Elerick Ron Cynthia 1979 SouthAfrica

8/15/2019 Elerick Ron Cynthia 1979 SouthAfrica

1/9

14th

February 1979

Dear Co—Laborers:

A few days

after

Christinas

I received an invitation

to

attend

a

series

of lectures being given

by

Dr. Kurt Kock, S ' German theo

logian, 1

n

J o h a n n e s b u r g . Dr. Kock i s t h e a u t h o r of s e v e r a l

books,

p e r h a p s t h e best k n o w n is

a

b o o k d e a l i n g w i t h C h r i s t i a n c o u n s e l i n g

an^ t h e

o c c u l t .

H e w a s an e y e - w i t n e s s to

t h o

r e v i v a l s in

I n d o n e s i a

and Korea,

and

I was pleased

to

have

had

the

opportunity

to

meet

him and hear h i s . . e c t u r e s .

A

great deal

of

practical kn owledge was

received which

will

be

used

throughout

my

ministry.

B e i n g

i n J o h a n n a c b u r g , I t o o k t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o h a v e m y h e a l t h

checked

as I had been havi ng some problems for quite some time,

i?® referred to a special ist,

i t was discovered that I am

suffering from ameobic dysentary i n the

advanced

stages. If left

untreated',

I

was told

this

would be fatal within a year

and a

h a lf

o r two

Havin g tne same symptoms

and

e x p ' e c t i n g , the

surgeon

had me bring Cin di to Johannesburg for an examination as

well. H e -

found

that

she

too is suffering from the

same

thing.

Th is too

is

very serious, as bein g pregnant they cannot give her medication at

there is dang er to our child as the

parasrites

could

a i i e : - . it. ^ Due to the extent

of

the

d i s e a s e - "

i n me, and the serious

ness of i t i n

regards

to

C i n c l i and

the baby,

the

surgeon has told

uswust move

to South

Africa within the

next

six

weeks so

treat

ment can be gi ven. We

were

t o l d '

that

it will

take at

least

a "

full

year to completely g e e t rid of the parasites i n u s.

W e h a v e

a p p l i e d

" v i i t h t h e

S o u t h A f r i c a n g o v e r n m e n t f o r

v i s a ' s ,

and

w e

a s k

y o u

to

p r a y w i t h u s

that they b e a p p r o v e d , a s w i t h o u t

them

we w il l not be able

uo

go there for

treatment.

If we

cannAt

go to South Africa, then we w i l l be forced to return to

the

United

S t a t e s

a n d enter the t r o p i c a l d i s e a s e i n s t i t u t e n e a r C h i c a g o *

While

i n South

Africa,

we

will be

active

i n

the Lord's

worki

We

will

join the

Cook

family

i n their

work as

well as accept

th e

m i n i s ' t r y at

B e n o n i t ^

As often as possible, I

will

fly

t^

M a l a w i t o h o l d c l a s s e s . T h e r e i s t - h e - p o s s i b i l i t y

t h a t - a

f a m i l y - i n

Z a m b i a will c o m e to M a l a w i to o v e r s e e the w o r k in o u r absence, and

w e :

ask

that

you

pray

with us about their

decisio n to

come*

W e have joined our Elders at Ponca City in prayer for our

total

healing, and we agreed

on

this expecting h ealin g. The

fact that

we

have

not

b e e n , certai n ly does n o t

reflect

o v c c

lack

of

faith.

, control.

He

knows all things past, present,

and future. Having prayed and expecting total healin g, Ci ndi and

accept our

present

illness

His

divine

will,

and

we

know this

fits

in^to His plans. Although

w e

do not

understand why,

we

expect these

trials

and

problems to be used for the on-going of His Kingdom. Now

more

than ever before,

we

need

your

prayers and conti nued support.

for

our strength.

These

livin g organism's take

away our

ysical strength and it is h a r d to g e t through

each

day.

Pray

for

eac h of

u s by

name It l o o k s l i k e S u m m e r an d H h o n d a

n o w

also have

W e have

so

much to do, and

so

many decisions

m a k e ,

we

covet

y o u r

prayers.

Having

received

so much

mail

during

Ch ristmas and

i n our absence,

e

are b e h i n d in

a n s w e r i n g .

Please

l e t t h i s

n e w s l e tte r d o

t h a t

for

s

t h i s t i m e . W e

know you

w i l l

understand the preassnres

we

h a v e.

very

pateful for each letter, card, box, and gift sent which

Ch ristmas such a joyful one. We

hope

that each

of

you

were

as we

were.

ote: Although we do appreciate parcels, please don't send

anymore

u n t i l

we

know

where we will

be.

If ssnt now, they

won't

get

here before we must leave.

