fancy.  Tract passing does not tend to go well in rich places, but listen to what actually happened.  

 We had a place in mind, Hungarian Stax, but it looks to be a victim of Covid madness.  It wasn't open, so we hunted around for another place.  We found a seafood place, and Paul gave out a tract as the receptionist led us to the table.  A few seconds later, a waitress came over to our table and apologetically asked if she too, could have a pamphlet.  Then a second waitress joined her, asking too, and could they have three more for others?  Well, sure! We could spare them.  😁  A waiter came too, after a bit, to get one for himself.  So much for stereo typing people in the rich quarter of town!  

 

August 31st...not our best day.  It was raining, and there weren't many people in the community we were in, Retreat.  But we did not retreat from Retreat.  Instead we drove around in our car looking for people.  We passed things out the window to the people we could find, and got out at a few groups that took some foot work, and passed out tracts, including one nice long line of people waiting for food distribution. 

The bus station was a hive of activity, not like when the train was running, but still quite busy.  Many received tracts, some were glad, but I hit some real negative responses.  What's up with that?  There must be a reason, and I'll let you know if I find out. 

 

September 4, 2020  We missed the 2nd for torrential  rains.  We'd have needed plastic bags for each tract or they'd have been sogged up!

I just had a funny little thing happen. I was getting a tire fixed at the BP station, and afterward, after the fix and a tract, the attendant said to me, “Madam, I am young, and you are so old. So much older than I am.  What is the meaning of this sickness?” 

So we talked about if God sent it or just allowed it and he says he likes the work that I’m doing.  Nice guy.  But his opening line!!!  One of those funny little cultural bloopers for my culture that he doesn’t know he just made.  Came home from that, looked in the mirror and discovered I never put on make-up this morning so he can be forgiven for calling me “so old.”  😊

Yesterday while we were “tracting” I kept running into the same man, three different places.  The third time I jokingly told him he must stand still so I wouldn’t keep trying to give him a tract.  He didn’t smile.  He invited me in to his house pray for his wife Marlene who has cancer.  The doctors said there is nothing they can do.  So I did go in and pray.  End of story?  I hope not, though I may never find out the real end til Heaven. But I thought you might like to join me in praying for Marlene in Lavender Hill. 

 Still need to go out officially passing today.

September 8th, 

We often ask, "English or Afrikaans?" in passing out tracts.  Some people get amused by this, and try asking for other languages.  Twice people have said, "I want Spanish." and I have the joy of calling their bluff, by speaking Spanish to them.  

It happened again today, and the guy actually knew  a few words of Spanish, but just a few, and had to admit it rather shortly.  So then he tried French.  Now it was my turn for bluffing. 
"Bonjour" I said.

''Parlez vous Francais?" he said.

The only thing that came into my head was, "Cest la vie."  Then we both burst out laughing.  I hope that makes him extra eager to read the tract and follow Jesus. 

Paul was sick and stayed home yesterday, so Tim and I attacked Retreat by ourselves.  We were in one neighborhood where Tim had been before, but he was driving.  He said he thought at the time, "I wouldn't want to be walking in this neighborhood,"  but now here we were.  

Tonight Paul felt much better and was leading the pack again.  He said he had one bad experience, which is rare. He came upon a street game of soccer, and, as he approached, the ball came sailing toward him.  He helpfully, he thought, stopped it, and sent it back, and then tried to hand out tracts.  The leader of the group immediately refused, rather rudely, saying he was Muslim.  Others also refused.  Only after awhile did Paul realize the ball he stopped was actually in play, heading for a goal.  Oops. 

Tim and I met a terroristic pit bull that rushed the gate as we passed, slamming both front legs into a metal clad gate, making a horrific bang. I would have screamed, I'm sure, but I saw it coming so could just laugh at this dog who had his timing down perfectly to scare people. 

Today Tim had crowds of kids around him, thrilled to see the guy they had seen in school.  Tim does the liquor bottle "magic" lesson.  Today a boy asked him, "What size shoes do you wear?"  

"15" was the answer, and amazed the kids.  I told our little crowd, "I don't know how he got so big.  Maybe he was drinking giraffe milk."  They looked amazed by this, so I admitted it was just a joke.

For the first time ever, Paul had a girl ask him to wiggle his ears while out tract passing.  😊🙉

Another first today:  a boy showed Paul a picture of Paul drawing the rainbow picture.  Paul asked where he got it, and the boy said, "On Facebook." 

