Rev. Dr. Calvin & Mrs. Verna Edmonds
South Africa Adventure

The Rev. Dr. Calvin & Mrs. Verna Edmonds of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist church of Altoona went on a South Africa Adventure in March 2008. It was a combination vacation and missionary journey. They visited Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. At Freedom Square in Johannesburg the  memorial that honors Nobel Laureates Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tut and their struggle to end apartheid and make South Africa a loving multicultural nation that recognizes the worth of all God's people was exhilarating.  On Sunday March, 9th, Dr. Edmonds preached to the group of 65 travelers from the subject " A family reunion in Eden" from Genesis2 :8.

A mission trip was made to the Orlando Children's home to take needed school supplies and other gifts to the abandoned children living there. They then traveled to Durban to visit a Christian School started in 1840 by Christian Missionaries. Here they participated in the dedication of a library donated to the School through mission giving. The library was stocked with all new and contemporary books and is the only school library in the district.

The highlight of the trip was a visit to St George's Cathedral in Cape Town. The retired Archbishop of South Africa Desmond Tutu greeted us and led us in worship. He personally celebrated the Eucharist in which the entire group participated although many came from different denominational backgrounds.

Rev. Dr. Calvin C. Edmonds
Mt Zion Missionary Baptist church
2l2l 5h Avenue
Altoona" PA 16602

5/4/08

American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware
106 Revere Lane, Coatesville, PA  19320