It

is comforting

to kn ow that you God's people

are

prayi ng

with


2/9

2197

N WS

F R 0 1 THE

E

L

E

R I C K / ■ . 0 0 9

April

17, 1979

Dear Christian

Friends

itinn

to

y o u f ro m

Johann^sbur j3 , ^ . .Squ th^^^^ ^

, 5 t o d a y o f

tyino

u p

l o s e

ends

I am M /r

J u s t ^ n o r r a a r e r r a n d L t h rb a n r ca n

t a k e

h o u ^ a

Y o u ' " ' ^ ^ 3 ^ ' ' °

s ta n d in a

l o n q

line; a n d

o n c e

y o u

qet

to the c o u n t e r y o u f i n d

t h a t

t h e h a n k

h a s

either

r u n out of m o ney o r their

a d d i n p

d o w n . Therefore, y o u either

d o

w i t h o u t

o r c o m e

b a c k the nex t d a y a n d

H O P E . However, G o d

w a s

v e r y g o o d to u a

a n d

w e were ab l e

to

finish an

that needed

to b e d o ne ;

w e h a d e n o u g h a e a t s

o n

t h e airplane,

itney

a l w a y s ovsr-book)

a n d n o o n e was air sick.

I

w a s

able

to s e e m y

o b a t e t r i c i a n

first t h i n g

t h i s

w e e k w h o

eald

t h a t

t h ings

a r e

l ook inq

g o o d a n d

t ha t w e

s h o u l d e x p e c t

t h e

b a b y

a t

t h e

e n d

o f

- lay. W e

w e r e

releiwed

to

hear

t h a t

every th ing

w a s

all

r i g h t

b e

c a u s e m y d o c t o r

in ' la lawi

suggested

t h a t

I s e e the

s p e c i a l i s t

a s s o o n

a s

p o s s i b l e . Pr a i s e G o d

t h a t

w e

m a d e t he

j o u r n e y safely.

A ch a n ge h a s been m a d e

s i n c e

t h e

last

newsletter

y o u in F e b r u a r y .

W e h a d

t h o u q h t

w e would c o m e

to S . Africa for

a t

least

a y e a r to g e t t h e

ameobi c o m p l e t e l y

t a k e n c a r e of in R o n ,

s i n c e

t h e specialist

t h o u g h t it

wo u l d

p r o b a b l y t a k e this

t ime f o r R o n to b e healed complete ly .

H o w e v e r , t h e

de c is ion

.ha| .

b e e n

made to

:«tl'rJl_to af.tsr

a

couple

of m o n t h s or

s o

treatraent

there^ W e h a v e been informed b y

o u r

doctor

in

R o n c a n n o t

b e

correctly tested o r h a v e t h e ameob i

m o n i t o r e d

there

b e c a u s e

the necessary

e q u i p m e n t

for

this

is

lacking.

will p r o b a b l y have

to return to

S o u t h Africa

periodically

up. W e a l s o suspect

t h a t

t h r ee o f t he girls a n d mysel f h a v e this s a m e

pro b lem tho u gh it h a s

n o t

b e e n c o n f i r m e d b y a b i o p s y - a s R o n h a s .

It

w a s very difficult t o le a ve o u r C h r i s t i a n s in M a l a w i t h o u g h w e

feel G o d h a s p r o v i d e d in o u r t i m e

of

need b y s e n d i n g BU1. ? ^ k i e

B r a n t to o v e r - s e e t h e work until w e/r e ab le to return. T h e B r a n t s

l i a ve b e e n missionaries in Z a m b i a for everal y e a r s b u t _ 9 E 6 _ n ^ w

Pl a n n in g to

j^ve to

^lalawi s o t h a t

their

c h i l d r e n c a n live a i

h o m e

i n s t e a d

o f ~ b e i n g s e n t to

b o a r d i n g s c h o o l . T h e y

will

b e traveling

b a c k a n d forth

to

H a l a w i for

t h e

n e x t few m o n t h s , b u t p l a n to m ov e

t h e re

in

September

if

their work

permi t

is

g r a n t e d . Please

pray

for

this It

is

8 0

important

to

h a ve

o o j ' t f o r k e r s

in

H a l a w i .

Bill

a n d

J a c k i e l o v e t he peo ple end h a v e g r e a t e x p e r i e n c e a n d k n ow l ed g e in

working

with

the African mind.

.

r ,

a i

A l s o p r a y t h a t a work permi t will b e g r a n t e d to

. D o n ^ n d

Meecham w h o

w a n t

to go to Malawi within

t h e

n e x t 6 m o n t h s .

It

h a s

a l s o b e e n b r o u g h t to o u r a t t e n t i o n

b y J R h q n d a

s

t ea c h er s

a n d

d o c t o r that she

m a y still b e

in need

of

special

t h e r a p y .

All

o f

t h e tests

that

a r e

available

in

'Malawi

h a v e been made, b u t n o n e

hav e

s h o w n

just where her t r o u b l e lies. W e

have

b e e n

earned

t h a t if

s h e is n o t helped wi t h i n the next t w o years it m a y b e t o o l ^ * ^ ® . ,

a t le a s t very difficult f o r her to b e helped. W e are s o very g r a t e f u l

that

G o d

h a s

a l l o w e d

u s

t o

m a k e

this

trip

s o

that

w e

c a n

start

e x h a u s t i v e

tests

to

see

just

where she needs

help

and

to

start.her

o n speech t h e r a p y .

Please p r ay

that

s h e will

n o t b e c o m e

d is

couraged.

I will expla in o n c e m o r e w h e r e w e

are

s t a y i n g a n d work ing whi le in

J o h a n n e s b u r g in c ase y o u d i d n o t r e c e i v e o u r

last news-letter.


