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Report Card
Subject:
Three Christmases
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Mashoko. - im/

Dear Christian Friends,

W"e bring you greetings and wish you all the joys that "come at this'

season of the year.

We wish there was a way of expressing our love for

you at this time in some way that would be different, but words are some

time inadequate, so we must simply say - may the joy of being a Christian, the peace that comes from knowing Him, and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ,
uphold you.

This will be our third Christmas here at Mashoko.

The first was a

difficult one as it was only Don's second Christmas away from his parents

and Mark and Maria have always had Christmas with the grandparents#

It was

made merry by a "European" wedding of Miss. Steinmetz of Canton, Ohio, to

Mr. Peter Nathan;

the happy event took place at Mashoko on Saturday,

On

Sunday we attended an African wedding - so had little time to dwell on our

being away from home.

Last year seemed almost like horn with Don*s mother here.

The difference

was a green instead of white Christmas and a hot one too,

Graridma came the

day after Mark's birthday, was here for her own, Don's and Marias,
was indeed a joyous Christmas, one we will all remember.

So this

This Christmas will see the Don Poorman family broken up for the first

time as Mark is some 10,000 miles away.

When we sent him off we thought we

But the Lord's work here in

would be coming home in time for Christmas.

Rhodesia seems to need us for another year - so our third Christmas at Mashoko

will find us thinking of you in a very special way.

iilthough we have spent

Christmas day with very few of you wheu we arc this far away we take this tiiae to think of home and of each of you. 'Je try to see your faces, and say a

prayer of thanksgiving for your love, your prayers, and your share in our
labors for the Christ.

As school is out about the ICth December we have very few students here

and Christmas is not the "big thing" it is there.

than we want because it is hot.

V/e get up a little earlier

Maria will ^o to the hospital to help give

presents to the patients who are there.

Presents will of course come from

But there is no
We will think of

the States and here so we will enjoy that part here also.
doubt there will be a big empty spot with Mark not hero. him, of you all, and of our next Christinas;
return does not come first.

white and united - if the Lord's

We will also be busy preparing to move to I)ewure Mission to teach there for this next year and getting ready for camp at Johannesburg. this year. Don is dean

These days of service and shopping in South Africa are always

refreshing.
new students.

Then we will return to a busy life gettin^^ settled and teaching

By the way, our address after Christiaas will be Dewure Secon

dary School, P.O. Box 73i Gutu| Rhodesia^ . Let us hear how your Christmas
went

May- the Lcrrd bless and prosper you.

Lovingly,

Don, R^ith and Maria.

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Report Card
SUBJECT Evangelism in the Bush

1
Dear Christian Friends,

On Sunday morning we start to wake up about 6:30, an hour later than usual. Coffee is ready about 7:15. After breakfast Mark and I pick up the basket with communion things in it and head for the bush. We first stop by the school for three of our students. One of them interpretes for me and the other two teach

the children while the sermon is being preached. They jump in the back of
pick-up and off we go. There beside the kopje, under a shade tree stands a small table made

the
of

Our destination is about five miles north of the mission.

piled rocks. Back of this other rocks have been placed for the preacher and his interpreter to sit, and in front of the table places for the congregation have also been provided. Around this table, under this tree the Lord's people
meet.

The first time I went there, just after we moved to Dewure, there were about

20 people. Now it is not unusual for there to be more than eighty. One Sun day Mark counted 71, give or take ten. If you count from the front you miss the small ones on their mother or sisters back and if you count from the back you miss those on a lap or at the breast, or others still coming even after the sermon.
The services at the preaching points are short for there are many to cover on a Sunday. We open with a scripture and prayer. Then sing two or three songs. Then we break bread. After the sermon we say good-by and start back to the mission for the services here. Many Sundays we also bring back those who have come forward

and after the services here baptize them in the baptistry, and they go on their way
rejoicing.

At the present time we have four preaching points. I cover the one five miles north and Doug Johnson one about the same 'distance east of the mission. Each one

takes from 20 to 30 minutes to get to, if the weather is good. Then we come back to the mission and have the service for the school and people here. After lunch we head out again about 10 miles south, this takes about 45 minutes to get there. Lately I have been having the service here at the mission and Doug takes the one in the afternoon. During February there were 72 baptisms and ten added to His church by statement at these four preaching points. Anyone year will see about
and over 200 come to Christ. This happens because we are here. This is our main
The sins of man

job.

An old lady from the bush, a child from school, white or black, to hear the

and his need for the Saviour is the same. That is why bush preaching is satisfying.
Praise the Lord!

confession is just as new and thrilling as when it was first made.

Yours for a Christian World,

Under this tree

Around this table

These Christians Meet for

Worship

Study