U.S.

Address
LULANO
CHRISTIAN MISSION
TRAVEL FUND
5?^
Children left to right: Richard,
Johnny, Michelle, Wayne & Michael
March 20 1979
Dear Friends, Si5)porter8, Partners in Prayer,
Hie largest single expense in the budget of any overseas missionary
is the cost of getting him and his family from his home in the States
to his home on the field. It costs thousands and is most often an
unbudgetet item as, fortunately, it occurs only once every four years
or so. Our last travel fund appeal was in April 1974, but that time
has rolled around again.
Our home is now in the throes of packing and getting ready to leave
in about 6 weeks time. Our plans are to sail from New Orleans, LA
on a Lykes Line freighter direct to Durban which is only 80 miles
from our home in Eshowe, Zululand. We do not have an exact date as
yet as freighters are notorious for not knowing when they idll leave
exactly. But at $800. each we thought we had a bargain...we DIDt
Two days ago the ccmpany wrote me and said they had to increase their
fares frcm $800. each to $945* each. New Orleans to Durban. Naturally
we were dism^ed as this will add on $870. to our family's travel needs.
However it is still well below flying costs for our family of $1,039 each,
The two younger children, Johnny and Michelle still travel half-fare.
The ship is always a relaxing climax to a hectic furlough last minute
rushing aboul, giving us a time of enrichment and spiritxoal reneval before
arriving on the field, 3 weeks later. As they also feed and, "house" us
for that time we are able to save almost a month's normal living expenses
and this is ^dlere we really ccane out far ahead...with our bunch of hungry
boys especiallyl
At the close of 1978 we had raised $3,048. for Travel, since then
an additional $560. has come in making a total of $3,608. today.
Our total revised (since they raised the fares) needs are now $5,670.
leaving $2^62. still needed as of now.
Ve will appreciate any help you will be able to send tis so that we
will reach this goal before the end of April. Can we count on you?
Yours in Christ,
P.O. Box 9851
Phoenix, Arizona 85068 Sandy & Charlotte Sine
>o
.a-
iMLMD
CHRISTIAN MISSION
Sa.*u^ d^a/e/iy^SS^
Dear friends and partners^
Children left to right: Richard,
Johnny, Hlchelle, Uayne & Michael
April 10 1979.
We are pleased to annoimce that ve have a new forwarding agent as of April 1st
1979. She is Virginia Beddow, who served as our first Forwarding agent
frcia 1965 mtil 1972. She was an excellent forwarding agent then^ and we
reluctantly let her rest for these years^ inbetween then and now.
Virginia comes frcm Terre Haute 9 Tndlana and the Maplewood Christian Church.
She and Charlotte were childhood friends for the years Charlotte spent in
Indiana, and later room mates at Minnesota Bible College during their
freshman years* Virginia is a graduate of MBC with a Bachelor of Christian
Education degree and later served the public schools of Gallon, Ohio as a
religious education teacher in the released tijne classes there. Following
that she served as Director of Christian Ediication for eight years at the
South Lansing Church of Christ, Lansing, Michigan. Virginia came to
Standard Publishing In Clninnati in 1976 to serve In the Leadership Training
Department. She is also the editor of SET and continues to travel
widely for Standard Publishing serving on the Xdeashop team and as a consultant
on leadership training materials.
Ve feel priviledged to have her back as our forwarding agent, and know that
she will do an excellent job as she did in the past. She will hII the
funds for our work and accordingly ve have opened a new box number near
Standard Publishing in Cincinnati, CMo for that purpose. This will be only
for si^port and contributions and financial matters. The new address is:
)^s Virginia Beddow, Forwarding agent,
2QLDLAND CHRISTIAIf MISSION,
P.O. Box 31072,
Cincinnati, GQ A5231.
The old Arizona box number will be kept as our personal lega3^SA address
and we can still be reached at that box, see below, as anoSidr "forwarding
agent" will serve us here to clear this box and forward to us In South
Africa as necessary. However, from now ca send all funds to the Ohio address.
