By Vida Booyens
It is six o’clock on a Thursday morning in December, somewhere at a T-junction in the Eastern Free State. The hot, merciless sun has not yet burnt away the fleece clouds and the call of bustards can be heard from the veld.
The dry grass crunches under the feet of the farmers before they quietly stand in a circle with their heads bowed. For some of them, a second crop failure threatens if it does not rain within the next few days. Shoulder to shoulder with them are two managers of local agricultural enterprises.
One of the farmers, Fanus Coetzee, takes the lead. He reads from John 11 about Lazarus who was dead and about Jesus who wept when he saw how sad Lazarus’ family and friends were over his death. Even though He knew that Lazarus would rise from the dead, Jesus was still sad with all who were sad.
In the circle of farmers, tanned hands also wipe away tears, some with the caps held in their hands. Other hands rest encouragingly on the bent shoulders of neighbours who are suffering. They pray for rain. Not only in their own districts, but everywhere where the rain is needed.
“We not only prayed for rain, but for a lot of other things, for all the problems we experience every day,” says Danie Bruwer, who farms near Paul Roux. This group of farmers from Paul Roux, Kaallaagte and Arlington has decided to meet at six in the morning for at least the next two Thursdays leading up to Christmas.
“We also want to encourage other people to hold similar meetings. That we should not only do it when things are going badly, but also when things are going well. That in the weeks leading up to Christmas we will realise that if God could make Jesus be born from a virgin to die for our sins, imagine how many more miracles he can perform for us.”
He says it is pressing on his heart to make people aware of the emotionally difficult times that farmers are experiencing and that they are in great need of spiritual support at the moment. “There are guys who couldn’t plant, while there are guys who planted but now see how it is drying up . . . I think if it doesn’t rain this week, our crops won’t make it. There was a big wildfire here yesterday – when you walk in the field, it crunches under your feet. What do we have to hold on to? Only God’s grace upon grace.”
