We Have Arrived

Hi everyone! Sorry it's taken so long to be able to blog, everything is fine!

We have arrived!

Thankfully, our flight was uneventful and we came through the airport and collected our vehicle very smoothly. It is really warm here but we had heavy rain and thunderstorms on our way down to Potch ( Potchefstroom) . As we drove past Soweto, the deepest mine in the world and various towns, the landscape flattened out into rolling plains and the traffic got madder- despite improved road surfaces. As we travelled we swapped tales and testimonies of things in our lives as we thought about all the unpredictabilities of the next 2 weeks and we laughed a lot together, which was great. Daunted, tired and excited. Bring it on!

In Potch

We are being hosted by Rev Paul Letlala and his parishioners in Ikageng township. Matlosane has opened its arms so wide for us again and it’s been lovely already to meet up and talk of mutual friends and share a lovely meal at MaSinas and chat through photographs of each others’ families.

Having collected us from Mugg and Bean café at Mooi River, we were given a look around the beautiful cathedral church in Potch, where between 500 and 1000 people from Ikageng township worship each Sunday. (Incidentally Kaz has been asked to speak on march 1^st. )The shape of the church roof is made of curved pine which Terry reckons also offers great acoustics. All sorts of beautiful birds roost around the building and it’s amazing to hear of such vibrant faith in touch contexts.

Paul shared with us later about the challenges of high levels of youth unemployment and resultant social ills here. Potch is a University town and many young people have degrees but there is nowhere near enough work. Andy & Terry have now gone off to stay at Mike & Duky’s while we women have stayed at Ma Sina’s. We’ve met her granddaughter and neighbours, watched a bit of soap in Venda language and talked about Anita, Roseanne and others who were part of establishing the new build church up at St Augustines.

Sunday

We rose early to go to the Cathedral for the 8 o’clock service with hundreds of others in their Sunday best from all over Ikageng. Wa! What a service! Surrounded by warmth and welcome, 4 part harmonies, friends and family we raised the roof with praise. Ma M’s dancing was so moving and Tata X’s sparkling eyes and weathered face seemed to be lined with a thousand stories. Kaz marked her 60^th with a great sermon and we each spoke in turn bringing greetings and sharing thoughts of amazing hospitality, warmth of welcome and joy despite being so far from home.