God bless all of you,
U.S. Address
P.O. Box 9851
Phoenix, Arizona 85068
Sandy &
July 1979 ZULUIAND CHRISTLA.N MISSION, July 1979
SANTd & CHARLOTTE SINCLAIR,
P.O. BOX in, ESHCWE, 3815, n / I ru
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. (
Dear Friends, Supporters, Partners in Prayer,
We are an safely back in Zululand, South Africa, again and this is our first newsletter.
Due to our move we skipped the J\ine nevrsletter, but here are the hectic events in our
lives these past two months.
May was packing month, and we moved out of our apartment June 1st It was a hisy
time as Richard's 6th grade graductton was on May 31st and June 1st was his li^th birth
day, We moved the trailer to the house of Galen and Jeanette Puckett and continued to
pack our drums for shipment to South Africa. M/M Wilfred Dusek were also a great help
to us at this time. We left Phoenix and went to Mesa for the last few hectic days,
where we also left the trailer with Charlotte's aunt and uncle, MM Harold Jones#
Charlotte has many relatives in Mesa and ve had a steady stream dropping in to say goodbyt
Driving to Chicago we stopped in eastern Arizona for a fer^ days aroiuid Willccx.
Charlotte's grandfather and grandmother are buried in Willcox and we never had visited
the gravesite. It was good to look up the sites of the children's roots on her side#
Her grandfather was born in l85C and died in 19^42 an "old-Timer" from Arizona's early
years, a miner, many places he lived in are Ghost tovms today.
After several more stops we arrived :n Deerfield, II, near Chicago where Charlotte's
invalid sister lives. Br:'t'".:r-in-law Harry," Buz" had Just suffered a heart attack and
was in the hospital, but is doing fine now. Another hectic round of last minute armnge-
ments faced us, Virginia Beddow, our Fom^arding Agent came up from Cir_ri.nnati and as a
tremendocu: help, especially helping lis and all our mountains of luggage to Chare feid
the afternoon of July 5th. In spite of minor set-backs, we took off an hour late on KIM
airlines for Amsterdam. Flying eastwards during the northern summer the sun only set
for hours. Arriving in Schiphol airport id.th our 15 ptoccs of checked luggage rot to
mention II4 pieces of carry-on we looked quite a sighto Fortunately we wero able to put
most of it in lockers for the two weeks \io planned to stay in Europe. We had renti/d a
VW camping unit and brought id.th us our sleeping bags,and 3 tents in a suitcase plus
camping utensils and silVGrware# The vehicle was waiting for us at the airport, hut all
we could think about was sleep, as our minds wero still back on central daylight time
and it was 2s00am. We knew of a hotel for missionaries- and ministers o^ly, and went
straight there to sleep the rest of the day. We spent an enjoyable two weeks on
can^jing tour of Holland, Germany and two days in Denmarko The VW unit made into two
double beds, contained a stove and a sort of sink. The weather was cloudy and cool
most of the time, and we had several days of wind and rain, but all in all it was a most
enjoyable time, especially for the kids, old enough to appreciate what they are seeing#
Returning to Amsterdam we again flew KIM to Nairobi via Munich and Cairo, arriving
the iifber an overtf-^ht flight at BrOOam. Carmon and Wllfrod Stride, friends from
Livingstone met us and wo spen'j an enjcyablc two days T-dth them after many years#
Nairobi to Johannesburg was another DC 10 which we watched carefully for the li hour
flight over the heart of central Africa. Meeting us in Johannesburg wore my two brotheis
and Stu and Marilyn 6 ode, and Cindi Elerick. The blast of the Transvaal winter hit us
immediatly, sono temperatures dipped to l5 degreoB F that night. After a couple of days
with Stu and Marilyn Cook at their new Ala ^heia Christian Education Center now in the
heart of Johannesburg's Hillbrov: district wc boarded our overnight train to Durban#
Meeting us in Durban were I4ike and Caryl Stanley, and after a short few hours visit wo
continued on to Gingindlova on the North-Coast 'train, then a quick change and on to
Eshowo where we had a real welcoming committec-o After loading all our luggage into my
old Mazda pickup we drove homo. There,friends had cleaned the hoxiso, movodtho furniture
back in, made the beds, put food in the 'fridgo, supper on the stove, and oach room had
a bouquet of flowers in if from various friends. Since then a steady stream of visitors
has kept us busy#
The children wore bought new school (or used) uniforms, two aro now in the Eshowe
High School. They started on Tuesday, half way through tho Natal school year which
began in Jarmary, but also a year back in tho grades they Just completed in Arizona#
Our first Sunday wac down at our closest congregation to Eshowe, Ensingweni# This is
tho church of Alfred MathenJija, which had Just started as wo arrived#..they stopped,
danced for Joy and hugged all of us# I preached to a Zulu congregation, from John 21il5-
19, for the first time in 18 months... it ira.s wonderful to bo back again#
Next time: First impressions and ...My how things have changed
God bless.
