Eric and Merle 50th Wedding Anniversary

Eric and Merle’s 50th Wedding Anniversary : 

Eric and Merle’s 50th Wedding Anniversary Their Story

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Winnipeg Vancouver 2,500 kms High School Math Teacher Manager, Agricultural Store

50 YEARS AGO TODAY … : 

50 YEARS AGO TODAY …

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Eric, UBC Graduate in Agriculture Eric was called from his position as Manager of Buckerfield’s Seed, Feed and Fertilizer Co. in Powell River, BC to be the Agriculturalist in a team of 20 Canadians responding to an SOS in Angola.

ERIC : 

ERIC Eric’s Father’s Service Record Seaforth Highlander in WW1, wounded at Vimy Ridge Recruiting Officer in WW2 and a Pentecostal Pastor for some years in between Inspired Eric to become a Seaforth Highlander Cadet and train as an officer in the Army Service Corps and be prepared to help the less fortunate

Slide 9: 

Eric’s Dad Eric

ERIC : 

ERIC By July of 1957, Eric had completed one year of theological studies at McMaster in Hamilton and was serving in a Vancouver suburb pastorate.

JULY 1957 – WESTERN CANADA YOUTH CONVENTION, FIRST BAPTIST, VANCOUVER : 

JULY 1957 – WESTERN CANADA YOUTH CONVENTION, FIRST BAPTIST, VANCOUVER Among the delegates was a blond “stranger across a crowded room”

HOW DID THEY MEET? : 

HOW DID THEY MEET? Being naturally hospitable to newcomers, Eric approached the “blond” as the Friday evening meeting broke up and discovered her name – MERLE and that she was from Winnipeg He wanted to drive her to her billet after the beach party but another girl finagled him out of the opportunity NICE TRY ERIC!

ERIC TRIES AGAIN : 

ERIC TRIES AGAIN Eric borrowed a friend’s convertible and asked a visiting pastor, the blonde and her friend for a spin at Stanley Park

TWO WEEKS AND SEVERAL DATES LATER … : 

TWO WEEKS AND SEVERAL DATES LATER … Eric asked Merle to volunteer for Angola too Merle said, “No, not a chance. Have a nice trip.” She did agree to pray about the possibility of it though. Ferry Trip To Nanaimo

Not to be discouraged, Eric wrote almost everyday and a pile of letters awaited when Merle arrived back in Winnipeg : 

Not to be discouraged, Eric wrote almost everyday and a pile of letters awaited when Merle arrived back in Winnipeg ERIC’S PERSISTENCE

A CHANGE OF HEART : 

A CHANGE OF HEART September ’57 Eric travelled back to Hamilton with a stopover in Winnipeg This time when Eric asked, Merle agreed to see if the mission board would accept her candidacy and if accepted she would begin Women’s Leadership training in September ’58 The Mission Board accepted her but said “No”, to the McMaster studies plan

MISSION BOARD PLAYS A PART : 

MISSION BOARD PLAYS A PART Mission Board told Eric, “MARRY HER AND TAKE HER WITH YOU.” Mission Board or Match-Making Agency???

THE ENGAGEMENT : 

THE ENGAGEMENT December ’57 Eric arrived with Merle’s engagement ring They spent Christmas in Vancouver; New Year’s in Winnipeg and made plans for a Saturday, September 6, 1958 wedding in Merle’s church in Winnipeg

THE WEDDING : 

THE WEDDING

MISSIONARY SERVICE BEGINS : 

MISSIONARY SERVICE BEGINS Two days after the wedding, Eric and Merle begin a train/bus/plane/ car trip of the Western provinces to help raise support for the Board’s new venture There was time in between meetings for a lovely MacKenzie reception of family and friends in Vancouver

VANCOUVER RECEPTION : 

VANCOUVER RECEPTION

OUTGOING MISSIONARIES TO TORONTO RALLY : 

OUTGOING MISSIONARIES TO TORONTO RALLY Then, after finishing their tour in the west and packing in Winnipeg, they were off by train to a huge Toronto farewell for them, for Dorothy Barnett (also Angola bound) and for others going to India and Bolivia A similar rally was held in Montreal Then they continued with Dorothy to New York and by boat to Lisbon

