6 June 2011

6 June 2011

Saturday night was a subtle event at the Hexagon Theatre with Ryan Calder’s band. See Http://weloveyoursong.com To vote for a good independent band from South Africa. Grey hairs were in abundance, but then our group felt that the music reflected a good deal of their tastes. All except one are over 40, but with peace and love as themes we were hooked.

Sunday after an hour drive to Greytown and another 30 minutes to the township we worshipped in Zulu with another former student, Caleb Ndlovu. Again we experienced “high” worship in a most unusual setting. This is Caleb’s style, but the congregation is happy with his leadership for three years after they had been vacant for five. Hospitality abounded both in the congregation and afterward.

An hour and half drive later we were at the Gateway. Shopping Center north of Durban to meet with Xolelwa Mshubeki. She was the only female in the class during my sabbatical. She is now in her second parish of 9 congregations and she is assisted by two self-supporting pastors [that means that they have other jobs to support their families and preach on weekends.] Every congregation is served communion once a month. That is in sharp contrast to the communion celebration in the rural parish in Zulu land and the Sowetan parish from last Sunday.

A mad dash to the closed airport and the new one made life interesting, but not exciting. After midnight we checked into our B&B in Cape Town. Robben Island came early for those with little sleep, but even for the second time it is a stunning place with in prison tours still led by those who had been incarcerated for political activity. The sharp contrast to a bustling city of Cape Town to the arid township outside of Greytown is stunning. Sitting in a 24 hour internet café two blocks from the B&B seems odd after the other places we have been. It seems odd to be doing this 19 years after our first seminary visit, when apartheid had not been removed and Mandela was still in jail. Till later.