 Report from Africa #6
Cathy and I were sitting on the bus riding from Johannesburg to White River in Mpumalanga. We were leaving the limits of Johannesburg when I noticed a familiar scene. In an open field beside the highway was a snapshot out of the history of Africa. A group of thirty to forty people were sitting in a circle wearing all white robes. I had come to learn of the ZCC and the Bantu religion practiced in many parts of Africa. This ancestral worshipping group make use of Sangomas (witch doctors) and Inyagas (medicine men) and blend their faith with some parts of the Bible. Its anchor of thinking has become the cornerstone of the African world view. We saw the same thing in Zambia each time we drove to town in Livingstone. I had become accustomed to seeing the Sangoma mud house on the dirt road in and out of the community. A short distance away from the missionary home was another Sangoma that actively could be heard on occasion beating drums and chanting. Local people visit them as they would a doctor, fortune teller and spiritual guide. We have been reminded many times that we are in a different world. Africa is deeply rooted in ancestral thought and influence. Yes, you see modern cars and trucks, but you also see donkey carts and oxen pulling wagons made from a car axle. When we visited a local Shoprite grocery in Livingstone you never knew what would be available on their shelves. You could only buy the stock that was available. This Sunday I will be visiting two churches in small village areas and preaching the Bible. Africans love the Bible. They will sit for hours and listen to God’s Word. Unfortunately, many of the pastors have no formal Bible training. It is a great privilege to provide glimpses of the Holy Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. Pray as we open the Bible and teach over the next two months. We covet your thoughts and prayers during this time! Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com. _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. This on the field report is written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and our goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.
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  Getting up close and personal with one of God’s creatures can give you a new perspective. Cathy and I were at an animal rehabilitation center in South Africa several years ago. I was intrigued that the center had a rescue pen for vultures. There were very few positive thoughts I had about this scavenger.
They sought a volunteer to feed one of the vultures and I was chosen. You see pictured the vulture that landed on my arm and took the fresh meat that was between my thumb and index finger. I remember the strength of it’s talons on my arm. One talon slipped between the joint in the thumb and rested on my skin. I thought, I hope he doesn’t squeeze too hard or he will pierce my skin! God created this bird with a special function. They will remove dead carcasses. They are on a list of animals like lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas. But they can clean up a bio hazard situation that would kill those other scavengers. Their stomach acid is so acidic that they can digest bacteria that is lethal to others. The dead animal can be infected with cholera or anthrax and the vulture can remove these bacteria from the environment. When you see a committee of birds around a kill you can see them patiently waiting for a larger vulture to open the carcass. Each bird consumes a specific portion of the animal. We watched during a week’s period scavengers removing an elephant who had been struck by lightning. Nothing was left but a skull when we left Kruger National Park. The bird jumped from my arm and scurried back to his perch. I was relieved but also fascinated by this massive bird. God’s creativity seems endless and filled with wonder. It seems that God has a special purpose for everything and everyone. Cathy and Danny Sartin __________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.  Zambia! Next to our home compound with the missionaries there is a farmer in the field beside us. Twice a day he walks his herd a few hundred meters to the river for water. The river boarders his land on one side but it is infested with Crocodiles. So the cows must walk to a safer spot for water. Cathy and Janet Berner look over the vegetables at the local Green Market in Livingston. There are no food preservatives used so regular trips to the market for fresh items are necessary down a bumpy and dusty road to the paved roads. The people are so humble and kind. I shared Bible with a small group of pastors on Monday. What a responsive, excited and engaging group! Their love of Christ is so evident! Their desire to know more seems to have no bounds!  Life is so different in this small town of Zambia. But it is also clear that God has touched this place in a special way. Victoria Falls screams the majesty of God. It is a waterfall that is over a mile wide! It drops over 300 feet with a huge volume of water. The natives call it Mosi-oa-tunya which is the "smoke that thunders". This is our first trip to this magical land. This is where David Livingstone established ministry and infected the African continent with the Gospel of Christ. Please remember to pray for us physically as there are problems with mosquitoes and malaria. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________
Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. This on the field report is written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and our goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions.  A Kingdom Leader finds other friends when they go to a location to ministry. He seldom allows himself to become isolated in a community. He calls out for relationships with other kindred spirits in a town. He carefully searches for people who might connect with him and they become friends.
Who is your closest friend in your ministry setting? What do you have in common with one another? How did you become friends? Do you have fun together outside of ministry activity? If you don’t have a kindred spirit . . . start looking for one this week. "After this Paul1 left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named vAquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife vPriscilla, because wClaudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and xbecause he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade." May you be blessed with a wonderful heart partner to encourage you on the path of ministry. We pray that you find one and bless each other. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissins.com ________________________ 1 Greek he v ver. 18, 26; Rom. 16:3; 1 Cor. 16:19; 2 Tim. 4:19 v ver. 18, 26; Rom. 16:3; 1 Cor. 16:19; 2 Tim. 4:19 w ch. 11:28 x ch. 20:34; 1 Cor. 4:12; 9:15; 2 Cor. 11:7; 12:13; 1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 18:1–3). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Photos taken by Cathy and Danny Sartin in Africa. Kingdom Leadership is written for missionaries and ministers serving our Lord in various parts of the world. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. |
Danny SartinFour decade veteran of youth ministry in churches, Youth For Christ and now is the Founder and Executive Director of Deeper Still Missions. Danny and his wife Cathy spend most of their time mentoring missionaries in Africa, Europe, Central America and North America. Future opportunities include South America and the Asia Pacific area. Archives
November 2023
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