Finalities and Farewells
October 13, 2011
A certain air of finality descended on today’s ethics class. Well, it was the last class of this short semester. Ahead, the examination period looms. Students will sit the ethics exam on 3 November and that will be their last this year, to be immediately followed by the closing service and the college braai (barbecue). But, as it happens, it was also my last class at Dumisani, not just of this semester, but of my short teaching career here. I suppose in some ways it all got a bit sentimental. Perfectly sincere, though perhaps somewhat premature words were spoken by students and lecturer alike. But the end is not quite yet and there is plenty of time for Dumisani farewells later.
It was with farewells in mind that we were taken today by our good friend, Mrs Copiso, a fellow member of Club View, Free Church, to a local shop to be fitted for the traditional Xhosa outfits that we are to be presented with at our farewell at Club View on 13 November. Elizabeth is to have the full outfit and I am to have a shirt. When we came to try these on it was evident that the sizes were too small. For some reason unclear to us, the shopkeepers, both Chinese, became annoyed and an altercation began. Elizabeth and I promptly stepped sideways and left Mrs Copiso to hold the floor. The problem was, thankfully, soon resolved and we came away satisfied. Getting into the car, Mrs Copiso amused us by commenting that such impoliteness and excitability was far from the Xhosa way of dealing with a difference of opinion.
The removal men from Steers-Afrovan
The chain of last things started two weeks ago when the team of removers (right) came to pack up our belongings to ship them back to Scotland. The church farewells begin this Saturday when we travel up to Tabase in the Transkei. It has been a special joy, over the last three years, to have been a member of the Transkei Presbytery of the Free Church of Southern Africa. A service has been organised to mark our time together and our forthcoming departure from the country. After returning from the Transkei on Saturday, I am to preach, also for the last time, at Keyser’s Beach chapel, a largely white congregation on the coast some miles from here.
Another ‘last’ took place yesterday, when Elizabeth had her final appointment with her ophthalmologist, who stated how pleased he was with the outcome of her operation and subsequent treatment. Next week there are other final events, such as last opportunities for meals and fellowship with certain friends. The inevitable consequence of such last things is the bitterness of separation. It is a salutatory thought that we might not meet again in this world with friends who have played such a significant part in our lives over the last three years, like Mama Sylvia (left), a Free Church Bible Woman who has helped us at home during our time here. How short life is.
Sylvia and Elizabeth
It was therefore comforting to have read recently Matthew Henry’s comment on the remark in Revelation 21.1 that in the new heaven and the new earth there will be no sea. This is what he says, “There will be no sea; this aptly represents freedom [from] whatever can divide or interrupt the communion of saints.’
This Gospel hope is echoed in Henry Alford’s splendid hymn, ‘Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand’, where he reminds us we can look forward to reunion in the communion of saints in heaven,
O then what raptured greetings on Canaan’s happy shore;
What knitting severed friendships up, where partings are no more!
Now that is something to look forward to!
But meanwhile our plan is to fly back to Scotland on 17 November, and then, on Tuesday 22nd, after a weekend with our son and his family near Drumnadrochit, move into our home at Croy, a few miles east of Inverness. But what then? Retirement? Well, I hope not, but we really don’t know. Exploratory contact has been made by some currently vacant Free Church of Scotland congregations, and in addition two missionary organisations have enquired about the possibility of us working with them. We would value your prayers for guidance and clarity.
Elizabeth would also be grateful for your prayers for the flight home. We thank God that she has made a truly remarkable recovery from last year’s dog attack, but it has left her vulnerable to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and so she must travel under medication. We are very grateful indeed to the Free Church of Scotland International Missions Board for its willingness to incur extra expense in order to further minimise the risk by allowing us to fly in the roomier business-class cabin. But nevertheless, despite all these precautions, she does feel vulnerable and will be glad finally to touchdown in Glasgow.
Although this newsletter is about finalities and farewells, we do not expect it to be our very last from South Africa, so until then we thank you once again for all your prayers, interest and support.
