Postscript

We are experiencing a Christmas that is truly in summer this year.  The temperature is rising. Our days our long–sun is going down now around 8pm.  It’s feeling a lot like it does in June back home.

Christmas in summer certainly seems to have it’s benefits even if there isn’t snow! Many people head to the beach or go camping.  It seems like everyone goes outside to have a braai (cook out/barbecue) or a picnic any chance they get.  Many communities and groups have outdoor events.

Our participation in local celebrations began last week when we attended our first church Christmas picnic.

On Saturday we went to an event called Carols by Candlelight.  It was set on the lawn in a botanical garden.  Hundreds of people gathered to first eat a picnic supper and then sing Christmas carols.  Most of the songs were traditional Christmas carols, but we also sang Jingle Bells.  Dashing through the snow? Just doesn’t fit here…

Sunday evening we saw a local church’s Christmas cantata performed at an outdoor public amphitheater.

I think the next thing on my agenda is to have a swim.

Christmas in the summer in South Africa–it’s not too bad!

Popularity: 30% [?]

Africa has a wide-range of foods, and South Africa also has its own collection of unique recipes.  A couple that we’ve come to enjoy here are bobotie and yellow rice served with spicy chili chutney.  We enjoyed it at some people’s homes, and this weekend we made it ourselves for the second time.   Bobotie is like meat loaf but with more flavor variations.  The yellow rice you make to go with it is sweeter than the yellow rice we used to eat at home.  Both are delicious.

Try them. You might like them!

• Bobotie Recipe
• South African Yellow Rice Recipe
• Other South African Recipes

Popularity: 30% [?]

Wonder what Jeff’s remote IT  support looks like?  Here it is.

This was Jeff working on the email account of a colleague in Johannesburg.  She’s a 16 hour drive from us, but her computer is only a millisecond away using remote technology.  He remoted into her computer to see and work on the problem, and talked with her on my cell phone to ask questions about the problem.  This session resolved an issue she was having viewing her sent email.

When a user is not in South Africa, Jeff uses skype to communicate, but remoting into the person’s computer works just the same as it did with our colleague in Johannesburg.  Once he’s gotten permission to access their computer, he can see their screen just as if he’s sitting in front of their computer.

Popularity: 20% [?]

On January 9, 2011 southern Sudanese will have the opportunity to vote for south Sudan to become an independent country or for it to remain part of Sudan.  Voter registration began on November 15, however, registration among southern Sudanese living in the north of the country has been low.  Some are returning to southern Sudan to register and remain at least until the vote has been completed.

This referendum on self-determination marks the completion of the comprehensive peace agreement signed in 2005 that ended the more than 20-year-long Second Sudanese Civil War between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLA) of the south and the government of Sudan.  The war took place largely in southern Sudan resulting in nearly 2 million deaths and millions more displaced.  The conflict quantifiably surpasses the casualties and displacement that have occurred so far in the war in Dar Fur.

Fears exist about the outcome of the referendum.  If the vote is for unity or secession, will peace prevail or will the civil war begin again? Will ethnic conflict erupt? Will religious freedom be threatened?  We know people engaged in various ministry and community development activities in Sudan–how will the outcome of the referendum affect their work?

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is asking the Church to set aside December 5 (next Sunday) to pray for Sudan:

• For a peaceful and fair referendum on January 9th
• That the results of the vote will be accepted by the Sudanese government and the international community
• That the religious liberty of all people will be respected and safeguarded
• The rebuilding of infrastructure and social services post referendum.

Will you join us in prayer?

Salaam Sudan.

Sudan is the largest country in Africa.  It has 133 known living languages.

Learn more about the referendum.
Read stories about Scripture translation in Sudan.
Pray for translation and language development work in Sudan.
Download this video.

Popularity: 17% [?]

More than 50 people from 26 nations were invited to join a celebration of American Thanksgiving last night that was hosted by an American couple. It was in the YWAM facility next door to our office.

I was craving turkey all week.  We got a nice large helping of turkey, mashed potatoes, bread stuffing, marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, and green beans…with apple crisp for desert.  Yum!  It was a good taste of home and some good fellowship that we both enjoyed.

Popularity: 13% [?]

