Potschefstroom/Ikageng, Saturday 22 October, Trip Day Two

Well, we’re here. We’ve safely arrived in our partner diocese of Matlosane at the end of a long journey. It was about 27 hours door to door: we left the Cathedral of St Mary and St Chad in Lichfield at 11am yesterday and arrived at the Tsogong Cathedral (the Cathedral of the Resurrection) in Ikageng, at 1pm local time, 2pm UK time this afternoon. It’s been a bit of an endurance test and it’s hardly surprising, I suppose, if one or two of the group were wilting a bit by the time we separated and headed off to our various places of accommodation.

Our onward flight from Dubai to Johannesburg was nearer 8 hours than 7, but passed smoothly enough. It was a big double decker Airbus, a monster flying machine. Some of us managed a bit of sleep, but it’s never possible to do much more than doze when you're on a plane, with the sounds of crying infants or complaining toddlers, hushed conversations and passenger announcements, and with the light of 300+ entertainment screens.

We touched down in Jo’burg at 10am local time. It seemed to take for ever to get through passport control and baggage reclaim (though now I think about it, a good deal of the delay was the wait outside the toilets, for all nine of the group to make themselves comfortable).

We emerged out of the arrivals gate to be met by a lovely welcoming party from our partners here: Fr Edward, the Dean of the Cathedral, the visit programme co-ordinator at this end, Mr Menyatso, and four members of the youth fellowship (Kentse, Miles, Boitumelo and Serame). They’d come to meet us in two vehicles: the Dean had his car, and they’d also brought along a 14-seater taxibus driven by a member of the Cathedral Congregation (Stelle). The three ‘H’s (Helen, Hollie and Hannah) went off with the Dean and the others of us, with luggage in a trailer, come on behind.

It was an hour and a half’s drive, basically due west, which took us past Soweto (for most of the group, a first inkling of what poverty can mean in practice here). When we arrived, we found about 30 members of the Cathedral waiting for us – mostly members of the ‘youth’ (18-35!) fellowship. There were brief words of welcome, and an equally brief response, with a spine-tinglingly sung grace, and then a lunch of meat and salad. It was warm hospitality.

By 3pm we’d disbanded for the day. The accommodation was always likely to be a tricky thing and it may be tomorrow before we’re quite confident of the arrangements which have been put in place. The two lads (Ed and Tom) and I (whose accommodation is the only one I’ve seen at first hand) are fine: we’re staying with Mr Menyatso in an extremely comfortable suburban house in Potchefstroom. (It’s so comfortable that I’m now writing this blog in front of a large plasma TV screen showing live coverage of the Newcastle v Wigan Premier League match… a most unexpected treat.) Hannah and Hollie are here too at present: they’re going to be staying just a few minutes walk away, with Mr Menyatso’s sister, who is due to collect them at any moment. Rosanne is with Ruth and Helen with Millie. I’ve been in touch with both Ros and Helen since they arrived with their hosts and although they’re not as comfortable as we are, they’re happy enough for tonight. We may assess the arrangements tomorrow, but probably what we all most need at this point is some sleep!

Tomorrow we have an early start. We’re due to take part in a Diocesan Family Day, which starts at 9am and will require a 7.30am start. Bishop Stephen will be there. It’ll be great to see him again.