Time to sign off.

It’s Monday: it’s the 31^st: and ten and a half weeks have disappeared under my feet. I’m sitting at the airport –and very thankful to be here. +Steve’s car broke down at a busy crossroads on the way here, about 18 kms from Soweto. Fortunately his nephews lived nearby and they were able to come and rescue us. One stayed with the car till the rescue people arrive and the other drove us here. Steve was just in time to catch his plane. Pray for him this week as he is sitting on a Provincial Disciplinary Panel dealing with a Bishop who has been less than honest in financial affairs.

My final weekend here has been busy, humbling and one of rejoicing for the last three months. Saturday was the swearing in and training of the church wardens and their alternates. Every parish and chapelry in the Diocese has two Wardens and one Alternate who takes over if one cannot continue in office. Some had a three hour drive to get to the Cathedral for the Eucharist that started at 09.00. Needless to say, many were late! The service finished at 11.00 and then the Wardens were sworn in: so it was 12noon before we had breakfast. The training followed, and apparently finished at 15.00, by which time it was lunch time! Some then had a three hour drive home. After breakfast, having said a few words about the Lichfield link, I left.

Concentration Camp Memorial

Speaks for itself!

I drove back to Klerksdorp and went in search of the ‘Old Cemetery’. Here there is a grave yard for the Blacks, one for the Whites; an Anglo-Boer War British Military section; a Memorial to the 39,000 – many of whom were children - who died in the British Concentration camp here; and the reburied remains of some Voortrekkers. A lot of history in one place!

Sunday dawned bright and sunny. The people of Jouberton gave me a right royal send off. At the end of the service they gave me a present – an African dress and head scarf – and the MU wanted to give me a gift and asked the congregation to join them. “We don’t have silver and gold”, said the MU Leader, “but here is a gift to buy a cold drink.” Their gift was R500 and the congregation gave another R420 - a total of about £55! Some cold drink. I felt guilty and humbled all at the same time. They have so little and I have so much – but they needed to show their gratitude and I needed to accept it. I’m going to try to off load the coins on the traders at the airport today. After the service there was lunch with the Church Council.

Back home I began work on what was going to have to be a miracle of packing. I squashed and squeezed and eventually got everything in. According to the scales here at the airport I am bringing less home than I brought out. Not possible! – but at least they say I am just under the weight limit rather than very much over it!

Vusi and Renelwe

Mpho and her niece, Renelwe

For the last 8 weeks I've been staying with Mpho and Vusi Moyakhe. They are looking after Renelwe, Mpho's brother's daughter. They gave me a home when I needed one.

 Thanks to all of you .

 

I came out 10 weeks ago knowing this was going to be different from any other visit, but not prepared for how different it would be. I’m not just coming back to the UK and home – I feel as if I am changing jobs. I have worked for the parish, doing Sunday and Ash Wednesday services, Home Communions, seeing a new priest begin his ministry, and sorting the Confirmation for 55 candidates. I have worked for the Diocese, helping Ruth format their new website, updating the Diocesan Directory, leading the Ordination Retreat and preaching at the service itself, and travelling around meeting people and encouraging them in their ministries. Not bad for a sabbatical! But I have loved the challenge and the adventure. Thank you to everyone in Lichfield and in Matlosane who have made this possible and supported me with your emails, comments, texts and prayers – and above all, thanks be to God for his protection and providential care.

Information overload!

This last week has been very interesting and very full. Friday 21^st was Human Rights Day and a public holiday here. There was a big Commemoration at Sharpeville, which was televised. A far as I could see, President Zuma used it for electioneering. It came on me unawares, so I don’t know if there was anything here in Klerksdorp.

