Flying into KwaZulu is always fun even if the winds caused a bit of a bouncy ride into King Shaka International. Seeing the parched lands was sobering – especially to see that even the gumplantations are dry as tinder. Once again I marvelled at the lovely homesteads dotting the valley of a thousand hills. Beautiful!
Brother Christoph picked me up with Maria [Angelika’s godchild] and business was always on the cards for the next couple of days: LCSA, the Constitution, Botswana, KwaZulu, Seminary, Umlazi, Human care projects, personell, opportunities, challenges and trying to think outside the box. Although he is nearly a decade younger, he’s right there on the ball. Perhaps a sign for us older ones to get the younger ones right into the scrup – there were the action is.
In the evening we listend to some presentations on business opportunities in Durban and the rest of the province. The international guests spoke at the ICC, which is where the ANC had its conference last month.
The following day we presented the various projects envisioned for the LCSA to the delegation from Concordia Lutheran Ministries [Pittsburgh, Tenesee]: Pr.Jamison Hardy and Jim Wolf. This kept us going throughout the morning. In the evening we were all invited to the LC in Westville, where we linked up with good friends in the FELSiSA. Their minds were very much on the “Amashowa” cycling from Pmb to Dbn on Sunday. We were exited about the prospect of going to the Semi-Final going on in the Sharktank between Sharks and Bulls. Our side triumphed 16:12 – but only just. It was a tough match and the sides had not only each other to contend with, but also bees, stormy rain and boisterous crowds. It was lots of fun!
Saturday morning the LCSA constitution was finalized and made ready for the printers. I am very grateful that brother Christoph managed to zip that up and finally get it done. It has been outstanding for months now.
Meeting the people from Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday morning was helpful. Some issues were clarified and I hope that their support for Ntshongweni and semilar orphan projects shall be ongoing on the long-term.
Although we had been notified that the Church would start at 9:00, we had an hour of extra-time. That caught up with me afterwards, when I had to be rushed to the airport to catch my flight. As I ran into the airport, they were about to shut down the counters for the Jhb flight, but they allowed me to rush in. Was it due to the clergy collar or not? Who knows?
The service at Ntshongweni went well. The Dean baptized 2 children, Pastor Sithole preached on Ps. 128 and everybody was singing as joyfully as they could. At the new Centre many words were said, although nobody really had something important to say. Perhaps it would be better to have somebody prepare something worthwhile that have many say little. I wonder if the others knew they were still to address the assembly? I was glad to see Pastor Sithole, but also my other brothers from Umlazi, Ohlangeni, Madadeni, Pella and even Middleburg. If I can help it, I will not leave a function as prematurely as I did yesterday. However when I touched down in Jhb and was driven to the “Long-time-parking” by the shuttle, I was glad that I would be home soon.
Here Angelika and our children had had a good weekend too. They had visted St.Johns, were our boarder Rebeka Ackermann was confirmed. Christoph had taken the german visitors from Aschendorf to the lion park and Matzi was all sunburnt from the soccer over the weekend.
Happy to sleep warm and comfortable I awoke to another week at work. Important meetings of the LtS Board and the LCSA Church Council are scheduled for this week. Christoph and Detlev joined the band from Aschendorf to KNP and Angelika is happy that she doesn’t need to teach firstyears again this quarter.
Well, there we go and let’s see how the week then turns out.
God bless you and the Lutheran Church worldwide +
On Sunday