Street evangelist Reini Coetzee walked into Louis Trichardt on Monday, 13 October, carrying the huge cross on his shoulders for which he has now become well known. His visit offered him a short rest on his epic pilgrimage from Cape Town to Jerusalem in Israel.
By Monday, Reini had been on the road for nearly seven months and had already covered some 1,850 km since setting off from Signal Hill in Cape Town on 16 March. "So far, I have experienced no trauma or drama on the road. The hearts of South Africans are open. They make sure I have food and water," Reini told the Limpopo Mirror in an interview.
Apart from the large cross (with a wheel at its base) that he either pushes or pulls, Reini carries nothing else but a small backpack containing his water and energy bars—mostly bought for him by people he meets along the way. He is certainly giving new meaning to the term travelling light.
"From Signal Hill to here, people's kindness has carried me," Reini said. On Monday evening, he planned to stay overnight at a local guesthouse. Similarly, people along the route have arranged for him to stay on farms or at other types of tourist accommodation.
But why did he decide to take up the cross? According to his Facebook page, Reini Coetzee (Cross Walk Africa), he was called to take up the cross and walk—not only to share the Gospel but also to pray for broken people and remind them of "the greatest sacrifice" that Jesus made for them.
"I'm walking for our country, South Africa, and for the continent of Africa. People are weary. I sometimes see people come to this cross and cry," Reini said.
This is not the first time Reini has undertaken such a journey. On a previous occasion, he walked from Cape Town to Beitbridge, just across the border. This time, however, he wants to take his message and ministry across the entire African continent.
"There are people tracking where I am, and there are people praying for me. But apart from that, I walk in faith—and South Africa makes sure this cross keeps moving forward," he said.
As for what to expect north of Beitbridge, Reini admitted he did not know, but as mentioned, it is a matter of faith for him. "I don't have a schedule. I know how far it still is, but I don't even want to know how long it will take. The total distance is about 10,000 km. I take it one day at a time, and every 1,000 km is a milestone," he said.
At 54, Reini believes there is still much work for him to do as an evangelist. "When I'm not walking, I go into communities and minister there. My heart is for the men, because, well, we're usually the ones who mess things up," Reini said.
Readers are welcome to follow Reini's epic journey via social media, such as his aforementioned Facebook page.