Lady Day at Boikutso with Canon Ngidi

Monday I set off for the North Archdeaconry, and stayed the night in Lichtenberg. That evening I was able to meet up with one of those ordained a month ago – it seems like so much longer. The next morning, Lady Day, I presided at the 09.30 Eucharist at Boikhutso, a township of Lichtenburg, and then did several Home Communions. After a late lunch I drove to Itsoseng, another of Lichtenburg’s townships, and stayed the night with Archdeacon Sam. It was the first time I had stayed in a township, and the water stored in the bath made real the TV reports about water problems in the townships.  The Archdeacon would like to use the large plot of land attached to the Rectory for unemployed young people to grow vegetables, but the water shortage makes it impossible. As the Church Council gathered for supper, I took time to stand outside and listen, smell and watch the township settle down for the night. Two more of the newly ordained were there, and they too seem very happy.

Next morning we set off for Zeerust and for the first time in weeks saw mountains! We visited Fr Mmose Shoke, the incumbent of St Augustine’s, Marico, and then set off for Lekubu, where Fr Edward Leboe, one of the priests whom Lichfield funded for a year at Grahamstown Theological College, is based. I thought I’d seen rural, but wow! The entertainment for the day was the arrival of the EFF (political party) roadshow, a van traveling to remote villages to canvas votes. All work stopped as everyone went to see the entertainment for the day. The parish is slowly building a house for Leboe; meantime he is living in one room rented from a local which has only an outside water tap and an earth closet at the bottom of the garden. He does have electricity, but no transport. The Church warden, the son of a local Chief, is overseeing the work on the house.



Edward, Archdeacon Sam and Isaac
 - both Edward and Isaac are 'Lichfield'
clergy



Then it was on to Motswedi, where Isaac, a newly ordained Deacon lives, miles from anywhere, with no transport and no internet. The Archdeacon had asked his Rector to let him know what time we would be coming, but the message had not been passed on. Isaac has begun very well, but it seems his Rector has a problem with his success. We encouraged him as best we could, but he needs much prayer support. 





The rest of the day passed in a whirl as we first had a very late lunch prepared for us by an Anglican family in town whose home had been destroyed by fire last year, and then drove on to Mafikeng to drop Leboe off at the bus station. This is the town where Lord Baden-Powell conceived the idea of a Scouting movement. I came away wishing I could have told my mother I had been there and seen the Scout and Guide HQ there. We completed the almost 250k drive on good roads and dirt tracks by 17.30; and after a quick look at Itoseng church, and to a wonderful African sunset, I set off for home. My Taize CD was playing a track which says “In the darkness, there is no darkness with you, O Lord”, which gave me the confidence to drive home. Driving in the dark here is a very different proposition from doing it at home, and many women will not drive once it is dark. Even many men will not drive long distances and if they do then they do not stop for anything, even red traffic lights. So I set off at a speed much faster than anything I’d driven before, - when I told +Steve the speeds I’ve been driving, he reminded me that it is kilometres on the speed dial here and not miles! I was on a save petrol kick! – and determined not to stop. Needless to say, I arrived home safely.

Collection time

My drive through the darkness was necessary as I had to be at the Cathedral at 09.00 the next morning to join the MU celebration for Lady Day, which is always held on a Thursday. There were not very many there when the service started but by the end the Cathedral was full, everyone attired in the MU uniform of black and white. There was lunch after the service, and then a business meeting, interspersed with musical items – ie singing, singing and more singing! I left after the service in order to have lunch, postponed from Monday, with Fr Jacques Pieterse, the one white priest in the diocese. He is coming to Lichfield on a clergy exchange, either later this year, or next. It was good to talk to him and get a white perspective on a variety of issues.

Today, Friday 28^th, I managed at last to get to Klerksdorp museum. It is just down the road from the Diocesan Office, free to enter - despite what the noticeboard outside says – and an interesting way to spend an hour. From there I went to the Office, and managed at long last to finish the update to the Diocesan directory – though I fear it will be out of date as soon as it is printed, as Dr Guma is due to move on April 1^st, fortunately within the Diocese, due to reorganisation within the education Department.