3/9

Perje

2

Stuart

and M a r i l 5 m ^ . , P , f t o k . are

m i s s i o n a r i e s

who h ave worked i n South

They have just

recently signed

a

contract

t o

b u y

a n d p J L d ^ r e s , ^ d p . n h ^ t e l . , . t o t u r n

it

into a C h r i s t i a n c e n t e r

a n d hostel i n time to see

God

provide the

first

payment.

The

last R5hn

was handed

in

today

two hours

before

the

f/

deadline :

| r This

old

hotel has

almost

6 0 . , rooms, plus

a lounge, l a r q e i

kitchen,

f d i n i n g h a l l a n d s e v e ^ S ^ ^ f f ^ R £ i ? i ^ f ^

Part

o f a n g j .

j ^

^° b e e n

^ ^ c h a n n e d

i n t o

a c h u r c h w h e r e we

m e e t

s e v e r a l

Kmes

a ^ w e e ^ f ^

I J

Ro n n i e i n v o l v e d

i n

c o u n s e l i n g 24 h o u r s a day and

has

h ard ly had a

"^"'^'^'oment to himself lilt?e'"^ G od

that

h e

is

a b l e

to keep busy thoun h he iS-AiifXerino fro m .dy^pn.tery.

T h e . c h i l c f r e h * a . r e able" b w ^ t c h * " c h T ' i s K a n ^ M r r e ^ l p ' ^ ^ o T o v e

others;

feel'

S i i ^ a

' ^ i r #

i o H V i b ' t

^ a l d ^ a t m ( » ® p t T 6 0 P l ; ' i * v » a

u t

r ?

c

11

l o i n o o r : l r Ji r -

fr n j

, • .

I . = X ' -

5 i f - :

" i v :

1

' • I t . - n r . vl J

c . . 1

Please continue to p r ay for our Christians in Malawi. This is a

time

of famine for them. There

is

a

good chance

for

good

crops this

year

if t ie

rains continue

for

another month or

so

and then slack

off.

You might

rgmember

that

last year there was too m u c h

r a i n

and

the -

crops

rotted

on

the fields.

Our new address is:

P.O.

Box

17175

Hillbrow 203R

Johanoesburq, South Africa

Please continue to write to us at this address until

y o u

receive

word that we are

leaving for

Malawi. If yo ur letter should miss

us

f c

sre it

will be forwarded on

to us. V J e want

to hear

from

all

of you.

Yours in

Christ,

- T T o n

G- i ndi

and girls

■ T 1

t

• 'O

i.

V f 1r.K5\'q[ f 5 . 1

i,

■ • o ;1

nJ t

s n

i

y

,

I

I

'.V'-


4/9

J U M J q

1 9 7 9

E

V

S

r n '

T < E E L

E n

I

C

K

1 June 1979

Dear Christian Friends; '

Mow v / e appreciate your

letters and support

while we've been

stayinn here

in

South Africa. ?e appreciate

tho

concern

and love

shown

to MS

throunhout those difficult and unsure times.

Time is

passing quickly here and the Lord

has

kept us both busy. Stu and

n r i l y n

C o o k h a v e

q o n e

on

a m u c h n e eded vacat io n and h ave left t h e

running of Aletheia pretty much

in

ôn's

hands, resides the constant

work of o v e r see i n - 1 the residents, there

is

the all

day

and all n i - j h t

job

of counseling. People from

all walks of life

live here.

Me

deal with alcoholics, Jrun addicts, and street people as well

as

others

who

need

encouranenont and

direction

in

other

ways. The

other nijht

at

2: 50

a.m.

we

were

awakened

out of

a

sound sleep, and

when

Pon

went

to

investinate what the

problem

was,

found

a

man

in

tending

to stab his wife. Ron

kept two knives locked up

in Stu's'

of f i c e . r i on also

took

care of a s i m i l a r problem after t hat .

Mc

do thank Hod that these people

have

this place

to

come to

as

in

helping people with

their

problens, we are able

to

introduce them to

Jesus,

and many

have

accepted Christ because

of

this ministry.

Those same people are

now r e a c h i n r j

others.

On

top of

it

all, Ron

has taken

over

Stu s bible classes and

Church

services.

He also

helps with a

bible

study at its University. In

the

beginning,

r.on

found it a bit difficult to make

the

transition of speakin*^

and teaching

to

european

'iiinds

after two and a

half years

teaohinn

in alawi, but I think he

is

doing

a

great job

i y

duties consist

mainly

with

helping wherever

I am

needed.

I

help

in the kitchen, help with the office work, teach bihle

classes,

and help with the counseling of v/onen. There

is

never a

dull m orne nt,

and the need is very, very great

He

are very

happy

that the

girls

are

enrolled in

a

girls school

just

two

blocks

from where

we are

stayin ). They

are

having a

rough

time adjusting,

but

the

school

has a very nood reputation

with

helping

i m ; i i . rant children.

