On-line at last!

It’s Nita Edwards - again, and I’ve been here in Johannesburg since last Friday. The reason I’m here is that during October, Matlosane is celebrating 25 years as a Diocese. The flights out were good and my friend Thabo, the chaplain at St Martin’s School met me as planned. My accommodation has been on the top floor of the Convent in Resurrection Row, Rosettenville, with 2 nuns as next door neighbours.  Since last Sunday I've been leading the Matlosane Diocesan Clergy retreat – and there are 36 of them.

I did have Saturday to recover from the flights and to orientate myself – at a hen party in a restaurant in Vilakazi St, opposite Mandela’s house and just above Tutu’s house. Facing me on the wall was the famous picture of the body of Hendrick Pietersen being carried by this brother and sister, alongside a TV showing coverage of the Rugby World Cup. Bizarre! – but quite a good introduction to the complexities of the book of Revelation, which is the subject of the retreat.

Sunday afternoon saw everyone arrive – and their surprise to see me was because +Steve had not told them that I was leading the retreat. We eventually got a projector to work on Sunday evening so that I could show my PowerPoint of Ephesus – but not without difficulty. Not an easy start to calm my anxieties. There were occasioned by the retreat being led a couple of years ago by Desmond Tutu, and I was scared of walking in his footsteps. But Monday dawned a beautiful day and things got better. The week has been very full – what with needing to catch up with sleep and deal with the 3,000ft altitude here as well. But the response has been good and they seem to be enjoying it. I provided opportunities for anyone to talk with me if they wanted to – and of course there are most takers at the end of the week when I am at my most tired. These have shown me how much what I have been saying has been touching them - Deo Gratias!  But there is just one day to go now. Well, almost - because Thabo has invited us all to join the school for the weekly Eucharist at 7.20am on Thursday and me to preach and preside.  

The jumpers I brought out were well received and earned a round of applause. I’m distributing them here, to save carrying them any more! I’ll post a picture when I can.

The Diocese of Lichfield bought a holding cross for every clergy person in the Diocese of Matlosane as a token of love and fellowship on the 25^th Anniversary of the Diocese. I handed each one out personally and some people had tears in their eyes. I have since seen them clutching the crosses, and one has even emailed Marie Wilkinson, the lady who imports them to England, to say thank you.

Time now for a quick cup of coffee and then the next person will arrive.  I'll be in touch when I can.