 

There has been so much to take in this week I've almost got mental indigestion: what is above is just a taste of all there had been. The latest piece of info I am refusing to take on board: the TV news tonight says that Lufthansa pilots are due to strike from April 1^st-3^rd, but the Lufthansa site says 2^nd-4^th. I leave here on March 31^st, but arrive in Germany in the early hours of the 1^st. I don’t think this is an April Fool, so I could be stranded in Germany!!! We shall see! Let’s hope the TV is the wrong one.

 

Take your pick on what to pray for: there's plenty of it.

It's the first day of Autumn!



Just to prove I was there

The young people of Vrisgewacht

Sunday dawned dry and sunny, and so Dr Guma and I set out for the township of Vrisgewacht, which I have nicknamed the ‘Amarula’ (an African liqueur like Baileys) church, because in one of the hymns they kept repeating a phrase that sounded like that, though afterwards we were unable to identify exactly what it was. He explained to me that any visitor was a visitor to the community, and everyone would turn out to greet them, which explains the people I saw peering through the door and then going away – some to the Methodist church next door. At the back of the church were two piles of sand, waiting to be mixed with something to clad the walls. There were a few chairs and some benches, but not everyone had somewhere to sit.  At least there was a solid floor and a watertight roof. There was a good number of children there, and Guma explained that following the training in 2012, the teachers changed what they were doing and now children from other churches, and none, come because they love what is done. Before the Dismissal I got the congregation to pray for the congregation at St James’, Clayton, who would have just been gathering for the 10.00 service. As Guma pointed out to them, it makes real the ‘one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church’, at least I think that’s what he said - it was in Setswana!

After lunch I was off to the south of the Diocese. I thought I was going to stay with Canon Rebecca Maphitikazi in Bloemhof, and see some of what she does. But when I phoned to say I was on my way, she told me to go to Christiana, where I would be taken to my hosts. It felt like a modern version of Genesis 12, the OT reading for that day! I ended up on the other side of the Vaal River, in the Free State, with Christine and Dirk de Beer. They remembered fondly the visit of the Westwoods two years ago (see Richard’s blog entry – March 2012). There are very few, if any, blacks in the town of Christiana and the white congregation is very small and has no young people. Christine seems to be the leader of the congregation, with a passion for God and for his Church. I learned all about the potato harvest – next time you eat a McCain’s potato, it might just have come from here! – and saw more bok and giraffe on their son’s game reserve. My visit was more rest time for me, but also an insight into what it means to be a white Anglican here.

Lunch time  - 14.45

Back in Klerksdorp, I was up early on Wednesday to go with the Bishop to the clergy contact day. This is a quarterly meeting for the clergy, rather like a Deanery Chapter, except that it’s for the whole Diocese. It begins with Eucharist and, on this occasion, in place of the sermon, there was a ‘half hour’ (75 minutes actually) presentation from the Stewardship Programme Director which was very interesting. With his help some parishes have paid off huge arrears and are now paying in advance. The five year plan, which began in 2012, is working towards parishes paying their annual assessment (Share) by the end of August, and then having got used to raising that amount of money each month, using the same sum of money in the other months for a parish project. So, last year, St Michael’s Promosa had paid their Assessment by October and used the money in November and December to put a sound system into the church. They are now on course to pay by the end of September this year.

+Steve has declared that the Diocesan theme for this year is to be Raising the Spiritual Bar – and this must begin with the clergy. (It says much that when I asked one senior priest what he was doing in his parish to promote the theme, he said that he was waiting for the Bishop to tell him what to do.) So after breakfast we had a two hour talk on Spirituality. I don’t think anyone in England would have recognised much of what was said to be the history of the Church of England. I was just very glad that I wasn’t asked to comment – I’m not sure my tact would have stretched far enough! The last 20 minutes of the talk were much better, but I was told that the speaker doesn’t actually do what he was advocating. I wonder how our understanding of spirituality would seem to them.