Rill Brant

has made

a

recent trip

to

'-alawi to teach st llakata,

Thunga,

and Hdanoa. He reports that all is well in ".alawi. '•©

rejoice

also,

that the Lord has answered prayer in g" r . r t " : to the

r-rants w o r k permitsr as they"KaveTust

been

nrantedî^ Thu U ' a n L s

sbourd htj

11

i; iL' " "a nd v/orkinn in

".aTavrrnêfore"~vlJO

rea^- s

letter.

woiTing

to h e a r t h e

same g ood news

r e n nf d i n q ~t t n?—

l e u c h e m family. Their applications have been subnitted, and they

v./ould

like

to be in •'âlawi before

the end of the year.

I

have

bad

a

short stay in the hospital for tests. Ron also

bad tests

but was there

as

an out-patient.

The doctors

suspect

that

I may have

Silharzia

which is a

tropical

disease, and

other

tests

show that

there are some problems in

my bloodstram

caused they

think

by sone other tropical parasite. They feel that this might affect

our baby, so please pray about this. * e have been informed by

our

forwarding agents that there

are

no funds

available

to

help us with

these tests

and treatment.

At present

we

owe

the equivalent

of

H

S dollars for tests already done, and the children need

tested

for parasites,

Rhonda

needs

tested for her

learning problems,

and Sunder needs

a

foot problem corrected. Anyo»>p wishing

to

help

us can send funds directly to us here

in South Africa

so

wo

can

take

care of our

health problemp.

It would he greatly

appreciated.

Mhile

in

the

hospital,

Cod led

us to an

Afrikaans

family. Van

and

Jenny

Van

dor 'Icrwe. Their

ancestors pioneered this

country, and

they

have

adopted us

as

their

own children. They are not Christians,


5/9

but we are

prayinn

for

t h e ^ i ^

their

daunhter Phel

and

husband

j G o r ^ i e ,

and

Heorges brother

R o n

' ' a r t e n s . Our noal i s

to

see this entire

family accept Christ

as Lord.

Ron i s

teachinn

Ron

'nrtens

at the

present tine,

and the

other two couples have

been

attending

services

the

past

two

Sundays.

Monday

n i n ht,

one of

the men

in

r ( o n * s

bible class accepted Christ.

Cvery

t i n » e

I

go

to

see the

doctor,

she

" ^ i v e s

? i 4 e a

different date

when to expect

the

baby. * ' e

know the

tine i s very near,

and

do covet

your prayers.

T hank

you once

acain for truly bo i n n

our co-laborers

and m a k i n * ' ;

our

work for

the Lord

possible. Please

write soon. May lod richly

bless

you all.

.

Hecause Jesus Cares

Ron,

^ndi^

and^iYls

P Uox 17175

Millbrow

Jphannesbure,

R e p u b l i c of

So ut h Afr ic a


6/9

A

Ron E l e r i c k F a m i l y vol.

5 - NO.

1

- D E C .

1979

t w a s Chri st m as E ve and 1 9 7 8 w a s n e a r l y h i s t o r y w h e n

R o n

penned th e s e w o r d s t o

h i s

l i v i n g - l i n k

" V Q , a J t C h i v i c k

f a m i l y .

. . a

w e

a p p r o a c h , t h e ,

z n d

a n o l k o A

y 2 . a A , w e

o i t k z

m a v i y t h i n g s

y o u

/ l a v e

d o n e t o f e e e p t x 4 t w y o u x

m l y i U t e M

tn K i n X o j x . F e w mU^lom^u

a x d o a i o K t i m a t J i £ W

w e

/ l a v e b e e n t a h a v e , o n e , c o n g r e g a t i o n t o t a l l y u n d e m r i t e t k e O i

g a l a x y .

a d v a n t a g e s

p i

P u s ^

d i r e c t

s u p p o r t s y s t e m t i c o n s i d e r e d t h e i d e a l

b y

m a n y

t o d a y ,

a n d c e r t a i n

y

b y

t h e

E l e x c c k i a m l l y .

W e

k n o w t h a t b y d o i n g

t h i s , t h e r e

h a v e b e e n m a n y h a r d s h i p s i o r t h e

B o d y ' ^

t h e r e . T o n i g h t , J c a n ' t

b e g i n

t o l i s t t h e m a n y , m a n y w a y s y o u

h a v e e n c o u r a g e d , h e l p e d

m i n i s t e r e d t o e a c h m e m b e r o i o u r i a m l l y j b u t I

w a n t

y o u

t o k n o w

w e

l o v e

e a c h o n e o i y o u

a n d

a t e y o u r s a c r i f i c e s i o r u s . I F E F L

T H A T T H E

L O I ^ H A S H E L P E V U S T O

C L O S E

O U H l J i O S T

/ E A R E l / E R M a n y o i t h e b a r r i e r s h a v e i a l l e n d o w n a n d I i e e l t h a t w e a r e ' a c c e p t e d '

b y t h e p e o p l e t h a n

in

t h e

p a s t .

T h e y h a v e w i t n e s s e d G o d ' s p o w e r

t h i s y e a r

in

w a y s

n o t

t h e

p a s t.

