Skip to main content

Shhhhhhhhhh I have a secret

Vusi putting the covers back on
I want to tell you a secret. There are some people who believe the hub of Mercy Air is focused on fixed wing planes and helicopters. Well its not true but don’t tell them! The real hub of Mercy Air in terms of machinery is our John Deere 2130 1976 Tractor, yes its true well that is my humble opinion.
Vusi whistling to Tracy Chapman 


It is the machinery that my team of four use to make to farm work, to clean, tidy and tow. It the vehicle that helps keep the farm looking beautiful for a guests, who tell us the place is looking great( well done team) it is the tractor that keeps the runway fit for propose, when the rain comes it is used to cut the runway every week.
So for the past two week I have been servicing our John Deere. As I have been doing just that I have been showing Vusi what to. Vusi is one of the team I work with on the farm and has shown a keenness to learn more skills. Vusi has been my apprentice as I was an apprentice to other people. I think of people like Mike O’Connor who was patient and showed me what I need to do to be a better mechanic.

Success it runs 


Being a disciple of Christ is like being an apprentice. As I was reminded recently by someone, I taught to be a Reader in the Church of England the model I used was, Watch, Learn and Do. It could also be, come and follow, watch and learn then put it into practice. It’s a kingdom model of life however you look at it. It is what Jesus did with those who responded to his call and still does.

During the time on this journey I spend with my collegs here in Africa I want people like Vusi to better equipped. I think I am the nearest he will get to a college (pray for him). As we share together he will see both of my good points and all my rough edges.

Now to check oil levels and for leaks 


So for me the tractor becomes like The Well in John 4. It is a place to meet, to value the other person, to listen, to share, and for oneself to grow. For growth is never a one-way street. 
What is your tractor? How are you sharing your gifts? Who are you valuing? 
So the secret is out our John Deere 2130 is the center of Mercy Air mission, please don’t tell the others I don’t want to disappoint them.  if you would like to spend time with me and my team in the newly developing workshop then contact me.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Response To Bishop North

A while back Bishop Phillip North spoke to New Wine and caused a bit of a reaction one of it was a Tweet to my millions of followers. In response I had a phone call from The Church Times asking for a quote because I serve in a poor parish, I declined and said I would put a more considered response on my blog, so here it is with a link to The Bishops full talk. https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2017/4-august/news/uk/there-s-a-future-for-the-church-if-evangelicals-put-the-poor-first-bishop-north-tells-new-wine 1.      One of the issues the church does not recognise is the exportation of people , talents and money from parishes like mine to middle class parishes which is draining and demanding on leadership. For 10 years I thought I was building a community, then it dawned on me I was building people up to go to other places. 2.      Bishop Phillip talks of abandonment of the poor: I think it’s more complicated than that. When I came back to my Deanery in 2000 to my
9 comments
Read more

The End is nigh

If you watch old black and white TV programs it is possible to see usually a man wearing a sandwich board stating  ‘The end is nigh’ . We look back and perhaps see how misguided they were, wrong time? Wrong place?  They were people who were passionate and prepared to stand out of the crowd for their cause. Those people who tried to guide us in a different direction are now images of ridicule and sly or open laughter. So where are they today? My feeling is these sandwich board bearers of the past are now the politicians of our government yes the once ridiculed people of the 50s have become politicians of today. Don’t be daft I hear you say they are not as ill thought out as those narrow minded misguided people of the past. Well I believe so and I see them imbedded in the in out EU argument. I feel I am being guided by the conversation of fear.  Woe to us if we stay in woe woe to us if we leave. This form of argument is straight out of the 1950s our politicians today are black and white
Post a Comment
Read more

Oh what a night SF1

Do you remember the song from I think it was The Four Seasons Oh what a night? Well for me it is the same expression for a different reason. Made it to San Francisco 10 0clock at night and chickened and got a cab to the hostel. I am in a four bed dorm with three other guy’s they also have mixed dorms but Erin said No No No. Who do you think uses the prayer Please God don’t let me fall? Mountaineers, wire walkers scaffolders, no me lying on the top bunk I am last in the room so I get a top bunk. The last time I slept on the top bunk I was 8 years old now I am like granddad in the room they are so young I am not sure whether to go to sleep or read them a story. At some point in the long night alongside the fear of falling out of bed I loos my pillow, it has fallen to its death thousands of feet below it is my only comfort apart from second hand sleeping bag. I think I am the only one in the hostel in a black two piece pair of striped pyjamas. Not sure if I will have to go and get a pair
5 comments
Read more