Sunday involved another early start. We were due to go to an 8am service with Bishop Steve and his family… but the service was in Itsoseng, which is about 1 hour and 40 minutes drive from Klerksdorp. So we all rose about 5.15am in order to be ready to leave at 6am. We all piled into Bishop Steve’s car (which has 8 seats) and headed off for St Peter’s Itsoseng.
The journey was eventful, as after about 30 minutes a group of guinea fowl which were pecking at the edge of the road took off as our car approached. We were travelling at some speed, and one of the guinea fowl didn’t get airborn fast enough. There was a massive, “Thwack!” as the poor guinea fowl hit the top corner of the windscreen. The bird was almost certainly killed instantly and the windscreen was cracked badly. Guinea fowl are pretty big! It was a bit like someone firing a chicken at the windscreen at 70mph- now wonder the screen cracked. We were all ok, and were thankful that the laminated windscreen did it’s job. About another 20 minutes later, another smaller bird flew into the windscreen! What was going on?
The journey was eventful, as after about 30 minutes a group of guinea fowl which were pecking at the edge of the road took off as our car approached. We were travelling at some speed, and one of the guinea fowl didn’t get airborn fast enough. There was a massive, “Thwack!” as the poor guinea fowl hit the top corner of the windscreen. The bird was almost certainly killed instantly and the windscreen was cracked badly. Guinea fowl are pretty big! It was a bit like someone firing a chicken at the windscreen at 70mph- now wonder the screen cracked. We were all ok, and were thankful that the laminated windscreen did it’s job. About another 20 minutes later, another smaller bird flew into the windscreen! What was going on?
We later found out from Brenda, Bishop Steve’s wife, that this is a common problem on rural roads when travelling near to dawn or dusk. Birds gather at the edges of the road for some reason. We wer glad to arrive safely at Itsoseng at about 7.45am
The service was a traditional Holy Communion service, with incense and all of the informal South African “adaptations” (beautiful spontaneous singing and clapping) which we are beginning to expect. The service had a lot of older people present who had been invited to come, as there was a later special service for them after the morning service. I had been asked to preach which I felt was a real privilege and was uncertain of what I was to focus on. In the end I elected to home in on the gospel passage for the day (Mark 2:1-10…. Jesus heals a paralysed man). What I said was translated phrase by phrase which made me think carefully about each sentence… (not a bad thing) and the congregation seemed to appreciate what they heard.
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| Part of the Senior's Celebration Day at St Peter's Itsoseng |
The whole service (including notices) lasted about 3 hours and also included someone being anointed with oil for healing and being prayed for. After a brief exit and time to take off clergy robes (Phew!) we returned to the church for the special senior citizens service. This was a “thank you” to those who had been longstanding members of the church for their continued commitment and encouraging them to carry on with their work of encouragement, so that the church can continue to grow. It was part of the diocesan “Growing the Church” initiative. There was singing (of course), talks and two items (including and excellent drama) from the Sunday School of the church. All of this was followed by a lovely meal with a wide variety of foods.
It had been an especially long time for Andrew and Sam, who had (quite understandably) dipped out of the service after the sermon and played with Leruo and Gnata (Bishop Steve’s youngest two children). Afterwards it was time to head for home (no guinea fowl interruptions this time) and we arrived back at Bishop’s Steve’s home at 5.15pm – nearly 11 hours after we left. We were exhausted! But when chatting with Brenda Diseko, she explained that this was not an unusual Sunday for her and their three children. It came home to us the sort of demands placed upon Bishop Steve’s family here in Matlosane, in order for him to fulfil his duties. It is a
costly decision that they have taken, to do things as a family.
It had been an especially long time for Andrew and Sam, who had (quite understandably) dipped out of the service after the sermon and played with Leruo and Gnata (Bishop Steve’s youngest two children). Afterwards it was time to head for home (no guinea fowl interruptions this time) and we arrived back at Bishop’s Steve’s home at 5.15pm – nearly 11 hours after we left. We were exhausted! But when chatting with Brenda Diseko, she explained that this was not an unusual Sunday for her and their three children. It came home to us the sort of demands placed upon Bishop Steve’s family here in Matlosane, in order for him to fulfil his duties. It is a
costly decision that they have taken, to do things as a family.
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| Brenda, Rose and Bishop Steve do some map work |
We flopped and rested with a cup of tea, the weather was mercifully cooler (about 28oC) today and we were glad of it. Later Bishop Steve and Brenda asked us to join them and their family at a meal out. This was a nice surprise, and it got even nicer, when we discovered that it was in our honour, as it was our Wedding Anniversary today. We had a lovely relaxed time, to end a very full and fulfilling day.
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