W E

P R A I S E G O D

F O R T H I S ^ B O T L O O K

F O W A V D

T O G R E A T E R T H I W 6 S I W 7 9 7 9 . I

t h i n k

b r g g e s t b r e a k t h r o u g h

i s

m y

h a l t c n g

u s e

o i

t h e

l a n g u a g e . A l t h o u g h

n o t

g o o d , I c a n

c o m m u n i c a t e .

t least e n o u g h w h e r e t h e y c a n g u e s s

m y

m e a n i n g s . I n 1 9 7 9 I e x p e c t t o

b u i l d

o n

t h i s k n o w l e d g e

really

b e c o m e

ilaent."

' M E D I C A L

C O N D I T I O N

S E R I O U S / S T I L L I N J O HA N N E S B U R G / N E E D P R A Y E R "

w a s

t h e

t e r s e t e l e g r a m

f r o m

R o n

n J a n u a r y

1 2 , 1 9 7 9 . W h i l e

i n

S o u t h A f r i c a a t t e n d i n g a

s e m i n a r h e h a d

u n d e r g o n e

m e d i c a l t e s t s

i n d i c a t e d

t h a t

t h e

p a r a s i t e

p r o b l e m

h a d n o t r e s p o n d e d t o

t h e

t r e a t m e n t r e c e i v e d i n M a l a w i .

D o c t o r i n s i s t e d t h a t R o n

b e g i n t r e a t m e n t

i n S o u t h A f r i c a i n l m e d i a t e l y ,

b u t l a t e r

i n a p h o n e

i n

P o n c a C i t y

h e

s t a t e d t h a t t h e t r e a t m e n t c o u l d b e e f f e c t i v e l y

o u t i n M a l a w i

a n d

t h a t a m o v e

t o S o u t h

A f r i c a

w a s c e r t a i n l y

n o t .

n e e d e d .

( T h i s

d i f f e r e n c e

r e p o r t i n g l e d t o m u c h m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g b e t w e e n

R o n

a n d

h i s

l i v i n g - l i n k c h u r c h a n d

h a s

o n l y

b e e n t o t a l l y r e s o l v e d

a f t e r

a b o u t t h r e e

h o u r s

o f l o n g d i s t a n t p h o n e c a l l s . ) T h e D o c t o r

that

C i n d i receive m e d i c a l

attention in

South

Africa before she

delivered.

T h i s

i n a

m o v e t o

J o h a n n e s b u r g i n A p r i l a n d

s i n c e

t h a t

t i m e

t h e

m i n i s t r y h a s c o n

both

there

and

also

i n Malawi.

South Africa has been most

varied. Because

at

Aletheia

Christian Centre, we

have

been

involved

counselling and rehabilitation work. The Lord provided a

old

property

right on

the edge of

Hillbrow, which

is

to be the most densly populated square mile in

Hillbrow, although not

a

slum,

i s

"in" sc e n e

of

S o u t h A f r i c a . T h e

58

rooms

of A l e t h e i a

tions for drug

addicts,

alcoholics,

ex-cons,

the emotionally disturbed and others who are

for counselling, and many

of

these have found Christ.

are also rented

to

those desiring to live in a Chrlst-

In

mid-July

Bill

Brant asked m e to meet

him

in Blantryre t o

discuss

the v / o r k

and

also to

help

him

find a house ($600

to

$800 a

m o n t h

rent) b e f o r e t h e y

m o v e d i n

A u g u s t . It

w a s g o o d

to set

foot o nc e again

in Malawi and to

find I

had n o t

lost

my

use

of

Chichewa.

My

first week in

tropical

sunny

Malawi

found

me down with

chronic

bronchitis.

However,

twp

shots

of penn icill i n and a l ot of tablets later I was able to be

i n the villages where I found the peoole

had

progressed in

the Lord.

The

congregation at flAMULEPWESE

had

begun digging

the foundation for a

new

building. I

hauled cement, nails

and roofing material on Thursday and by Sunday the walls


7/9

invironment

and

their

rent

helps

to

pay

the

bills. We

a library,

lounge,

kitchen, dining

room,

offices and a

h a l l (which was a bar)

that

seats

300. Families

wh o

in and around Johannesburg, as well as residents of

meet

here each Lord's

Day for services.

The Lord

has brought three

ministers

together at

Aletheia.

Dave Brown family

recently

arrived

from

Rhodesia and he

assumed the

pastoring of the congregation. Stu

Cook

will

and

rehabilitation mini stry

of

th e

and while here, I

am

planning to

establish

a

work

the

African people. The

congregation

here

supports

preachers, Roland

Joseph

and Reuben

Michaels,and

ministries at Eldorado Park and Crown Mines. These men

a vision

of

establishing a congregation in Soweto, an

of over one and a half

m i l l io n

people. God

led

them to

a n African

man named Mr.

