Mid-month news September 2024
Mid-month news September 2024 (jimoharries@gmail.com)
Dear Friends,
Receive this news from Cape Town in South Africa! (Picture, from missions’ conference. Myself on the right.)
Travelling Around
I began my trip on 22nd August. I am due to get back home on 19th September.
My first day of travel, 22nd August, I went to search for one of my children, with whom we have lost contact. I then stayed in the flat of a one-time student of mine in a Church in Kisii, ‘under’ the church building, and was able to make a few new friends. The following day I bussed to Nairobi. The following two days I went by train and bus to Dar es Salaam, with various meetings on route, which travel was cheaper than had I made my trip only from Nairobi. (It was cheaper to fly from Dar es Salaam, to Nairobi, then to Cape Town, and back again, than would have been a return flight from Nairobi to Cape Town.)
Cape Town Activities
In Cape Town, I have had many meetings, as well as giving some public lectures, attending a conference, and preaching at a church on the Sunday. I am trying to encourage South Africans to take vulnerable mission seriously. I am very grateful indeed to Marcus Grohmann, a colleague of mine who is here, who had helped arrange everything, been my chauffer and arranged for me to stay with local believers, who have been very welcoming to me.
(I have had some opportunities to do some cycling. On this occasion, over the foothills of Table Mountain. I was able to attend a Zionist Church in one of the townships on Sunday 8th September: which was remarkably similar to some of the churches that we have in Kenya.)
Cataract Operation
The nurse seemed surprised when I said I haven’t had anything done under anaesthetic since 1986 (except dental work). It might have been the sedative that was used … but the operation itself wasn’t unpleasant. (The thought of someone cutting in my eye was much less pleasant in advance!) I am pleased to be able to say that the operation was successful, and it is amazing to have received such wonderful clear sight in an eye that was rapidly going blind. (Unfortunately, my insurance did not cover this operation. It was cheaper in S. Africa than it would have been private in UK, however.)
Conference Images
The images below are from a three-day conference looking at vulnerability in mission. This was the inaugural event put on by the IAMS-Africa (International Association of Mission Studies, Africa). We were about 50 people, a majority from South Africa, a large proportion being professors of mission in their universities. The event was held at Stellenbosch University.
Below are recordings of some of my presentations:
Comparison Between Sport-Languages Illustrates the Urgent Need for Translation to be into the Known, with respect to Europe and Africa.
Presentation given at the University of the Western Cape, on 27th August 2024.
..
The Role of Western People in Theological Education for Africa Today: an appeal for vulnerability.
Presentation given at the missions’ conference, on 29th August 2024, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town.
..
Portraits of Christ: The role of the sacrifices and how Christ fulfills them
Message shared by Jim Harries to a Church in Cape Town at the morning service on Sunday 1st September (in English). (At the Message Church, a REACH, Reformed Anglican, Church.) (Introduced by Dr. Marcus Grohmann.)
..
Jesus Retreated Alone so as Not to be Made King (John 6:15) – Truly Holistic Intercultural Mission from Personal Experience.
Presentation given to the students and staff of the George Whitefield Bible College in Cape Town, South Africa, on the 9th September 2024.
(For news archive: jim-mission.org.uk )
Jim