I saw an old age home, as they're called in South Africa, and just felt sorry for them still in isolation.  So I went to drop some tracts there, but I was beset with problems.  First there was a bee on the doorbell.  But he flew away when I reached up to push the button. Next, the man who came wasn't a Christian, but he said he'd take 50 of them 25 in English and 25 in Afrikaans for residents AND workers, so I'm hopeful.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adventures in the Hood

 God has stirred us up to go pass out tracts in some neighborhoods around our home.  I love the quick little adventures that happen each day.

One day we met a little girl whose 6 year old sister was shot in the head and killed by gangs.  Accidentally. I think.  I hope.  This little girl was 9, the older sister, and so sweet and cheery.  She loved going around with us and passing out tracts.  We enjoyed her being with us, and then she later told us her story.  Ouch.  I told her maybe her sister Nathalie has met our little Cherish in heaven and can play with her.  We don't know, but I'm thankful for the hope. 

In that same neighborhood, which is famous for the gangs' shooting, Tim and I walked through a "party".  Loud music was raging, so we couldn't (didn't have to?) talk too much, but we buzzed through this party where many people were smoking (which was illegal at the time) drinking (also banned during the virus) and preparing and smoking more drugs than I have ever seen in my life.  

After we were a bit away from that chunk of excitement, I got the giggles, telling Tim that was an unusual mother/son outing.  (Pray for those tracts to make an impact!  I imagine people waking up with the rotten after-effects of that party, and finding a tract in their pocket, and reading it and crying out to God.)

We offer tracts in English, Afrikaans, and Xhosa with just a few Chichewa left so we're trying to get one  translated into Chichewa.  Most people are pleased to receive a freebie, and we just have great fun passing these things out.  Tim particularly seems to get mobbed by kids who want to collect as many as they can.   

"Small Paul" is rather well known to the young people in these areas because he's preached in so many schools.  Eyes grow wide when I tell them Tim is our "baby", and they laugh at the idea that this big 6'7" guy is anyone's baby. Many ask, "Are you one that did magic with the bottle?" 

 I had a teen ask for 20 rand.  I told her I didn't carry money at times like these, but offered her a tract.  She took it, then protested, "I'm a Muslim." 

Me: This won't hurt you.

Her:  I'll give it to my Christian friend.

Me, smiling: OK, but read it first so you know what you're missing.  

Another day a boy was telling us that his uncle choked to death the night before.  Sure enough, there was a big crowd in the boarded-in yard of the house across the street.  They were just sitting there, many with beer bottles, looking sober.  They obviously needed to know the way to Heaven.  Tim looked dubious, but it reminded me so much of a "reunion" in Peru, I just felt at home and charged in, greeting men (it was all men), telling them "I'm sorry", and passing out tracts.  I didn't chat long, just kept moving.  May they be used for the good. 

Once Tim got drawn into some kind of bar/party joint while I was the one left outside.  I had a quick little  panic attack as my imagination went into overdrive.  What would I do if I suddenly heard sounds of a scuffle in there?  Time to quick worrying, start praying. 

He was out a few minutes later, just fine, and we continued on down some extremely muddy streets. It was like a tunnel of tin on the sides.  There was no side way out, we had to walk out one end or the other. 

Many times some tiny children, too young to read, will hold out their hands for tracts too.  I tend to ask them, "Can you read?" and you see the little cuties' faces work as they ponder this.  They're worried, trying to think if they can lie, knowing their siblings or others might tell on them, but they really want what the big kids are getting.  

Of course I cave in, and give them one, saying, "Can you get your mum to read it to you?"  Their faces light up as they grab it and run, before I change my mind. 

We've been asked if we're Jehovah's Witnesses, and last night some lady with a Bible wouldn't take a tract.  That's rare. 

 My friend Margie came with us once, which was fun.  She said she felt rich afterwards, and was checking out a house for sale.  We had another little helper last night, but we weren't comfortable with her following us when we crossed into another neighborhood.  That's when we discovered our helper wouldn't go home!  We had to walk back and hand her over to her Mom before we could continue.  

A little girl called out to us, "Hello, white people!" which made me laugh.  

We occasionally have rudeness, but it's rare.  Some of it we can laugh off.  If it's not in English we can ignore it.  None of it has been too bad.  

 I wish I could be braver taking pictures.  I've had 2 phones stolen this year so far, so it makes me cautious. I don’t want a THIRD cell phone to get stolen, but these shacks are fascinating, and the tunnel effect between them is like a HUGE maze on sand.  Thankfully little kids love to guide us around in there.  They tell us important things like where the dogs that bite are, and how to get out. 

                                                          Happy customers  :-) 

The sky above is beautiful.  The neighborhood is...creative.  

