4 August 1997

     I realise that many people did not realise what went on in other countries re-racial
tolerance. Some of the stories would make you wonder how anyone would suffer such abuse and still remain in the group.
                My uncle who is over eighty now, still living in South Africa, was in the work in the 50s and 60s. He told us that the coloured workers then had to call the white workers by the title "Baas", plus their name. Africaans is a Dutch dialect and it means Lord or Boss. When I remind my uncle of this, I get the same answer. We have to suffer for Jesus sake. One rich farmer and his wife had a Sunday morning meeting in their home. One of their hired men, a black man showed an interest in the 'meetings' and ended up professing, but this posed a problem, so they solved it by having the man sit in the kitchen and give his testimony from there while the meeting took place in the living room.
          We lived in Cape Town near to the harbour. Those years the visiting workers came over by boat mainly. We had a large home and sometimes the workers would arrange to have a dinner at our place. Our family would not be included at the table. They took over the home and we waited in the kitchen till all was over. I gag to think of the stupidity. After all, don't you realise the privilege we had of having the servants of God in our home?
Workers often stayed six months at a time with us. We gave them the best room in the house. They cooked their own meals in this huge room. My folks were poor, and often I drooled over the smells that came from that room. Every day, friends would drop in, one with fresh chops, and steak. Another with fresh vegetables and fruit. When I took the mail to their bedroom I was overcome by a deep desire to become a worker. It looked a very good idea. Meanwhile, we sat down to a meal where meat could be hidden under four peas. We were suffering for Jesus' sake, but my stomach didn't like it. Please
don't feel sorry for me. Thank God for all this or I might never have questioned this way. I'm so happy to be free, I could shout for joy.                  PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME

Sheila

2 November 1997
             Opposition to the apartheid regime was practiced by the "worldly Churches". In Cape Town from where we are from, the Anglican Church had a large billboard erected, so that it could be read mile away. It stated, "NO DISCRIMINATION IS PRACTICED IN THIS CHURCH". To further oppose the apartheid regime they always appointed a black Arch Bishop. I left South Africa in 1965, and prior to that time no coloured worker was permitted to sit on the platform or take a meeting in convention. Coloured workers had to preach
from the back of the hall. This was long before apartheid was introduced into South Africa. South Africa's policy then and always was, freedom in religion. "The Truth" was the only church we knew of that practiced it. During the last few years in South Africa I never attended convention. I never believed God could be in a place where oppression and discrimination was practiced.                                                                                                   
           In 1965 I arrived in Toronto. One of my first desires was to see the greatest country, the States, the champion of democracy and freedom. I went to South Virginia. To my horror I discovered that apartheid was practiced here. I went to a "Coloured" convention called Scrabble. I discovered that blacks were not welcomed at other "White Conventions". From Scrabble I went to a "Black" meeting in New York City. Only blacks attended these meetings.      Back in Canada I had many workers tell me that it was advisable for visible minorities to marry their own kind. To make this point Mary Munro, one of the Ontario workers told my sister and brother in law that God never intended that blacks should marry whites, therefore crows will not mate with canaries. Needless to say she obviously lacks the most basic knowledge of nature.
            I remember in 1966 visiting Ottawa and being "faithful" I attended the nearest Gospel meeting. This meeting was held in Almont. Up until this day I remember the coldness and loneliness I felt. After the meeting no one greeted me. Actually, the so called "friends" drifted away from me. How different it was when I went to a "Church" the first time a few months ago. Eighty percent greeted me and welcomed me. There was love and warmth which is so lacking in the meetings

With love in Christ.

Burt


I saw so much racism exist among the "friends". That always bothered me
immensely!

Linda  1/11/97