In Hospitals -- Victor Kubik

January 16, 2013

The day began with my Russian-ordered breakfast.  As I mentioned, we are close to the Russian Embassy and this place is popular with them.  I'll have to say that it is very pleasant, quiet.  I have some extra time here and have been able to work, read, pray in peace.   It's safe to walk the streets and I plan to do that as soon as I finish this entry.

At breakfast Aljazeera is on and is so characteristic of the Islamic world.  Burkas, biases against the US, the usual. It is  very slickly produced with a number of white British presenters doing their job extremely well. 

About 9:30 am Isella comes to pick me up.  Her 86 year-old, yet active and alert mother Mariet Horjus is with her. We set out to distribute Good News magazines in Pretoria hospitals.  It was a very interesting experience. The first waiting room we came to the entire waiting room was SINGING! Loud, harmonious, good rhythm. The concrete floors and walls lend to great acoustics.   A big black woman was leading the singing and what appeared to be preaching.  I hear a loud Glorr EE to JEE zuss!   I was amazed that an entire waiting room would break out into song.  It was like a musical that I was witnessing and somewhat reminiscent to the old song Jailhouse Rock.  

We asked the security guard if we could leave Good News magazines around for the people to read. Her answer was fine!   She wanted a copy, too.  Isella tells me that it's important to ask the person you asking permission from first how they are doing.  You never do business first.  Once you show personal interest, they will most likely respond in the affirmative. Isella Wallis is an amazing woman who takes charge of a situation and moves quickly to take advantage of it.  We went further into the hospital into other waiting areas and were given immediate permission.  Other areas were more quiet.  it wa amazing how quickly people picking up the Good News and perusing the contents right away. 

We then went to a TB hospital. Then to another hospita.  At one there was a guard with an AK-47 which had all the hallmarks of "don't try anything funny" on it.

We went to 3 or 4 hospitals and quickly distributed the magazines.  As we were driving away from the last hospital we saw one of the security guards walking down the street with the Good News in their hand.  I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. 

Going through the South African hospitals brought a flashback to me personally of my accident in Zambia exactly two years ago and my being in intensive care at a hospital here in Pretoria.  All the signs in Afrikaans, the disinfectant odors and the spirit of the place were right there to bring those memories back.  What a time.....

Then Isella, Mariet and I stopped at a bank.  I exchanged some dollars for rand.  In my wallet I still have some of the US dollars used as currency in Zimbabwe.  The bills are SO tattered.  The bills look like they've gone through a washer 20 times and then soaked in grease.  You can hardly make out who the president is on the bill who does not even look caucasian.  I am bringing one back to the US with me. This IS actually US currency that's gone a bit beyond its useful life, but is still OK in Zimbabwe.

The three of us had lunch at the shopping center and then Isella brought me back to the Avalon.

I went for a walk down a busy merchant area rather close to here.  There are a number of guest houses in this area. 

Then Jason and his almost five year old daughter Tahlia came to pick me up to take me to their home dinner.  I could easily do the 15 minute walk, but they wouldn't think of it. While Monique was preparing dinner, I read stories to both Daniel and Tahlia. I had read some of them before....and it was no problem for the children to hear me read the same story four times.  One was about an elephant, others about personfied toads, racoons and other cuddly animals. 

With Jason and Monique we talked more about the coming weekend where I'll be in Capetown for the GN seminar and on Sunday back here in Pretoria for the SANATCO meeting.  We really see a great future here as people are responding to the Kingdom of God seminars and the printed word which is vital.  While Internet is important, there is nothing like seeing the look on the face of someone who is looking at a printed copy of the Good News and checking out the articles and turning to them.  People are writing in questions to our office here run by Isella Wallis who also answers questions which range from where are your church meetings, questions about beliefs and the oft asked, "is it ok to have sex on the Sabbath." 

We are rebuilding here in South Africa as well as in Zambia and Zimbabwe.  In Zambia we have 8 viable churches with more than 430 in weekly attendance.  (In Malawi our losses were negligible) New leadership is continually emerging which will indeed serve this area. I am still bewildered about the needless division that took place two years ago that weakened everyone. Most people can't even give a cogent answer why it happened......and some of the hard reasons given about UCG changing doctrine and our going to collapse are false.  You would think that if people understood that they weren't told the truth that they would acknowledge their mistake in leaving. Maybe some will wake up and see how wrong it was to divide  We certainly will welcome those people back with open arms because they got caught up in the falsehood of someone else's issues far away that had nothing to do with them.  In the meantime, we are rebuilding here and need to keep the momentum moving forward and be thankful for the assets we have in media and other areas. It's interesting that those who left are still subscribers to our literature because we will be the one to feed them. 

Isella told me that one of the large upscale community churches asked us for 150 copies of the Good New magazine to put into a welcome packet for new people.  They found our GN relevant and attractive.  Our address is clearly visible and perhaps readers who are bent towards discovering what is biblically correct can make discerning judgments.