Also, Michael, Richarc, Wayne, Michelle, Johnny.
Sandy &Gh^:*l^tG Sinclair
ZULULAND CHRICTIAN MlSeiON AUG 2 8 1979 ^ ^
n /) A.O. ISANDTI SlNCLAtM
- po. boi it. mhow* P.O. Box 111,
Eshowe, Zululand, 381^, South Africa.
^ (\ " . August 17 1979
Dear Brethren,
I am writing this letter to those persons, classes and churches who have been most
closely connected with our work in Africa over these many years, both in Zambia and
now here in Zululanii. We are pleased to count you as one of our faithful supporters
and prayer-partners, and xdiile I must mimeograph this letter in the interest of time,
plecaae consider it a -personal one.
We knew for certain we were back in the southern hemisphere when we saw the ad which
read:"...Eat yo\jr holiday turkey in cool comforfc, shop early and save now on airccaid-
itioners before the Christmas heat."
The work is bright with promise even in these difficult times here in southern Africa,
the Lord has certain!!^ been good to us and the churches here. We are looking for
ward to resuming our Extension Leadarship Training classes again starting soon.
The main problem we face right now is a familiar one to all of us in one way or another}
that is the increased cost of driving a car. This may sound mundane on the mission
field, but in our extension program we cover a large area and it is a huge problem today
You will remember that in the past we brought o\ir paid-for vehicle to the field with
us, getting it in duty free in each case in 1966, I969 and 197ii, and they were an
investment, returned excellent service, lasted the term on the field (and in the case
of our original *66 Chevrolet truck lasted two full terms) and were in most cases
resold for more than their original cost (the result of inflation here) which paid for
our return airfares to the States at furlough time. We planned to do the same thing
again this time as we were eligible to get one vehicle into South Afcica duty free
again, even going so far as applying for an import permit for our station wagon.
However, novr all that is a thing of the past, the oil situation changed all that.
South Afcica does not havB oil, and is boycotted by OPEC. Gasoline here is now $2.80
per gallon, (SA) per liter, and local rumor has it that it double, to over a
Rand a liter by the end of the year. That will work out to $9*^0 pQ^ gallon, the
situation is serious. The government wants to put an end to non-essential driving.
In viewof this, we must buy a vehicle that will be very economical to drive. After
looking over the local market we jgoncluded we must get a car that will average better
than miles per gallon. The Datsun liiOY-SUX is claimed to be able to get an incredib3
miles per gallon, admitedly professionally driven at South Africa's very low 70 KPH
(1^2 MPH) limit., but local people here in Eshowe even claim to get 90MPG on short runs.
At current prices a full tank will cost l3l].20, but will give a range of 67^ miles, a
very important factor for us missionaries who travel long distances on week-ends when
all stations must be closed by law from Friday evening xmtil Monday morning.
When we convert SA Rands to US dollars a new Datsun lijOY-SUX l\ door sedan will cost
about $9,5814. including sales tax. Bank financing requires a down payment of 20^
on a new vehicle, we would finance it over 2 years and keep if for four or more years.