Today, Thursday, St Cuthbert’s Day, has been hot and sunny, and restful. The weatherman said that this is the first day of autumn here, and announcers have been warning that soon European countries will put clocks forward. Time flies when you are having fun. Please pray for a new priest for Jouberton; for the clergy to deepen their own relationship with God, and so be enabled to lead their congregations into the fullness of life we are promised.

Some real 'me' time

My four days at Bona Bona were all I’d hoped for, and then some. My accommodation was in the honeymoon suite (!), which meant I had a 4 poster bed, a huge bath and a double shower and a TV. The roof was the traditional thatch, and you could smell it in the room. There were notices warning against snakes and monkeys. One night I was watching Andy Murray playing tennis in America, to the accompaniment of lions roaring in the enclosures outside. Surreal!! I felt as if I was living in Leopard’s Den on the TV – ‘Out of Africa’ on ITV I think.

The weather was not particularly good, but I could sit under cover and watch the storm rolling in, listen to the thunder, and later see the rainbow trying to form. But there were dry periods and I could see bok coming to the waterhole. On the early morning game drive we didn’t see much, but just as we were returning home we come across some giraffe. There was time to rejoice in the little things of nature – the brilliant green dung beetle, the bright red and orange bird outside my room, the bird battering a caterpillar to death before eating it. All in all it was a time to reconnect to the creation and the Creator, and enjoy being in the great outdoors. I also had an enforced fast from my phone as I forgot to top up the airtime before I left Klerksdorp, and the nearest place to Bona Bona was 35 km away!

 

I drove to Delareyville on Friday, and am getting a much clearer feel for the rural nature of the Diocese. As the NW Province number plate shows the main crops here are mielies (sweet corn) and cornflowers (for oil). The latter are in full bloom at the moment and a wonderful sight, especially on a sunny day. I spent a bit of time with Dr Marshall Guma, who is known by nearly everyone in the town it seems, though he doesn’t actually live here. He took me to the Education Office and introduced me to a lot of his colleagues, among whom were the social worker who supports the teachers in their work, and the nutritionist in charge of overseeing the feeding programme in the schools.

Saturday afternoon I met with the clergy of the team here – or those who turned up! – and looked at team building. We talked about praying for the parish and for each other, and what they found good and difficult about being in the team here. It was a shame that three of the team didn’t come – lack of commitment was one of the things mentioned! – because those who did come were open and it was a helpful exercise. Those of you who came out to do the Sunday School Training in 2012 will recognise the exercise!!

Plans for Sunday are on hold till we see what the weather is tomorrow. One of the priests who wasn’t there today was stranded at home because of the muddy conditions caused by the rain.

 

The internet reception here is very slow, so photos wilAl have to wait till I get back to Klerksdorp.

 

Another week gone!

This, in some ways, has been a much quieter week – and in others not! The noisiest part of the week was Thursday night’s thunderstorm. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like it – the lunch time storm left me feeling very light headed, and the evening one had the windows rattling in their frames. I think it must be a cloud burst sometimes, as the very heavy rain lasts for 10-15 minutes, and then it either eases off or stops all together. Today, however, has definitely been wet – in most of the places I have been! It was like driving through fog – you couldn’t even see the road surface at times. The problem with such rain is that there is no drainage system, so the roads become ponds or rivers, and in some places, like the townships where there are no properly surfaced roads, very muddy. Even on the better roads there are many potholes and you can’t measure the depth because each downpour makes them even deeper.

Wednesday was Ash Wednesday and we had a 6pm service at Jouberton. I checked last year’s numbers and there seem to have been about 80 communicants. This year there were around 140, including +Steve and his family. That’s the second time he’s turned up unannounced, just to be there. I’d decided to do it a bit differently from what the book lays down – trust the Bishop to turn up!! It seemed to go OK though. And then he waited to escort me onto the main road. He seems to think that it is safe to drive in the townships these days, but as I said to him, “There speaks a black man to a white woman!” I do wonder if I am over-reacting, but others have told me to be very careful: so I’m operating a ‘better safe than sorry’ policy.

