Newsletters from a Salvation Army woman officer in South Africa (8) 1974-77
The Salvation Army T.H.Q.
P.O. Box 1018
Johannesburg, S. Africa.
November 1973
Since arriving in South Africa we have travelled about 25,000
kilometres, and have had the opportunity of seeing some of the beautiful parts
of this lovely country. The distances are so great that a lot of our time is
spent in travelling, many times having to travel for a whole day to reach our
destination. We have 10 African Divisions, and we were taken round everywhere
on our Welcome Tour by Lt. Colonel Milne, the previous Missionary Secretary,
who has been very helpful in every way. We have been privileged to accompany
our Territorial Commander and Mrs. Colonel King for a series of Officers’
Meetings… Not only do we have to go to most parts of South Africa, but we have
work in Lesotho, Swaziland [Eswatini] and Mocambique.
There is a vast difference between the sophisticated urban African
of Soweto and the rural African, but everywhere we have found enthusiastic Salvationists.
Only today we have been conducting meetings at our Soweto Central Corps where
we have a splendid Band whose deportment and playing is of a very high
standard. … Soweto is a very large “city within a city”, the African area of
Johannesburg with thousands of good houses, every amenity, schools, welfare,
clinics, playing fields, sports stadiums, and with one of the largest modern
hospitals [Baragwanath].
…
The African work in this country is not easy at present, as whole
communities are being moved into their Homelands, and in some areas where we
have good halls we have to move out because the Government is moving all the
people away. If only we had money for the new halls we require. The African
Homelands present a tremendous challenge with hundreds of houses in well built
modern townships, and we’ve got to be in on the ground floor if we are not
going to lose our opportunity among these teeming people.
Some of our rural Corps are in the mountains with glorious views
all round. In some places we cannot get all the way by car and have to walk
round mountain paths. … Most of our rural Corps are comprised of women only… it
is so hard to get the men. In many places of course, the men are away working
in towns.
…
Another memorable occasion we had an Open Air meeting in Matunjwa’s
village, that remarkable Zulu pioneer Officer. Our hall there is built where
Mzilikazi’s warriors used to dance the victory dances on returning home from
successful battles. Now our Salvationists march round singing the praises of
the Lord. In the rural areas there is still much ancestral spirit worship. At
one Transkei Corps a girl was possessed by an evil spirit, so they took her out
of the meeting. I followed her and we knelt in the long grass while the D.C.’s
wife and I prayed, and eventually the girl became quite calm, prayed then came
back into the hall and testified.
We had a very good Sunday in Lesotho, and there is every evidence
of the Army work being established there. …
Our most moving experience was our recent visit to Mocambique when
we accompanied the Chief Secretary and Mrs. Col. Pitcher for the Congress,
which was held not far from Inhambane on the coast 300 miles north of Lourenco
Marques [Maputo]. It was a lovely setting among tall waving coconut palms. Our
people there have not been allowed to hold meetings, some even being imprisoned
for their faith. It was hard work for the African District Officer and Keith to
get permission from the Authorities to hold the meetings, going from one Department
to another, but eventually they got the necessary permission. It was a thrill
to see nearly 400 Salvationists marching to meet us, most of them with bits of
uniform which had been hidden away. There is a beautiful hall built by the
Salvationists of woven palm leaves, and they had also built a large shelter for
the Congress meetings. We started with an Envoys’ meeting, but just as the
Chief Secretary was about to commence his address, the Portuguese Commissioner
of Police arrived. The African D.O. and Keith went out to talk to him, then the
Chief Secretary when he had finished his address also went out, while I kept
the Envoys inside singing and praying. I felt concerned about all the soldiers
so we went in search of them, and found them sitting in groups under palm trees
some distance away. I gathered them together and held a meeting with them while
the men were still discussing with the police. I was determined that our people
should have some meeting in case the police would not allow us to continue. …
The meeting was full of joy in spite of the hardship and persecution our people
have had. When I gave the invitation to kneel at the drum, they all (nearly 400
of them) moved forward and knelt round and all prayed aloud. I have never
experienced anything like it—like the sound of many waters. Just as we finished
praying a boy came running through the trees from the D.O. to tell us the
police had given permission for us to continue. There was great rejoicing at
this answer to prayer—the 4 Flag Sergeants ran for their hidden flags, the two
drummers banged their drums harder than ever, about 60 women played their
homemade coconut palm timbrels and everyone sang at the top of their voice, and
we marched back to the Congress site. The whole weekend was full of spiritual
power and many decisions were made.
When we are out on trek I am my husband’s Secretary and we manage
to keep our heads above water with the accumulation of correspondence.
Allan is now a Pastor in the United Apostolic Faith Church doing
missionary work, and he and another young Pastor go round with a caravan visiting
their many churches. They have just returned from two months in Malawi where
they have had a wonderful time, in some places doing pioneering missionary
work. He is based at Pretoria so we see him occasionally if both we and he
happen to be home at the same time, which is not very often. Carol has settled
very happily to married life and is living in Salisbury [Harare], but she does
not like it when her police husband has to go into the Bush on Anti-Terrorist
Patrol periodically.
May this Christmas be full of the
peace that Jesus came to bring and may 1974 be full of rich blessing from the
Lord.
P.O. Box 1018,
Johannesburg.
November 1974.
It is time once again to send greetings to all our many friends. We
have had a very busy but happy year, and have travelled far, and we would like
to share some of our experiences with you.