This is one of the lowest-priced cars in South Africa. The used car market is full
of older gasguzzlers these days, nobody is selling economical used cars today.' a
1 have asked Virginia Beddow our forwarding agent to open up a special vehicle fund to
primarily raise the necessary down payment of approximately $1,200 and all funds rec
eived will be applied to this Datsun. I am also attempting to sell my old 1972
Chevrolet left in Arizona and this will also be applied to this purchase.
We covet your prayers in this matter, and we do need your financial assistance too at
this time for this project. Make your gift payable to Zululand Christian Mission,
(tax deductible) mark it "Vehicle fund" and send to Miss Virginia Beddow,
P.O. Box 31072,
Cincinnati, OH h$231
We sure do appreciate your help, can we count on you.
STours in Chrisi
PS There is about a 6week delay in ]( (\
Heliveries, so we are placing an order in /AfllVAC&A CX
faitl^ needing the down payment by the end / ^ \
of September. Sandy SSU^l^otte Sinclair
^ %
^ imnrTtyp to7o ' H
AUGUST 1979 SANDY'S SAYINGS ^ .JTOOUST 1979
ZULULAND CHRISTIAN MISSION
SAIDY AND CHARLCTTE SINCLAIR,
P.O. SCK 111, ESHCSWE, ZULUIAND, 581^
Republic of South Africa. 8/31/79
Oear^Friends and Brethren,
The month of August went by so fast we hardly noticed it go,
except I marked another milestone on the 23rd, but at this time we don't really want to
remember birthdays too often. It is also the last of our cool dry (winter) months aid
already we have had' several thunderstorms and probably due for another one this after
noon, it is already unseasonably hot again today.
The change in climate affected most of the family, almost all of us have had the
flu, and "Wayne has just returned home this morning from the hospital where he spent 3
days, mostly for tests and under observation, however the doctor reassured us that there
was nothing sinister lurking somewhere, but a virus of some kind got him down for al
most three weeks.
Vie were notified that our shipment of drtuns had arrived in Durban aboard the
"NedLloyd IQjigston" which sailed into Durban on Aug 11 direct from Los Angeles,
Unfortunately however, it preceeded my documents,which the agent in Phoenix kept too
long, by a couple of days which messed things up for a week. I had to make two trips
to Durban by train hours, 80 miles) to get their arrival sorted out. Again the
RSA customs were good to us and not a cent was charged on any of our things. Ihving
no vehicle, I had to send them up to Zululand again by train, and it will be another
week or two before we see them again. However, they are all here and in mint condition
which is the main thing.
Also made a trip to Ulundi, capital of KwaZulu for my Zulu permits. I vras informed that
temporary permits are no longer issued and would have to wait for my missionary permits
to be issued from Pretoria, which might take three or four weeks at the earliest. This
is a normal routine matter over here.
We began to meet with our African ministers in the area and enquire about the state of
the churches, nearby and farther afield. Most of it was very good news, seme of it w
less than what we had hoped. Some of the old quarrels between some leaders still go:.
on. Several ' leaders we had taught before have now left us, some might be returning
when they know we are back and I hope to persuade others. The spirit of independance
is very strong and if a leader gets into disharmony with his fellow preachers he often
simply opts "^o go it alone. At this moment I know of only one certain loss, which out
of Ijl congregations left on their own for over a year^is a good record.
On the positive side, one of our nearby men, Gaiphas NcAnana, has started two new groups,
and has an impressive list of those he has baptized, iVcluding a good number' of men.
One of the churches meets in a village only accessible by walking for se"feral hours.
Gaiphas is one of oxnr best preachers and we will be writing more of him in the future.
Coming back to familiar scenes, you are always struck with any changes that have occured
since you left, many of these changes are not noticable to people who stayed the whole
time. A sense of pervasive pessAmiSLL seems to be prevalent, especially with the
continu..ing Rhodesian non-settlement settlement. As of now, Rhodesia will be known only
as Zimbabwe instead of the hyphenated Zimbabwe-Rhodesia which has been short lived.
