Wednesday 29th February 2012 – Taking it all in

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 27^th 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.

Sunday School Leaders of Matlosane

 Last weekend (Sat 25^th & Sun 26^th ) 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).   

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.

On Sunday (8am) we attended St Peter’s Church in the centre of Klerksdorp.

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.

Toasting the Link

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.

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.

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.

Richard & Rose

Friday 24th February 2012 - Church and community in partnership for the poor

Constance, Lydia, Maria & Evelyn with Fathers Sam & Labius

Constance shows Sam some home grown peppers

We woke today in Lichtenburg in the North of Matlosane.  After a speedy journey with Archdeacon Sam Diplokwane in his “Backie” (pick up truck) we passed through the northern town of Zeerust and ended up in a rural village called Lekubu.  We knew we were getting further north when we saw road signs for Gabarone (the capital of Botswana)… were we really this far up in South Africa?

We were taken to a community care project which was started in 2002.  It is a gathering of those of good will in the community of Lekubu… with members of all the local churches involved.  The Anglican Church has a number of members involved and we were introduced to the care volunteers by the local priest for St Francis Lekubu, Father Labius Tori.

As we entered the brick building there were lots of school children finishing a cooked meal which they receive every weekday after school, before they go home.  All ages are welcomed and those who are orphaned or vulnerable in some way are given priority. 

The 22 care volunteers join together every day to cook the meal for the children, and also tend a very productive community garden (which provides food for the feeding programme with enough surplus to sell).  They undertake home based care visits to orphaned and vulnerable children and we were shown the detailed records they have in order to keep track of the children.

Father Sam outside the new metal nursery extension

We were astonished to hear that they often have 40 nursery school age children… in a very small room.  They have recently built an outdoor extension (made of corrugated metal… which is hot in summer, cold in winter, but cheap to build).

Lekubu Care Volunteers

Constance (one of the leaders) was please to show us around and tell us all that they do for the needy in their community. The ladies (20) and men (2) are very proud of what they do, but are not complacent, and do not receive any payment or financial incentive for their work. They are keen to receive help and support for all that they do, and we promised to tell others in the UK about them and the project which does so much for needy children in Lekubu.  There are more than 130 children on their records and they often help more than 150. 

We wondered whether a church or community group in Lichfield diocese would like to partner with them; a rural group reaching and serving the poor in their midst… a great example of churches working together to transform lives in their local community.  Anyone interested?

It is interesting and challenging to see a group of people who see that loving the vulnerable and needy in their community is the “normal” thing to do.  It seemed fantastic to us.  Perhaps that says more about us than it does about them?

Rose & Richard

Thursday 23rd February 2012 -All is not as it seems – appearances can be deceptive

Christine & Dirk de Beer ( & dog.. Kerry)

Whilst in Christiana (in the South West tip of the of the Diocese of Matlosane) we have been privileged to stay with Christine & Dirk de Beer.  They are retired farmers but still live on the farm where they have dwelled and worked for 50 years.  They have shown us exceptional kindness and generosity in their hospitality.

They are both longstanding members of the local English speaking congregation of St Philip and St James in Christiana.  In recent years the number of church members has dropped for a variety of reasons and one gets the impression that if Christine did not take the initiative to rally the flock for the monthly service, then there would not be a congregation at all.

At the Ash Wednesday service, which I led, there were 9 people in the congregation.  On the face of it, the church here has a limited life span… most of the congregation are retired and there are no children in the congregation (as many of the local white families send their children to boarding schools).  This is not an unfamiliar situation for many churches in the UK, and in Lichfield Diocese.  The issues of how to use the limited life, energy and resources of a church community is a real one for many congregations- both here Matlosane and in the UK

St Philip & St Peter, Christiana

But South Africa is complicated… in a nearby township is St Mary’s Anglican Church – where there is a congregation of around 200, of a range of ages.  The self supporting priest (Father Calvin) is a school teacher on weekdays and covers both St Mary’s (Setswana speaking) and St Philip & St Peter (English speaking).  The complexities of ministering to these diverse, historically separate, groups of people made my head spin at the thought of it.

We were glad to meet Father Calvin today over a cup of tea with Christine and heard of life in places that we had overlooked. 

Learners at the de Beer's Farm School (age 10)

Christine had earlier taken us to the school for local farm workers which they have operated for more than 40 years. We met Reginah (the Setswanaspeakng teacher)  and Lucia English speaking teacher.  Lucia works with the children 8am -1pm and also comes in early at 6am and says late ‘til 4pm to teach adult farm workers who missed out on school earlier in life.

Teachers Lucia nad Reginah

Father Calvin told us of a social care programme which has been started in the local township by a coming together of local churches.  It includes a feeding programme, HIV/AIDS counselling, a vulnerable children support scheme and is seeking to actively respond to the needs of the local community. Members of the small congregation at St Philip & St Peter give generous financial support this project.