When you think of the Bible, do you think of a book?  The Bible is now available in a variety of media in many languages.  Some people access it on their phones or on special audio devices.  Some watch it on video. Others hear and learn scriptures through oral transmission.  Still others engage with scriptures in interactive computer programs. This video takes a comedic look at some of our hang-ups about the medium of the Bible.

Popularity: 28% [?]

Helping people use and actively engage with Scriptures is an essential part of Wycliffe’s ministry.  However, Wycliffe is not the only organization that is passionate about and involved in Scripture engagement.  Some friends of ours in Nairobi just produced a video about how some AIM (Africa Inland Mission) staff are helping the shepherds of Lesotho engage with God’s Word.

Lesotho [lih-SOO-too] is a small, land-locked and mountainous country located in the south eastern part of South Africa.  It is not part of South Africa, but an independent country of about 2 million people.  At least five languages are spoken there. Wool is one of it’s exports, and boys can be set apart to be tend flocks of sheep from a very young age.

While Lesotho has a high literacy rate, shepherds have a strong oral culture and many are not literate.  AIM staff are helping some shepherds learn to read and write which gives them access to God’s word in their language.  Staff are also hoping to launch a Bible school which will transmit all of its teaching and Scripture orally and through audio.  This will allow shepherds to engage with God’s word and learn to teach others about God’s Word without having to learn to read.

Learn more about orality and ministry to peoples from oral cultures.

Learn more about Scripture engagement ministry.

Popularity: 28% [?]

See the source map with additional information

Africa is a big continent.  In land mass, it is the second largest continent at almost 12 million sq mi.  It’s land encompasses about 20% of all the world’s land.

It’s population is also the second largest of any continent with 1 billion people or about 15% of the world’s population.

It is not one country, but has more than 50 separate countries and territories.

The climate varies from very hot to mild with a few places cold enough to have snow. It has both vast deserts and dense rain forests.

It has a tremendous variety of plants and animals.  Some of it’s species once had cousins on other continents that went extinct long ago.

It has more than 2000 different languages and is considered by some to be the most multilingual continent in the world.

It has a rich history of ancient empires, explorers and traders, and modern day intellectuals, businessman and peacemakers.

Read more Africa facts.

I didn’t learn much about Africa when I was in school.  The more I learn now, the more I see that Africa is rich, diverse and full of new things to discover.

Africa is big.

Popularity: 31% [?]

I completed my preparations and lead a session on social media, yesterday, with a small group of YWAM staff.  I think the session went well, and I’ve thought of several ways to improve it for the next time I present on this subject.  I was able to prepare a session that I’ve already shared with others in Wycliffe and can present, and I think the whole course this week would be very useful for our Wycliffe colleagues.  Now, we’ll have to think about the details of how we could do this together somewhere in the future.

Popularity: 10% [?]

The value of good communications in personal ministries and in organizations cannot be understated. What we choose to share with the world impacts us positively and negatively depending on what we say and how we say it. It can inspire, and it can offend. It can generate new interest or cause work to suspend.

In today’s world anyone can instantly participate in sharing messages that impact our organizations simply by posting 140 characters on twitter or updating their facebook status. Effectively training our staff in communications, whether they have a communications role or any other role, is therefore essential.

For part of this week I’m observing and participating as a session trainer in a communications workshop presented by YWAM’s Africa regional communications team (Africom) being held at a YWAM base about two hours from our home. I am looking at how this type of workshop can benefit our Wycliffe colleagues, and exploring the possibility of YWAM hosting a joint workshop with us in the future.

The workshop covers a variety of communications principles that can be applied in personal ministry and organizational communication. Workshop participants began with an introduction to communications and instruction in interpersonal communication.

The other sessions focus on the impact of communications in the globalized world, public speaking, writing, newsletters, fundraising, photography and social media. At the end of the workshop, the training team hopes participants will be equipped to better understand communications and it’s value, and know how to apply what they’ve learned in their environments.

So far, my observations of this workshop encourage me. I think this could work in a Wycliffe environment, and the YWAM Africom team is open to a possible joint workshop. Now to finish my preparations for my session on Friday on social media!

Popularity: 12% [?]