Landa

who

works for

South African Railway

and he has

offered them the use of

house

for

Bible studies. We

covet

your prayers as

we

a permit to work in Soweto and as

we

begin classes

o learn Zula. Cindi' s min i stry cont inues wit h classes for

women and

youth, singing,

etc. We love the African

we

know about their customs, superstition s, etc.

an d

feel

we

can

contribute

to

the

Lord's work here.

were u p

T h e y report

over

200 i n

a t t e n d a n c e

e a c h

Sunday/

T h e f o l l o w i n g S u n d a y

I

h e l d

s e r v i c e s a t M A K A T A w h e r e t h e y

h a v e

c o m p l e t e d t h e i r n e w b u i l d i n g . L a s t M a r c h

I

h a d b r o u g h t

t h e

r o o f i n g

a n d c e m e n t t o

t h e m . I t

w a s

a

j o y

to

see' h e

f r u i t

of

t h e i r

l a b o r . T h e . p e o p l e a t C H I N G A L E

a r e

n o w m a k i n g

m u d b r i c k s

for

t h e i r n e w b u i l d i n g . B r o .

D i a m o n d

s a i d t h e y

would

try

to

complete

i t

before the rains

i n

November.

There

h a s b e e n

a split d u e

t o

a

c o n f l i c t

i n

l o c a l

l e a d e r s h i p a t

MPHEPO and thecongregation is now meeting

at a

nearby v i l l

age. Pray

that they

w i l l

be

w H l i n g to

submit

to the

spirit

of God and

that

this situation w i l l

be

solved by Christ's

l o v e . T i m e a n d a p e t r o l s h o r t a g e d i d n o t permit me t o get

to a l l

of the villages,

but

I-have

heard

that those

meeting

at NDANAGA, THUNGA,

KALINDE and WOWO are

all

doing

well.

A

call from

Joseph

Mvahiwa, a leader at

T H U NG A , revealed

that

the Lord was really blessing in his area. Willi e David, the

p r e a c h e r at

W O W O

is p r e s e n t l y

i n

S o u t h

A f r i c a

w o r k i n g

i n

a

gold mine. I

am

planning on

seeing

h i m sometime in September

and perhaps we

will

be able to have services at the m i n e

with the Halawian miners. We are very thankful t hat th e

Brants are in Malawi and will be working with the congrega

t i o n s ,

encouraging t he

people and cont inu i ng

t he

leadership

traini ng

programs.

09

Vdi, thz Lo^d has g - i v z n Ron

a

kelp being out-

numbzAtd { ^ O A .

60

Zong. Wodion

Ro44 EZeAidi

woA

b oAn J u n e 2 1 ,

1 9 7 9 , at

9 : 1 5 p . m .

He

w e i g h e d

7 p o u n c U , 8 ounce6 and w c u 2 1

Z o n g .

We

p A a l s e

God

none o^ the

potential

p A . o b Z e m & d e v e l o p e d a n d t h a n k -

y o u . ôA youA p A a j y e M , .

Ron's

tests

show

him to be

free

of

the

par

asites,

b u t

X - r a y s

do

show

a h e r n i a . B o t h h e

and Cindi

had

mild relapses of Malaria during

November, but

nothing

serious.

C i n d i p r e s e n t l y h a s n o s y m p t o m s

o f

b i l h a r -

zia.but still h a s some type of tropical a n t i

b o d i e s i n her

b l o o d

(not

yet

identified), but

p o s i n g

n o

s e r i o u s

p r o b l e m

at t h i s t i m e .

Rhonda had a battery of tests at Children's

H o s p i t a l a n d h a s s e e n

a t h e r a p i s t c o n c e r n i n g

her

learning disabilities. Contin ue

to pray

for her as she is strugglin g

i n

school.

Susan's teacher

requested

similar

tests

for

her.

She is

normally a

bright child,

but has

h a d

g r e a t d i f f i c u l t y i n r e m e m b e r i n g

t h i n g s

since contacting cerebral

malaria.

W e n d y

h a s

b e e n e x a m i n e d r e g a r d i n g h e r h e a d

a c h e s a n d

d i z z y n e s s , b u t t h u s far n o t h i n g

h a s

been

found.

Summer is doing just fine a n d seems to b e

in to everything at the same time.

Nathan had some kind of measels,but 2 trips

to the doctor and he

is

now over

them.

R o n writes: "Everything seems fine

n o w

a n d

a l l

- m c d i c 3 - l - . £ . ' s p e n 5 . e £ - h a v e > e . e i i _ j e . t - v

_We.will

a l w a y s r e m e m b e r a n d b e t h a n k f u l t o y o u , G o d ' s

p e o p l e , f o r h e l p i n g u s a s y o u h a v e . M a y G o d

r i c h l y b l e s s e a c h

of you."

The g i A l i t ate

enAolZed In th e

JohanneibuAg

GiAhi PAep

School

i x k i d i

i n

o n l y t w o

b Z o c f i A

^ A o m

Aletheia. They axe p i c t u A . e d

In t h e l A da/iteA wi nteA

u nlôAm

that

they

axe AeqaOied to weoA

but now oAe

weoAlng t he

wh ite

iummeA (i n AÂlca) unlôAm.

Al l t hAze

take t e n n i i

in

t h e l A

phy&icaZ education

c l a > 6 e { , .

T h o u g h

i n

S o u t h A f r i c a , e v a n g e l i z i n g of t h e M a l a w i a n w i l l c o n t i n u e . M a n y o f t h e m a r e w o r k i n g

i n

t h e m i n e s a n d w e n o w h a v e p e r m i s s i o n t o

m i n i s t e r

t o t h o s e

a t

D u r b a n D e e p a n d a r e s e e k i n g t h e

s a m e a t t h e E a s t R a n d

M i n e

P r o p e r t i e s .

