The Bauer’s Journey

Sorry about yesterday.

We spent all day working on the CDs that we were going to give to the seminarians and professors. It was a long and involved process and we finally finished recording them all this morning about 11 AM. I think they turned out pretty well. We put them into a packet with a picture that Linda and I had taken with each student. We included a couple of other things.

We got to the seminary about 1 PM to set up for our party. I’d bought some cakes and things yesterday when I took Gemah to a bank that would do a transfer of funds to Liberia. Linda and I set up for the party. Cut the cakes, etc. We’d purchased coffee and tea because we anticipated a fairly cool day.

It has been constantly raining for 3 days, and very cold. There is so much dampness in the air. It feels like we’re putting on wet clothes each day… probably why I caught this cold. (Which Linda is hoping I won’t share!) 

But the time during the party was pretty nice and sunny.

The party went very well. The students enjoyed the cake, and the game Linda had planned.  We showed half the pictures. Then they went outside and busted some moves on the grass while we played some music. Then they came back in and we watched the rest of the pictures. After pictures we had anyone who wanted to, come up and sing a song. We recorded some performances for you and we hope to show them to you when we get them edited a bit. When they’re singing their songs they can really get into it.

After the picture party was over, we spent some time talking to various students. We had a great conversation with Bongani, a Zulu, who has a big job ahead of him when he graduates. His people were particularly misused by the early missionaries and colonialists who came with them into South Africa. They have a great bias against the Christian church and believe it is only a white man’s religion. He was telling us about a particular cult that has sprung up. They use only the OT and believe their prophet is the one Isaiah prophesied about. It was very interesting to hear him talk about it. Especially the fact that they instruct thier people to make human sacrifices for particular offenses, or for various blessings.

As I said, the rain held off while our party was going, but almost as soon as we got home it began to rain again.

Tomorrow we have a rather full day. We have a number of things to do on campus to get ready for tomorrow…we have to pack…and we have a 60th birthday party to attend.

Sunday will be packed, with confirmation service in a.m., followed by a special lunch.  Guenther and Hannah take us to the airport around 4. If there are no delays we will leave Johannesburg on flight 6446 at 8:15, arrive in London at 6:20 a.m., Sept. 30. Then, on flight 99 at 7:55 a.m. to arrive in Chicago at 10:20 a.m. on Oct. 1. And finally, taking off in American flight 1063 from Chicago at noon, and arriving in Denver at 1:30 p.m. on Oct 1. We can’t see all of you soon enough… pray for no delays!

Since its almost time to go home now…this will be the last blog posting until after we get back. Soon, it will be in person!

Love, in Christ,

Pastor and Linda

Today was a cool and very windy day. There’s a big rain storm forecasted for tonight.

We spent the morning working on all our pictures for the CD, sending pictures to the picture blog, and sending a few emails. Whittling a hundreds of pictures down to a number that will fit on a CD is taking some time.

At 12:15 PM we went to the camera shop to get the verdict on the video camera. It couldn’t be fixed. No parts are available in South Africa to get the job done. The repairman also told us he had no way of getting what we had on the camera off the old hard drive. From there we went to campus to take some pictures that needed to be redone. Linda practiced on the organ, I downloaded some pictures Guther had taken on Monday, and we talked with a number of students. Then we loaded the last four seminarians whom we hadn’t had for a meal yet into the car and went up to the house.

We had a very nice lunch with Peter Maganda from Uganda; Boitumelo, Silas and Bongani, all of South Africa. We had a wide-ranging discussion on potential wives, South African and American politics, their church and community. They stayed for most of the afternoon, then I took them back down to campus.

This evening we have continued to work on projects that will tie up the loose ends still dangling as we near the end of our time here. We’re going to have to work pretty hard tomorrow morning to get the CD into shape because it has to be ready for the Friday party. Sermon prep is falling behind and Linda isn’t getting the practicing done that she usually gets in. We definitely should have brought two computers. Oh, well.