It is all too easy to paint South Africa in black and white.  In reality, life here, including in the Anglican church, is more varied and colourful.  Here in Christiana I have had a lesson which I hope I will learn well – to not be deceived by appearances and to seek to find out all of the stories in a community – and to not judge.

God is at work in his church, even (perhaps especially) at the quiet edges – The Holy Spirit is not one to follow the script that we may write and our job as the church is to catch up and keep up with His work.  Certainly in South Africa there are attitudes to be changed, wrongs to be righted, and situations to be challenged and changed…  But God is already on the case… even when it may not seem like it.  All is not what it seems.  Appearances can be deceptive.

Later today we travel to a new venue – Lichtenburg some 3 hours away…. We wonder what new situations and work of the Spirit will surprise us there.

Richard

The Big Hole. Tuesday 21st February. Rose

I have always envied the job that Michael Palin has; he travels around the world, all the troublesome journey details are pre-arranged by the BBC and he meets local people who show him around their community. Well today I felt like Michael Palin. Our hosts Dirk and Christine De Beer had arranged for us to meet their friend Brian at the Big Hole in Kimberley.

Kimberley is about 100km away from where we are staying in Christiana. Brian showed us around explaining the history of the town. Apparently diamonds were first found here in 1866 and before long, more were found on land farmed by our host’s great great grandfather, Johannes de Beer. Following this discovery, fortune seekers from all over Africa, Europe, America and Australia flocked to this remote dry region, some walking the 1000km from Cape Town. The farmland of the De Beers was the focus of the digging and holes were dug all over the land. The Big Hole that now remains is reported to be the largest hole dug by hand in the world. We stood in amazed silence when we saw the size of this hole. To think of all the people whose lives were spent digging, sieving, sorting and so on in the hope that the next bucket might contain the diamond. It was in this mine that the black labourers were kept confined to their compound to prevent illicit diamond buying. This then developed into the pass system and segregation that was one of the features of the apartheid era.

Brian then took us to the Kimberley Club for lunch. It is now a four star hotel but was an exclusive club started by people like Cecil Rhodes. It still has a very colonial atmosphere.

Brian showed us the historical buildings of Kimberley some of which are still used by the De Beer diamond company.

We felt very privileged to be shown this part of South African life but it seems such a long way from the sort of people we have met so far. South Africa is such a complex nation but we are trying to listen to as many different points of view as we can so that we can begin to build up a picture of the diocese we are partnering with.

Rose

Sunday 19th February St Peter’s Itsoseng : A day in the life of a Bishop’s family

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? 

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.

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.

Brenda, Rose and Bishop Steve do some map work

We flopped and rested with a cup of tea, the weather was mercifully cooler  (about 28^oC) 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.

Richard

Saturday 18th February- Guerrillas in the midst!

 

Speaking of some people as guerrillas is not usually a compliment.  Guerillas are often a small group of people who are fighting/working a the edges of the community… and then will make short but effective moves into the area they are trying to win, before retreating back to their usual position.  So often in Africa and in other parts of the world, guerrillas are brutal, leaving a path of death and destruction, using fear as a weapon against their opposition.  Today we met members of a guerrilla movement of a different kind.

Revd Caroline with Rose, Lindi and Lesley,
eceiving gifts from St John's Church in Lawley, Telford

Inside St Anne's Church Stilfontain

We were invited to meet some of the members of the Church at St Anne’s Stilfontain, a suburb about 12 km from Klerksdorp where we are staying.  As we approached the single story house a quiet street of Stilfontain, we had no idea of the courage which we would find inside.

We were visiting members of St Anne’s Church in Stilfontain which has a link with St John’s Church in Lawley near Telford. We had been asked to see if we could meet folk from St Anne’s to pass on greetings and some gifts to help with their work.  The home was that of Brenda McKenzie-Cameron and her friend Lesley White… both of them white ladies in their 70s and widows… but please don’t let lead you to thoughts of Miss Marple or a quaint and quiet life.  These ladies are guerrillas for peace and justice! 

Along with Brenda and Lesley we were able to meet Revd Caroline Sebowane (priest at St Anne’s) and Lindi Paterson, who is a church warden and who leads the Sunday school… and both of them too are courageous in their pattern of life for God. Caroline has 5 boys of her own and is in charge of theological training in the Diocese- and sometime men to not like to be encouraged and trained by a (more qualified) woman.  Lindi is widowed herself and as a single mum battles with all the pressures which that brings, but still has a steely determination to make the Sunday School a thriving place for the children who come…(15  compared to 6 when she started it)

Brenda is recovering from a recent knee replacement…. Not that we would have known had we not been told beforehand.  She explained to us about the St Annes Social Care Centre (SCC) which has been running since 2001.  Essentially these two ladies, with the support and help of their church leaders and Revd Tom Mafora (a previous priest at St Annes), reach out and help some very needy people in the local township of Khuma.

