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In April of 2003 as my wife Judy
and I were flying back to South Africa to attend my Mom's memorial service
we concluded that this may very well be our last trip to Africa. God
apparently had different plans for me because by July 2004 I was returning
to take part in a two week short term mission project teaching high school
students about HIV/AIDS prevention. The following is an extract from
my first fund raising letter for the 2004 trip and tells a little of the
early influence on my life by the Zulu people.
I
am excited to be returning to the area that I grew up in and to make a
contribution to a people that had quite a significant part in my life as I
was growing up. I had a Zulu nanny in my pre-school years and we
always had Zulu servants that did our housekeeping. I remember two
names from the stories my Mom told. They were Minnie and Dadai and
when ever I was ready to take a nap I go to them and tell then "nan".
They would strap me their back with a blanket and carry me around as they
went about their work I would soon fall asleep and then they
would lay me down on the bed.
I spent a lot of time in farming
communities growing up and all the farm laborers were Zulu. I learned to speak Zulu as a toddler and was always very well
treated by our nannies and housekeepers.
My uncle had a young boy start working for him as a farm laborer
soon after he returned from WWII and he worked for my uncle all off his
life. Theszu was the closest
equivalent I have seen in my lifetime to a biblical bondservant to Uncle
Stanley. When Uncle Stanley
retired and sold his farm Theszu moved with him and built a house on his
new retirement property and lived out the rest of his days with the only
boss he ever had and evidently the best friend he ever had. |
Glynn Smith
Born
in Pietermaritzburg Natal in 1949. Moved to America in 1986.
Discovered New Harvest Community Church in 1998 and started learning about
the importance of carrying out Gods Great Commission.
This
was something that didn't seem to be a high priority in the
denominational protestant church that I grew up in. |
