Easter in Africa

Danny speaking at Hosanna Church for Easter.

Today is a special day for all of us. Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead on this day. How deep His love is for us that he died on the cross to pay for our sin. Wow.

Here in Africa Easter Weekend is celebrated with conferences at churches that last from Thursday until next Monday. Both Friday and Monday are holidays here in South Africa. We have seen hundreds of buses, trucks with filled beds of passengers as churches gather to celebrate. All day meetings continue for four days with dozens of churches together.

Yesterday I spoke at Bushbuckridge Bible Church to over 300 Pastors and leaders. What an honor it was. I have also spoken at Hosanna Church in Hazy View on Friday and Saturday morning. I will speak again this morning. As you can tell it has been a busy weekend.

The week began with focused mentoring time with Ronas Marule and Darryl Mather-Pike. We spent hours talking and greeting their ministry colleagues. It took us as far as Badplass and Swaziland. We met at the African School of Missions with the Spiritual Leader of the school who sat with Cathy and me to say he needs mentoring from us. Bongoni and Khumbuh Dlamini drove from Swaziland to meet us. It was a four hour drive. They walked into the restaurant for lunch and quickly declared their desire to learn from us. They are good friends with Ronas and had first hand knowledge of the affect Deeper Still had in his life.

Darryl and I sat with Pastor Selby in Badplass who explained the rituals and activities of Sangomas (fortune tellers), Inyanga (medicine men) and Tmthakpathia (witch doctors). His mother in law was a Sangoma in Kwaizulunatal. I was fascinated with the fine distinctions between each function in many African villages. I was equally amazed at the rituals they conduct to deal with issues in many families. He stated that many Sangomas perform all three functions of an Inyanga and Tmthakpathia.

We drove around the village of Badplass and Darryl pointed out the home of the royal chief of the Swati Tribe, Chief Dlamini. There were four rondavals on his property and a huge corral used for sacrifice and court. The chief is paid by the government to gain his loyalty with the government. The day care center built in Badplass for Emoyini ministry was provided the land by Chief Dlamini.

On our way to Badplass we witnessed a head on collision that burst into flames and incinerated five people. I even saw the funerals of two in Bushbuckridge yesterday. It is amazing everything the Lord is exposing us to on this trip.

Continue praying as we leave Mpumalanga on Wednesday and travel to Cape Town on Thursday. This month has raced by and the memories are like a carousel in our minds. There are too many events and people to focus on only one. Pray for our strength and health.

Cathy and Danny Sartin

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Cathy sitting and laughing with a rural grandmother in Mpumalanga. She is housing her 14 year old autistic granddaughter.