Its now 10:20 PM our time so I’m going to wrap this up and get to bed.

Blessings,

Pastor and Linda

This morning it was quite cool and overcast when we awakened. The forecast was for a 30% chance of rain. It never rained but it has gotten quite cool this evening.

We worked on making a CD of our time here and a personalized picture for each student. We’ll be handing them out at the picture party. But we have a long way to go on that project yet.

When we got to the seminary there were odds and ends to attend to. Hymns for Sunday needed to be selected. We have a few retake pictures to get done. One of the student’s brother-in-law died suddenly this morning. He was only in his 20s and left the student’s sister with 3 small children. We saw Peter Maganda who had just arrived back from Uganda.

At about 2 PM we left for the little strip mall where we’ve often shopped, taking Gemah Ballah from Liberia along. Linda went to get some supplies and groceries while Gemah and I first deposited Sunday offerings and then went to another branch of the bank to try and send money to Liberia. It took an incredibily long time. We were there for over an hour. Filling out forms, waiting. Filling out more forms…waiting. And then finally the woman came to us and said she was going to have to give the money back and cancel the whole deal because it isn’t possible to transfer money from South Africa to Liberia. Some diplomatic thing. She said she knew it probably wasn’t going to work…but put us through all of that anyway.

Gemah was very disappointed. I’ve sent him to his embassy to see if there’s anything they can do or suggest. There has to be a way to get his done…and we’ll find it.

We found out late this afternoon that our video camera may not be fixable. He’s going to give us the hard drive from it to see if we can find someone here in the states who can get the information off of it. We’ll get the final verdict tomorrow on costs and time frames for a “possible” fix. We’ll hope for the best.

Tonight has been a rather long evening downloading pictures, printing pictures and working on things for the CD. But the upshot is that its another day down. Tomorrow is hump day and we’re well on our way to the weekend and being homeward bound.

Until tomorrow.

Love in Christ,

Pastor and Linda

Today is a national holiday in South Africa called “Heritage Day.” There’s speeches made, games played… and the best part for most, a day off.

We spent the morning working around the house…doing laundry…downloading and uploading pictures…etc. I can’t believe there are almost 10,000 views on the picture side of the blog. I have no idea how many have gone to the diary side. We have also started working on the picture C.D.’s we will give each student and professor at our “picture party” Friday.

We left for the seminary about 11:30 AM. Since it was a holiday we couldn’t go to the bank and do some of the other things we had planned. We talked with the men about this and that. Ipeleng (the young man who had the ear surgery) had me speak with his mother. She was quite grateful for the help that you had given to her son. They really had no way to get this done. Ipeleng’s father is dead and his mother works as a domestic. She seemed very nice and I accepted her thanks on your behalf. Moses nose is starting to heal… he was helping to wash his friend’s car. Peter was practicing guitar (that you gave him) so he is ready for Sunday service. Most of the rest were starting their lunches.

From the seminary we went to the B&B we’d stayed at during August. I had lost my hiking boots and sure enough, when we got there, they had them. I must have stuffed them under the bed and not seen them when we moved out. We had a very nice chat with the staff that works there. It was fun seeing them again. They are all wonderful people.

From the B&B we went to Guenther and Hannah Hohls for lunch. They had invited us to eat and to view the pictures and video they’d taken when we went to the national park at Pilanesburg. It was fun to relive a very nice day with them. In between we watched and had explained to us the game of cricket. It is a very big sport over here and Guenther likes it a lot. I have to say that it was interesting, but nothing that I will miss once we get back home.

While watching the game, Fred (St. Paul’s handiman), stopped by. Since he had the keys to the Afrikaans chapel that was being built from the front rooms of the house while we were living there, we were interested to see the completed project. It turned out quite nice, and Linda especially enjoyed playing the 100 year old pump organ from Germany that they are using.

Now we’re back at home catching up on emails, posting pictures, picking hymns for next Sunday and I’m starting to work on a sermon. Tomorrow the new classes start. It will be a big day on campus.

