Pofadder

A Mission at Pofadder

The armistice has finally been signed. Calm and hope have been born anew. We promised God to show our gratitude by redoubling our fervour and activity. The occasion presented itself in 1919. Pofadder, 30 kilometers from Pella, was to become a village. The Government had divided part of the ground into lots which were to be auctioned. The Calvinist Church had its plans all ready. They wanted to build a big church, a school and all they needed to make this village a strictly Protestant centre. Would we get a chance to be established there? Well, we would try and thus prove to God that, at any cost, we wanted to work for his glory and the salvation of souls. The sale was fixed for 9th May 1919. I went to it, but I feared that on seeing me, the Calvinists, who hate our religion, would consult together to make it impossible for me to buy any ground. Besides, I am poor and they are rich. Just the contrary happened. These Calvinist gentlemen were so afraid that I would buy their ground (thinking I am a millionaire) that, an hour before the sale, they came to beg me not to bid higher than they were prepared to go. It was the minister himself, accompanied by four self-styled deacons, who approached me with composure and apparent humility (by which we were not taken in). They promised, almost swore, that they would respect my wishes: not one of all those who were present at the sale and who belonged to their Church would try to bid on my ground. On my side I promised to respect their wishes. I had to play the great lord and take on a solemn tone – something which was not easy for one who was not used to putting on an act. But I tried: “Well, here are the numbers of the plots I want. Let me have yours. If you keep your word, I shall keep mine: I shall not bid for your ground.” They wanted six plots, whose numbers they gave me immediately. “Very well,” I said, “you will see that the Catholics keep their word of honour.” With mutual greeting we parted. On 6th April, 1919, Bishop Simon bought a property at Pofadder with the intention of starting a new Mission there. The sodality of St.Peter Claver very kindly donated the necessary funds to build a convent, which was surely the biggest and most elegant structure in the primitive tree-year-old village then known as Theronsville.

On 18th April, 1921, Sister Eva Bernard from Pella and Sister Anne Gabrielle from Keimoes arrived to take up their lodging in the new convent, with only the barest necessities of life to their name. Anyone who, today, has visited the fowl runs at Pofadder Mission and has heard the incessant crackling of 15000 hens, would hardly believe that the two Sisters in those days sat down to a breakfast of only one egg between them. The sale began. The ground where Calvin is to reign supreme, was put up for sale. A minister shouted out what he was prepared to pay. From me, not a word. But these gentlemen had not reckoned with the Jews who were there in good numbers. No agreement had been made with them. They were thus free to buy all that they wished. They respected the one plot on which the future
Protestant church and pastoral residence were to be built; but they bought the five others, as if to say to these altruists: “Whether you like it or not, we now have them.” I myself did not expect this blow. Fear seized me: would I get my ground? I had made no pact with the Jews and did not wish to make one. I simply prayed and asked our Father, the “Good Mother” and all the saints in heaven to help me. It was their cause which was at stake. Still I trembled and had my doubts. Finally my numbers were called out. The Protestant minister got up. I thought he was going to bid, but he turned to his followers and reminded them of his promise to me; he then asked for absolute silence on their part. They were really honest this time. I called out my bid. But now what were the Jews going to do? I do not know who shut their mouths, but both my plots remained at the price I had offered. I got them at the minimum cost: two and a half hectares for 500 francs.

What a fervent prayer of thanksgiving went up to God from my heart. We did not wait long before beginning the necessary construction.
On 8th June, Sister Louise-Augustine left Pella to replace Sister Anne-Gabrielle who had to return to Keimoes. As yet, there was no resident priest at Pofadder. In the encouraging words of Father Wolf who often came on a visit, and in their own selfless lives of renunciation, the little community found the necessary strength to keep the flames of their spiritual life burning bright till the arrival of Father Eich, four months later. He, however, was not destined to remain at Pofadder. As there were good prospects at Onseepkans, he was to found a Mission there. On 18th May 1923, Father Thunemann bid Pella farewell to succeed Father Eich at Pofadder. In 1925 the Sister also went to Onseepkans, leaving Father Thunemann alone at Pofadder with his school and orphanage.
Only four years later, Sister Louise-Alexandre and Sister Jeanne Raphael came to care for these poor children, who had never really known a home. Father C.Thommelen is in charge now. Willy-nilly he has learned to be a keen farmer, for funds were low. His dairy and his poultry farm are the envy of the farmers in the area. His flocks increasing, as his spiritual flock which he zealously leads to the sheepfold by the way of love.