Things are very quiet, but many people especially in Zululand express a long-range
concern for the future as Zululand is technically about 3% whilic and getting less. Still
that 3% exert an economic influence way out of proportion to what their numbers alone
might s\:^gest.
Next month is the Annual Conference of our African churches from all over South Africa,
this year held at Barberton in the E. Transvaal almost due north of us. "VJe plan to
attend, possibly stopping in Swaziland along the way.
Must close for now, witte us at the above address, we'd love to hear from you,
Yours in Christ,
iharlo'ttc; ':i'.
SEPTEMEER 1979 SAWS SAYINGS SEFTHJffiER I979
ZULUUM CHRISTIAN MISSION
SANTIY & CHARLOTTE SINCLAIR,
P.O. BCK m, ESHOWE, ZULULAND, 381^,
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, OCTOBER 1 I979
Dear Friends and Brethren,
Yesterday was the last day of September (thirty days hath
September,..)and it turned out to be an unusual Sunday, First of all it was not raiing,
secondly I started out for Mtubatuba (call that Nbhtoobahtoobah) "with the intenlHion
of seeing Isaiah Siyaya unannounced, Siyaya has decided to leave the churches'of Christ
for independancy duo to personality conflicts in the churches around Mtubatuba, but I
a mtold me might decide to stay if I talk things over -with him. He is one of our best
preachErs and a former student of mine. On the way I stopped to sec Alfred Mathinjwa,
and found him home ill, and his wife had been taken to a mission hospital by ambulance
on Friday apparently at ded:h's door according to Mathenjwa, After discussiigthe sit
uation I felt it best to take the entire church to the hospital for services there.
This we did, and the patients in the ward there wore very happy we had come. Many know
the hymns and Joined in. Wo only left well into the afternoon so it was to bo Mtubatuba
another day, (Mrs Mathcnjwa, while still very sick was much better yesterday^ but we
postponed the starting of Charlotte^s womcn^s meetings until she is bettor,) - -
Talking about hospitals, last month Wayne was in the Eshoi-rc hospital, (he is now fine)
but on one cventfia day this month (Vth) Mlchigjle fell out of a trea and broke her arm,
and^ictod picked up the wrong end of a hot poker that had been left in tho'firc and
taken out moments before, buring hi^ ha^d sovoroly. So it i-jas back to the hospital again#
Good thing it is nearby, Michelle emerged the following day >jith hor ana in a cast
supported by a sling and Richard -vzith a hand swathed in bandages# Later he took the
bandages off and walked around for several days with his hand in a bucket of ice mtcr.
To show you how hot it was, the poker burned a hole clear through the living room carpet
whore he dropped it,
September was also the month for arrivals, the dmms finally arrived in Eshowe from
Phoenix, Unfortunately they spent'their first night in Eshowe standing outside in the
rain all night, but only one had leaked and the contents wore soaked. It was fun to
unpack them. Also, our KwaZulu ndosionary permits arrived Sept, 2ljth so we are now free
to move about the bush unhindered and can camp wherever we find suitable sites. This
permit system may sound odd to American ears but it Is essential in Zululand, It is
good for a year at a time, renewable.
The highlight of September in our Annual Church of Christ mission Conference, This
year marked the 57th annual Conference in SA, and is to our churches here what the North
American Christian Convention is to our US churches. Host church was in Barbcrton, E,
Transvaal, 650km or I}03 miles north. We try to ensure that a good representative group
from Zululand is present, so I offered to drive the Mazda pickup and talco $ persons
besides Tnysclf, I arranged time off for one of our preachers who also works for thoSA
Railways, and arrived at the prearranged meeting place on departure day, I was aghast I
There wore 7 adults, all of generous Zulu proportions and a mountain of l\:ggago. The
Mazda was not up to the challenge I assured them, they must decide who is to stay home.