The little girl whose 6 year old sister was shot and killed.

A little memorial to Nathalie, the 6 year old, right near their doorway where she was shot.

Notice the one tract stuck in the boy's pants, so he can stick out an empty hand for more.  We don't stress too much about people taking multiples, but try to get them in on the fun of sharing.  "Who can you give one to?"  And, "You know, you can read the same one ten times.  You don't need ten of them." with a smile.

 

Kids leading Tim through the maze.  These guys were part of the crowd that said, "Make way" or "clear the way" much to Tim's embarrassment. 

So many needs!  May they come to the One who created them, loves them, and can meet all their needs.

This game of mancala looks fun, and the guys were friendly to us.  

 

 

So Much Has Changed

 

 Just a few weeks ago, before the world went crazy, Paul's sister Joy came for a visit.  Paul's sister Grace came earlier in the year too, but we have been rather crazy busy, in a good way ever since we came back from the States.  We were gone more than 6 months in 2019, so coming home in early 2020 meant we were facing a lot of undone stuff, and Paul was eager to jump in and start preaching again.  Blogging has not been a priority, you might say, but now that we are on day 3 of lockdown, I aspire to play catch up!  Starting with Joy's visit.  

Joy is a good sport.  I wrote to her in advance, and told her we were seriously behind in our newspaper distribution (they were literally up to my eyeballs deep in our garage.  Thousands of "prison edition" Challenge newspapers filled with inspiring stories of how God changed people's lives.  I asked Joy if she'd like to help me distribute them, and she said and enthusiastic, "I'm in!"

She didn't know what she was getting into this trip.  It began with our infamous South African "loadshedding".  It meant we had the power off for up to 8 hours a day.  The good part was it is scheduled so you can plan around it somewhat.  

That improved somewhere in the first week of her visit.  I read that some jelly fish had been removed from some pipe at the power station and we were done with power outages for awhile.  

Then at home we tried to upgrade to Fibre.  We had been on a list for months, and now they were going to do it, and they did.  Except for one little detail.  They needed to send a little code to our cell number, and our cell number had changed.  We had to do 5 pages of paperwork and scan that to get the change registered.  It took TWO WEEKS to change that number!  For TWO WEEKS our WiFi  didn't work except inexplicably occasionally between midnight and three AM.   Joy is very much a computer person so that was annoying for her, I'm sure.  

 Another disaster occurred while she was here.  Our beloved German shepherd Berwick died.  Her legs ceased working one morning, and we wondered if she had a stroke of some kind, as it was so sudden.

Then along came the Corona Virus.  Things really headed south with that.  I guess I don't need to elaborate.  Joy had hoped for some prison ministry, but all prisons were closed.  Schools followed soon after.  She and I kept up with our street ministry of passing out papers.  We passed out thousands!  We had great fun and adventures!  The wind made paper passing a wrestling match to hang on to it long enough for the person to receive it sometimes.

One time I sat down on a step to rest, and came face to face with rats at Steenberg train station!  Too close for comfort!

I ran around in traffic poking papers in people's windows, saying to myself, "I'm glad my Mom can't see this."  But it was so fun!  Many people were delighted to get the paper!  Some of our favorite "customers" were prison "graduates" who had received the same kind of paper in Polsmoor prison.  They knew Paul's chant, "To read!  Not to smoke!" that he would declare loudly as he passed them out.  They act all nostalgic about Paul's visiting them in prison.

Other Christians encouraged us.  One lady really yelled at me, telling me the Corona Virus was caused by "people like me".  I was grateful for a man who just smiled at her, and shook his head and encouraged me.

That was after Joy left.  I went by myself once, at a shopping center, and then Paul got into it after she left because by then schools were closed so he was more free.  We really tried to distribute a lot those last few days.  Paul and I together did 500 papers in about an hour.  I had some guys refuse a paper from me, so I smiled and said, "That's OK, my husband will get you."  They smiled and DID receive one from Paul.

Now we're praying they're enjoying these papers as they're confined to their homes.  Police patrol the streets and we're only allowed out to buy food and meds. I'm glad we did as much as we did, but we still have a pile ankle deep to give out.  I'm not sure when we can do that.

 So much was closed, but Joy and I found time for some walks. 

We took a tour with Cape Town Free Walking Tours, through a section of Cape Town called Bo Kaap.  It is a primarily Muslim section, painted in vivid colors.  We had a beautiful day, the last big outing before people began to be restrained. 

 Table Mountain looms picturesquely over Bo Kaap. 

Pigeon paranoia.  :-)  Or Keep Looking Up!

