February 2002 Dear Friends, near and far, Since completing our assignment at Moffat Mission, Kuruman, South Africa, on June 30, 2001 Lawrence and I have travelled many miles to many places to visit many people. We began by driving around South Africa and Swaziland to see old friends and people we have worked with since 1963. We flew from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, to Detroit, Michigan, USA, at the end of July. We were in Michigan for the entire month of August. We stayed with Glenda and her family [husband, Raymond, and daughters, Cassandra (8) and Sarah(2)] in Ann Arbor and also spent time with my sister Leah and her husband, John Atwater who live nearby. We spent ten days with children and grandchildren at our old family cottage on Higgins Lake in central Michigan, rediscovering the delights of my native state: swimming in a clear blue fresh water lake, taking walks in the woods, looking for beavers, squirrels, chipmunks and white tailed deer, picking wild blueberries, smelling sweetfern and chewing wintergreen leaves. . . The rest of the month was spent preparing to visit churches - putting together a slide presentation about our work at Kuruman, and gathering books, posters and interesting objects from South Africa to share with people. At the beginning of September we drove to New York State to stay with Sharon and her family [husband, Mackay, twins Aurora and Gabrielle (12) and Jasmine (10).] They had recently bought a big old farmhouse, 20 acres of land and 4 barns. During September, October and November we travelled to Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut. We visited churches we had visited previously and had wonderful reunions with old friends. We also visited many churches that were new to us and made many new friends. The most usual pattern for a weekday visit would be to arrive at a church about 4 p.m. to meet the minister or mission committee chair person, set up our displays and projector, and be ready to talk to people as they came about 5:30 bearing some delicious contribution to a potluck supper. After supper we would present our program. Lawrence would begin by bringing greetings from our colleagues at Moffat Mission and from our brothers and sisters in the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa. He would thank the church for its support of our work through their regular giving to Our Church's Wider Mission. I would give a short geography lesson on Southern Africa pointing out the places where we had worked in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. Our 25 minute slide presentation focussed on Moffat Mission and our ministries there from 1998 - 2001. Lawrence talked about the Kalahari Desert School of Theology, describing its programs and some of his students. I talked about my work as librarian of the beautiful new Robert Moffat Library. I described our exciting outreach program to pre-school teachers and my colleague, Lorato Trok, who is carrying on the work we started together. We spoke about the historic emphases of mission -- education, literature, justice -- and described how these same emphases are working out in new ways in post-apartheid South Africa. In the 1820s, Robert Moffat opened primary schools to teach people to read and write. Today Moffat Mission is teaching people how to participate in a newly democratic country through voter education courses, and courses for community leaders and members of school boards. We pointed out how important is it to learn from the past and build on it. We talked about the September 1999 celebration at the Mission of 200 years of Congregational work and witness in Southern Africa. In conclusion I invited people to join me in singing (tune: New Century Hymnal, No. 742) this prayer:          Gathered here we remember those who served.            We rejoice that You still call us.          Guide us to use our gifts in service to Your world.             God, hear our prayer. We would answer questions for about half an hour, chat with people and spend the night at the home of one of the church members. We were grateful for opportunities to share more about our work and the faith of people in South Africa as well as to learn about the concerns, lives and faith of people in the United States. On Sundays, Lawrence usually preached during a worship service and then we would meet with a smaller portion of the congregation to present our program. People were curious about post apartheid South Africa. Many were concerned about the problems of crime and AIDS in South Africa. Many were surprised that the adults we worked with at Kuruman were so well-dressed and educated. They hadn't realized how modern a country South Africa is. We enjoyed our time of itineration very much. Adding to our pleasure were opportunities for walking in state parks when the leaves of the trees had changed to their glorious autumn colors of red, gold, yellow and bronze. In November we travelled to Cleveland, Ohio to attend the annual meeting of Global Ministries, the mission board of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). (The UCC part of the board has changed several times. We first knew it as the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. When we were appointed in 1962, it was The United Church Board for World Ministries. Now it is Global Ministries.) During the meeting we were presented with special pins in recognition of our 38 years of service in Southern Africa. Des van der Water, our South African colleague and friend, leader of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, was recognized for his contributions during his 5 years as a board member. The Board affirmed 20 new and reappointed missionaries. We were delighted to meet David and Anne James who have been appointed to work with churches in Mozambique. It was wonderful to meet in person mission colleagues from Nepal, China, Dominican Republic and Lesotho whom we had only known through the Calendar of Prayer, and to talk to board members from all parts of the United States who have been so supportive of us through the years. In December we drove to Colorado to spend several weeks with Jon and family [wife, Michelle, and sons, Ian (4) and Cameron(2)]. They live in Monte Vista, in the San Luis Valley, surrounded on three sides by mountains. We enjoyed driving up into the snowy mountains to cut our Christmas tree and to go sledding. Jon is a director of Agro Engineering - an agricultural extension service assisting potato farmers. It is the beginning of a new year and the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, retirement. We are living in an apartment/flat in a big old house in Deansboro (near Utica), New York. We live a mile from Sharon and her family. Lawrence's sister, Jaqueline Michel and her husband, Peter, live five miles away in Clinton. We are thoroughly enjoying being near family and the stimulating educational and cultural opportunities provided by Hamilton College and the city of Utica. We gathered with family to celebrate Jasmine's birthday on January 26th. We went together to a college basketball game. We saw performances of the opera, Turandot, and the musical, Fiddler on the Roof. We attended a panel discussion on Martin Luther King, Jr. We have been warmly welcomed at the UCC in Deansboro and will join soon. Association and conference ministers have sent messages of welcome. The New York Conference minister responsible for mission has met with us to discuss effective mission interpretation. We eagerly look forward to exploring the new possibilities that we will meet this year. We give thanks for our good health, for family, and for our many friends all around the world. Stay well, friends. Please keep in touch. Love,          Carol Return to Kuruman index page Return to first page