Love the colours of summer

Another new church year has started and the old year 2010 is frantically unravelling. Preparing Sunday’s sermon, service and Sunday school. Vicar Paul wanted to preach too, so he’s doing the confessional address and the introit – without the Gloria – and all in purple. Saturday’s diocesan synod needs attention too. Phone calls from pastors calling for Luther’s Catechism [Large & Small]. Thankfully it’s available due to the generosity of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Phone call with Ernst Henning to catch up on the latest on the desperate state of the Rodepoort mission station, where thieves are carrying off windows, doors and the corrugated iron of the remaining roofs. Maria Phogoyane and Dean Mafereka phoned to inform of the agenda Dean Thwala from KZN phoned to organize a lift back home after the synod.

Other issues don’t stop either. Phoned one of my brothers, one of my friends and some others too. Did a lot of communicating via email until that too was not enough and I had to pick up the phone to clarify issues at LTS. Some letters needed writing and even the one concerning a prospective call. Dean Vilakazi from Mpumalanga requests two missionaries – one for Salem, one for Hlangano [Swaziland]. The kingdom continues to grow and our means are so limited, but thankfully the King IX is reigning and in control. Praise be to him now and always +

The printer didn’t print. Needs repair. Thankfully its under guarantee still and Christoph thankfully did the driving to drop the damn thing off.

Did some gardening – spraying “Round-up” around the house, street and wherever weeds are taking over – even alongside the highway. Although the red-billed hoepoes protested quite animatedly. That’s another thing I learnt at Boarding School from old Walter Wittig. He used to do that spraying bit around the peach and orange orchards. Old habits die hard – even if I know I should probably pull out those weeds by hand and not spray any more poisons into our polluted atmosphere. But the stuff is effective and it does look quite a bit tidier. Afterwards I could still cool off in the sparking waters of our pool before eating the leftovers of Christoph’s lasagne: Gorgeous for sure! He’s a good cook of lasagne no question.

Finally went off with Angelika to do our monthly shopping. Without any wine [we’re going to Stellenbosch remember!] and other bigger appliances we got away quite reasonably and without having to shed any tears or leave behind shoes as payment. Besides that I even got a 13th cheque yesterday. Seems FELSiSA does that for all its pastors in November now. Probably good motivation to preach about the blessings of Advent and Christmas or what do I say?

Well, we are trying to figure out whether we can get off to the Cape next week as planned or whether we’ll need some more time. Angelika is still working at UP. I have some appointments at LTS still on Friday: Possible purchase of flat in the Hokaai complex [Mrs. Jooste] and also with the chairman of the LCSA Special Fund [Mr. Tabethe]. Saturday’s meeting will occupy most of the day and Sunday is also busy, busy with the singing, praying, preaching, teaching and absolving and blessing and serving at St. Pauls. But there still is tomorrow – let’s see how that works. Anyway the count down is running and we’re frantically trying to keep up. It’s not so bad after all its time to go to rest. The Lord is watching over us and the rest of the world too. So – don’t worry be happy. The Lord is good and he let’s us sleep while he takes good care of us. Good night!