Partner Plan Letter - JULY 2007

56 Daphne Road, Maroelana, Pretoria 0081, South Africa
email: sedibenghouse [at] telkomsa.net

Dear Friends,

It is now mid-winter here in South Africa and it has been really cold – there was even snow in Johannesburg which was quite a news item here! Hopefully we are now heading for Spring and it will start to get a little warmer especially at night.

People from the UK find it strange to hear us talk of the cold here particularly since the daytime temperatures are still around 20 – 25 degrees, but this drops considerably as the sun goes down and it can be as low as freezing or below in some areas. The other problem is that we do not have central heating and the houses are not built to cope with the cold – we suppose because it happens for such a short spell? So imagine what it's like to be below freezing with no heating even for one night!

Things have been going well at Sedibeng House, the students have worked hard at getting on together; they come from such diverse backgrounds, and have created a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. We have had some changes with the departure of Pedro who was a minister from Angola doing his PhD with the University of Pretoria. He has lived with us since the house opened and it was sad to see him go last month. He was quite an inspiration and role model for our younger students, as a mature senior churchman he took part in the house fully doing chores and dishes along with all the rest. If you know anything about African culture you will realize this was a major event for him to do menial tasks and he did them with such grace.

Recently, there have been some changes in the Ministry Committee and this has meant changes for both of us and our roles with the students.

We are still working in our Mamelodi congregation. We had hoped that Presbytery would appoint a minister from the beginning of August but the only candidate withdrew which means that we are back at square one. A major problem is the inability of congregations like ours to sustain a minister at current stipend levels which are low. Sadly, one of our younger elders, Graham Mapheto only ordained last year, passed away suddenly a few weeks ago. We are preparing for the retirement (required by church law) of six of our senior elders and we will hold a thanksgiving service for them in August.

Graham has also been appointed stated supply at St. Columba’s Church in Hatfield, the University parish. We thought this would be fine with Mamelodi calling a minister but things don’t always work out as one expects them to? This involves Sunday work and funerals as well as some visitation, mainly of the sick and bereaved. This is a vacancy which has gone on for longer than expected and may continue for some time yet. This has put quite a bit of pressure on us being involved in two congregations with no real time off in the meantime.

Our Presbytery Moderator, Rev Glynis Goynes accompanied our Clerk, Rev Theo Groeneveld, on a bicycle pedal project, riding round the presbytery - a round trip of 1100 kilometres - to raise funds to support poorer congregations in calling ministers. So far over R20,000 (approx. £14,000) has been raised. Graham is now convener of the Presbytery’s Ministry Committee which means that he has oversight of all matters relating to training and changes in the ministry within the Presbytery.

Graham has completed his second PhD and last week had to defend it before members of the Faculty. They allow friends and family to be present and, as well as Sandra, most of his students were present so he felt he was well supported. The whole thing went very well and despite the intense grilling they gave him he remained calm and collected and responded very well. They said at the end if there was such a thing as distinctions for PhD’s then they would have awarded him one! He will graduate in September.
In addition to Graham, Rev Vuyani Vellem our General Secretary, has also completed his PhD and will also graduate in September. Many of you will remember Wonke Buqa who visited Scotland some years ago now – he has also completed his Masters degree in Theology in Church History with Graham and will graduate in September as well. This will be a great occasion for our church with so many higher degrees being conferred at one convocation.

Graham’s Head of Department, Prof Hoffie Hofmeyr retired at the end of June so Graham is Acting HoD for the rest of the year. If he is appointed permanently he will be the first Presbyterian to hold the post. The extra administration isn't much fun but Prof Hofmeyr will be replaced by the Dutch Reformed Church, and the other church partner in the faculty, the Hervormde Kerk will also make an appointment which means that the Church History Department will be better staffed than for many years.

On the family front they are all well, we had expected a visit from David but unfortunately he could not get a flight as all the flights for the first 2 weeks in July were fully booked up. He has been checking with them every day for a standby but was unable to get one. We are all so disappointed particularly as we have not seen him for almost 2 years. Nicole our granddaughter had her 5th birthday – where does the time go? Here in SA children start school when they are 6 years old so she has another year to wait. She could probably have coped with school next year but in this wonderful climate it is great for her to have the extra play time, she has many years ahead to spend in schooling.

We hope this letter finds you all well. We would love to hear from you as we miss the partner correspondence we received when we were Church of Scotland Mission Partners. There are only one or two correspondents who write to us now. Thank you to those who have been in touch and we look forward to the next round of mail. And, remember, you can contact us by email – the address is at the top of this letter.

With lots of love,
Sandra and Graham