Well, I had become accustomed to thinking American, and terrporarily forgotten the ways of
Africa,,,"vrhy inhere was plenty of room, African style, so they all simply got'in, all. 7
with suitcases, paper bags, blanlcots, cooking pots, pillows, bannanas,,,thc lot, I was
truly iiT^ressed, (I had loft pointed instructions not to bring goats or chickens this
trip,) It was close fellowship for the 10 hour trip,
, / ConferencG 1979 was one of the best to date, no major problems and a good positive
//time of preaching and fellowship. Missionaries M/M Mills, M/M. Mike Stanley and it^self
/ were there, 'as -was our invited guest and speaker Ben Pcnnington and his wife Karen from
1 Ft, Victoria, Rhodesia, (Ziababwc) For the first time ever, one of our African leaders,
L Nick Qemesha was elected superintcndant, (A government required position,)
Ben Pcnnington broughbus up to date on the latest events in the war in Zimbabwe-
Rhodesia, Most of tho TTL's (rural bush reserves) lie in hostile hands and your life
expectancy alone in one is about 30 minutes. It is very unsafe in random aroas for lone
travelers, convoys take traffic between towns twice a day. Reminds mo of what it must
have be<n like at certain times in certain places in the old west, when tho white man
only controlled the towns, and one traveled between sottlomerits armed to tho teeth and
at your own peril. Time alone however will decide this outcome.
Must close for now, next month wo will tell you about our now EIT using filmstrips &
slides^ first course: "Acts, The Beginning and Spread of the Church,"
Write, we want to hear from you. Yours in Christ,
Sandy & Charlotte
^01/,
OGTOBER 1979 SANDT'S SAYINGS OCTOBER 1979
ZULUUND CHEIISTIAN MISSION,
SANDY & CHARLOTTE SINCLAIR,
P.O.'Box lU, Eshowe, Zululand, 381^
Republic of South Africa# NDVMBER 1 1979
Dear Prionds and Brethren,
I have dated this letter tomorrow to be consistent wi th
my previous ner^sletters, but today is actually October 31st.#ItyiallowoQn in
America but the day and evening will pass unnoticed here in Soutn Africa, why I am
not sure of, but the kids will miss their trick^or-trcat excursions again#
Maybe they won't remember if we don't say anything#
October has come and gone already and we don't know where the time flies#
During October wc spent our time,some of the time that is, working with the two
closest congregations nearest to Eshowe# They are Engingweni andQphindwini
and are located about 30 minutes drive away# The Ophindwini group is under fho
leadership of Caiphas Ncnana who is a fine capable preacher even though he has
never been to the Bible Training school# He works for the South African Railways
in their telecommunications branch at Gingindlovu station# With a Std 6 Education
he is one of the highest educated of our local men# For two years he studied in
oxir Extension Leadership Training course and continues noij in our new series#
The church there meets in his home at the present, but a pole and dagge building
is under construction right next to his house that will serve this growing church.
The church is actually a split off the AmaSundwini group that decided they did not
want to go in continued fellowship Trrith the Church of Christ Mission###thcre had
been some personality claBhos between the leader there and one of our men who felt
he had some authority over them# So they broke away, but the group that continued
to asflDciate with the mission is over twice the size <f the group they broke away
from earlier# We have bccnlolding studies in the life of Christ with this group
for this month and vrilJL continue the series right through the Gospels
The other group also meets in a home, the home of Brother and Sister Mathenjwa, and
the two churches are less than a mile- apart, although Mathenjwa's congregation lies
near an all weather road while Ophindwini where Caiphas Ncanana preaches is right
on top of a high hill and totally inaccessible during wet weather#^ Bro Mathenjwa