M r . P e t e r s ,

t h e

m a n i n

c h a r g e of

t h e

C h a m b e r of M i n e s

s p e n t

m o s t o f t h e p a s t f i f t e e n y e a r s

i n

M a l a w i a n d w a s o n t h e P r e s i d e n t ' s C a b i n e t w h e n h e

l e f t .

R e m e m b e r t h a t

i t

w a s t h r o u g h a c o n t a c t i n t h e m i n e s t h a t

M a l a w i

w a s f i r s t o p e n e d t o

u s a n d a s

t h e s e

m e n

r e t u r n t o

M a l a w i

t h e y

c a n

c o n t a c t

D o n

a n d B i l l .

A l s o , I

n o w h a v e p e r m i s s i o n t o

m i n

i s t e r i n S o w e t o a n d I h a v e s u b m i t t e d a letter f o r m a l l y r e q u e s t i n g a

c h u r c h

p l o t .

H a v e

t r i e d t o

e n r o l l i n

A f r i k a a n s

c l a s s e s , b u t t h e y w i l l

n o t

h o l d a

n e w c l a s s u n t i l t h e m i d d l e of J a n u a r y .

W i l l

p r o b a b l y

c o n c e n t r a t e o n Z u l u i f t i m e a l l o w s . I n e e d y o u r d a i l y p r a y e r s

t h a t

I

c a n

l e a r n

b o t h o f t h e s e l a n g u a g e s . T h o s e , t o g e t h e r w i t h C h i c h e w a , w i l l m a k e m e m o r e e f f e c t i v e

f o r

C h r i s t .

( E D I T O R ' S N O T E )

A

f i r s t

h a n d r e p o r t o n t h e E l e r i c k ' s w o r k

i n

M a l a w i a n d S o u t h

A f r i c a w i l l

s o o n be

p o s s i b l e ,

as Jan and I ( m i n i s t e r and w i f e a t E a s t e r n H e i g h t s i n P o n c a

C i t y )

w i l l

s p e n d

a

w e e k

i n

A f r i c a w i t h

R o n a n d C i n d i i n M a r c h a s w e r e t u r n f r o m a t o u r of I s r a e l a n d J o r d a n .

Wbti

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

Nonprofit

Org.

U.S.

PO'STAGE

PAID

P e r m i t

No.

32


8/9

NEWS FROM THE ELERICK'S

Dear One's In

Christ:

On

the

24th of August, Dave Brom and I went to

Rhodesia.

During th e

week

we

were there, I had the opportunity to preach several ti mes; I

preached i n one

African

c o n g i - e g a t i o n located

some l 4 miles

outside of

town,

and

found three families of Malawian p e o p l e there. Because Chichewa and

S ho na

are s im i l a r, I . spoke in

C h i c h ewa, and

the Shn na pastor translated i n t o

E n g l i s h .

Later in the wee k , I ent, to

a

hotel v r t i e r e several of sur

m i s s i o n a r i e s

- w e r e meeting

to

disouss business

for

t h e Central

Afri-can

Mission. I m et

Da l e Marsha l l , J o h n Pe m be rto n, J u d y P ic ke tt, B e n P e n n i n g t o n a nd

the Do u g

'Johnson's. On our way back

to

S o u t h , Africa,

we

spent the nig ht i n

Fort

Victoria with

the

Johnson's and

shared

in a service with them. The fellow-

_ s h i p was really

great.

Th e terrorists have a l l but stopped

the

b u s h work

i n

Rhodesia, and our African brothers and si sters

i n

Christ are

prime

targets

f o r t h e m .

They-need

your continual

prayers as they face torture

and

deat h .

St u and

Marilyn Cook are presently

i n

the States

«n

f url ou g h.

T hey

w il l

be arriving

back

at

Aletheia on

the 25th of January.

Things continue

here

- as always. Monday .nights, the

Timothy's

have

their.

Bible- study,

Tuesday

night

we

have both a prayer

meeting

i n

the-chapel,

and a Bible

study

going

• n at t . . i e

same time.

Wednesday

night

i s Bible study i n the

chapel,

Friday

n ig ht

i s

the

Youth

Fellowship meeting , and every Sattirday

n i g h t

we

have

a Ch ristian coffee bar operating as a n . > u t r e a c h . for the street

people

of

Hillbrow.

In

Octeber,

we had two famil ies visiting from Malawi. T h e Brants «uae

down for a week and a half. They did some

shopping,

n d

Jackie

and

h er

daughetr Leslie saw a doctor for some health problems, and both are fine now.

T he J i m Lapka's also spent a few day's with us. They ape

a

pentecostal

couple

we

knew

i n

Malawi,

and

we

really

enjoyed

the

fellowship,

we

were

abls -

"to have-with them.

Clndi i s

very

busy-around.Alethei a, and i s a real blessing

to

the ministry

here.

She

works i n

the

o f f i c e , .• r o u n s s i s ' ^ and prays-vdth

the women here

v h o -

.need help,-plays the-piano for Ch urch, helps

i n

the k i t c h e n , . , helps as.a

'substitute Sunday school teacher,

orders coke for the furnace, etc.,

W© are both very

busy'from

early-jnoming un til late evening.