LISBON ASSIGNMENT : 

LISBON ASSIGNMENT November 1, 1958 arrival and one-year assignment Learn Portuguese language and culture Angola was an overseas province of Portugal until granted independence in 1975

ARRIVAL IN LUANDA : 

ARRIVAL IN LUANDA MacKenzies arrived in Luanda December 1959, registered officially, and then traveled North by pick-up to Ambrizete for Christmas and a conference of all the Canadian Baptists. Early January 1960 they went further North with other missionaries to the Congo River mouth and flew to Cabinda

JANUARY 1960 – JANUARY 1964 : 

JANUARY 1960 – JANUARY 1964 Cabinda City is a nice, clean-looking town

Slide 34: 

Mackenzies Part of the Mission House Shared Duplex: Two Families, Cockroaches and Termites

“Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.” : 

“Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.”

WHAT KEPT THEM BUSY? : 

WHAT KEPT THEM BUSY? Eric’s days were spent: Doing what needs doing to care for 40 boys and 12+ girls Learning the local agriculture officially Familiarizing himself with the 1 km2 property Supervising agricultural work Taking turns preaching at the Cabinda Centre and every other weekend at one of the many village churches Merle’s days were spent: Wrestling daily with the wood stove Twiddling her thumbs a lot initially (non-native Portuguese speakers were not allowed to teach) Playing the tiny portable pump organ useful for services and for teaching 4-part harmony Trying to relate to women, majority of whom did not speak Portuguese, but were willing to share their stories through a translator

FEBRUARY AND MARCH 1961 : 

FEBRUARY AND MARCH 1961 War for Angolan Independence from Portugal started in the interior and central regions of the country The 20 some Canadians became 6 staying in relatively safe areas: Harveys and MacKenzies in Cabinda and the Johnsons in Quimpondo

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Training future church and other leaders became a priority Harveys and MacKenzie picked 3 or 4 of the best elementary school graduates from the 3 operating centres, housed them in Cabinda Centre and sent them to the high school in town

MAKING A DIFFERENCE : 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Merle explained to them things they heard in class but never experienced such as elevators, trains, simple astronomy, ice and ice cream and why it seems to burn Merle taught them to sing 4 part-harmony. Today, there are more than 26 singing groups in the Cabinda church, some writing music They also learned touch-typing on Portuguese keyboards. This skill helped them gain secretarial positions later on.

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Some of the men are still in church leadership. Pedro Manuel, who later completed university level pastoral training was honoured with a doctorate from McMaster University Divinity School in 1994

March 1962 – DOUBLE SURPRISE : 

March 1962 – DOUBLE SURPRISE MacKenzies drove off for a Baptismal Service an hour away and arrived back at nine in the evening with one-day old twins No bottles, no formula, no diapers, no crib but two healthy, gorgeous, curly-haired boys whose mother had died of a retained placenta and whose father had a lot of other kids to care for

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Suddenly, Merle switched from underemployed to over-employed. But caring for the twins gave MacKenzies much joy and new opportunities for witnessing to God’s love for the people The Twins at 6 years when the MacKenzies visited in 1968.

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Bible classes were a must for church-growth and Cabinda Centre needed a Bible School. It was planned, governor-approved, and built in the summer of 1963 by skilled workers, scholarships students and missionaries

Slide 45: 

Bible School Students and Staff Note: Dorothy Sowden is now teaching in this Bible School in Cabinda and lives in a staff house designed by Merle

ANGOLA’S WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE : 

ANGOLA’S WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE While the war for independence continued, concern for missionary safety was growing in Canada. This concern, fuelled by a false rumour from Congo, caused the Mission Board to demand the immediate departure of the MacKenzies, Harveys and Johnsons from Angola. This order had been smuggled across the Congo/Angola border and arrived October 27. The Bible School just opened October 15. What a heavy blow!

