“The Last House on the Last Road” – It spans oceans.
The Vision Statement for Mission at the Eastward took on an expanded meaning when in 2000, MATE entered into a partnership with a rural church in South Africa – extending that road by more than 8,000 miles. The Rev. Carl Geores [former MATE Director] never got to travel there, but after listening to the stories of the Presbytery of Northern New England [PNNE] delegation of their visit in 1999, and meeting Rev. Gideon Khabela [on sabbattical from the Amatola Presbytery in South Africa] in the USA – he encouraged Rev. Scott Planting to get involved and travel down a new road. The MATE-Macfarlan Partnership is still going strong – in part due to the early encouragement from “Sage Geores.”
MATE-MACFARLAN COVENANT
We gathered under the big tent to celebrate the harvest of the home gardens after Natural Farming Training, and to enter into a Covenant to affirm our commitment to each other.
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The MATE-Macfarlan Partnership was formed in August 2000 during the visit to MATE by Rev. Luzuko Qina, his wife Nozuko, and their children Xhanti and Zintle. It was not until February, 2008 that a formal covenant was consummated. Glen Paterson, author of the "Spirit of the Tyume", offered the toast at the signing ceremony.
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Winnie translating Ed's words into Xhosa as we explain the Covenant and the structure of the Partnership
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COVENANT
UMNQOPISO A Covenant between the Macfarlan Congregation, Alice, South Africa, a Congregation of the Amatola Presbytery, the Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa and the Mission at the Eastward, a cooperative parish Ministry of the Presbytery of Northern New England, the Presbyterian Church, USA. So that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith… -Roman 1 Umnqophiso phakathi kweBandla laseMacfarlan, Alice, South Africa, eli-liBandla lePresbitari ye-Amatola, kwi-Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa, kunye neMission at the Eastward, engumdibaniso wama- Bandla aphantsi kwePresbytery of Northern New England, yePresbyterian Church, USA Khon’ukuze sivuselelane ngokufanayo ngalo ukholo…ngolwenu Kwanangolwam… -Roma 1 |
Members of the Macfarlan congregation - which includes 14 villages - listen attentively to Winnie's words.
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PREAMBLE:
Since the summer of 2000, when Rev Luzuko Qina and his family visited Mission at the Eastward, MATE and the Macfarlan Congregation have been in partnership. The partnership has included prayer and study, projects, visits, the exchange of pastoral letters and worship materials, and the establishment of partnership committees. Also, many friendships have been established between the people of Macfarlan and MATE. INTSHAYELELO: IMATE neBandla laseMacfarlan libenonxibelelwano, ipartnership, ukususela mhla uMfundisi uLuzuko Qina nosapho lwakhe batyelela iqhuba le partnership iquke nemithandazo nokufunda, neeproject, nokuhambelana, nokubhalelana ngezobudlelane, nokwandiswa kolwazi kwezenkonzo, nokumisela iikomiti zalo olu nxulumano. Ngaphezu koko, kuyekwadaleka ubuhlobo phakathi kwabantu baseMacfarlan nabaseMate. |
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The activities of our partnership include:
Projects: - Heifer International Poultry Project, 2000 – and still going strong - Roofing of Dyamala Church - Upper Ncera Clinic Support - AIDS Care Kits - Lunch program [Soup Kitchens in 4 Villages] - Gardens - Supporting ARVT in the Tyhume Valley - Agriculture Projects - Upper Ncera: - Communal and Home Gardens - Natural Farming Training in 4 villages - 2-Hectare Model Vegetable Farm - Well and Pump - Computer and Communications for Partnership Activities |
Osekwenzekile phantsi kwale partnership:
Iiproject: - Heifer International Poultry Project 2000 – isaqhuba ngamandla - Ukuxhonywa kwecawe yaseDyamal - Inkxaso eClinic yase-Upper Ncera - Ngee-Aids Care Kits - Ngokutya [kumakitshi akwilali ezine] - Ngeegadi - Inkxaso yamachiza ayi-ARVT kummandla weTyhume - IiProject zolimo - Upper Ncera: - iigadi zamakhaya nezokudibaniselana - uqeqesho kuLimo ngokweNdalo kwiilali ezine - ukulinywa kwesiqithana esizi-hectare ezi-2 ngohlobo olutsha - Impopo yamanzi nequla layo - IComputer nonxibelelwano ngembhalelwano mayela nemicimbi yePartnership |
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Visits:
Summer, 2000 - Qina family visit MATE April, 2002 - Group of 16 from MATE visit Macfarlan May, 2003 - Jeff McNear, Ed Jesteadt & Paul Brown visit Macfarlan June, 2003 - Youth Delegation from Amatola Presbytery to PNNE June, 2004 - Youth Delegation from PNNE to Amatola Presbytery July, 2004 - Winnie Maneli, Ernest Jwambi, Rose Xuza, Rhei Galela visit MATE May, 2005 - Scott Planting attends graduation ceremonies for Rev. & Mrs. Qina Summer, 2005 - Rosie, Satara and Elethu at CATE November, 2005 - Ed Jesteadt, Charlie Barker, Christopher Smith Visit Macfarlan November, 2006 - Ed Jesteadt and Jack Kallis visit Macfarlan February, 2008 - Scott Planting, George and Joanne Hardy, Charlie Barker, and Ed Jesteadt and Bonnie Frick-Jesteadt visit Macfarlan |
