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

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 ...

Two thoughts

My two thoughts for the morning. As the BBC moves to replace the CofE as the national church of no belief, as parts of the BBC becomes more irrelevant in the new world is it possible The BBC will consume itself with its left wing cynical view? When the issue of faith is shown the back door and told not to come back who will the new priests and priestess pour their cynicism on? Perhaps themselves? For we all need the other voice who we don’t agree with to gain a greater understanding of who and what we are.  History tells us every regime needs someone to bully Secondly, will The Church not be better without these platforms of privilege? When we are no longer welcome on the platform of privilege as will happen at some point, will we not need to shape up to redefine what we believe, what we have to share, what we don’t need? Privilege tends to make you slow on your feet, breed chummy inward looking relationships, privilege steals from people the ability to move under the defining cult...

YWAM Nensa

Mercy Air trip to  YWAM  Nen s a ,  Mozambique The  first mission trip of our  ‘ new normal ’   in South Africa  happened last week.   Azarja , our pilot, flew the team ;  which included Bruce, Stephen, Erin and Nigel  in the Cessna 310. We traveled from Mercy Air; to Kruger International (to exit SA); to Beira (to enter Mozambique); then on to Marromeu (12 hours total, including long waits for permits and visas – This is Africa!)   The drive by car ( in a  4x4) would take about 3 days on some very difficult ,  non-tarmac roads.  Allison and Leanna  drove  the final  1  1/2  hours  from Marromeu  to the YWAM base  at  Nensa .  As a rookie African  M ission ary,  I did  initially   feel a bit like Michel Palin without the film crew. The common red sand  road,  so   many people walking into the dark , headlamp beams throwing themsel...