CHRISTMAS “BREAK” : 

CHRISTMAS “BREAK” Fran Harvey left quickly with the three Harvey children. Johnson’s departed for “Christmas”. MacKenzies and Charlie Harvey stayed till the students left for Christmas holidays and then sent word for them not to return Students before leaving for their Christmas holidays

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But the MacKenzies had the twins – Adoption was not an option because it took too long and there was little possibility of returning to Angola in the foreseeable future. Fortunately, MacKenzies had been training Esther, the twin’s cousin to assume much of their care. A wee cement block hour was built in their village for father, siblings, Esther and the twins. The twins moved January 17

OUT OF ANGOLA : 

OUT OF ANGOLA Charlie and the MacKenzies drove across the Angola/Congo border on January 19, 1964 Eric and Merle spent from then to end of March visiting their former colleagues in Western Congo, traveling in Continental Europe, and visiting in Scotland where sister Ruth was teaching in Aberdeen on exchange. A much needed heart-healing trip before settling back into deputation in Canada.

SPECIAL MEMORIES OF ANGOLA : 

SPECIAL MEMORIES OF ANGOLA

“We cannot understand the great things He does, and to His miracles there is no end.” Job 9:10 GNSB : 

“We cannot understand the great things He does, and to His miracles there is no end.” Job 9:10 GNSB

FURLOUGH AND BLESSINGS : 

FURLOUGH AND BLESSINGS Furlough 1964 – 1965 brought lots of travel for speaking engagements and more blessings: September 1964, the arrival of the MacKenzie’s 13 month-old chosen son, Craig and the following September, 1965 the birth of Norma Thankful parents to Craig Norma arriving from hospital.

REDEPLOYMENT TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO : 

REDEPLOYMENT TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO A Community Development Centre, CEDECO, was opening in Kimpese between the High School /Theological and Medical Centres

BRUSSELS : 

BRUSSELS January to July in Brussels resurrecting and improving their French

CONGO, A NEW HOME : 

CONGO, A NEW HOME Then on to Congo – CEDECO where they planned and built their own house

Slide 58: 

The house, which was designed by Merle, took 13 months to build at half the cost of each of the three other staff houses. It was very nice.

ERIC AND MERLE THE BUILDERS : 

ERIC AND MERLE THE BUILDERS Because Eric did the supervising so well, he was charged with the construction of a large crop drying building, two large chicken houses for 500 birds each then a pig pen.

AGRICULTURE IN CONGO : 

The soil was an agriculture challenge requiring careful planting for soil building and restoration. Eric was particularly involved with grafting citrus trees and banana propagation. AGRICULTURE IN CONGO

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Almost all of the regular village fare is grown by women.

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The Agriculture taught emphasized commercial crops: leafy greens, fruits, onions, etc., all easily sold on the Matadi-Kinshasa highway. Sales gave men money for school fees, home improvements and/or medical costs.

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Merle taught the students how to price what they produced and also taught high school math to nursing students at the medical centre nearby. Behind their house, she built a small nursery for trees. A variety of eucalyptus tress when planted in a thick ring around a village will protect against malaria mosquitoes and sleeping-sickness-bearing tsetse flies. 7 years later

Slide 64: 

Craig took kindergarten and Grade One in a small missionary school at the Hospital complex. Eric’s sister, Ruth, came to teach older “mish kids” there from Sept. 1969 – June 1970. Then it was furlough time.

THE MACKENZIES IN CONGO : 

THE MACKENZIES IN CONGO

THE MACKENZIES IN VANCOUVER : 

THE MACKENZIES IN VANCOUVER MacKenzies visited family across Canada, then settled in the Canadian Baptist House on West 10th in Vancouver. Craig and Norma attended Lord Tennyson school a few blocks away.

BUT WHAT TO DO NEXT? : 

BUT WHAT TO DO NEXT? Frustration over not improving the diet of villagers caused MacKenzies to search for an approach other than the Community Development Centre’s. Teaching men agriculture did nothing to increase food production for rural families

BUT WHAT TO DO NEXT? : 

BUT WHAT TO DO NEXT? While searching for answers, Eric applied to the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, for a Master’s level study grant to the University of Florida and for travel to various agricultural centres. Miraculously, it was granted

OCTOBER 1971 – MAY 1973GAINSVILLE, FLORIDA : 

OCTOBER 1971 – MAY 1973GAINSVILLE, FLORIDA

VANGA AGRICULTURAL CENTRE : 

VANGA AGRICULTURAL CENTRE The centre was set-up to supply simple instructions, tools and models for village-style chicken and rabbit houses. The animals were not sold until a farmer’s installation was inspected by the Centre’s agents and approved as adequate. An agent-training program permitted installation of grads from it to be assigned as advisors and consultants for an area of several villages.

