Submitted by Beverly Clinkingbeard and Dan Yonker

Twenty years ago, Dan Yonker and his wife, Connie, were selected by their church to be their representatives at a Southwest Minnesota Lutheran Synod Assembly. They were introduced to the food insecurity of the Zulu people living in South Africa.    

“The Zulu were a people who from 1948 to 1994 had experienced living under the legal governmental institution of ‘apartheid.’ This meant racial segregation with a white minority controlling all political, economic and social interaction of a nation. Hence, the system resulted in millions of Zulu people struggling for food security as a very basic in life.

“Being in agriculture, we all knew other farmers who grew food, we thought to contribute what we knew and to a mission that asked, ‘Come to South Africa and teach people how to feed themselves.’

“We thought, ‘How hard could it be? After all, growing food was what we did.’

“Fast forward for the next several years, I, as well as others, would travel to Johannesburg and then to Rorkes Drift area with the best of intentions toward improving the nutritional needs of the friendly Zulu people. We watched the children make their way to school and it was apparent many lacked the nutritional requirements of a growing child.

“In this time the mission group encouraged gardening, they formulated a chicken project, raising rabbits, tree planting, and in a sense butted their heads against the fact as Americans they were accustomed to an understanding of technology and habits that the smiling Zulu people did not have. Perhaps the best example of failure was the corn growing project. The farmers provided a small tractor and planter. The South African government even provided a fence to protect the field. The corn sprouted. It grew. It was beautiful. Then came a period of no rain. The corn continued to thrive, but pastures turned brown.

“In the Zulu culture, wealth is not what is in a financial institution but in the number of cows and goats one owns. These animals usually go where they want and eat what they will. The Zulu farmers that owned the animals cut the fence by night and the cows and goats do what they do – they ate what was green and beautiful. The corn field lay in ruins.

Meanwhile, Dan had a job change and relocation from Minnesota to northwest Missouri.  Being of Lutheran persuasion, they sought out a Lutheran congregation to attend—St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Westboro, Missouri. Dan was no longer with the original mission group, but still fully indentured in a commitment to make a positive difference for the Zulu people. He also felt this was what his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, would have him do. His life Bible verse is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

“I have learned,” he said, “that this mission is ‘God’s Plan,’ not my plan. Many times, God has to ‘redirect me’ giving me new insights regarding strategies to drive academic performance in impoverished communities. I could not ignore the doors that had opened, nor the provisions that came when needed, but it was time to reconsider the what and how of the mission.”

God answered the prayer for a new direction and with the help of tech specialist Pat Snyder and former Peace Corp fellow Casey Cruickshank, and a computer Pruis called Kahn Academy, they began with the first grade to focus on math and English language skills. Zulu is spoken in the home and using the basis of 2,100 words broken into segments of 300 words per grade, they began to teach the English language learning math skills. The children knew how to speak Zulu, but learned how to spell Zulu as well as the English word equivalent and its spelling. It is coupling language with mathematic skills—the basics of learning. Knowing the English language is crucial, as South African high school and college/university language is in English.

The children love competition and there are rewards offered. Dan remembered fondly his first-grade teacher, Fern Nelson, who introduced a wheel with corresponding numbers. She would give the wheel a turn and the children would respond with the answer. It could encompass addition and multiplication. Fern Nelson’s idea went to South Africa via Dan, and math is now coupled with Zulu and English translation and spelling. The children have responded well and the results are very encouraging. So encouraging, in fact, that other schools are involved and other schools are asking to be involved. The students moving out of the elementary grades into higher learning are doing well.

Because of health constraints, Connie, a special education teacher who taught at South Page Elementary School in College Springs, Iowa, was unable to travel with Dan to South Africa. Connie passed away in 2022, but her involvement was especially helpful in creating testing programs. There are now 18,000 learners and prospective schools asking to participate or make inquiry. There are few buses to provide the children with transportation and many children have a long walk each day. Many families make sacrifices of various kinds for their children to attend.

Fern Nelson was still living when Dan became interested in Zulu Land of South Africa. She was an initial contributor to the ministry of Helping Hands. The original goal of food security for the Zulu people hasn’t changed, but the method to meet the goal has. Time, political and social circumstances will all be a factor in the success of meeting food security through education.

Meanwhile, Dan has retired and returned to his home in Minnesota with frequent visits to northwest Missouri. He has a dog, Bella, who keeps him company. He also circulates the country trying to keep up with his grandchildren and their achievements. Twice a year, he makes it to the spot in South Africa that has become very dear. While in South Africa, he offers seminars, learners’ tools, continuation of prep and review with teachers, as well as assists with the testing and competitions. If any readers would like to help in this ministry, it is Helping Hands, 116 E. Ashley St., Jackson, MN 56143.

Thank you, Dan, for sharing your ministry with us in northwest Missouri. Keep the faith, keep praying.

’Til next time . . .