Last Sunday, we went to worship with the Holy Cross brothers just outside town. It was probably the best service I've been to in ZA. They use their own "monastery rite" which is a blend of An Anglican Prayer Book 1989, The Book of Common Prayer 1979, and local adaptations in local languages. They successfully blended languages and cultural styles in a way I've never seen before. It was a joyous service and the brothers are all wonderful. I look forward to my three day retreat at the monastery next week.
That evening all the COTT Contextual Theology students went to Janet Trisk's (she runs the Programme and teaches theology at COTT) for dinner.
The week, since I'm a student of sorts again, doesn't merit a day by day, but here are some of the highlights.
Monday I went to the public library in town where Monica Vega, a Catholic missionary from Argentina who is working with the Anglican diocese of Grahamstown, gave a presentation on the Isibindi projects she and Heidi Schmidt (a Catholic from the USA) are directing. Isibindi focuses on stabilizing households in townships/villages by sending Youth and Child Care Workers to ensure children are getting what they need and aren't staying out of school to take care of sick parents, grandparents, etc. Some 400,000 children are orphaned a year in South Africa and Isibindi projects around the country are trying to stabilize communities in the face of that reality.
Wednesday, the Contextual Theology students drove up to Alice to visit the Isibindi there. We talked to some of the YCCWs about their work and the challenges they face - rape, substance abuse mostly - and how it has transformed the lives of the clients and themselves.
The classes themselves at COTT have progressed nicely. I have enjoyed learning from the local students, particularly about the settings in which they will return to be priests. As for the Programme, I now have a finalized paper topic and will begin writing it next week (I spent this week working on my final sermon for the cathedral).
Saturday, Steve, Therese and I went to Hogsback. It is about 2 hours north and is about the most beautiful place I've ever seen (JRR Tolkein was inspired to write The Hobbit in Hogsback - one of the trails, "Hobbiton" is named in honor of this). Along the way we saw baboons hanging out by the road (but they wouldn't stick around long enough to photograph). When we got to Hogsback we got a map of the hiking trails. We stopped off for supplies at the local shop and off we went. The trail was 4.1 K as the crow flies so including some stops at Madonna and Child Falls and to spy the samanga monkeys high up in the trees it took about 4 hours. We also learned that a "fair" trail in South Africa apparently means quite difficult, but no ropes necessary. The most interesting part of the day was that a little dog followed us for the entire hike. It was this little bulldog which faithfully stayed within about 30 feet the whole hike. We named him "Sniffy" and other than occasionally scaring off monkeys before we could really see them, he was a good companion. I did have to save his life at one point. He tried to make a jump that was too high as we were going up a mountain and he fell and started to roll back down the side. I was behind him, caught him, and had to carry him up some 20 feet in one arm. Other than a small cut on his nose, Sniffy was fine. When we got back to town, he went home and we went to the little shop and got some supper. The drive back I proofed my sermon and took a nap.
Today, the first day of week 10, I preached at both services on Matthew 14.13-21 (I believe it's the same as back in the US on the RCL - the lectionary here is mostly the same with some differences). Once again, I was told I preach like in the charismatic (by def. black or coloured) Anglican parishes. I still find this interesting since back home I have been told I sound contemplative and catholic. Oh, well. Now, I'm off to rest for the afternoon.
That evening all the COTT Contextual Theology students went to Janet Trisk's (she runs the Programme and teaches theology at COTT) for dinner.
The week, since I'm a student of sorts again, doesn't merit a day by day, but here are some of the highlights.
Monday I went to the public library in town where Monica Vega, a Catholic missionary from Argentina who is working with the Anglican diocese of Grahamstown, gave a presentation on the Isibindi projects she and Heidi Schmidt (a Catholic from the USA) are directing. Isibindi focuses on stabilizing households in townships/villages by sending Youth and Child Care Workers to ensure children are getting what they need and aren't staying out of school to take care of sick parents, grandparents, etc. Some 400,000 children are orphaned a year in South Africa and Isibindi projects around the country are trying to stabilize communities in the face of that reality.
Wednesday, the Contextual Theology students drove up to Alice to visit the Isibindi there. We talked to some of the YCCWs about their work and the challenges they face - rape, substance abuse mostly - and how it has transformed the lives of the clients and themselves.
The classes themselves at COTT have progressed nicely. I have enjoyed learning from the local students, particularly about the settings in which they will return to be priests. As for the Programme, I now have a finalized paper topic and will begin writing it next week (I spent this week working on my final sermon for the cathedral).
Saturday, Steve, Therese and I went to Hogsback. It is about 2 hours north and is about the most beautiful place I've ever seen (JRR Tolkein was inspired to write The Hobbit in Hogsback - one of the trails, "Hobbiton" is named in honor of this). Along the way we saw baboons hanging out by the road (but they wouldn't stick around long enough to photograph). When we got to Hogsback we got a map of the hiking trails. We stopped off for supplies at the local shop and off we went. The trail was 4.1 K as the crow flies so including some stops at Madonna and Child Falls and to spy the samanga monkeys high up in the trees it took about 4 hours. We also learned that a "fair" trail in South Africa apparently means quite difficult, but no ropes necessary. The most interesting part of the day was that a little dog followed us for the entire hike. It was this little bulldog which faithfully stayed within about 30 feet the whole hike. We named him "Sniffy" and other than occasionally scaring off monkeys before we could really see them, he was a good companion. I did have to save his life at one point. He tried to make a jump that was too high as we were going up a mountain and he fell and started to roll back down the side. I was behind him, caught him, and had to carry him up some 20 feet in one arm. Other than a small cut on his nose, Sniffy was fine. When we got back to town, he went home and we went to the little shop and got some supper. The drive back I proofed my sermon and took a nap.
Today, the first day of week 10, I preached at both services on Matthew 14.13-21 (I believe it's the same as back in the US on the RCL - the lectionary here is mostly the same with some differences). Once again, I was told I preach like in the charismatic (by def. black or coloured) Anglican parishes. I still find this interesting since back home I have been told I sound contemplative and catholic. Oh, well. Now, I'm off to rest for the afternoon.