This p a s t "

month, I learned that

there

w e r e

m a n y . M g i g y c f l n m - i r u s y * • > & - - w v r i f ' i h g

•in.Durban-Deep, a

gold

mine i n Roodepoort.,

I

found out, that with a permit,

I

could work

w i t h

these men . After getting a letter of approvaX. rom, he

Chamber of

Mines, I went

to see

t h e -

Compound

Manager at Durban

Deep,

e u i d

h e

gave me

approval

to work

amo n g t he

men ,

I went

i nto

the'Tooms

of

several

-Malawian

miner's

and

visited with

them. It

was agreed that we hold services

with them. I will

be

worshippin g with-them each Sunday afternoon.

I have an appointment to meet

with a

Mr. Kennedy at East T ? n T i H Mines

near

Boksburg,

and

will also try to secure

permission

to hold services

and

Bible

■ s tud ies with

the

miner s

working there.

These m e n

work in

the

mines

here

in

South.Africa

for

a period of

twelve, months.

f the

Lord

will use us in this

way,

many m e n will-return to

their villages

h


9/9

We

met

a

young couple

while

Cind i was

i n

the hospital having Nathan.

K i m was i n the

same room

with C i n d i . Recently,

we

had the opportunity

t o

meet with K i m a n d C a r l

i n

t he i r

ho m e for b i b l e st udy. T h e n i g h t w e

arrived, Carl had sold a half million dollars wo r t h of insurance to a

l oca l

co mp a ny,

and

h e

met

u s

at

the

door

d r u n k . We went ahead

with

ou r

study, • . JO

Please pray

that

both

K i m a nd C ar l w il l

accept Jesus

as Lord.

T he re was a

b i g stor m t h i s

past week, and it knocked

several

of

our

m a i n w ire s

o ut .

We di scovered that th e present

w i r i n g

is

dangerous,

an d

t o avoid

t he chance that someone would g et h urt , we have h ad t he electricity

cut

rff.

T h e

e l e c tr i c i a n s

have b ee n w or k i n g h a r d t r y i n g to locate the

faults, et c . , but at prese nt we have

n o

electric ity. Our stove

i n

th e

k i t c he n

is g as, and the hot

water

is

provided

b y

coke furnaces, so actually

•

we

h ave

to

use

candles

o n l y for l i g h t s

in t h e

d i n i n g

r o o m ,

etc.,

W h at so me

people

won*t do to eat

b y

candlelights

Please

keep t h i s

i n your

prayers,

as

t he re -w ir i n g of

a

place t h i s size, w il l

ce rta i n l y

cost q u i t e

a

b i t .

T h e t h r e e oldest

g i r l s

are in t h e m i ddle of f i n a l e x a m s

now.

T h e exsuns

w il l

determine

whether

they

g o on ahead to a ne w grade or n o t - ,

Ja n uary

may fin d Rhonda i n

her first year

of

H i g h

Sc hoo l.

Susan should enter

h er

last

year

of primary sc hoo l, and V / e n d y will be

in

the equ i valent of th e

aunerican

sixth

grade.

S u m me r is h a v i n g

a

g r eat t i me h ere

at

A l e t h e i a . T h e re are several

kids

her own age to play with

a nd

they are al l ha v i n g

a

great t i me, a l t ho u g h

I

t h i n k t he m ot he rs wish they were

old

e nou g h to be

i n

sc hoo l.

Ha.

N a t ha n

is grow i n g , a nd

so far

is

pretty

bald.

He has

be e n te et h i n g ,

an d

shou ld have

a couple of

teeth on the

bottom s o o n . Some

f r i e n d s gave

h i m

a

ru b be r toy shark to play with

and he

chews

on

it

but Summer wants

to p lay

with it

at

bath time.

We received a letter from the P l oyd Stamm famil y last week. Floyd an d

h i s f a m i l y will arrive back

i n S ou t h

Africa on the

l4th

of

December. T h e y

p l a n

to stay

here

at

Aletheia

unti l after new

years,

before

re tu r n i n g to

t he ir work in

D ur ba n .

It

was

Floyd that ch allenged me

with

g o i n g to

Malawi,

and i t

will sure be good

to visit

vdth him again after not seeing

h i m

for the past fo ur years.

W e

are very

grateful to each a nd

everyone

who contribu ted f i mds w h i c h

payed for our

ma ny

medical b i l l s . Everything seems f i ne now health-wise,

and s i l l medical expenses

have

b ee n met . W e w i l l always remember

s i n d

b e

thankful to you,

God*s people

for

helping u s as

you

have.

You

have ministered

to u s , and we pray

that

God will

richl y bless

each of

you. God bless you.

T r u l y ,

the Lord

is

blessing o ur

work

together. T ha n k

you for a l l ow i n g

u s to be but an extention of your.congregations as we preach C hrist

i n

Africa.

Because

Jesus Cares

RON, CINDI, AND FAMILY

Elerick Ron Cynthia 1979 SouthAfrica

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Transcript of Elerick Ron Cynthia 1979 SouthAfrica