Gauteng, Swaziland, and Beyond! Day Eight.
Originally posted at: http://missionsbloging.blogspot.com/2017/08/gauteng-swaziland-and-beyond-day-eight.html
Aug
31
31
“You are now in the Kingdom of Swaziland.
You do not speak until your elders have given you leave to do so.” A quick
lesson in cross-cultural ministry…
You do not speak until your elders have given you leave to do so.” A quick
lesson in cross-cultural ministry…
I was, of course, watching the clock and
when it indicated that we were already half an hour late and all our trainees
were still not present, I dove in and began teaching. But thankfully, I am not
completely thick and I stopped to ask what I had done wrong…I was supposed to wait
for the Bishop to welcome us and give us her permission to commence with the
classes. But she was so gracious and loving and kind. She said my zeal was
commendable and so I was forgiven.
when it indicated that we were already half an hour late and all our trainees
were still not present, I dove in and began teaching. But thankfully, I am not
completely thick and I stopped to ask what I had done wrong…I was supposed to wait
for the Bishop to welcome us and give us her permission to commence with the
classes. But she was so gracious and loving and kind. She said my zeal was
commendable and so I was forgiven.
I successfully suppressed the urge to
hyperventilate and mentally instructed my nerves to behave themselves. But oh,
I do tend to say the stupidest things when I am anxious and after the word of
welcome I asked the dear Bishop to open us in prayer…but please, not in English
but her own language. I thought the archdeacon was going to fall off his chair
laughing. This is why I love St Peter so
much…change feet, insert deeply, and bite!
hyperventilate and mentally instructed my nerves to behave themselves. But oh,
I do tend to say the stupidest things when I am anxious and after the word of
welcome I asked the dear Bishop to open us in prayer…but please, not in English
but her own language. I thought the archdeacon was going to fall off his chair
laughing. This is why I love St Peter so
much…change feet, insert deeply, and bite!
Our group is made up of Deans, Archdeacons,
and Priests…one of whom is currently working on her PhD. But the LEAD
disciple-making course is a great levelling field because it is biblical and
practical…even though the actual content appears to be elementary, the concept
of making disciples as Jesus made disciples is profound to most Christians who
have grown up in attraction model churches. As we begin to show from the
Gospels that most of Jesus’ earthly ministry was not done in the Synagogue or
the Temple, but rather in the fields, the market places, people’s homes, and
public gatherings, the idea that we might not be doing ministry the most
effective way begins to emerge. From this point on, everyone is listening
attentively.
and Priests…one of whom is currently working on her PhD. But the LEAD
disciple-making course is a great levelling field because it is biblical and
practical…even though the actual content appears to be elementary, the concept
of making disciples as Jesus made disciples is profound to most Christians who
have grown up in attraction model churches. As we begin to show from the
Gospels that most of Jesus’ earthly ministry was not done in the Synagogue or
the Temple, but rather in the fields, the market places, people’s homes, and
public gatherings, the idea that we might not be doing ministry the most
effective way begins to emerge. From this point on, everyone is listening
attentively.
Food here is in abundance…so I will not be
returning home a few pounds lighter. Swaziland is obviously doing well. There
are multiple construction projects going on all over the city…a city that is
relatively clean. Louise and I went for a walk up the steep road in front of
the conference centre for a bit of exercise before stuffing more delicious food
down our gullets, and we could see over most of the city centre. We watched
some children playing football in a field below us and had a chat with a
“Reformed” Christian who came up and introduced himself to us. Perhaps he
thought we were likely candidates for his church.
returning home a few pounds lighter. Swaziland is obviously doing well. There
are multiple construction projects going on all over the city…a city that is
relatively clean. Louise and I went for a walk up the steep road in front of
the conference centre for a bit of exercise before stuffing more delicious food
down our gullets, and we could see over most of the city centre. We watched
some children playing football in a field below us and had a chat with a
“Reformed” Christian who came up and introduced himself to us. Perhaps he
thought we were likely candidates for his church.
We had a few good responses around the
dinner table tonight…always good to hear that.
dinner table tonight…always good to hear that.