19-01-2010
A locally supported partnership of churches and individuals in Scotland
with those involved in ministry and mission in South Africa
with those involved in ministry and mission in South Africa
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56 Daphne Road, Maroelana, Pretoria 0081, South Africa
Dear Friends,
Perhaps it would be helpful for us to begin out letter by explaining a little about the changes taking place in World Mission. You may know that the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa has now been designated as a locally supported partnership. This means that the UPCSA will no longer receive grants from the Church of Scotland nor will we be supported financially. Apart from that, little will change for our partners in Scotland. The main change will be one of emphasis. Whereas we have been mission partners of the Church of Scotland sent to work in South Africa, the change in relationship means that we will become mission partners of the UPCSA in relationship with presbyteries and congregations in Scotland. Hopefully this will allow our valuable relationships to continue to grow.
It was with mixed feelings we returned to South Africa. We were pleased to be going back as we had so much unfinished work we had left behind and so many new challenges we have to face as our future with the church in South Africa has changed. At the same time we were sad to be leaving family, friends new and old and yet at the same time excited by the wonderful response within the 2 presbyteries we are partnered with from those who wish to remain partnered with us. We found the meetings we attended to be positive and creative as we explored other ways of sharing our partnership between South Africa and Scotland. We are thrilled that people wish to come to South Africa and experience for themselves some of the work that we are involved in.
And just as exciting is the prospect of three of our students – Fuzile Ntshona, Lentikile Mashoko and Sisanda Mpafi - coming to Scotland in December to experience and share in the life of the Church in Scotland. This trip has probably caused the greatest stir in our return, the fact that 3 of our students will be able to come to Scotland – they are so excited about it and cannot believe that they have been given this opportunity!
One of the students chosen to come to Scotland, Lentikile Mashoko, lost his grandmother just before we left South Africa for the UK earlier this year. Both his parents died when he was very young and he had been brought up by his grandmother. When we talked about it he said to me that he was now an orphan. When we got back and told him he was one of the students who were to be going to Scotland we said he is no longer an orphan he has a whole family overseas he has still to meet!
The criterion we used for choosing was those who would be completing their studies this year. All three of them will complete and next year will start their probationary period within congregations.
Things ran fairly smoothly at Sedibeng in Sandra’s absence; the only real problem seemed to be that all of the students were complaining of starvation! It seems that Sandra has not managed to pass on her economy skills to Nozuko yet!
They had an attempted break–in; although we have pretty good security the thieves are always one step ahead – they made a hole in the wall to crawl through! Fortunately the students heard the noise and set off the alarm; nothing was stolen, but it was traumatic nevertheless.
Sarah, the HIV+ lady Sandra spoke about when she was home, has not been so well lately. This happens when the immune system, or rather the AIDS virus, becomes immune to some of the medication and so it is necessary for it to be changed. She has been admitted to hospital so that they can change her medication. They do not anticipate any problems and she should be discharged in about 3 days with her new cocktail of pills.
Graham has just returned from the General Assembly which was held in Livingstone (Victoria Falls), Zambia this year. For the first time we elected a Zambian Moderator-Designate, the minister of the hosting congregation Rev. Christopher Mkandawire, who is in his mid-thirties. Chris’ election will remind us that we are a trans-national church, something we often forget. Just prior to that, Graham acted for the Moderator by attending the national conference of our Guild of Church choirs where he preached. The Guild plays a significant role in the UPCSA where music is an important factor in worship.
Life in our congregation at Mamelodi goes on, with an emphasis at present on building. We are now debating whether it would be better to build a new church or extend the existing building.
An interesting development is taking place in one of our formerly white congregations which is experimenting with monthly multi-cultural services. Sandra, Graham and our students play a significant part and the services are an interesting blend of traditional and African worship. We attended one of these services this past weekend and enjoyed it so much. Our students have become very involved in this experiment, which is wonderful because they will be well equipped to continue with transformation within the church at parish level. Fuzile, one of the students who will be in Scotland in December, was preaching on Sunday at this service.
We look forward to hearing from you and please continue to send us your church magazines as we enjoy keeping up to date with what is going on in Scotland.
We plan to send you another letter for Christmas so, until then, thank you for your continued prayers and support for us and for the work that we are involved with.
May God continue to bless you all.
With lots of love,
Sandra and Graham
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