August 5, 2007

Dear Friends,

We left Atlanta (and three university-aged children) on the afternoon of June 25. The temperature was 95 degrees Fahrenheit. A day and a half later, we landed in Johannesburg, South Africa, and checked into the Baptist Guesthouse. On the morning of June 27 we awoke to frigid temperatures and a snow-covered world! This contrast represents the deep inner adjustments and mental "switching of gears" that we have done in the last month, traveling from the United States to South Africa to Malawi and back down to Lesotho. Africa, that wonderful continent of contrasts and rich diversity, beauty and harshness; kind, thoughtful regard and theft with corruption; extreme poverty and opulent wealth; warm tropics and freezing temperate mountain air. We are glad to be back and remain sure of God's call to serve Him here, and we are grateful for His steadfast love and care.

Alifa playing in the snow last week in Lesotho.

Better than the "bush telegraph" or the "talking drums" seems to be the PC(USA) grapevine! Many of you have already heard that the container we had packed in Malawi to be shipped to Lesotho was broken into, and everything of value taken. Those of you who know my extremely organized husband, can picture the container as we left it-all boxes labeled and weighed and stacked to evenly distribute the weight. It was ready for shipment. Then imagine our shock when we opened the container and found a jumbled mess! It actually took us several minutes to understand what we were seeing. Someone had opened every box and took anything with resale value-all clothes, all kitchen ware, toys, DVDs, CDs, garden tools, car and household tools, office supplies and equipment, furniture and mattresses and linens and all radio equipment.

What they didn't take were our family photo albums, and for that we are very grateful. They also did not take Frank's professional books and papers (some of the heaviest items). We are insured through the PC(USA)'s risk management program, and will get some compensation in due course, so please don't worry about us. We appreciate your concern, but we want to reassure you that we are deep-down fine. While it is an aggravation and a big expense, it was, in the end, just "stuff."

Otherwise, our three weeks in Malawi were wonderful. There were so many warm welcomes and much sweet fellowship. We are encouraged by the leadership in place at Ministry of Hope. We know that the Lord will take them from strength to strength for His good purposes in the lives of the infants and children there.

Zambia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian runs this child care center outside Lusaka, Zambia.

Looking a bit like the "Beverly Hillbillies," we began the drive down to Lesotho on Monday, July 23. There were eight of us packed into Frank's Landcruiser with luggage on top and a trailer behind. We had decided to avoid Zimbabwe, so our route took us through Zambia and Botswana into South Africa and on to Lesotho. Along the way we visited partner-church projects for orphans, experienced the bright lights of three major cities, stayed at a mission station on the banks of the Zambezi River, saw spectacular Victoria Falls and herds and herds of elephant in Chobe National Park, drove through miles of scrub land dotted with cattle, and ended up in Lesotho, otherwise known as the "kingdom in the sky." It was a distance of 1,950 miles in which we left the tropics and drove into winter in the southern temperate zone.

The Lesotho Evangelical Church (LEC) leaders had very kindly arranged for our arrival, with a freshly painted house and beds made! We were so grateful. Our to-do list remains long, but we are here safely, and all are well and in good spirits. We wanted you to know that and to thank God with us for His provision and care. Our mailing address, for the time being, is c/o CHAL, P.O. Box 1632, Maseru, Lesotho (southern Africa). CHAL stands for the Christian Health Association of Lesotho, our hosts. We can still be contacted by email at fdimmock@yahoo.com , but we do not have a local Internet provider yet.

Matters for prayer include getting a work permit, residence permit, telephone line, bank account (which can't be established until the work and residence permits are through), Internet connection, vehicle clearance and registration, and more.

Also, we must make a decision about the children's schooling. There are two good options and it's a difficult choice. Katie will return August 27 to Rift Valley Academy in Kenya for her senior year. We love you and appreciate knowing that we are not alone on this adventure, but that you are all with us in spirit and prayer.

Thank you!

Frank and Nancy Dimmock and family

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 337