 2 days after we leave the Hoffmeier’s from the Southern Illinois District will be here for 6 months. He’s going to evaluate and fix buildings. Its not quite certain yet who all the professors are going to be. They are waiting to see if a man from Kenya shows up. There’s a new instructor from Botswana. Time marches on.

Monday is down. 6 more days till we head for home.

Love in Christ,

Pastor and Linda

We’re in our last week!

Everyone was complaining before service today that it was already too hot. Attendance was a bit lighter than usual, but it was an attentive crowd. They are fun to be with.

After service I had my usual Bible class. They got me pretty wound up (imagine that!). We got about a verse and 1/2 of Colossians two finished. It was a great discussion and it was my last one with that class. Next Sunday we will have confirmation and all the after service stuff that goes with that. Then it will be followed by a lunch the congregation women are putting together in honor of the confirmands and because it will be our last Sunday. I will miss that group because it was always an interesting mix of seminarians, congregational members and the rector’s older children. It all worked together quite nicely. They put up with me…what more could I have asked for?

During the Bible class hour Linda was working with a small group that will be singing next Sunday. I hope they prove more reliable than today’s. They had all promised to be to church early to practice and only one showed up on time. We’ll see if next Sunday’s group does better. In addition, Peter from Sudan is going to play guitar and sing, the confirmation class will sing,  and still another group is going to lead singing after the service in honor of the confirmands. It should be a great day.

After church we had Matlhatlosi Sebeelo and his fiancee, and Waako York over for lunch. Sebeelo and his girl friend are Bostwanans and York is from Uganda. It was a nice afternoon. Each group that has come over has taken on a different character in conversation. We talked a lot about Muslim influence in the various countries, marriage issues, government. It was a good disucssion.

This evening we went with Guenther and Hannah Hohls, to the Rector’s home for a Braai and conversation. The Rector’s brother, Garrett and his wife and children also came over. We had a great time. Talked  theology, the seminary, future plans, all kinds of things. These kinds of times away from the seminary are always rewarding and you learn so much more about people. It amazing, when you begin to talk, how many common links there are among us, even though we have come from a completely different continent. It is a small world (not withstanding the 22 hours it will take us to get home).

I found out that the Rector had found this blog and Linda’s pictures with captions.  I guess we hadn’t given it a thought. It was never a secret, but it was really started for Trinity congregation. Apparently its taken on a bit of a life of its own. We have found out more and more lately that there are people from all over the country who are reading this. The Rector told me that a potential professor for the seminary from (I think), Minnesota, knew about it and had been reading it. How he found out, I have no idea. Again, its a very small world. But I can tell you that’s another reason we will be glad to get home is so that I don’t have to do this stuff every day!

Well, I believe that catches you up. I hope your Lord’s day has been a great blessing to you. Soon, we will be celebrating them together again.

Our love in Christ,

Pastor and Linda

What a very nice day we had.

This morning we were invited to visit a South African farm about 80 miles from Pretoria. It was a nice drive down with Pr. Hohls’ brother and sister-in-law, Frieder and Carliene. He is retired S.A. airforce and she is still working for the government. On the way to the farm we stopped in a small resort town called Bela Bela where they have hot springs. Its apparently quite an attraction. We didn’t go to the hot springs but we did stop at a native flea market and the cemetary where Carliene’s grandparents were buried.

We went on to one of the farms this family owns. Carliene’s son works for the father of his wife. It is a huge operation. I counted at least 15 tractors, 2 combines and all kinds of other equipment. The country is terribly dry and so they do center pivot irrigation on corn and potatoes. They also raise a lot of cattle.

We took a tour of the main farmstead and then Carliene’s son and wife took us on a tour of some of the other farms they own, including one they’ve turned into a game reserve. We saw blue wildebeest, springbok, waterbuck, kudu, dik dik, warthog, impala, etc.