has had one year of Bible Training at Umzumbe Bible Institute and is recognized as
an appointed minister# Both men are part time sugar cane farmers, Mathenjwa cuts
about 200 tons a year and grosses an income from the mill of R2,600#00 or $3,172#00
at todays rate of exchange# Mr Mathenjwa's home is very modest, but of brick and
cement in a sheltered grove of mango trees# The home stands alone, but Ncnana's
home is a regular Zulu kraal with a cluster of Zulu huts high on a hill# His
"house" consists of two rooms, small but neat and clean, a bedroom and a dmingroom
with one door and two mndcws# All cooking is done outside, the goats, chickens and
cattle are kept in or near the Icraal# Other huts serve as sleeping accomodation
for the older onildren and relatives# He has a magnificent view of the yj^ley
-"below-and the gireen hills across the valley floor# ^Ncanana's income would bcj
about the same as Mathenjwa's. We share many of our excess things with these
tw) leaders and their church families# Its always startling to see your old suit
going through the kraal on someone clses back, while their needs may be great by
our consumer st-andacds, they live well by arojrage Zulu standards#
This month we had 13 persons confess Christ as their savior from these two churches#
Three of them were baptized last Sunday morning when the two congregations met
together at the big pool that is fonned by the stream that flows through the bottom
of their valley# Caiphas baptized them in a moving service that lasted well over
two hours#
The people are simple and uncomplicated, their needs are modest, the Gospel reaches
them in simple and uncomplicated methods# We enjoy world.ng with them#
Drop us a line, we want to hear from you#
Yours in
Sandy lotto & b
/)
NOVEMBER 1979 SANDT'S SAYINGS ^ ^ NdJMBER 1979
%
mULAND CHRISTIAN MISSION, ^
SANBY & CHARLOTTE SINCLAIR,
BCK 111, ESHOWE, ZULITUND, 381^,
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, lECEMBER 3 1979
Dear friends and Brethren,
It hardly seems possible that this is the last three weeks of
the '70'3, for in about a week or two after receiving this it will be the'80*s. The new
decade sounds futuristic, but for certain, God has not relinquished control no matter
what -ohe situation in the world and its problems e. .Iran, oil, inflation, recession, crime
and so forth,
e have had a very busy month, although there is lots I never got around to, and
events were beyond control in some instances, yet we saw 6 turn to the Lord in our
immediate area, ^ baptisms, the 6th mar. works in Durban and will be back later in Dec#
Materials planned.for several meetings failed to arrive which caused minor setbaclffl, bttit
nothing that could not be satisfactorily postponedo
The most excib^g -event in the Sinclair houshold was the arrival of the latesl^^ ^
addition to the^UpJ^cits coral blue, 13,27 ft long, 5ft vjide, weighs 1,9014 lbs"
ar_. gets 55 gallon (vra hope), ^fore you get further confused, its a car, a
very small oaf aU Uat^'Tbut. a now car to boot,,,a Datsun II4OY SDK which wo have been
hoping to gGtsiil(l Augiftt 17th,; We were able to get it through the factory at. factory
billing price, through good offices of a Mr Bob Smith of Tustin, California, a member
of First Christian there who also works in Datsun's US Headquarters# It took
about a month to airrivc after the order was placed# We are very pleased as I am again
mobile at reasonable costs as far as gasoline is concerned and a gas tank range of 67^
miles means no more week-^nd woes when we have far to go#
Our maiden voyage comes up this week when I go to Cradock in the Eastern Cape for a
problem solving session at tho church there id.th other missionaries and committee mambaTS
who wilJ. be there too# Cradock is nearly 750 miles away one way, and this new little
Datsun will make the hot trip (its midsummer hero now) in reasonable comfort and econom
ically too.
