August 29, 2005
Dear Ones,
I love it when a plan comes together and all is in place to move
forward! As many of you may know, when I returned to the States
at the end of my assigned term for my time of interpretation in
late February, I had no idea what lay ahead for me at the end
of that time. Though I was clear about the direction in which
I was headed, it just wasn’t materializing into a practical
assignment through a PC(USA) partner. At the end of July I wrote
many of you asking for your prayers as I was about to leave for
Louisville, Kentucky, where our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Worldwide
Ministries offices are, and where I would have the opportunity
to meet with those who are part of the process of my reassignment.
Well, thank you for interceding on my behalf! As you prayed,
I prayed, we met, we prayed, I considered the opportunities and
options available and, last week, accepted an assignment to Lesotho
(pronounced “Le-sue-too), Africa, as the companionship facilitator
with the national Joining Hands Against Hunger (JHAH) Network.
It’s taking me in a bit of a different direction than I
had anticipated, but I’m very excited about the program,
the chance to expand my boundaries, both personally and literally,
and to get back to work in a place where I believe God has called
me for this time.
So when does this all take place?
I leave Sacramento on Sept 13 for the Los Angeles area to meet
the presbytery partners there, then depart for South Africa from
Los Angeles on Sept 18. I’m to be in Maseru, Lesotho (a
kingdom within the borders of South Africa in the northeast region)
on October 4, so will be hustling to pack, sort out my affairs,
and say some goodbyes, having spent nine of the last eleven years
in Pietermaritzburg!. Fortunately Lesotho is less than an eight-hour
drive from there, so I comfort myself with the fact that it is
within driving distance and I can come back on occasion
without major difficulties!
Again, thank you for your interest, support and concern for me.
I would cherish your continued prayer in these last days here
and particularly as I say goodbye once again to family here, particularly
my aging parents, who turned 89 and 91 this year. It has been
an unexpected gift to have had “extra” time here with
them, for which I give great thanks to my God, who knows the very
deepest longings and needs of our hearts and somehow makes a way
to bless us in that, doesn’t He!
If you’re interested to hear a bit more about what I’ll
be doing, here’s a brief overview. JHAH is not an aid relief
program nor is it project-based. Rather, it is a model of moving
from charity to justice in which locals determine their needs,
define and address injustices, and work toward solutions. The
network is comprised of local churches, non-government organizations
(NGOs), and community-based organizations (CBOs) in Lesotho who
encourage and promote dialogue so that people can work together
to analyze the root causes of poverty, identify common problems,
and devise strategies to address them collectively. Their vision
is to transform their nation so the fundamental needs of their
people will be met. Exciting, isn’t it?!
The five key areas of concern to be addressed are (in order of
priority):
- Improved agricultural / horticultural methods.
- HIV/AIDS, promoting education and behavioral change (my area
of interest) including child abuse, children and women’s
issues, access to testing and counselling, etc.
- The education system, in need of reform.
- Lack of community cooperation and partnership.
- Livestock theft.
A key element to my function will be connecting with a presbytery
in the States that partners with this network, and sharing information
and the practical activities taking place on both sides to both
sides, as well as educating each through these exchanges. So you
can see I have a whole lot to learn first!
Once again, thank you! With great love and blessings in Christ
Jesus my Lord,
Cindy
The 2005 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
61 |