After the tour we went back to Wien and Lisle’s place and had a braai (BBQ for you non-Africans). While the fire was getting ready, we took off in the bakkie (what they call a pick-up truck), to see a rather large python they know about. We had earlier that day seen one of the skins she had shed a few weeks earlier. Judging by the skin we saw, she (python females are much larger than the males) must have been enormous. Indeed, Wien said she appears to be 4 and 5 meters long (13-16 feet).

On the way we spotted some warthogs which we had to stop and take a shot at. Wien missed. They must go hog hunting every night because they do so much damage to the crops. On a good night they will shoot 5 or 6 warthogs and bush hogs. Some of them are quite large. Wien had the head of a bush hog in his freezer that he was going to take to the taxidermist because it was so large. We were treated to a peek.

He was going out yet tonight after we left to spend a few hours working the irrigation wells and looking for hogs to shoot. They give the meat to their black workers who live in shacks on the farmsteads.

After taking a few futile shots at the warthogs we continued on our journey to the python hole. Unfortunately, she was not at home. She had been living in this particular hole for the past 12 years and they had seen her there as recently as 4 days ago. But the hole actually looked like it may have been abandoned. There were no recent snake trails going away from the den. They may have been taking too many people out for a visit and she decided to move on…or…she may have been out hunting and hadn’t gotten anything yet. If she gets something big enough, like a very large antelope, she may not eat again for almost a year.

It was disappointing not to see her…but it was fun to go out looking. Its very rough country. Ostrichs also run wild and they have one that stays very close to their house. It was a male whose mate had died in a cold spell about 3 months ago. He was a magnificent bird and I was able to get quite close to him, though we were seperated by a fence. I found out when I went back to the house that if he’d had a chance he probably would have killed me because they are quite agressive in the wild.

We enjoyed our day very much and were thankful for the opportunity to get out of the city and see some of the countryside. We got back to town much later than we planned and tomorrow is Divine Service and the other usual duties of a Sunday. So I believe its time to pop off to bed and get ready for the morning.

All our love in Christ,

Pastor and Linda

Today was a lighter day and tomorrow we are visiting a farm…things are starting to wind down.

Maybe just a few words about the things we’ve seen from the perspective of nearly 3 months here…Both theologically and socially.

First…theologically. These men have made strides toward being more confessionally Lutheran in the time we’ve been here. Not just because I was teaching them…but because more time in exposure to confessional teaching causes that kind of growth. I was responsible for teaching first and a few second year students in my primary class and so its not surprising to see what has happened. Its what God’s Word and our Confession accomplishes.

They began with some very strange ideas. Surprises came nearly every day. One group was fairly mixed up on church and ministry. Another group was very confused about ghosts and ancestor worship. It was this and that…and we slowly, according to Scripture and the Confessions dealt with the issues. When we finally got to the bottom line…what does God’s Word say…they were always accepting of it.

Some days we strove mightily. I had to drive the phrase…”I think…” out of their vocabulary. Again and again I told them I didn’t care what they thought…I wanted to know from them what God’s Word says. It got to be kind of joke that everyone enjoyed at someone’s expense if one of the men forgot and said…”I think.”

In the evening classes the situation was much the same. They had no real knowledge of the whys and wherefores of the liturgy…but they did want to know…and they do want to use it with their people. English is becoming more common in all their countries but they know they’re also going to have to do a lot of translating and they want to do this faithfully.

In regard to the social issues…there was so much sickness. Usually more than one student out of class because of cold or flu. York had constant headaches, Ipeleng severe ear and eye pain… personality clashes, low morale… not many smiles in the beginning.

As we spent time with them, they began to confide their fears, concerns, and ailments. They came to realize we really do care about them, their families, and their ministry.

Soon after we arrived the Rector asked Linda if she would play the organ because he had heard her practicing one day. He even mentioned in one of his talks to the men about learning from her in singing hymns and liturgy. Also mentioning the fact that she was a teacher, and they could learn from her.

The men come from areas where most women are uneducated and subservient to the man, so taking advice from a woman was difficult for some at first. After getting to know Linda, and noticing the improvement in the reading and singing of students who were working with her,  everyone eventually asked for her help.