Brenda explained to us how bad things can in Khuma, 45% unemployment, children who may not eat over the weekend (since school meals are their main source of regular food) with high levels of crime, and the fear that goes with that.  Lesley told us how their link started by them caring enough for their gardener, David, (from Khuma) who didn’t turn up for work and they decided to see where he was and if he was ok.  For two white ladies to go into Khuma would have been a brave (some would say unwise) thing to do.  But they went, and found the conditions he was living in, got him to hospital and helped him recover.  

Since then that have been going back very regularly to give out food parcels, firstly to families through the local church and now via schools.  They have helped people to get official documents (like birth certificates) and so enable them to get government benefits. They provide resources for schools, confront police on behalf of those affected by crime and are a force for good and God wherever they can be.

Brenda explained that this seems to be a “widow’s mininstry.” (Average age of the SCC group  was 73)  We were bemused, “Why?” We asked.  It seems that many South African white men would not want their wives to be involved in going to Khuma. (It wasn’t clear whether this was concern for the wellbeing of their wives, or because this would prevent the wife from doing the other jobs which were normally her role… Perhaps it was something of both).  In any event, the availability of time and the ability to drive were needed- as well as the absence of “permission” which would otherwise be needed from others who may have concerns for their wellbeing.  Whatever the reasons, there was a steely resolve and fire of compassion about Brenda and Lesley.  I would not like to cross them!

The discussion raised as many questions as it answered… Can more churches be involved?  Are not more white (and black) people aware of the conditions and needs of their fellow citizens in places like Khuma?  I held back from asking most of them.  But I could not help enquiring about how was it that more white folk from all kinds of churches were not involved…. “they are in denial”   was effectively what Brenda said… we might call this an inconvenient truth.   How many of these truths are there, that we choose to live in denial of in our private, separate worlds?  But Lesley and Brenda tell of God’s providing for the needs of the SCC in remarkable ways so that they can carry on the work.  They asked for prayers that they might have new, younger members who can take on the work when they stop… “We can’t keep going for ever,” they commented.  Perhaps this humility allows them to be able to keep going, as they know they are reliant on God’s strength and help.

I felt humbled and challenged during and since our meeting with the folk from St Anne’s.    It seems that the people we met are, like many of us, praying “Lord, your Kingdom come,”   But we had met some people, who were adding onto this prayer…” and do it now and use me to bring in your Kingdom Lord”

There was a sense that, whether or not they knew it, the people we met, were bringing the future realities of God’s Kingdom into being in the current realities of life for some of the children in Khuma.  Literally, on earth as it is in heaven.

I can’t help wondering how God must long to recruit some more guerrillas for his kingdom of justice and love and peace- whatever our age and situation - Surely we can only say, “Here I am send me Lord”   Then perhaps there will be more “Guerillas in the midst”  of our communities for God.

Richard

A visit not a ‘trip’-Rose Saturday 18th February



Preparing kebabs



Last night we had a braii (BBQ) with Bishop Steve, Brenda, Letlotlo, Leruo and Gnata. We talked and listened to each other as the meat cooked in the garden and later continued to talk as we ate in the dining room.



Looking after the braii



It struck me how different this sort of visit is from a trip or holiday. The conversation covered politics, history and church life but we kept coming back to relationships. We are not just observing each other. To simply observe would suggest a degree of distance or detachment. Instead we are trying to engage fully with each other and in this way we are being challenged.

I am reading a book by Stephen Cherry called “Barefoot Disciple”. In it he encourages adults to step into the unknown and to become learners again. Many of us  might avoid this sort of experience because there is pain in learning. When we are in the position of the learner we put ourselves in a very vulnerable position. Sometimes what we will see and hear will be bewildering to us. The writer believes that talking followed by reflection and then writing helps us to deepen our involvement in what we experience. This process may not result in us making sense of what we see. Instead we may learn to accept that we may never fully understand.

As a family we feel so privileged to be staying in the homes of the people we meet. We believe that we are learning about how strange we must appear to others! Brenda used the word ‘surrender’; to live with another family is to surrender yourself. You can no longer choose what to eat, when to eat, where to go. I believe that this submission is needed in order to grow into a deeper relationship with God. What I hadn’t realised is that this sort of visit is an opportunity for that sort of growth.

I feel deeply committed to encouraging others in both Matlosane and Lichfield to become involved in this link. I feel that this should not only be for those who can afford the cost of visiting but that we should be investigating the possibility of funding visits both ways for all our benefit and for the growth of God’s kingdom.

I didn’t know I would feel like this. Before leaving the UK I had said something like; “We are hoping to develop links with people in order to share our Christian journey”. However it is only as I have experienced these thoughts and feelings for myself, that I have begun to feel challenged and changed. I can now see how helpful it can be to have a partnership with people from other cultures who are trying to follow the Lord Jesus –

Rose