Sunday 19th and Monday 20th

Sunday

Thanks to the satellite version of Google maps I made Khuma safely and easily. I met Solly Mbele, the Rector, for the first time. (The front of his chasuble has a picture of a woman!)  He spent most of last year in hospital, but seems to be well now. There was a good number in church, and I would guess about a third of them were young people. It was good to be able to sing the hymns too – Setswana hymns with well known Easter tunes. Afterwards there was a meal in the Mission House with Solly and his family. Also there, was a lady whose husband had worked for the local gold mine and lived in one of their houses. When the mine closed they lost their home. However they managed to get a plot of land in Khuma on which to build a shack. Now they have built a lovely brick built home on that land and she have bought another and built a centre for children. Now she wants to change its use and make it a place for elderly people. A formidable lady who has eyes for what her community needs.

Later, I handed over the few jumpers I've brought this time - few not because the knitters were less generous, but because Emirates have cut their baggage allowance by 5 kg! The jumpers I brought had already been knitted and been in store for a while.

Monday

After a short time in the office this morning, +Steve and I set off for Koster to visit a retired priest, John Montsho, and his wife Bertha who is in hospital. One of the big changes that +Steve has made happen is health insurance for the stipendiary clergy, where there was none before. This currently costs the Diocese R100,000.00 a month. But once they retire so does the insurance. So Bertha is in a government hospital. Here treatment and food is free, but only the essentials are given. So if it’s cold – as it is at the moment, especially on these winter nights – extra blankets etc have to come from home. Having spent years as a relief Chaplain in UK hospitals I couldn’t help but notice the difference – in cleanliness, decoration, space, security. We had to sign in to the hospital, the walls needed a coat of paint, curtains needed repair and washing. But Bertha has recovered from the condition that took her in there and hopes to be out on Wednesday. +Steve invited me to pray for her and John, which I willingly did. But what an eye opener. How fortunate we are in the UK.