First Impressions

Chris writes:         Everyone very hospitable and welcoming. It’s humbling to feel how much hope and expectation there is about the visit. Compared to Tanzania and Zambia, there is no sense of the racial difference and any feelings of black inferiority. Such a vast continent with miles and miles of roads.        Chenda continues:  good, good company! Pray God will enable us to live up to expectations and encourage people for him.

Ruth writes:     What an amazing welcome, what an amazing country of contrasts in countryside and town. Wonderful weather and unbelievable food.         Rob adds:  Incredible, amazed, awestruck by the country as a whole, by the welcome of the people. I’ve waited 40 years for this adventure. Love the food. The experience so has set my emotions a flood.

Clare says:     We have been welcomes so greatly with a wonderful sense of hospitality. Trying to get used to new faces and overcome my shyness. Tried chicken livers yesterday which were lovely!!      Libby writes:  What an amazing place and what amazing people – we’ve had such a warm welcome. We have been to Tsogong (Resurrection) Cathedral today and finalised our planning for the conference – can’t wait to get started now. Have eaten some delicious food – I love pap (maize meal)  Mmm!!

Nita writes:   As this is not my first visit, I can’t claim to be giving first impressions – but I can echo what the others have said about our welcome. At passport control into South Africa we had to give the reason for our visit. We all ticked “visiting family and friends”, I on the basis of experience, and everyone else on the basis that people would be by the end of our visit. Today has made that a reality already!  We were all very tired when we arrived in Klerksdorp yesterday, but a good night’s sleep was had by all, and hopefully after a second of the same we shall be fully restored. Today the Bishop had a meeting in the cathedral for clergy and wardens so that the latter could be sworn into office and we were asked to go in for a few minutes to be introduced to everyone. +Stephen made it very clear how grateful he is to Lichfield Diocese for all the help we have given in making this conference possible.

After our planning meeting we went into Potchefstroom (Potch for short) to do some shopping for next week and some general retail therapy.

Tomorrow (Sunday), I am presiding and preaching at St Peter’s, Klerksdorp where my host is warden, and everyone else is going to church with their hosts. I think they will all be town churches, but I know they will find it a wonderful experience. I’m just hoping they will survive the incense!!

The conference begins on Monday. Brenda, whose husband is +Stephen, whose vision and dream this conference is, is unable to be with us during the week because of work commitments. She is bitterly disappointed,  but will be with us in the evenings, and we shall try to keep her up to date on what we have done. It will be a day when great wisdom will be needed as we try to make real contact with one another across language and cultural barriers.

We're off!!

Well the days, weeks and months of preparation are finally over and we're on our way!   We start our trek to South Africa and the people of Matlosane.  The bags are packed and the passport is safe and secure.

I am so looking forward to being in Klerksdorp, meeting the amazing people of South Africa and seeing what amazing things God has got in store for everyone there :)




Libby

Todays the day

It is hard to believe that after all the planning. talking, worrying today is the day.

We are all packed. Only things to tidy up so we leave the house ready for our return.

We know that God is very much in this venture and that he is leading us into a whole new experience of his work.

We are looking forward to meeting lots of new people and having the opportunity to come alongside and support the work that is being done among the children of the diocese.

We are hoping to learn so many new things to take back and share with our church, circuit and community.

How great is our God, sing with me how great is our God, and all will see how great is our God.

Rob and Ruth

24 hours to go ..

God of our journeying, be our companion
in the varied ways of our travelling;
along the tracks of our cultural encounters;
and on the unknown paths of our working and learning together.
Give us the imagination to walk in the footsteps of our brothers and sisters,
the humility to learn from each other,
and the wisdom to do your will, your way.
Father, your kingdom come.

(Revd Nita Edwards – written for the visit)

2 days to go...

It's hard to believe that after a year in the planning this adventure will soon become a reality.

I am so excited at the adventures and experiences that are waiting for us all, those we know about and those spontaneous ones we have yet to discover!

I have half packed and currently trying to get everything done in the office before we leave, although it appears the office may be travelling and I'll be doing some PA duties out there too... I love my job!!!

Now how long will the delay be in our planned journey? Any guesses.  Let's see, the closest guess will.....

Thank you to everyone for their continued support and prayers.

Clare

From Chris and Chenda

Hi, we are looking forward to flying out with the Sunday School team on Thursday and meeting the folk in Matlosane for the first time. It is 17 years since we last visited South Africa (Pietersburg) so we are pleased to be returning. We have been busy preparing for the trip but are taking time out today to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Unfortunately it is wet and windy so we haven't gone out but we will have a Chinese meal tonight near our home in Stafford.

Tomorrow, together with Rob and Ruth Hitchens, we will be running an Easter event for children and their families at our local church. 

Less than a week to go ...

In less than a week seven of us will be on our way to Matlosane to lead a training course for the Sunday School teachers of the Diocese. We are all very excited, especially those who never been farther than Guernsey!

'We' are Chris and Chenda Nuttall, Libby Leech, Rob and Ruth Hitchens, Clare Spooner and Nita Edwards. This is Nita's sixth visit to the Diocese, but it's a new experience for every one else. We fly out on Thursday 12th April, arriving in Jo'burg at 09.15 the next day. We have a weekend to acclimatise, familiarise and  - can't think of another -ise to mean getting ready! - and a weekend in the homes of people from the Diocese. The conference itself begins at 2pm on Monday 16th April, and we are expecting around 60 participants.
Our second weekend in the Diocese will be spent with different hosts, enabling us to experience Sunday Schools at work in their own settings. After that it's a couple of days of fun - at Pilanesburg Game Park and the Apartheid museum before we fly home on Tuesday 24th April.

It will be a hectic two weeks - and then its back to work on Thursday 26th.

Please pray for the team from Lichfield:

·         for our health, stamina and safety:
·         and that we will be sensitive to the culture and expressions of faith in Matlosane.

And for the delegates from Matlosane

·         that they will be open to and inspired by new ideas and ways of doing things:
·         and that they will be given vision and endurance to stick with it for the years ahead.