Rosemary's Rcmblings

CENTRAL AFRICA MISSION

Rosemary Swarms
32 Wamborough Mansions

Bulawayo, Rhodesia
March 1968

Dear Friends in Christ:

I see by the calendar that it has been more than two months since I have written to you. Christmas was
not so very different in Rhodesia from the United States. The whole city was decorated and lighted. The park
was especially beautiful with a nativity scene in one area. Each week there was a special program in the park
to celebrate Christmas. The two months before Christmas was filled with preparations for the annual Sunday

School Party. The party for the 1200 children at Makokoba was held early in December just before school ended
for the year. Each child received a gift of clothing or a toy, then the teachers served them donuts and cool
drinks. The children look forward all year to this party.

The Sunday School teenagers from Colenbrander Avenue (European) wanted to give the children at the
Jairos Jiri Sunday School a party. They prepared cake and cool drinks and came on a Sunday afternoon to serve
it to the children. We had a small gift for those who attended regularly. We were so happy that our teenagers
were willing to give of their money and time for these crippled African children. Mr. N. Walker teaches these
teenagers and was pleased with their effort. We, too, were pleased for we had not planned so large a party, but
because of their desire to help, the children had a lovely time.

The women's groups, also, had special programs for Christmas and tea. We attended the program at
Luveve, and enjoyed the fellowship with the women very much.
The weekend before Christmas I went with Gladys Jongeling to Mashoko to attend the wedding of Marilyn
Steinmetz and Peter Nathan. This was my first trip to Mashoko and though I did not have much time to see

the mission, I enjoyed the fellowship with the girls and the wedding was beautiful. On our way back, we
stopped to visit some friends of Gladys' who live on a farm near Ft. Victoria. I enjoyed very much seeing
how a farm is run in Rhodesia. We picked strawberries from beds, not rows, and ate prickly pears (fruit of
a cactus type plant). We arrived back in Bulawayo on Christmas eve and spent Christmas day at the home
of the Kennedys with the Hoyts, Penningtons and Hays. We had a lovely dinner (turkey and all the trimmings)
and enjoyed ourselves very much.

Judy returned to Binga for a visit with Jack and Peggy Pennington. On New Year's Day Gladys and I went
for a picnic with the Kennedy Family. And thus began another yeai*, a year that wiU fly by in a flash. On
January 8, Judy and I said "Happy Anniversary" to each other and so we begin our second year in Rhodesia.
The new school term has started, so we have a regular schedule that must be met. I have three Primary

School Scripture Classes and one Bible Knowledge Class. The Bible Knowledge Class meets twice a week for
two periods each time. I have 36 Form 1 boys in this class. We are provided with books to teach from, but
often to answer their questions, we must do our own research and prepare lessons to fit the needs of the class.
We have changed the Sunday School Teachers Training at Makokoba from Wednesday to Friday after
noons, 5:15. This change in the day of meeting allows a few more of the teachers to attend. They are very
eager to learn anything that will help their teaching for the Lord. As of this week, we are no longer going to
help the teachers at Luveve. Their minister, Mr. Sithole, asked us to come there last year to help his teachers.
We told him that we would provide the material for the first term and then it was up to the church to pay the
28c a week for the children's take home papers for the second term. He cannot see the value of the papers that
they take home and we will not teach without the teaching aids, pictures, and take home papers, so we are
leaving them to work out their own program.
Since the beginning of the new school term our European youth clubs are on the increase. The teenagers
are presenting their own programsgiving devotions, providing refreshments, and planning the recreation. At
first we heard a few groans and had to use army style volunteering, but last week when we made out our pro
gram for the next two months, we were very happy at their change in attitude. I rather think they prefer
doing things for themselves rather than being served everything on a silver platter. They are growing, but it
is slow. More than half of the 18-20 do not attend Sunday School or Church. These young people need your
prayers and we, also, covet your prayers as we work with them and try to guide them in the right way.
This week Miss Martha Raile, nursing sister from Mashoko Christian Hospital is visiting with us. Mar
tha was able to help out at Chiredzi when Mary Bliffen had to go back to the States and soon she will be tak-

ing over the Nursing School so that Donna Kreegar can go for her furlough. We are very happy to have her
spend a holiday with us in Bulawayo.

