On Tuesday, the day before the Local Government Elections, I had a video call with one South African who said he would not be making it to the polls on Wednesday but that he had been praying a lot for the elections recently as he wheeled his wooden cross through central Tanzania.
“I’ve been praying for everything from an end of corruption to water supply – and I’ve been trusting that the Lord will bring a change” said Crosswalk Africa evangelist Reini Coetzee
Tuesday was a significant landmark day for Reini in his 10 000 km mission trek from Cape Town to Jerusalem that started on the 16th of March last year: it was exactly a year to the day since he left South Africa when he crossed the Beit Bridge into Zimbabwe.
“It feels like it has gone quickly,” said Reini, who is currently approaching the city of Iringa about 730km from the Namanga border crossing into Kenya.
When I remarked that he looked more tanned than when I last spoke to him in September, Reini said he has encountered some hot and windy weather which had presented quite a challenge. He sent me a clip [see below] which shows what a struggle it was to keep the cross from being blown off the road during a stiff crosswind.
“Then In December, the rainy season is coming,” he said. Asked if he was anxious about the weather he said: “ No, I take it like it comes. God gives me the strength to just do what I can do every day.”
He said he hopes to cross into Kenya on the first of January 2027, which is also his birthday. After Kenya his journey to Israel will take him through Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.
“People always ask me when I expect to reach Israel. But I cannot say,” he said.
Reini said throughout his journey so far God has faithfully provided people along the way who help him in his mission.
When I spoke to him yesterday he was accompanied by David Malamboma who has been his backup driver since he arrived in Tanzania on July 19. David is due to drive him to Kenya but would love to see the mission through all the way to Israel.
Also with him was Emmanuel Mkwele his new volunteer interpreter who replaced Isaya Mwainyekule who had to return home after his daughter was hospitalised.
Emmanuel, 37, is married with three children. He had not heard about Reini until he was asked by the leader of his church in Iringa, if he would be willing to translate for Reini.
He said he is enjoying the experience of joining Reini in sharing the good news of Jesus with people along the road. He said people ask him about Reini and the cross and they have difficulty believing it when they hear that he has wheeled the cross all the way from South Africa.
Reini said that the people of Tanzania are open-hearted and hungry for the Gospel.
“I love to see the joy on the faces of the people when they see the cross and I greet them in their own language. I want them to see the joy of the Lord inside me.”
He said that throughout the journey he has seen the cross of Jesus brining hope to people “and that is my expectation for every country ahead”.
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