We are now back in White River, staying at Mercy Air. Our friends Paul and Cathy Middleton work here and the organisation have a flat which we have rented for a few days, in order to catch our breath and rest. Mercy Air fly small aircraft and a helicopter from South Africa to take people and goods to where they are needed in remote parts of southern Africa.
Our first night here was Monday 27th and after a 7 hour drive we were glad to arrive. The night was warm and the sky clear. Paul took us out onto the middle of the grass airstrip and gave us a guided tour of the southern sky. We were able to see, Venus, Mars and Jupiter with the naked eye as well as the Milky Way and other parts of the night sky which can’t be seen when there is too much light pollution from the ground. It was truly magnificent.
The purpose of our time here at Mercy Air, as well as some rest, is to try to reflect on all that we have seen and experienced on our visits in Matlosane. So we have been trying to get into order the hurried notes that we have made; organise photos, and think about our time in Matlosane to imagine how Lichfield Diocese can play a good part in the partnership with Matlosane Diocese. Of course this isn’t all up to us (thankfully!) but we are privileged to have seen so much and be still here to think about all this and to take it all in.
Our first night here was Monday 27th and after a 7 hour drive we were glad to arrive. The night was warm and the sky clear. Paul took us out onto the middle of the grass airstrip and gave us a guided tour of the southern sky. We were able to see, Venus, Mars and Jupiter with the naked eye as well as the Milky Way and other parts of the night sky which can’t be seen when there is too much light pollution from the ground. It was truly magnificent.
The purpose of our time here at Mercy Air, as well as some rest, is to try to reflect on all that we have seen and experienced on our visits in Matlosane. So we have been trying to get into order the hurried notes that we have made; organise photos, and think about our time in Matlosane to imagine how Lichfield Diocese can play a good part in the partnership with Matlosane Diocese. Of course this isn’t all up to us (thankfully!) but we are privileged to have seen so much and be still here to think about all this and to take it all in.
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| Sunday School Leaders of Matlosane |
Last weekend (Sat 25th & Sun 26th ) was a busy one. Saturday involved Rose and the boys driving back
from Lichtenburg to Klerksdorp. Meanwhile Richard went to Itsoseng with most of the other clergy in Matlosane and the Sunday School leaders from the diocese for a special service for two priests who were taking on new roles in the Diocese (Archdeacon Diplokwane and Canon Ngidi).
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| Susan (Left) & two friends work hard with cooking etc at Itsoseng |
The service started at 8.30am and finished about 11am and was followed by a lovely breakfast (prepared by the ladies from St Peter’s Itsoseng). Then there were separate meetings…for the Sunday School leaders of the diocese there was time with Brenda Diseko (Bishop Steve’s wife) while clergy and churchwardens met together for Diocesan council. This meeting went on until around 4.30pm and covered a wide range of topics, including stewardship and giving, youth work, choirs, issues on human sexuality, and the new diocese of Matlosane website. All of this was then followed by another meal, again cooked by the same ladies from Itsoseng. By the time we got back to Bishop Steve’s home it was 7.30pm.
The day had been long and it highlighted to me how much more difficult it is to organise and run events for the diocese when the distances are large. The only way to get around this seems to be to have one day to travel, and try to cover lots of things on one day.
The day had been long and it highlighted to me how much more difficult it is to organise and run events for the diocese when the distances are large. The only way to get around this seems to be to have one day to travel, and try to cover lots of things on one day.
On Sunday (8am) we attended St Peter’s Church in the centre of Klerksdorp.
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| A team game of catch! |
This church has the most mixed congregation which we have come across, with members from various racial groups - black, white, coloured and indian all joining together for worship. To add to the mix, one of the priests (Father Methla) is from Botswana and another is a white South African (Father Jaques). Father Methla called the church congregation the United Nations. There were hymns from a hymn book (some of which we recognised) and a warm welcome from all- which is an encouraging standard feature of every church we have been to. At a guess I’d say that there were about 100 adults with 30 children.
