May 2004
East London

E-newsletter #6

Here we are, barely settled in, and it’s time to fly back across the ocean already.

The Joining Hands Against Hunger program is holding an international event in the United States this summer. Delegations from each of the eight participating overseas networks and from each of their partner presbyteries will meet for five days at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington.

In the case of South Africa, the delegation will travel first to the Presbytery of the Western Reserve for a week of interactions with local congregations (July 23-28). Then they will be joined by four members of the presbytery’s Joining Hands Against Hunger (JHAH) steering committee for the consultation in Tacoma (July 29 – August 2). As “companionship facilitators,” the two of us will accompany the South African group to Cleveland and on to Tacoma.

Many of you who receive this newsletter will have the opportunity to literally “join hands” with our partners from the South African network, assuming they will be able to enter the United States. These days, obtaining a visitor’s visa is not a simple matter.

Take Brown Motsau, for example. He falls into the category “males between the ages of 16 and 45” and is thereby subject to special scrutiny by consular officials. Earlier this month we traveled to Johannesburg to accompany him for his interview at the U.S. consulate. Ken planned to be available to help explain the reasons for the requested visa, but was not permitted to go with Brown beyond the entrance gate.

Even though Brown is the national president of the Young Christian Workers (a paid staff position), a volunteer member of the national Core Committee of JHAH-SA, and though he has an official notarized invitation from the Presbyterian Hunger Program to come to Cleveland and Tacoma, he was denied a visa. According to recently enacted Rule 214 (b), Brown failed “to prove sufficiently strong ties to South Africa” that would ensure his return here.

By means of our laptop computer, Brown has filled out another set of electronic application forms. At the earliest appointment date available, June 7, he will submit to another interview, with additional papers and photos documenting ties to his job, to his wife and 30-month old daughter, and to the extended family with whom they live. He will also have with him a letter of support from Ohio’s two Senators, solicited by the steering committee in Cleveland and mailed to South Africa via UPS at the cost of ninety dollars. Please pray for Brown and the other delegates as they petition your government for the opportunity to join hands with you.

After the delegation will have left for South Africa, the two of us will return to Cleveland for two weeks (August 7 – 19) to connect with family and friends and to see the familiar dentist once more. During this time we will also be available to share our experience with interested groups within the Presbytery. Then we too will be on our way back to East London.

Sobonana! See you soon!

Susanne and Ken

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 61