South Africa - Day 1 (Johannesburg)

(Tuesday, March 25, 2014)

After a long flight (14 hours) we made it to Johannesburg.  I watched a movie, a few TV shows, read a lot, worked on the computer, and slept as much as I could.  A man named Jack and his wife Joan picked us up at the airport.  Jack is a retired Methodist minister and has a joy filled heart.  He and Joan welcomed us as if they had known us all along.  They had big smiles and helped us negotiate exchanging currency and buying the correct power adapters.  

Our plan was to spend the better part of the day with Jack and Joan, but just a few minutes after leaving the airport, the van that we were all riding in broke down right on the side of the highway.  It sounded like the transmission to me, but I admit I don’t know a whole lot about it.  Jack called AA (the South African version of AAA) and two people from the Methodist  Conference office came and picked us up in cars.  They brought us to the Werner Lodge (pronounced Verner), where we are staying.  It is a bed and breakfast type place with a few rooms and a restaurant.  

After lunch, we hired a driver to take us to Lilliesleaf Farm.  This is the place where Nelson Mandela lived when he went into hiding (it is shown in the movie Long Walk to Freedom).  It is also the place where many of Mandela’s co-freedom fighters were arrested in 1963.  We were able to see and go into Mandela’s room during his time at the farm.  Speaking of Mandela, we learned that he died just a short distance from our hotel (Werners Lodge), but was buried in his birth town about 12 hours away.

We returned late in the afternoon and I had a chance to get a three mile run in.  I can now say I have run in South Africa!  Afterwards, we had dinner at the Werner Lodge tonight with the Presiding United Methodist Bishop of South Africa, the Missions Coordinator for the South African Methodist Church, the current General Secretary and the General Secretary-elect.  As they explained to me, the presiding Bishop is more of the vision caster and the General Secretary is the one who works more hands on with the local churches to make the vision a reality.  

We learned a lot about South Africa and the Methodist Church here over dinner.  They face challenges and struggles as the role of the church has changed since the end of apartheid.  One of the things the General Secretary said that stands out to me is that “our people are often over-churched and under discipled”.  As the prosperity gospel grows in South Africa (that movement that says being faithful will make you wealthier or more successful), the challenges and realities of following Jesus are being drowned out by promises of riches and glory.  There is a need to help people grow deeper as Jesus followers.  I know that is something that we struggle with in our American society, too.

It was a good first day!  Tomorrow we are off to visit Soweto.

God’s Peace,

Brett