The virus cut Joy's visit short by about 30 hours.  She got out 3 days before our national lock-down started.

I am comforted reading the 10 plagues of Egypt.  They all could end quickly and abruptly when Egypt finally obeyed.  So that means our plague can also end quickly.

 "If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  But what if people don't repent?

Stranded in a township

Two flat tires at once today!   In Khayelitsha, of all places!  I'll tell you what happened.

I was at home, having all the crises associated with a ladies' Bible study (We ran out of sugar for the tea and a ball the kids were playing with went over the wall into the neighbor's house.  Rather tame stuff.).  Our niece Gloria was going back to her house to get something, when she ran into her husband dashing out the door.  He said Uncle Paul had called for help, as he had two flat tires in Khayelitsha.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khayelitsha if you'd like to know the history of Khayeltisha

The last time we mentioned Khayelitsha, it was when we went to a church there, and there were 13 taxi drivers killed that morning before we arrived.  It wouldn't be my number one choice as a place to be vulnerable, with a Jeep with TWO flat tires.

But it was good!  People stepped up to help!   A local couple helped by giving Paul a ride to a tire place.  A police man gave Paul a ride back to the Jeep, then he gave Paul and his sister Grace a ride to the school where they were to be speaking.  The school staff gave  them a ride back to the car.

Two of the people who helped refused pay.

All these helpful people were Black.  Racial tensions and horror stories are frequently in the news here, but the happy reality in this situation was kindness and helpfulness to vulnerable people.

We thank the Lord for His safety, and His people we meet along the way.  

 James went zipping over from home with that yellow coiled thing to inflate the tire. 

 It looks buried in the sand, but it's cement, not sand. 

Grace speaking in one school. 

In His Service & Loving It---the book!

 "But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully."  2 Cor. 9:6

Our family is known mainly for Paul's chalk art evangelism, but it is not the only way we try to reach people to tell them about Jesus.  Paul write books that can go where we can't, and can be read while we sleep, and can even speak after we're all in Heaven.  We do other things too, but these books are a big deal to us, so a new one, back from the printers after years of writing, editing, formatting and then waiting, is a BIG DEAL!!! 

 Tandym is our printer, so when the truck pulled up in front of our house last week, we all spilled out like ants to welcome the load. 

 Tim's friend Daniel was visiting, so he got roped into helping unload the shipment of 3000 books.

 In His Service and Loving It--fresh from the printer!  It's biographical, with lots of pictures. 

 The front cover...picture taken in March in Sasolburg, South Africa...

 and the back cover on our last day in Zimbabwe in May. 

 

James was here passing books to Daniel and Tim.

 

Gabby was here, acting with Evangel, another ministry.  They didn't stop to unload books as the guys had that well in hand, but they continued filming the last scene for Evangel's movie.  

Recognize Evangel?  She looks like a gypsy, but it's all part of sowing bountifully. 

Glimpses of our weekend

 We are avid readers of World Magazine, a Christian news magazine.  Every issue they have a photo of church from around the world, so I started taking a picture of some of the places Paul preaches.  A group called Livingstone meet in this building in Grassy Park, though it isn't a full time church building. 

 Our friend Oliver has spent 9 months working on building his own kayak.  It was a huge project!  His grandfather helped.  On Saturday our family went running down the road to the vlei near our house for the long-awaited launch.

 What a beauty!  The wood just shines.  Daniel fits in one of the little compartments, and Connie would probably fit it the other. 

 Tim got out there in a fiberglass kayak to show support for the glamorous wooden one. 

 Daniel waited patiently for his ride. 

 Back home, the youngest Youngs, Connie, Nathanael, and Daniel are a photogenic bunch.

Evangel and Timothy got a chance to do a puppet show and little program on Monday to a preschool in the suburb of Crawford.  Before they began, I snapped this picture of the slightly embarrassed teens. 

 And I double-checked with Jenny, to make sure none of her kids were afraid of puppets.  She assured me they weren't, but when the show started, FOUR little girls began to howl!  Jenny was so surprised!  Apparently they are only afraid of OUR puppets.  (Notice hastily vacated seats in this picture, and the little one in the white shirt is about to join the howlers.)

 For the rest of our visit, that little one kept asking me, "Where's the monkey?" and I had to keep assuring her, "Monkey's all gone."  I felt like a terrorist!

 After all that trauma, Evangel told a sweet story about a little red hen.  She used a soothing voice and tranquility was restored.

 Then Timothy did a magic trick with a beer bottle. 

Josh came along too. His speciality is crowd control.