March 19, 2000
Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
Today was another of those different days in Swaziland. It was raining hard when
I started out from the Inn at 7:30. I drove east about 35 km where I picked up The Rev. Londaloza Shongwe and his
wife Dora, and we then drove another 50/60 km, with part of that trip on dirt roads (my rented car is now two-tone,
the top half white and the bottom half mud-brown). The road from the main dirt road to the church was rutted and
hardly passable, but we made it. Fr. Shongwe apologized for the late start, as several of the women and girls were
cleaning the church, quite literally mopping out the sanctuary. The reason for this became obvious later.
When the service started, there were about 50 in the congregation, about half
children. Because of the rain, the remainder of the congregation arrived in dribs and drabs until they numbered
about 125. Participating in the service in addition to Fr. Shongwe were a lay minister and about four servers,
with one of them swinging a sensor. As I watched the course of the smoke drift upward, I noticed that there were
many holes in the roof, probably why they were mopping before the service. The roof literally looked like swiss
cheese! The singing was a cappella and very joyful. The people are quite musical. The service was long, partially
because I spoke briefly and mostly because of everything that was going on. The spirit of these people is something
to behold, and it shines through in spite of the rather mean physical surroundings. The children sat through the
whole service(there was no where else for them to go) without as much as a whimper. The service was mostly in Siswati,
but Fr. Shongwe preached his sermon in English and the lay minister(who is a teacher at St. John's school) interpreted.
It was a most uplifting experience, and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit
throughout the entire time I spent with these wonderful people. After the service, the women had prepared a complete
dinner which we ate right in the church. I'm sure that this was done because I was there, and I was touched to
be honored in this way. I took several pictures which will be sent with this note, but they won't do justice to
this place or its people.
The trip back was over the same muddy roads but somehow the car drove a little lighter. I dropped the Shongwes
and came back to Mbabane, where my typing this has been interrupted a number of times because of power failures.
Welcome to Africa! And this country has a better infrastructure than many in southern Africa.
Must close now, as this is getting too long winded. Hope you all are well.
Yours in Christ,
Dan Land
P.S. The first picture is of the altar area of the church. The second is of the
rusty roof. The third, fourth and fifth are shots of some of the people.
The Altar of St. John's Anglican Church
St. John's Church roof
Two brothers on their way into the church service
Some of the women of the parish
Kids coming out of the church after the service