…
At a mountain Corps inaccessible by car a new Lieutenant and his
wife are doing a fine work, had increased their Y.P. attendance from 5 to over
70. The Lieut. had visited the headman who attended our meeting for the first
time, and was one of the seekers. At another Corps right in the mountains we
held our meeting in a round hut which was absolutely jammed. When Keith was to
dedicate a baby, he asked the Mother to bring the baby forward, only to see a
tall boy of 19 come forward, and he was the ‘baby’. Needless to say Keith did
not attempt to take him up in his arms! Another occasion in Vendaland we
climbed up a steep hill to the Chief’s village, and there on a ledge of the
mountain talked to the Chief of the Lord, and prayed with him. As we looked at
the magnificent scenery all round we thanked God for the opportunity of
preaching the Gospel to the man who has such influence among his people. … We
have just spent 10 days in Zululand, and have had a wonderful time visiting
different Corps, struggling through muddy hills, and Keith even went on
horseback over the mountains to an inaccessible Corps. I did not attempt my
first horse ride over mountain paths and deep rivers!!
…
… Life is very full but so rewarding.
Allan continues on his missionary journeyings, and has just returned
from two months in Malawi where he had many adventures. He is looking forward
to his marriage on December 28th to a very lovely girl… [wedding cancelled!]
My Mother [Colonel Mrs Starbuck] is coming out to us for three months and will
be with us for Christmas and Allan’s wedding. My brother Ken and his wife are
also coming for Christmas from Canada, whom I have not seen for 21 years. Carol
and Colin are happily settled in Salisbury, Colin having recently been
transferred to the Dog Section of the Police, and loving his work with his dog.
…
Territorial Headquarters,
P.O. Box 1018
JOHANNESBURG. 2000
November 1975.
Once more it is time to greet all our friends, and in the midst of
a busy life I must pause to get this letter typed. We have had a busy year with
many interesting experiences, with much joy in our work, although naturally
there are also many disappointments.
We have continued to travel many miles to the various Divisions,
and in addition this year, Keith has been going round the Mine Compounds
[around Johannesburg] with the Bible Van which has been given to the Army. He
has already contacted hundreds of young men, and sold many Bibles. When we are
not out on tour he goes in the mornings and stays all day with the Van in the
Mine Compound selling Bibles, then holds a meeting at 5 p.m. and over 500 young
men have made decisions for Christ. … Keith says one of the most moving sights
in the Mine Compound work is to see many young men kneeling on the ground
praying aloud in their own language as they seek the Lord. Another picture which
will remain in my mind is that of one of our boys, 11 years of age giving a
glowing testimony in the Open Air meeting in a township, then see an old ragged
drunk man kneeling at the drum. The challenge came to me that we must save our
boys from getting like this old fellow. Many of our country Corps are all
women, many of the men being in towns working, or else just sitting in the villages
drinking. We must get hold of the boys so they do not follow in their fathers’
steps, but become strong Christians and build Christian homes.
… The highlight of this year has been the visit of General and
Mrs. Wiseman, and we had wonderful meetings with them.
Allan has had many experiences this year in his missionary
travels, and he has just returned from Malawi where he was miraculously healed
from a very severe dose of cerebral malaria right out in the Bush, came round
from his delirium to find two African Christians in his caravan praying in
their own language that God would heal him. Many of you have heard that he did
not get married as planned as the girl backed out at the last minute.
Carol and her husband are living in Umtali now near the Mocambique
border as Colin has been transferred there by the police, and Carol is
expecting her first baby early in December, so we are looking forward to being
grandparents.
…
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P.O. Box 1018
JOHANNESBURG.
November 1976
Once more it is time to send Christmas greetings… and in spite of
the turmoil, unrest and strife in which we are living, we still serve the
Prince of Peace, and pray that His Kingdom shall come to put an end to the evil
in the world.
We had an enjoyable Overseas Furlough from April to July, and had
the wonderful experience of going to Canada for three weeks through the
generosity of my brother [Ken Starbuck]. Canada is a beautiful country and it
was good for my Mother to be with her family again. My brother took us to
Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa as well as to some of the beautiful lakes and
mountains. We also saw the Niagara Falls but we still prefer Victoria Falls! We
also had two weeks in Devon and were able to see some of the beautiful countryside
of Devon and Cornwall which we have never visited before.
We have been very busy since we came back, both in the office and out
in the Divisions. … We also accompanied our new Chief Secretary and Mrs. Lt.
Colonel Rightmire to Kimberley for the Central Divisional Home League weekend.
Women had come from all over the Division… As we drove to the Township on the
Sunday morning we were met by a long march of women in their red blouses with
their flags flying, and it was such a thrill to see them, especially as many of
these women had come from Soweto where at present it is impossible to march
through the streets. As you know, things are difficult in Soweto at present,[1]
and we have only been able to go in once lately to the funeral of one of our
pioneer African Officers, but we are praying that soon things will be back to
normal.
You will know that we are now grand-parents and we had the joy of
having Carol, Colin and their lovely little daughter, Janine with us at the end
of March. Janine is a lovely child and we are so proud of her although we see
very little of her as they live in Umtali [Mutare], Rhodesia.
Allan has been very busy again this
year with his missionary travels and has recently returned from a month in
Malawi where he did a series of seminars for their African pastors. The Lord
has wonderfully blessed his ministry. We do not see very much of him but we had
the joy of having him and his girl-friend for his 27th birthday.
[1] The Soweto
Uprising was in June that year when hundreds of students were killed by police
and military.
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