The family are all well, November is final exams for schools in RSA and so this
month has been hectic as far as that is concerned. Exams (finals) are more important
here than at their schools in Phoenix as often it is* tho orly criteria used to measure
their scholastic achievement for the pajovious school yoar and determines whether they
pass or fall the grade. So there was some serious study at our houso this month#
Richard does well, is the top of his class, Michelle is also near tho top of her class,
the other do less well, but we hope they id.ll be promoted with tho rest, in January#
V70 want to extend to each and all of our readership a very Merry Christmas and a
very Happy New Year# We wish we could send Christmas cards to all on our general mail
ing list, but if you don't get one please allow this to convey our heartfelt gjEsdiing to
you and yours at this time, this very special time when we pause to remember the birth
of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, As Christmas lies in the middle of Summer vacation time
here it takes on a different atmosphere,#.we can't even protend to see winter's isnowr
and ice in the heat and thunderstormsc##but tho meaning is still the same# God so cared
about you and I that he sent His son to be born of a virgin, to live and finally to die#
Tho Bible saysj "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself#.#"
Merry Christmas,,and a Happy New Year,
Yours in Him,
Sandy^lCharlotte (Michael 16, Richard li],'Wayne 12, Michelle 10
^ and Johnny 8#)
EECEMBEH 1979 SANBY*S SAYINGS DECEMBER 1979
ZULULAKD CHRISTIAN MISSION,
SANDY k CHARLOTTE SINCLAIR, 9 ? inr^^
BOX 111, ESHOWE, ZULUIAND, 3815, '
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. JAN. 7 1980
Dear Friends and Brothron,
It seems so long since I last sat down to write a new-
letterj but it has been only a month...but in the meanwhile we have had Chridmas,
New Years" and a new decade as well. Before mentioning our Christmas I forgot to
mention in last newsletter about the fine Thanksgiving dinner wo had at the
American club in Durban. Got to meet the new US Consulvi i-rdhere too.
I wanted to postpone Christmas this year for several months while I cacught up
but the kida.". would have no such thing so we went ahead and had it on December 29th
anyway. For most of our readers it would not scorn like Christmas anyway with the
heat and summer vacation activities. For the week before Christmas a couple from
Stu Cookh church in Johannesburg came down and spent their vacation at our place,
and we enjoyed their visit immonsly, but after living with our lively and magnifi#
cent 7, Brian and Beryl Raynor were glad to get back to the quite solitude of the
big city of Johannesburg. It is relatively quiet there now too as our coast just
becomes a suburb of Johannesburg during the summer school holidays as they come and
take over the place.
Things are rather quiet mission wise during the Christmas time as we close the
year in early December and renew our teaching program for the new year January 26th
1980. Christmas in Zululand (and all 3rd world countries for that matter) takes
on a rather unroligious atmosphere and its an uphill battle to put Christ in Christ
mas. (If you have just thought to yourself its the same here (US) too, remember we
live in both places and I disagree, Christmas is the US is a real experience, here
I never heard a Christmas carol until Christmas day itself.) My Christmas sermon
fell flat half-way through as ny audience was lost as I spoke of the birth of Christ.
Then I remembered that remembering andgiving gifts on the anniversary of one's own
birth is a completely western tradition. Very few Africans know their birthday,
much less celebrate it, so the reason for Christmas is lost in their thinking.
Somewhat frustrated, it ended in confusion as I was trying to push somthing they
never hoard about...there were no Christmas carols in the Zulu hymnal either.
Never has cultural relativity come across ia such a manner, as then. It makes one
realize how much of our expressions of the Christian faith are cultural and not
biblical. Still, back/at our home in Eshowe we had a traditional Christmas with
a tree, decordiions, gifts under the tree, artificial snow, Johnny Cash on the
record player, and two starry eyed kids still looking for Santa. (The rest have
already figured who Santa is.)
For a week in December I was in Cradock, Cape Province with other missionaries
trying to try to help solve the problems of the congregation there. They had to
bo serious to bring 6 missionaries several hundred miles from all directions, they
were, I hope we were able to help, but they run' deep and decades have passed with
th3 same basic personality problems between ministers and oldors continuing.
The last day of the year we went to Johannesburg to visit at Alethcia Christian
Center, visit with and welcome back co-workers Floyd and Joan Stamm, and see the
New Year and the new decade in in the fellowship of other Christians on ovr knees
in prayer. It was a grand occasion, and we were glad we went there. More than
ever wo see how the world needs Jesus this New Year, this new and dangerous decade.
More than any other Christmas season I can recall we have boon blessed with
nice cards and letters from our readership and supporters back in the USA. It will
take weeks to catch up on the backlog and get an answer to all who requested some
thing or information. If you were one of them, hang on, but keep those^arj^ ^d
letters coming folks, we really love them u
Must close this time
Satfidy a~harlotte & 9