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| Toasting the Link |
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| Ladies who lunch! |
After the service was tea and coffee, and a chance to play in the vicarage garden with the children – Andrew and Sam making friends and being glad of the fact that English was the common language for the children from various backgrounds. Members of the church council returned at around 12 for a Braai (BBQ). This gave a lovely chance to talk to the church members and get to know each other a bit more. After the lovely food, one of the church wardens (Nolita) produced a bottle of sparkling wine and explained that it was to “toast the link” (between Matlosane & Lichfield). We all shared a small amount of the wine and duly “toasted the link.”
It felt significant and good.
We said our goodbyes and headed to visit a retirement home in another part of Klerksdorp to deliver a gift we had been asked to pass on. We were all tired but found that our hosts were so kind that we were able to enjoy their company and hope that we were a blessing to them. It was encouraging to meet the retired couple who had been lifelong members of the Methodist church still keen to talk about the life of their church and how they have hopes for its future and their part in it.
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| Drs Luke & Varghese & their family |
Rose, Andrew and Sam then went back to Bishop Steve’s home and I went on to have an evening meal with an Indian family from St Peter’s Klerksdorp. I was overwhelmed by their kindness and their understanding and awareness of so many issues in the world. Dr Binu Luke is a consultant in two of the local state hospitals and his wife ( Dr Sushmitha Varghese) is a dental surgeon. Both have oversight responsibilities outside their own practices which makes their week intensely busy. So I felt very privileged to be invited to join them for a precious family time with their children Aishwarya (16) and Ashwin (10).
I learned so much from my time with them. The family has its roots in Karala in the south of India. Binu was very proud to tell me that the church in that area can trace its origins back to St Thomas, who landed there and started a church in AD52. Suddenly the church of England and Anglican worship did not seems to have such an ancient pedigree! Our conversation ranged freely over pretty much every topic that any of us chose to bring up. Although I was tired when they dropped me off I was so glad to have met them and was enriched by their commitment to the Lord Jesus in all their work and play as well as their commitment to the church they attend on a Sunday. I was especially refreshed to hear some of Aishwarya and Ashwin’s thoughts about life in South Africa from their perspective.
I learned so much from my time with them. The family has its roots in Karala in the south of India. Binu was very proud to tell me that the church in that area can trace its origins back to St Thomas, who landed there and started a church in AD52. Suddenly the church of England and Anglican worship did not seems to have such an ancient pedigree! Our conversation ranged freely over pretty much every topic that any of us chose to bring up. Although I was tired when they dropped me off I was so glad to have met them and was enriched by their commitment to the Lord Jesus in all their work and play as well as their commitment to the church they attend on a Sunday. I was especially refreshed to hear some of Aishwarya and Ashwin’s thoughts about life in South Africa from their perspective.
Now we are still trying to let all this sink in. South Africa defies any attempt to define it or put it in a box. It has so many layers and complexities. Perhaps that this the reason why people here are a little dismissive about political life. They are glad of the democratic system, but aware that the challenges faced by South African’s are too big for any one political programme. This is a country where people are openly asking God to be at work- so the church here has a pivotal role to play.
But then – the UK is complex and multi –layered. It too has people who disaffected by political solutions. There may not be such an openness to see God at work in our communities, but perhaps that means that the church in the UK has just as much a pivotal role to play (though in a different way) as in South Africa. Maybe the issues are about confidence in the God whom we worship- and in this respect we have much to learn from our South African brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus.
But then – the UK is complex and multi –layered. It too has people who disaffected by political solutions. There may not be such an openness to see God at work in our communities, but perhaps that means that the church in the UK has just as much a pivotal role to play (though in a different way) as in South Africa. Maybe the issues are about confidence in the God whom we worship- and in this respect we have much to learn from our South African brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus.
Richard & Rose
Let me join in toasting the link!
ReplyDeleteWhat an absorbing and engaging review of the leap day. That United Nations element seems to be something particularly South African (rainbow) and it does encourage us to reflect on ways in which we can celebrate difference within our Lichfield Diocesan contexts. Charlotte has been running a Welcome Place at her church and a Lithuanian man came to it today. But most of the time we are stick with our mates. Lovely to see Andrew and Sam playing.