Tuesday - Friday

Ruth at work in the office and dressed for the cold 

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were working days ie I was hard at work on my computer working out what to do on the day for Lay Ministers. Wednesday afternoon I went into Klerksdorp town to visit Archdeacon Pooe, and as always, found myself going the wrong way up one of the many one way streets. I get very confused in the centre of town!!  The Archdeacon is in charge of Lay Ministers Training so it was good to talk with him. But this is the first of such trainings and his expectations of the day were that “the visiting Canon would decide what to do”!! Not a lot of help. So I explained what I was thinking and he was very happy, as was +Steve when I eventually got to tell him on Thursday.

Friday was a day out to Christiana in the very south of the Diocese. There used to be a small congregation here, but when one couple, Christine and Dirk de Beer, moved away it became unviable. However there is still the church building to be considered, and it is currently rented out to another denomination with a small congregation. The building is in reasonably good order  and a small amount of work will see it right. It is well maintained inside too. Recently the Diocese discovered that there is another building which was the rectory, and is now rented out and run as a restaurant. Linda, the elderly lady and very capable lady who represents the church there, needed help and advice. So + Steve, Ruth, Rob Trautman – a business man and Diocesan registrar – and I all went down. This personal contact was very important. The discussion was at times very heated, but ended in better understanding between everyone and Linda knowing that she has support from people she has met. Our time together ended with a very good meal at Lilly's.

Friday ended with a Braai in honour of Ngata’s 15^th birthday on Saturday. When I first came she had just been born and was a very sick little girl. Now she is a fine young woman, who will spend her birthday at a Drummies competition. Pictures of that, I hope, will follow.