Utyelelo:
Ngehlobo lika- 2000 – usapho lakwaQina lwatyelela eMate April, 2002 - Igqiza elingabantu aba-16 baseMATE batyelela iMacfarlan May, 2003 - Jeff McNear, Ed Jesteadt, noPaul Brown batyelela eMacfarlan June, 2003 - Ulutsha lwe-Amatola Presbytery lwatyelela iPresbytery yase Northern New England June, 2004 - Ulutsha lwasePNNE lwatyelela eMacfarlan July, 2004 - Winnie Maneli, Ernest Jwambi, Rose Xuza, Rhei Galela batyelela eMate May, 2005 - UScott Planting weza kumatheko eGrad ka-Mfu. Qina no-Nkosk. Qina. Ngehlobo, 2005 - Rosie, Satara, no-Elethu batyelela eCate November, 2005 - Ed Jesteadt, Charlie Barker, no-Christopher Smith batyelela eMacfarlan. November, 2006 - Ed Jesteadt no-Jack Kallis batyelela eMacfarlan. February, 2008 - UScott Planting, no-George no-Joanne Hardy, no-Charlie Barker, no-Ed Jesteadt, no-Bonnie Frick Jesteadt batyelela eMacfarlan. |
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Therefore, before God, it is the prayer of both the MATE and Macfarlan Communities to enter into a Covenant binding our communities into a lasting relationship. The articles of the Covenant include:
· Formal acknowledgement of the Covenant between us [by signing below] and sharing of this document with all Macfarlan Outstations [English and Xhosa] and MATE churches · Extending the projects to include any and all community members – a true ‘outreach’ by both congregations · Annual covenanting service held on same date, to include: o Dedication of MATE and Macfarlan committee members o Covenant to pray daily for our companions o Theme for the year · Bi-monthly or quarterly service to include spiritual exchanges: o Exchange of prayer requests o Study of scripture- study a book of the Bible and exchange insights o Exchange of worship materials · Bi-monthly or quarterly meetings to review: o ‘Project’ activities o Status of goals and objectives for the year o Update of budgets and financial results · Annual review of accomplishments and preparation for next covenanting service |
Ngoko ke, phambi kobuso bukaThixo, ngumthandazo weBandla lasMacfarlan nelaseMATE ukwenza uMnqophiso obandakanya abantu bethu macala kubudlelwane obungunaphakade. Phakathi kwezibhambathiso zalo Mnqophiso kukho ezi zilandelayo:
· Ukuwamkela lo Mnqophiso kuyakubonakaliswa ngokuba basayine aphe ngezantsi abafanelwe kukusayina, ukuze wonke umntu oseBandleni kuzo zonke izitishi naseMATe aziswe ngoluxwebhu, oliNgesi nonguMxhosa · Iiproject zivulwe zifikelele kuye wonke umhlali , ibe liphulo lokufikelela ebantwini elenziwa ngawo omabini la maBandla · Kubekho inkonzo yaloMnqophiso qho ngonyaka ngomhla omnye, ibandakanye: o Ukumiselwa kweekomiti zaseMATE naseMacfarlan o Ukuthandazelwa kwezihlobo zethu ngokoMnqophiso o Kukhethwe isihloko sonyaka · Kubekho inkonzo kabini ngenyanga okanye ngekota kuhlaziywa ngokomoya: o Kunikezelwane ngemithandazo o Kufundwe ngeziBhalo, kucaciselwana ngalo ncwadi ithile o Kubolekwane iizinto eziphuhlisa inkonzo · Kubekho iintlanganiso kabini ngenyanga okanye ngekota o Kuqwalaselwe ukuqhuba kweeproject o Kukhangelwe ukuba zisalandelwana iinjongo o Kulungelelaniswe iimali neemfuno neenkcitho · Kuqwalaselwe izinto ezibeyinkqubela-phambili, namalungiselelo okunqophisa ngokutsha kunyaka omtsha |
Winnie, Ed, BV, Charlie & Luzuko. Scott took the picture.
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Signatories AbasayinayoWinnie Maneli, Chair, Macfarlan Committee
Ed Jesteadt, Chair, MATE Committee Charlie Barker, for Moderator, MATE Council B. V. Maxella, Moderator, Macfarlan Congregation The Rev Luzuko Qina, Pastor Macfarlan Congregation The Rev Scott Planting, Coordinator, MATE |
Contrasting to the 'formal' dancers to the right, umfundis [pastor] gets into the act!
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A special celebratory dance performed by the young woman of the villages.
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The dancing - and singing! - spilled over into the 'peanut gallery.'
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Our feast was prepared by Patiswa Jwambi and many helping hands from the villages.
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FOOTNOTE: CURRENT STATUS:
The Partnership is in an "interregnum." MATE is continuing with its active agricultural programs while both Macfarlan and MATE seek new "umfundis." Our partnership committees continue to function to support our primary mission - but very little of the interactions between the churches and worship services is happening. Ed. J.