I have received some inquiries about my picture in the December issue of the Central Africa Story. The
picture shows me getting off of an airplane in Fort Victoria with what appears to be a rifle in my hand. Tiie
gun belongs to Greg VanDyke, who had forgotten and left it at the Kennedys when he was visiting here. It is
what you would call a BB gun, they call them pellet guns here. Greg was very happy that I was able to return
his gun to him and we had a lot of laughs over my needing the gun, since I was the only woman on the plane
with five men. Actually we are well protected by the army and police and have no need to carry weapons. You
read in your papers about the terrorists (we call them tourists) in Rhodesia and we read in our papers here
about the riots in the U. S. A. Personally I feel just as safe here as I would at home. I love the work here,
the people and the country.

For the past two weeks all of the missionaries here in Bulawayo have been working on a Daily Vacation
Bible School Publication. It will contain ten stories about the different phases of the work here by the people
most intimately concerned with that work. It will have special articles by the missionary children and one of
our African teachers. There will be full length pictures of the missionaries as well as many snap shots of the
different people and areas of work. There will be a map to help you locate the different churches, homes and
schools mentioned in the articles. This publication will be going to the printers within the next week and will
reach you by the first part of May. It will be in time for you to use the stories for the Daily Vacation Bible
Schools held in June. You will be able to make a very fine bulletin board display from the pictures in the pub
lication. Plan now to use Bulawayo, Rhodesia for your missionary stories in D.V.B.S. this year.
Churches: My mother, Mrs. Lula Swarms, now has a set of slides about the work here. She is willing to
come to show these colored slides to your congregation if you will write her suggesting a date. She can show

the pictures effectively either in the day time or at night, since she has a 500 watt projector and a day-light
screen for your viewing pleasure. If you have not seen these pictures of the work being done for the Lord
here in Africa, do write and suggest a date and time when you would like to learn more about the work here.
A picture is worth 1,000 words. The address is: Mrs. Lula Swarms, R. R. 1, Loogootee, Elinois 62857. She will
also have a display of African made curios for you to see. Write today, don't wait!
Last year, when the Berry Kennedy family was in the States on furlough, he worked very hard on a
series of filmstrips suitable for use in Daily Vacation Bible School or just for showing at a church service.
These can be obtained from Mr. Bob Purtell, Second Church of Christ, 19 S. Williams Street, Newark, Ohio 43055.
He already has many bookings for June, but if you would like to use these filmstrips at a later time, please
write him and inquire about a suitable time. The only cost to you is postage.
Thank you so much for your continued support and for your prayers. May all of you have good health for
the coming summer and may God bless you all as you labor for Him.

In Christ,

Rosemary

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

CENTRAL AFRICA MISSION

32 Wamborough Mansions
Bulawayo, Rhodesia

U. S. POSTAGE PAID

Loogootee, Illinois
Permit No. 1

Africa
MACEDONIA CHRISTIAN CHURCH

M/M WiUard Ragel F. A.

Loogootee, Illinois 62857

R. R, 1

(p.(0<^
4o 3Lf3

a
ReturnPostage Guaranteed

Makokoba Sunday School

Teacher Frank's class at Makokoba

Won one of the Good Behavior awards

rrrrTi

Jairos Jiri teenagers being taught by M/M Peter

Blind boy pushing Sabbath and Samuel as they

Nathan

leave Sunday School

Scripture class at Lobenguia Government Primary

Amy, Jeffery, Joy, Berry

School Standard Sixes.

Seated: Janet, John, James, and Jerry Kennedy.

Youth Club - Saturday night

Scripture class at Baines Primary School.

^11!

GROUND BREAKING FOR THE NEW ADDITION AT

Johnny, Debbie, Glo, Timmy, and John

BARHAM GREEN. Mrs. Mansill, . John Hoyt, Mrs. Had-

Hoyt.

field, and Phil Hadfield in front.

May God bless all of you as you work for Him there and may He help and guide each of His workers
here. I hope you enjoy these pictures of my co-workers and the people I work with. Thank you for your
prayers. Have a Christ centered Christmas and a profitable New Year for the Lord.
In Christ,
Rosemary

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

CENTRAL AFRICA MISSION

U. S. POSTAGE

48 Warnborough Mansions
Bulawayo, Rhodesia

Permit No. 1

Africa
MACEDONIA CHRISTIAN CHURCH

M/M Willard Ragel F. A.

R. R. 1

Loogootee, Illinois

PAID

Loogootee, Illinois

G2857