A new gardener

'Baba,' said Barney Mabaso, 'I would now like you to plant me an orchard just like the one of the old days...'

by Helen Gardiner

A NUMBER of years ago Joy! magazine featured the testimony of Mike Francis of Cedarville in KwaZulu Natal. Since then, Mike has been used ever increasingly by the Lord, particularly in the role of an evangelist.

Now he has brought out a book telling of his personal experiences and the book is entitled, If The Cap Fits -- Wear It!!!

What I found particularly moving in the book was a story about a friend of his, Bill Larkan. The latter appears in a couple of chapters of the book and I have woven together his story here, as told by Mike in the book:

"June and I had some very good friends at Tugela Ferry by the name of Bill and Shirley Larkan. Bill worked for the labour-recruiting arm of the Chamber of Mines and lived in a lovely home about five kilometres from us. Bill and I were great friends. We hunted guineafowl, played tennis and even brewed our own beer together. Shirley and June were also close, and so living in such a remote area it was good to have such enjoyable company. Erlo (Stegan) began his nightly meetings, which seemed to be very popular, according to my staff who attended.

"One day, to my horror, June said that she and Shirley would also like to attend a meeting. This was during 1966. I reluctantly let her join Shirley and off they went. Bill and I decided to do some night fishing together, as one could make a catch of up to 30 pounds at night.

"The services started to take on real meaning to the two ladies and they went whenever we 'allowed them.'

"Bill and I continued with our beer brewing and other pastimes until one day Bill said he wanted to attend the Bible studies. I reluctantly went along with him. Suddenly the weirdest thing happened -- Bill changed completely. He no longer wanted to fish, play tennis, brew beer or even mix too much with me as I continued with these activities. He informed me that he had been 'saved.' Our paths drifted apart as they always do when friends are unequally yoked. Bill was soon preaching the Gospel in Zulu in a little 'cow shed' church he had formed with his 15-year-old semi-literate gardener, Barney Mabaso, who was saved at the same time as Bill."

The story picks up years later. Mike was driving home from a church meeting where for the first time he had shared his testimony in Zulu...

"As I travelled home alone in the car, I pondered on the hunger that these people had for the Gospel and my mind was immediately prompted to think of Bill Larkan, my ex-Tugela Ferry friend.

"Over the past 30 years or so I had bumped into Bill about once every 10 years. He would inquire about my well-being and I about his. I had found out that he was still preaching in Zulu. I said, 'Lord, I would like to try and get hold of Bill for him to come and preach to the people of Franklin, but I have no idea where he lives.' I mentioned to June that Bill would be ideal. He had been a Christian Zulu preacher for almost 30 years.

"The next Saturday morning I went into Cedarville to do some shopping. On my return, parked in our yard, was a strange bakkie. Yes, you've guessed! To my amazement, as I walked in, there was Bill (and another friend) sitting in our lounge with June. We really do serve a living and mighty God.

"I immediately said, 'Bill, this is a miracle that you sit here,' and began to relate my prayer of the previous Sunday to them.

"'Bill you will have to come to Franklin one Sunday and preach. I know you are busy people, so when you get a chance?' He replied that they were very busy, but the next Sunday they had a cancellation so they were free. They came and many more surrendered to Jesus.

"I asked him how he had arrived at our house. He said he had been driving and Joe was reading out the farm and resident names as they passed each farm gate. Joe read 'Meadowbrook, Mike and June Francis' at which, Bill said, he stopped the bakkie, reversed and drove in to check if this was the same Mike and June he once knew. Absolutely amazing!

"This is how Bill and I once again became good friends, this time in a totally new friendship.

"Bill has, to me, had one of the hardest paths to travel as a Christian and I have admired him so much. Many would have 'packed up,' having experienced what he has endured.

"While we were still at Tugela Ferry, he lost his first grandson of five years old, to leukemia. I remember Mark clearly, a very dear little boy. Bill's second daughter Glynis, then lost her child from a croup attack. Later on Glynis's husband, Roland, developed cancer and passed away very quickly. Terrible tragedies to have to face.

"While Bill was working for the Chamber of Mines, he broke service for a number of years and then embarked on a business that failed. So he returned to the Chamber of Mines, His pension now, was obviously very badly effected.

"When he retired from the Chamber, he purchased a trading store in the village of Creighton. Shirley then developed Alzheimer's disease and degenerated. Bill now had to care for her. His trading store began to flounder and in his early 70s he went bankrupt, with only a minimal pension.

"You will remember earlier I told of how Bill's young gardener, Barney Mabaso, had become a Christian at the same time as Bill at Tugela Ferry. Over the years, Barney had grown from strength to strength both spiritually and financially.

"He, being in the direct bloodline of the Mabaso tribe chieftainship, is quite a prominent man within his tribe in the area. Soon after school, he was in a position to purchase a shop in the district and shortly thereafter bought Bill and Shirley's beautiful old home from the Chamber of Mines, as they had ceased their operations in the area. Barney was, by then, preaching the gospel in many parts of South Africa and was soon on preaching missions throughout the World.

"Today Barney is an extremely busy man, having built up the home congregation which now fellowships in a brand new 1 000-seater church building in Tugela Ferry. Already this is becoming too small. Generally rural Church congregations are mainly made up of women, but this church is unusual in that its make up is 50-50, men and women.

"A number of the men are converted ex-faction fighters, murderers and so on, many of whom I know from the old days. Recently Barney invited me to preach in this Church where it was wonderful to renew old acquaintances, this time as brother and sister in Jesus Christ. Barney and his wife Florence treated us like royalty. They even gave up their bedroom to June and me for the weekend!

"Bill was now faced with the enormous problem of bankruptcy at his age, so he decided to write to Barney. He explained what had happened and wondered whether his old gardener might have a small place for him to stay. He explained that he had with him his very, very sick wife, his widowed daughter and her child.

"He posted the letter and one night, at about midnight, the telephone rang. It was Barney, who referred to Bill as 'Baba' (Father). 'I've received your letter which has moved me very deeply. We have just the place for you and your family to move in right away.' Barney was so delighted that his 'Father' could move back to Tugela Ferry and stay with him. He told Bill that he was to have no fears. He could stay with him for the rest of his life.

"Bill woke his daughter, Glynis, and granddaughter, Carmen, up to give them this wonderful news. With tears pouring down their cheeks, they fell asleep in the knowledge that once again God, their Eternal Father, had undertaken so well for them.

"Consider racial hatred and tensions that have existed, and still do exist, in our country and marvel at what God does in the hearts of people who truly follow Him. A new way of life creates new Godly peace and love, so true to His character.

"Bill was recently on a mission to Grosvenor with us again, when he informed me that Barney had purchased my old trading store and that he, Bill, was involved in helping with the take-over. Barney had reminded him of the fruit orchard which had belonged to Bill and which he used to care for as a 16 year old. He said, 'Baba, I would now like you to plant me an orchard just like the one of the old days.'

"Bill conceded that here, his old gardener had now provided him with the privilege of becoming his new gardener. Bill continues to preach the Gospel faithfully at Tugela Ferry and is one of the happiest and most content men I know."

Copies of Mike's book, If The Cap Fits -- Wear It!!! are available from him at Box 28 Cedarville 4720; Phone: (039) 7575-380, Fax: (039) 7575-266; cell: 083-3015-243 and e-mail: [email protected].