While I was working on congregational items and counseling on this or that…Linda was actively engaged in dealing with the men on issues related to health and relationships, anwering their many questions and discussing their many concerns. In the past 2 weeks of break she offered sessions to cover the topics of their choice. She did not make the classes mandatory, but after the first day word spread, and eventually everyone was not only there, but came early, and didn’t want to leave.

She’s also taught them to exercise to rock and roll. They enjoy it tremendously, and have told us that they don’t think  about their troubles during that time.

When we came their living conditions were deplorable. We cleaned with them in their residences…and taught them how to clean. Now, no one is sick (even York is seems to be improving),  better attitudes, more smiles and enjoyment around campus. They smell better, look better, live better, and  passed on information they have gleaned to family and friends back home.

My work with the developing congregation as vacancy pastor has been very rewarding. At first, I had the feeling I was just another white guy filling in at a black congregation. But relationships have now developed and they are sorry to hear that we will soon be leaving. They say they will miss my preaching. They will also miss Linda’s organ playing and her organizing of special music. Things have been better at the Divine Service since we’ve been here…despite the fact that we have moved to a new hymnal (LSB) and don’t have enough for everyone to use.

We believe that God’s grace and help has made it possible for us to leave the students, the campus and the congregation in better shape than when we arrived. It has been a huge and demanding task…but it has been very rewarding. We have met people with whom we know we will want to keep in contact. God’s grace and purpose is apparent in this place. We are glad God has privileged us to be part of it.

Another day closer to home.

Love, in Christ,

Pastor and Linda

Ipeleng had his ear surgery today.

I got up earlier than usual this morning because I had to pick up Ipeleng at 6:45 AM to take him to the clinic/private hospital where he was to have his ear surgery. It was quite a long way and I had a certain degree of fear that I might not be able to find my way back. But we got there safely and I got him all checked in. 3 young children were ahead of him so he was going to have sit around and think about it for a while. I needed to get back to pick up Linda so we could be on campus by 8 AM. I had a prayer with him and told him I’d be back to pick him up when he was out of recovery.

We went down to campus and Linda had her last session with the men.  They have been quite affected by watching Linda and me. Their cultures do not permit public affection between husband and wife. In fact, when a man pays for his wife, in many cases he feels he owns her and she should do his bidding. This usually causes problems… yelling, fighting, drinking, abuse, and in many cases the woman becomes the abuser.

They giggle if Linda calls me “honey,” or I call her “my sweet.” If we hold hands or kiss one another they smile and nod. They think its great… and want that kind of relationship with their mates.

They enjoyed their usual rollicking good time during the exercise phase of the morning’s activities. Then it was the usual questions and answers about various things with the men until we needed to leave so that I could pick up Ipeleng.

Some of the men began working on a project in the church to get a cabinet emptied, fixed and centered on a wall. It was the usual men you can really count on…Samuel, Gemah and James. Moses Mokapanele, the electrician was working on electrical things and he helped with the moving of the cabinet. Some of these men are just a joy to know and work with. Others of them have a way to go.

I headed off to the hospital to pick up Ipeleng because I figured he had to be about ready to go , based on what they told me when I left. He was indeed in recovery when I arrived but still pretty out of it. I went to the nurses station to start paying the bill and saw the jar they had the tumor in so that it could be sent to the pathologist. It was about 3/4 the size of a golf ball. It was amazing! Dr. Hofmyr (correct Afrikaans spelling) said he was certain it was no problem but they would test it just to be safe.

Ipeleng took a while to come around but eventually I got him loaded in the car and took him home. I entrusted him to one of his room mates along with the two prescriptions and told him to make certain he rested for the remainder of the day. He has to go in a week or 10 days to have the wound checked and the stitches removed. He’ll be all right.

