Our apprehension had been heightened by the reaction of many people in Kimberley when we told them we were going to De Aar. There was much commisseration with our lot! The lady who sold me some splendid sandals was most sympathetic. We wondered what really was in store for us.
But now we can report that all that apprehension was totally unnecessary. We have receievd a glorious welcome and we have a house that is now so well appointed that it feels like home already.
As we arrived in our crowded bakkie we were greeted by a host of people deperately trying to get the house ready. The furniture van (another bakkie) arrived with three peiece suite and then left to get the next load this time consisting of beds. Gradually the house began to fill with things and people and it has hardly stopped since then. The parish here has been extraordinary generous in buying us all kinds of furniture and gadgets so typical of the warm-hearted African approach to life.
The afternoon of our arrival had been planned with a welcoming service with food afterwards. Since then we have been equipping our house with all the household goods you need and finding out what is possible in terms of communication. The wonders of modern science means that we can now get on the internet, have located the World Service on BBC and even more gloriously have signed up for a TV contract that will allow me to watch more rugby, football and most importantly cricket (the Ashes start next week!) than I would have in England!
So what of De Aar. It is a remote place positioned in the middle of the Karoo – the roads N1 and N12 run north/south and De Aar is between the two about 50 kms from each of them. De Aar used to be an important railway junction but because the railway in RSA is now rarely used and is in decline so the town has been affected. So there is much unemployment and poverty around us. However, having said that, the town centre seems to be busy and there are shops for all we could want.
The railway divides the town. In one way St. Thomas Church is on the wrong side of the tracks. It is in what people here call "the location" which was the word the white people used for the black townships situated here. On the other side of the tracks is the business/shopping area and some up-market houses where the white people have been joined by the black middle class. It is a fascinating mix with many of the black/coloured people wanting to remain in houses in the townships because that is where they want to be. There are two Anglican churches serving the town and both are in townships. Sadly the other Anglican church in the town where the white people worshipped was abandoned by the congregation during apartheid years when a black priest was made rector! It remains an empty building.
The parish consists of five churches The main one, St. Thomas, is where we are situated and in De Aar itself is the other church of the Good Shepherd, Nonzwakazi. On Sunday after we do the Eucharist here at St. Thomas we shall travel 50kms to St. Andrew, Philipstown for a service at 11am.Then in the afternoon we go to St. Barnabas, Britstown (also 50kms awa) for a 6pm service.
The good people of Philipstown will provide us with lunch. The other church is 120 kms away at Richmond where we travel in a week on Sunday. I have one colleague, Fr. Joseph Hugo, a self-supporting priest, who has been great in showing me the ropes starting yesterday moning with a round of sick communions.So I have started work already! The real stars of our time so far has been one of the churchwardens called Eugene le Grange and his wife Ria. Eugene is vice-principal of one of the High Schools and Ria has been an educational advisor but is now studying for a further Masters degree at Bloemfontein. Nothing has been too difficult for them and they have been sorting out all those little problems that inevitably happen. Great people!
Time to stop and think of retiring to bed as it is necessary to get up early and work when it is not hot. We have had two brief storms of heavy rain and strong winds but today it has been sunny all day with the heating really building up in the middle of the day. And we are not yet into the really hot season!!!! This morning Emma was up and digging a small plot in the garden for some vegetable seeds at 7am.Crazy I know but it is too late to change her now.
No photos yet but we will try to post one or two next time.
