Page 6 - Good News March 2009 paper

y wife, Jeanette, and I (Tim), are culture. The drum is a symbol of power and baud to Africa to serve as missionaries in Uganda. They
missionaries in a country in the very royalty. One of the highest honours in the took their three daughters with them. One of their
Mheart of Africa: Burundi. traditional culture is to be selected to play the daughters, Rosemary Guillebaud, completed her own
Burundi is a country of many hills, the land of a drum for the king. It is considered one of the translation of the Bible that her father had begun in the
thousand hills. The hills are straggled with highest achievements a young man can attain. 1920’s. The translation was completed in 1961. And in
banana trees. The first thing that you will notice The drum is accompanied by dancing which only 40 years Burundi has become a country which
when you are in Burundi is that people greet consists of jumping up and down and claims to have a majority Christian population as a result
each other warmly. Burundians have a special performing acrobatic feats, such as somer- of the Word of God. This is remarkable if you consider
word to greet each other, “Amahoro”. It means saults. In some of the churches we attended, how few Bibles are available in the country, probably not
more than “hello” or “goodbye”, the meaning is the minister was respected for his ability to play more than 30 000 for 8.5 million people. It is one of the
to have full, complete and perfect unity and the drum, dance and perform somersaults. The miracles God has performed in Africa and He has used a
peace. A blessing is proclaimed by people over church meeting ended in a frenzy of drum willing servant. Today the Christian leaders in Burundi
each other when they say “hello” and playing and dancing but this is not the norm for are desperate for further theological training.
“goodbye”. It is accompanied by a warm hug every church. If this is what so few Bibles could do, imagine what the
and kiss on the cheek as a sign of peace. Song is a very important part of the worship effect could be if every spiritual leader, minister, elder and
Another typical greeting is to wish each other service because in the rural areas very few deacon had a Bible. Imagine what could happen if every
large herds of cattle. Cattle are very important people can read. Bible stories are transmitted Christian family had a Bible?
as signs of wealth and status rather than for through song but unfortunately many times the I would like to invite you to become part of God’s ongoing
their value as food. The desire for respect and meaning of the story is changed and the work in the heart of Africa by donating money to buy
necessity for respect is the cultural value which emphasis placed in the wrong place. The Bibles for ministers, elders, deacons and fathers and to
best describes the people and having many people have a natural harmonious rhythm that begin the first of many translations of the footnotes of a
cows is a sign of status. Cows are considered is captivating and very catchy. good Study Bible in Kirundi. You can share in this work by
almost sacred; when a cow dies the family eats The largest part of the church service consists contributing financially for the training and Bible
its meat and then plants its horns in the soil of songs, lasting up to two or three hours before translation work. (Contact Miederpark Mission Office:
near the house to bring good luck. In the the preaching begins. Every person in the 018 294 6900 a.m.)
traditional marriage ceremony the groom building gets in on the act, dancing before God. Tim and Jeanette van Aarde
would grab hold of the tail of a cow as a sign of It is a pity that the preaching consists mostly of (Missionaries supported by Miederpark)
good fortune before the wedding ceremony. the pastor screaming and shouting and making
Traditional beliefs place a strong emphasis on as much noise as he can to frighten his
fate as opposed to free will. The majority of listeners into submission and compliance.
people live close to the land and are dependent These leaders are willing but desperately need
upon the few vegetables that they grow. In Hutu theological training and spiritual guidance.
culture, agricultural work ethic is being taught These are some of the reasons that God has
to both boys and girls very early. They are given called me to this small country in the heart of
chores at the age of five. They are schooled in Africa to help ministers to effectively commu-
proper behaviour and in communal and family nicate the Word of God. Jesus Christ is the
values. The values include respect and Good Shepherd Who lays down His life for the
responding promptly and willingly to the sheep. The Lord has said, “I have other sheep
commands of the parents. that are not of this fold; I must bring them also,
Another sign of respect in Burundian culture is and they will listen to My voice. Then there will
to refrain from displaying physical affection be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16).
between the opposite sexes in public. Kissing, Burundi with its people have been forgotten by
carousing and even holding hands are taboo. the world, but God has heard the cries of the
On one occasion I, without thinking, gave people. This is the reason why God has called
Jeanette an innocent kiss to greet her - much to us to Burundi: to provide one of the first Bible
the shock and disgust of the locals around us! It training programs. Our aim is to guide people to
has taught us to be careful in the way we relate Jesus Christ, to help them discern the Voice of
to each other. Jesus Christ, and to let the call of Jesus Christ
Music, singing and playing drums are at the ring out through us.
heart of the expression of the Burundian In 1925 God sent Harold and Margaret Guille-

is vroeg Sondagoggend en die kombi as hy nie gestuur
dreunsing op die plaaspad anderkant is nie? Daar
Ddie Vaalrivier. “Oom Ben” soos hy by staan ook ge-
ieder en elk bekend staan, is besig om een van skrywe: “Hoe
daai laaaang stories te vertel. So tussendeur wonderlik klink
klink sy aansteeklike laggie. Hy geniet sy eie die voetstappe
storie só dat jy nie anders kan as om te luister van die wat die
nie. Hy gaan maak ? Kaapse draai met elke goeie boodskap
storie, kompleet soos oor’le Jan Spies! bring”
Ons is op pad na Rosevale. Dis vanoggend (Rom.10:14-16).
weer oom Ben se beurt om die evangeliste en Terwyl ek die
hulpwerkers te gaan aflaai. Jy skop nie spanwerk dop-
sommer agter elke bos ? man met soveel hou en die passie
deursettingsvermoë uit nie. Hy is altyd sien waarmee
vriendelik, altyd hulpvaardig en altyd nederig hulle die Woord
en beskeie. “Goud van die aarde” sou my ma deel, die erns op Oom Ben Geldenhuys
sê! Hy doen sy ding so stil-stil elke Sondag. hulle gesigte
Sien, dit is sy manier om die Evangelie onder wanneer hulle biddend met God praat, begin
die plaaswerkers uit te dra. Lena word eers by die Skrifgedeelte vir my sin maak.
Chubby Chick afgelaai en daar anderkant by Ek weet, eendag sal oom Ben en sy helpers in
Noric Farm, is dit Joubert en Rosie se beurt die hemel aankom en die oes sien wat deur
om af te klim. Joseph is die laaste om af te klim hul beskeie werk ingesamel is. Stilweg sê ek
by Rosevale. Elke evangelis en geestelike dankie vir vriendelike boere wat ons so
werker het sy taak om te doen. Party hou toegeeflik op hul plase ontvang...
Sondagskool vir die kinders op die plaas en Ek sien die waardering, liefde en dankbaar-
ander preek met groot erns. heid op die gesiggies van die plaaswerkers.
Terwyl Joseph preek, wonder ek stilweg: hoe Gesiggies wat sê: “Dankie dat julle ons nie
sal die mense tog hier buite op die plaas by die vergeet nie”.
kerk kom, as die kerk nie na hulle kom nie? Ek Naskrif: Oom Ben en die evangeliste is deel
onthou die woorde ... “Maar hoe kan ? mens van Miederpark se plaaslike Sendinguitreike.
Hom aanroep as jy nie in Hom glo nie? En hoe As ons nog helpers en voertuie ontvang, kan
kan jy in Hom glo as jy nie van Hom gehoor het ons nog meer mense bereik.
nie? En hoe kan jy van Hom hoor sonder Skakel die Sendingkantoor soggens by 018
iemand wat preek? En hoe kan iemand preek 294 3900 as jy wil help!
Hierdie bladsy se inhoud is voorsien en geborg deur NG Kerk Miederpark, Potchefstroom