JULY 1973 – VANGA, CONGO : 

JULY 1973 – VANGA, CONGO American Baptist Centre for Education and Medical Work Local leaders wanted to increase local food supplies in the face of rising malnutrition There was an agricultural centre nearby for training men but former graduates all went to office jobs Eric was willing to try to change village agriculture – villagers having plenty to eat and no malnutrition

Slide 74: 

Seed conservation by packaging in plastic was encouraged to keep the seeds of local greens available and viable. These small packets were sold at a low price the villagers could afford and advice was given on sowing and tending plants.

VANGA AGRICULTURAL CENTRE : 

VANGA AGRICULTURAL CENTRE The centre began a citrus nursery with grafting budwood provided and shipped free by the University of Florida. A grafted tree produces fruit in 3-4 years instead of 7-9 and the quality is controlled by the in-graft Also for sale were agricultural tools: hoes, machetes and watering cans

FROM VANGA TO LUSEKELE : 

FROM VANGA TO LUSEKELE Agricultural centre moved from Vanga to Lusekele – 7 kms away Citrus nursery had to be moved as well as the chicken, rabbit and guinea pig houses The testing of manioc became major focus Serious disease and insect damage in local manioc were threatening food supply

FINALLY, GOD’S LEADING : 

FINALLY, GOD’S LEADING Lusekele was entrusted by the Tropical Root Crops Research Institute of Ibadan, Nigeria with over 2000 genetically different manioc cuttings and seeds to plant, grow and observe This five-year effort produced a four-fold increase: roots at least twice the size in 7 months instead of 14 Not only did people have more protein and vitamins from vegetables and meat but now also plenty of food

MANIOC “MIRACLE” : 

MANIOC “MIRACLE” Vanga woman with diseased manioc roots New root harvest of manioc under the agricultural program supervised by the MacKenzies

TO SEE IS TO BELIEVE : 

TO SEE IS TO BELIEVE The head Pastor of the area who had disagreed with the MacKenzies regarding what needed to be done agriculturally, came as they were leaving, to apologize for his opposition and to thank MacKenzies for the tremendous change he saw in the food supplies while traveling in his area, a 200 km radius from Vanga/Lusekele.

TO SEE IS TO BELIEVE : 

TO SEE IS TO BELIEVE Also the pattern of babies birth-weights at the Vanga Hospital (50 bed maternity ward) shifted to show the healthiest and strongest born not at the end of the spring rains, as formerly, but at the end of the vegetable gardening dry season

“We cannot understand the great things He does, and to his miracles there is no end.” : 

“We cannot understand the great things He does, and to his miracles there is no end.” Job 9:10 GNSB

JUNE 1983 : 

JUNE 1983 Norma graduates from High School. MacKenzies returned to Vancouver and stayed home for the next three years. They made consulting trips in many places around the world.

RETURN TO CONGO : 

RETURN TO CONGO 1996 – MacKenzies return to Congo to Sona Bata, an hour west of Kinshasa There they reached out with information, seeds, tools, new manioc varieties, tree nursery stock, etc. The main change they caused in the impoverished area of Mbaka (See Charlie Harvey’s story)

MACKENZIES IN NAIROBI : 

MACKENZIES IN NAIROBI 1991 – Canadian Baptist Ministries moved Eric and Merle to Nairobi to be Africa Representatives until December 1994 when they returned for deputation and then retirement in April 1996

ERIC AND MERLE IN RETIREMENT : 

ERIC AND MERLE IN RETIREMENT And they’ve put up their feet ever since

HAPPY MEMORIES : 

HAPPY MEMORIES

HAPPY MEMORIES : 

HAPPY MEMORIES

HAPPY MEMORIES : 

HAPPY MEMORIES

HAPPY MEMORIES : 

HAPPY MEMORIES

HAPPY MEMORIES : 

HAPPY MEMORIES

HAPPY MEMORIES : 

HAPPY MEMORIES

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING : 

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING The End