Thursday evening gave me another insight into life here. At 6pm all the power suddenly ceased, and an investigation of the fuse box showed that we were ‘Load sharing’ – ie we had no power so that others could have some! It didn’t come on again till 10pm, so we went to bed with no evening meal, no cup of coffee, no lights, etc, etc, etc. Mpho, my host, said that the local authority owes the power company so much money that they do what they like, when they like, and with no warning.

Saturday, it was the Diocesan Council, a quarterly meeting for clergy and churchwardens. (Diocesan Synod takes place at 3 yearly intervals, and is residential.) We started with a Eucharist at 09.00, followed by breakfast. The meeting proper began at 11.00, and included such riveting things as End of Year accounts and clergy salaries. I felt somewhat uncomfortable at the latter. The South African miners are currently striking for a pay rise to R12,000 per month. The clergy get less than that – and when there are just over R17 to the £, that is not a lot! There was also much grateful mention of Lichfield Diocese and what it has given by way of financial support

Elizabeth and Maisie

Meeting over I drove to Lichtenburg through the torrential rain. I stayed with an 84 year old lady called Maisie, whose parents came here from Glasgow and Dundee after the Boer War in search of work. Her children now live in Australia, the UK and Jo’burg. She has recently been diagnosed with leukemia. In order for her to keep her hospital appointments her daughter has to drive here from Jo’burg, then drive to Pretoria via Jo’burg – and then do the journey in reverse to get them both home. As I signed her Visitors Book I noticed that Philip Swan also stayed with her in 2011!

The Church at Lichtenburg



The church at Lichtenburg



Today, Sunday, I preached at the Eucharist, to a small but faithful congregation; did a funeral visit with Elizabeth and then had lunch with her family. She was one of the first group of three women ordained in the Diocese and is self supporting. She ministers in Lichtenburg, but lives in the township outside the town, and uses the local taxis (minibuses) or depends on lifts to get round. At 68 that’s no mean feat!

Tomorrow I’m off on my travels for a week or so. First it’s a local game resort – Bona Bona (see it’s website) – for 4 nights, and then visiting two parts of the Diocese I’ve not really seen before. The first is Delareyville, where Marshall Guma, who stayed in Clayton 10 years ago, is the Incumbent and Archdeacon, and then into the deep south, Bloemhof. What internet access will be like in these places I have no idea – so don’t be surprised / alarmed if you don’t hear from me for a couple of weeks.

May your Lent go well!

 

 

The weekend just gone - with pictures.

In the midst of the euphoria of getting the Confirmation complete, I forgot to mention that the Bishop was in the parish for the whole weekend. He visits every one of the 25 parishes once a year for a whole weekend, beginning on Friday and finishing on Sunday with Confirmations. In the far flung parts of the Diocese that entails being away from home, but Jouberton is just up the road from home.

 

So on Friday afternoon he visited five families in the parish, in different areas and in different styles of housing. The original plan was to take him only to better off families, but I insisted that it should be a mixture. He is Bishop to everyone, and spent a number of years as priest in a township, so knows all too well the conditions people live in. The Churchwarden accompanied him on those visits, as the elderly people speak only Setswana, and  don't know my way around a very complex area.

 

A blind lady arriving in her traditional
 Bedi costume, a short dress over a
long skirt

The stirring implement is a long spoon,
they also use a long fork -
it is hard work!

On Saturday, the elderly were brought to church for 'short' service and lunch. Not as many as we'd hoped for turned up, and one 95 year old was already there when I turned up at 10.15 for the 11.30 service. Lunch was already being cooked in the traditional way, and the ground raked to get rid of the rubbish and make the area tidy. The 'short' service lasted just over an hour and included a 10 minute sermon.

