A bit of background.... (Skip this if you already know Ab's history with AU.)

As United Methodists were preparing for the opening of Africa University, the first and only private university in Zimbabwe, President Joe Lesesne of Wofford College was asked to assist with the process. Lesesne had served admirably in many capacities at Wofford College, a Methodist-supported institution. Lesesne was to choose a member of the Wofford faculty to join him for a semester at AU and Clarence Louis "Ab" Abercrombie, Jr. responded to the call. And it came to pass that Ab did volunteer for a semester in 1993, and again in 1997, and in 2000, and in 2007, and in southern hemispherical spring of 2010. With every semester of service, Ab taught courses for the Faculty of Agriculture and each time developed a deeper love of the institution and the people dedicated to its mission.

Every university must engage in a fair amount of self-promotion and so must AU, which has a Development Office based in Nashville, TN lead by James Salley, Associate Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Advancement. Jim makes sure that AU publications extoll the academic programs which enlighten students from 22 African countries. Convinced that publications already exist that describe the academic dimension of AU, Ab aspired to write a book that would proclaim the unique virtues of Africa University easily overlooked by her students, her visitors, and even those administrators who know her so well. Ab envisioned a book at would emphasize the glorious array of critters that reside on the campus of over 600 hectares, and one that would promote management of this small island of biodiversity surrounded by mostly agricultural lands. To that end, Ab and Chris roamed widely to compile a list of species that call AU home and in so doing discovered that the plants and animals and people in this landscape interact in complex ways that are especially vulnerable to activities precipitated by the challenging economic conditions in Zimbabwe. Descriptions of those fascinating interactions together with stories and pictures of spiders, frogs, snakes, insects, and mammals (including Homo sapiens) grace the pages of his book "Thy Wonders Displayed: Africa University" published by the African University Press in 2009.

Aware that there remains much to appreciate by looking beneath the surface, Ab and Chris explored the campus as you'll discover in his letters. He describes spine-tingling adventures in search of life in abandoned gold mines, apparently as the risk of his own! While water, electricity, and the internet access were intermittent, Ab and Chris steadfastly spread their unwavering love of AU by inviting friends (among them geologists, biologists, poets, writers, artists, photographers and so forth) to the campus to share their talents and to be enchanted by AU in all her dimensions.

Each week during AU's 2010 Spring semester Ab took a break from teaching to send a letter describing a few events and what was on his mind in addition to his students and their progress. You'll find those letters in chronological order below, supplemented by photographs and essays from Ab's guests and colleagues.

If you have anything to share, send it to GR who manages this website for Ab and Chris.

September 7, 2010

Hey Y'all!

Ab is writing on Chris' CofC Explorer because he can't get at Wofford's email within an hour's work. I have written a long attachment that I'll, uh, try to attach. Chrissy and I are both fine. Email is almost impossible. I hope y'all are having a good September.

Ab

September 13, 2010

Hey Y'all!

This will need to be fast--if such a thing is possible on the AU Net. I'll try to attach a letter, and I'll write a few individual notes. We are OK. I find that I did NOT miss teaching.

Paul: As far as I know, I have no Sherman traps. I might find a few. I do have a small, non-powerful PowerPoint projector. It could be attached to a computer, or it can accept a USB drive. but the PPT needs to be saved as a set of JPG's. (We could do that after you get here.) I don't want to force people to invent special lectures. I wonder if Jeff would mind speaking about why small mammals are worth looking at. For his use I've stolen one 2.5m bamboo pole; I have my eyes on another.

John: Given current rates of habitat-destruction in eastern Zimbabwe, I think that there's a powerful "sermon" in CIRCLING HOME. One might talk about the importance of finding beauty in "what's left," if you know what I mean. I'm also pitching your expertise on why nature-writing is so important for conservation. First day I have time I'll check on motels and may even try to make you a reservation.

Hue: Today I talked the Dean into letting me write a letter--and then his signing it. Because we had a complete printer-failure, that may take some time. Then we may need to get into town to FAX it. But we'll take care of that. Chrissy is supposed to be in town today, checking on such matters.

Holly: For some reason I've felt this intense desire to see Cormac on his birthday (which, for SOME reason, I always remember). Please tell him for me.

Email remains VERY hard for me to get--and a bit easier for Chris. But I'll keep trying.

Ab

September 20, 2010

Hey Y'all,

Once again it's time to try email & to hope that an attachment will attach. It's pretty boring, so feel free not to open it. (I mean, after all, I can't open ANYTHING here.)

John, I'll try to write you a separate note.

Ab

October 4, 2010

Hey Y'all,

First of all, here's a note to Paul. Thank you for inquiring about where the turtle traps are at, good sir. We arrived on Ethiopian out of Adis. I don't want you to try to get 'em; just glance into the Ethiopian lost-luggage place and see if you can glance a thin, flat, oval package of cardboard wrapped in Saran Wrap & duct tape. I'll send the baggage claim check and the lost-luggage report back to the States with Johnny Lane. If you spot the traps, Johnny can mail the claim-stuff to Are Babb; otherwise, we shan't trouble the good doctors. The Sherman traps will be a Godsend (or, since You are actually bringing them...).

Internet has become SO problematic that I think I'll take advantage of an offer by GR Davis of Wofford Biology fame. He has said that he might post my attachments to his mega Web Page. Maybe GR will do a "reply all" and send you the link. We can at least try this; it would be a help to Chris and me.

GR, I'm sending you a separate note. Here we can't do links or open attachments (at least not one day in 10). Thank you for the offer; we accept!

As you'll see if my attachment attaches, Johnny Lane arrived alive and in good spirits. He's even looking for work, generally a bad idea at AU.

Please forgive our failures to send real, personal letters.

Holly, TOMORROW is a very big day in both of our lives. Please, please tell Cormac how much I miss him--and respect his general attitude and heroism. (I'd even listen to a few of his "Yo Momma" jokes. I'll give the Chrissy-Varmint a big hug from both of you (& from Chris and Flan).

Ab

November 2, 2010

Ab's letter on Missionary Positions was prompted by an email "conversation" with John Lane, who has agreed to share his writings with us here. John's email sets the stage for "Missionary Positions."

 

At the same time he emailed his "Missionary Positions" letter, Ab asked Ron Robinson (Perkins-Prothro Chaplain and Professor of Religion at Wofford College) to write something that would elucidate the contemporary Methodist view of missionary work.

Rev. Ron does that and more in a brief piece GR titled