Grado III con tratamiento quirúrgico:
Tema 27: Tratamiento de la espondilitis anquilosante Sinónimos:
As I write this last contribution in my capacity as the rector, I pulled out the very first copies after our arrival in the parish of River Roundabout (June and July 2000). If you still have them I suggest that you read them
Solomon B. Nkesiga, Twelve Years of Missionary Experience in South Africa …
along side this one. Refresh your memory concerning our thinking when we joined you, our goals and objectives, our fears and hopes. Take a trip through the years and measure our performance against those aims, not forgetting our failures, especially starting a church choir!!! This unsuccessful undertaking stares me in the face; I gave it a shot and I missed!! I still think that you love music and at some appropriate time you will surely have a formal choir. As for now we shall be content with the lovely singing congregation that you have become. And this satisfies me down to the bottom of my heart.
The three objectives mentioned in June 2000 have been achieved. There is indeed spiritual growth, a competent administration, and a respond- ing congregation. Not that these were not there before, but they have been ably maintained and to some degree enhanced. We came to this parish under a transformation venture in the Diocese. But surely, not much effort was required in causing you to accept us. I felt at home in my ministry and wherever I went, especially in peoples’ homes, I was loved and ministry was given and received by all. An interesting incident took place once while I was dressing in the Vestry for a service. A mem- ber of the church came in and somewhat breathlessly announced, “There is a black man in the church”. For a split second I wondered what she meant, then I realised that I, the rector, was no longer viewed as just a black man out there with the haunting memories of bad times. I wittily responded, “I am sure he has come to worship with us”. You as a parish have indeed graduated from mere tolerance of races to a higher level of integration. This is demonstrated in your ministry to the members of Lithemba, the Supper Club, and of course Wells Estate. These gestures are steps in the right direction, showing once again that only in God, and not through politics (legislation such as the Equity Bill, Affirmative Action) or economics (Black Economic Empowerment) will real transformation be achieved. You were and have been, and may you always be a caring people. I have experienced it and all I did, if anything was to encourage you. This quality has developed so gloriously and may God be continually honoured in you as you continue to be a caring peo- ple.
I need to share with you more about myself. When we came to South Africa, our desire was to participate in the process of reconciliation and we believe that we have done this in good measure. However, in the last three years a relationship with a certain person with whom we had pre- viously had a cordial rapport broke down. His attitude towards us
changed for the worse. Though I constantly sought means of resolving the conflict no one facilitated this and the situation has persisted to almost the end of our stay here. I shared this burden with my interces- sors and the church wardens.
As my time to leave drew nearer, my heart grew colder and heavier. I could not imagine leaving South Africa with such anger and pain result- ing from this poor relationship. However, the Lord is a wonderful God. He, in his own way against all human odds, made time and opportunity and granted me an audience with this person. He did not want to see me, but I insisted. When he started repeating his misgivings about me, the Spirit within me said, “This is the moment, speak to him now”. In the presence of an “angel” who had in some way facilitated this meeting, I apologized that my dealings with him had clearly caused him heart- ache. I went on to tell him that his changed attitude towards us had caused us a lot of pain and stress and that to some degree had prompted our decision to resign from the Diocese. I then extended the hand of Peace to him. He accepted it. The hours and days that have followed this incident have been ones of great relief and peace in my heart. I felt like Simeon, when he held the baby Jesus in his arms and sung “Now let your servant depart in peace…” Despite my colleague saying nothing, the moment was electric, filled with the presence of God.
Even though it was largely through his attitude that all the trouble began it had caused a sense of resentment and anger in me; these I need to repent. Psychologically victims of violence, whether physical or verbal, always swap places with their assailants. Don’t we all carry with us a feeling of retribution whenever wrong is done to us? I learnt that even victims need to repent, most especially of anger, hate and that feeling of “if I had equal power and advantage, I would retaliate equally”. The Lord has healed me in all this. But I have learnt that there are still pockets of need in the areas of reconciliation and xenophobia and one needs to be vigilant to resist or challenge these wherever noticed. I shall be drawn to prayer whenever the memory of this unnecessary state of affairs comes to mind. Very early in my life after being teased and bullied during my first year at High School, I made a pledge never to treat anyone in the same way I had been treated. This pledge has been reasserted in me as I go back to Uganda to head an institution that has international staff and students. I will not use my power and authority to maliciously refuse to be a channel of their provision or deny them support in whatever area of their need as foreigners.
Solomon B. Nkesiga, Twelve Years of Missionary Experience in South Africa …
On a lighter note, I return to Uganda with a sense of fulfilment. My experience is imbued with what you have rubbed off onto me. You have as a parish sharpened me for higher service. I will, for many years to come, be drawing on our experiences together as I adjust to and address new situations. Many of you have been and will continue to be my refer- ence as I communicate the challenges that face South Africa and how faithful people are in meeting them through the love of Christ. Here Lithemba, the Supper Club, Redhouse Benevolent Association and other initiatives come to mind.
I go ahead of Diana and the boys. There are tasks waiting for me both personal and at KEST. Do pray for us all as we adjust to this involved situation. We hope to come back in April 2006 for my graduation. We will have missed you enough to want to see you just a bit! After that you, the big parish party is invited to Uganda. We trust that this will be possi- ble, whether in groups or as individual families or persons, we welcome you to Uganda and in our home (which we are going to build now). The whole family, Diana, the boys and I thank you for being a wonderful people; we thank you for your love and care, for your response to faith and for constantly pressing on in your Christian journey. We trust that God who calls you will enable you to fulfil the responsibilities which he has given you as a parish.
Finally, people of God whom I love so much, I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which will build you up and give you an inheri- tance among all those who are sanctified (read Acts 20:18-38). May the good Lord grant you eternal life both in the present and in the life to come, Amen.