 

By 14.00 everyone had gone, but the Confirmation Candidates were due to be there for the final preparation session.  +Steve wanted to talk to them, and he kept going for over an hour while they turned up in dribs and drabs. After he'd gone we had our Penitential Service - in place of individual confessions - and just as we finished the last 5 arrived at 15.45. I let everyone else go and then told the 5 that they had missed the Bishop's talk, and the Service, and without being at the latter they could not be confirmed (a Diocesan requirement).  Having talked about responsibility and priorities, I did the Service again. I talked about forgiveness and putting things behind us  - and then told them they would be Confirmed. The smiles and look of relief on their faces was a joy!

 

Then of course it was Sunday and the Confirmation - see previous blog. I've been trying to post a video here of the collection being taken, so far with no success. I'll try to put it on the right hand side of the page near Clare doing her flying act! It's a bit hazy - but that is all the incense! 

All done and dusted!

It’s Sunday evening, and I’ve just seen Man City win the League Cup – well the bits for which I could keep my eyes open! This morning we had the Confirmation service for 53 people. I typed name cards for each of them - it was the only way to ensure that my list corresponded with those who came and that I had the names spelt correctly. When you’re dealing with names like Thabiso Johannes Gadinabokao or Tebogo Obed Gaselalelwe life is not easy! And, of course, they all had to be written into the register. We began on time at 08.00, but I was still holding 3 candidates name cards. In the end all was well – and they were actually all present. Everything went according to plan, and when we finally processed out of the church at 12.30 +Steve’s comment to me was that it had been a short service!! Apparently no-one had expected it to finish before 13.00, but I had applied a little unAfrican organisation to the way the candidates went forward, which was what saved most of the time. It took almost half an hour for the Bishop to bless the children at the end of the service. They don’t come to the altar with their parents or Sunday School teachers – they all come afterwards. I had thought that after the confirmation the numbers would be halved – not a bit of it. I think they must have all made a special effort to be there today. There were just as many as last week, and +Steve gave them all a time-consuming episcopal blessing. In the meantime the congregation were singing their hearts – and lungs – out. It was deafening. If I was staying here longer, the blessings would have to change, but as I only have four more Sundays in Matlosane and for two of those I will be away from Jouberton, it seems a little late to do anything now. Let the new priest sort it out when he arrives. Today’s was a joyous service of dedication – but, as the church warden said, we shall see how many are there next Sunday.

Afterwards there was lunch for the Bishop and Church Council – and me. But I was also invited to the lunch given by my host’s family, because one of them had been confirmed. It reminded me of the Christmass episode of the Vicar of Dibley, where she accepted 3 invitations to lunch. I went to both, eating mainly at the first, but unable to say No to pudding and custard at the second.

As to the rest of the week, it has mainly been taken up with the preparations and admin for today. Friday I spent time working with Ruth on the Diocesan website, which will one day see the light of day, we’re just not sure which day!

Yesterday it was St David’s Day and I didn’t have time to make welsh cakes, and I had no daffodil to wear. It felt very odd. It was also the Community of St Chad Festival Service – and having been heavily involved in the last two, I sent Philip a ‘Greeting’ for everyone, which I hoped he’d read out at the service. Modern methods of communication make our world so small – but it has taken 4 weeks for a birthday card I sent by Air Mail to England to arrive. Given that there are daily flights direct to the UK, you wonder where the hold-up is.

This week brings Ash Wednesday and Lent. That means being in Jouberton after dark on Wednesday, and I’m a little wary of that. Even in the day light it’s not safe for a white woman to be driving around alone - I happily drive to the church, but after that I always have at least one man with me. So I think that it will have to be convoy to the main road after the service on Wednesday.

Life is now beginning to slow down a bit, and I’m hoping to have time to do some of the reading I wanted to do, a bit of reflecting on all I have been doing, and be a bit of a tourist. We shall see!