This afternoon we went to the mall to pick up the last of the things we’re able to purchase for the men. We purchased some Tylenol. You can’t get it over the counter. You go to the pharmacist, who marks it like a prescription (same stuff we get in the states off the shelf). She puts it in a little cage like thing and seals it, then you take that up to the front to pay for it. Wierd. We also went to the bank to find out how to help one of the men send some money so his kids can enroll in school. Thanks for what you’ve enabled us to do for them. They are very grateful.

The end is in sight. About 10 more days.

Love, in Christ,

Pastor and Linda

Today I went with Pr. Damaske and he took me to a place where we could get a used laptop computer for the campus.

The computer was priced right and so I purchased it. It will be a good addition to the campus community and will fill a number of needs they have. We also found a used guitar that they can use to help them with their music. Before Linda was available they had no music during the week and quite often they don’t have someone on Sundays. This will fill a need because several men have the ability to play it.

This afternoon Linda continued her conversations with the men on hygiene and health issues. They continue to attend these sessions very well. They also had a very loud exercise time with Glen Miller and other assorted artists.

I addressed a couple of counseling issues and helped to unpack and install the new washing machine. I also made arrangements to take Ipeleng to the hospital in the morning for the operation on the benign tumor on his ear. York, our headache man, is in need of more medication. I asked him to look at the container that held his medicine and noticed that it contains codeine. Given the amount he’s taking I’m pretty concerned about addiction issues.

Tonigt we brought the Liberian couple home for supper. Eric and his pregnant wife Laura. They are a wonderful couple. But have they ever had a hard life. They both spent a number of years running from war and living in refugee camps outside their native Liberia. Eric dodged death squads on more than one occasion because he was from the wrong tribe. His father was murdered by the rebels. His sister, as we’ve told you before was kidnapped from the refugee camp and used as a human sacrifice. Laura was a refugee from the age of 9. Fleeing from Liberia, to the Ivory Coast to Ghana.

Even so, they are committed to bringing the Gospel to their country as Lutheran pastor and wife.

Bad news today. I accidentally knocked our video camera off a table today and now it doesn’t want to work. I’m going to see if someone can fix it tomorrow. We just hope that we haven’t lost all that we’ve recorded since we’ve been here. There’s so much we want to remember and many things we would like to show you.

Well, its getting late.

Tomorrow is another day. It will be busy…but it will also bring us closer to home.

All our love, in Christ,

Pastor and Linda

Today we began with our usual meeting in the church. They’re getting pretty good about being there.

Linda and I headed for the mall to pick up things from our list. The list never seems to grow any smaller. For the most part the things are so basic. There isn’t much fluff. We’re close to not having any money to work with right now and the men know it. They are very accepting and quite thankful for what we have been able to do through your generosity.

The improvements and changes for the group and for individuals have been significant and important. They mention again and again how they were suffering and how much better things are now.

This afternoon Linda had her usual sessions with the men. They really enjoy it and they have lots of questions. I’m usually working on my sermon and so only pop in and out as needed. The students know Linda’s routine of classtime for 30 or 40 min., then exercise or dance before the next session.  When she announced that it was break time, Samuel (42 years-old) stood up and joyfully declared: “Let’s dance!” And so the CD went in and they did some dancing and exercising to the “oldies”.  Linda even drug me in for a few moments and made me dance with her to demonstrate the swing. They laughed and clapped uproariously.

Afterward the men come to either Linda or me with their questions, concerns and needs. At times it almost makes you want to cry. It can be very difficult. One man came to me tonight asking for help getting money he has scrimped together to pay for school tuition, uniforms and shoes for his kids, to his home country. The fees for transferring money are so high it eats up too much of it. He thought I might have a cheaper way to get it done. I’m going to talk with the bank in the morning…but it is a problem. And by the way…I’m not certain how he’s going to eat for the next month because he is doing this for his children. Sacrifice…sacrifice…sacrifice. They want their training so badly…and it is so hard to get it done and preserve their families. Linda can tell you the same kind of stories.

Well…its all we can do for today. Another day will present itself tomorrow.

Love, in Christ,

Pastor and Linda