A few weeks ago, early one morning, I embarked on a long prayer walk of over 70 km. The lonely dirt road to Murraysburg meandered through the mountains. The landscape changed throughout the morning and the road led into a dense poplar forest. The valley was covered with hundreds of enormous trees. As I walked among the soaring timbers, I heard the magnificent sound of the wind coming and going through the treetops.
Later that morning, the dirt road became steeper and ultimately crossed over a mountain. A few hours later, there was a long descent next to a deep ravine with a dense forest of trees. I listened out for the wind in the treetops when a trio of horses suddenly emerged from the shadows and galloped playfully past me. My excitement was so great that I didn't even notice the car stopping beside me.
I was still enjoying the beautiful scenery and the peaceful silence when a voice behind me asked, "Where on earth are you walking to?" My head jerked around in shock. The farmer burst into the most infectious laugh I have heard in a long time. I could not contain my laughter and after a good chuckle, I explained that I was on my way to Murraysburg. The farmer then had another good laugh about this too. As we laughed together, I tried to understand why this was so hilarious.
"No man, you're going the wrong way. You're on the way to Richmond." After we laughed together again, I was not sure whether he was joking or not.
"Let me take you back to where you missed the turn-off." He then told me that he had seen me walking past on his security cameras. "I saw you walking past on the screen and showed my wife. She suggested that I go and investigate."
She also told him: "I can see that man is on a mission."
He didn’t drop me off at the turn-off but took me to his house. In the kitchen he introduced me to his wife and invited me to sit at the table. I was spoiled with delicious food from the stove, plus soft drinks and cake!
The farmer offered to drop me off at the proper turn-off to Murraysburg on the other side of his farm. But first he had to go check something with his sheep.
While he was away, his wife explained that it was their last day to shear sheep, and the wool had to be delivered to Port Elizabeth the next day. They would still be shearing sheep until late that evening.
The farmer picked me up a little while later and we headed to the right turn-off. As soon as I got out of the truck, he helped me to get my backpack on and waited until he was sure that I was on the right path before he drove back.
The surname of that sheep farmer who left all his sheep to go and find me is Van der Merwe. He went after me till he found me, and with joy, he brought me to his house.
The biblical shepherd who also left all his sheep to go after a sheep that was lost asked his neighbors and friends: Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. The farmer and his wife rejoiced with me and served me a delicious meal.
Our visit was filled with the joy of the Lord.
A friend told me that Van der Merwe's life purpose was to make the South African nation laugh. Almost every Van der Merwe I know shares a deep spirituality. In these days of finding the "new normal", Van der Merwe's divine purpose unfolds into serving the nation with the joy of the Lord.
What a testimony!
Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; For they are the rejoicing of my heart. (Psalm 119: 111)
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