mp24957 Chaplain Mag Summer 2005 new.p65 - Chaplains service

CHAPLAINS SERVICE AND EXTERNAL DEPLOYMENT:
BURUNDI / THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
CHAPLAINS SERVICE IN BURUNDI
DURING THE TIME OF CPLNS
S.K. MUSERI, M.F. BLOM AND
B.J. VAN DER WALT
By Cpln S.K. Museri
Choir by deployed SANDF members in Burundi supported by
chaplains
Situational background
The RSA Contingent was supported by three chaplains, under the
leadership of Cpln S.K. Museri as the Contingent Cpln. Cpln M.F.
Blom was with the 4 SAI Battalion and Cpln B.J. van der Walt was
with the VIPPU. The three of us were working together very
professionally. We met every Monday mornings to compile our
monthly reports, share the latest news and plan our work.
Ministry to the Local Community
Our relationship with the local religious communities was
important. Contact was made with local religious leaders. For
instance, we first met Bishop Nzeyimana Noe, the General Secretary
of the Burundi Council of Churches (BCC). This meeting facilitated
our meeting with the BCC to discuss issues of religious importance
with regard to peace in the region. It was good to learn that the
BCC had ties with the South African Council of Churches (SACC).
On many occasions, we were invited to preach at local churches.
The RSA Contingent had a choir that sang during the church
services.
Contingent Chaplain at Work
A daily routine would start at 07h00. Everyday different Force
Structure Elements (FSEs) would have a parade with Scripture
reading and prayer and the very FSEs had chaplains’ periods on
their scheduled days. The Contingent Chaplain was responsible
for Multi Professional Team and the MCDC meetings and functions.
Letters to the deployed family members were sent from our
environment to give support to the families. The South African
National Contingent Commander, Col N.A. Ncube played a
supportive role to the Contingent Chaplain.
A CD with mainly Gospel songs was recorded and produced. The
funding of the CD came from choir members who sacrificed part
of their water allowance.
Conclusion
The office of Chaplain Gen must be congratulated for giving
chaplains the opportunity to deploy externally. We are proud to
have made a difference in the Great Lakes region.
20 SANDF - The Military Chaplain
SANDF CHAPLAINS SEVICE IN BURUNDI:
10 AUGUST 2004 TO 7 FEBRUARY 2005
By Cpln L.A. Xolilizwe
The responsibility of the Chaplains Service was to support SANDF
members on spiritual and moral matters and to promote a relationship
between own forces and the local population.
Orphanage
An orphanage was established for children who lost their parents as a
result of war and HIV& AIDS. At some stage we had up to 150 children.
The children were supported morally, spiritually and materially. They
Cpln L.A. Xolilizwe (centre) with children in Burundi
were given blankets, food and clothes. Military Welfare Officers
(MWOs), as well as female soldiers, played a prominent role in the
maintenance of the orphanage.
Kabezi
SANDF members were also deployed to the area called Kabezi where
Burundian government forces clashed with the rebel forces. In that
situation, co-operation with local religious leaders was important for
the purpose of peace and stability. The SANDF Chaplains Service
played a considerable role in building a relationship in this regard. As
Cpln L.A. Xolilizwe with church and community leaders
fruits of the efforts of the Chaplains Service, a peace prayer day was
organised at Kabezi and was attended by senior members of the United
Nations in Burundi.
Assistance to Widows
Through the request of UN Force commander, Maj Gen Mgwebi, the
Chaplains Service was asked to assist women who lost their husbands
as a result of war to get their financial grants/assistance from Burundian
government. The challenge was that there was ethnical divide between
the women and that others were fighting for the government while
others were on the rebels’ side. In that environment, the Chaplains
Service addressed those challenges.