Twenty Eighteen

Well here we are. Six days in on this side of the planet. I'll just share a few Xmas and New Year pictures, not least because I'll be glad to have them on the blog for reminiscence next year. Let me start though with this beautiful piece of artwork which appeared from nowhere - though obviously somewhere - on the College noticeboard. Thank you, whoever brought this Nativity scene to birth. It's been a lovely addition to campus. 

We had a Christmas Eve communion in the College Chapel followed by a mini feast - naturally. Here I am with Radini Elesi rejoicing that the Christ candle is lit - always a great moment. The College youth group stayed up all night as far as I can gather, but I went home and to Dudley Church the next morning, then back to House 12 to cook and welcome Shelley, Ramesh and family who came over on Christmas Day for food and a bit of a party. The sainted Shelley is such a  good friend and helps me in numerous ways and so I said to her, 'Please - don't cook or bring anything! It's my turn - just come and enjoy'. As if... Not a culturally appropriate  request at all! So we feasted on shared chickens and fish curry and ice cream and made foodpacks to give away. Xmas Day ended with a breezy walk [waddle] along the seafront and a paddle.

It was a lovely Xmas Day. The 3 year old in the spotty dress and above paddling is IndoFijian philosopher Wendy Wati. She got her leggings a bit wet, as you can see, and reflected seriously on this unhappy circumstance to me and her big sister, We were in new Xmas day clothes you see. A problem... She was speaking in Hindi, so I needed a bit of help with translation. But basically, it went like this.

'Well, [sigh...] it was my own doing because I went to the sea, the sea didn't come to me'. 

#EarlyYearsWisdom

At New Year it was my turn to head Nanuku way for a New Year's Eve party and Watchnight service. At midnight there's a general sprinkling of baby powder on the gathered throng and visiting of homes. Shelley very kindly let me stay over and Rosie did fish curry and roti for New Year's day breakfast. Highly recommended.

A sadness was theft from loved ones in Nanuku settlement. Our chief steward and his wife had their son and family staying for Xmas. He's a headteacher and lives on the school compound in another province quite far away. He brought a laptop, phone and some work with him to deal with over the holidays but there was a break in while the family were fast asleep - no-one heard a thing - and it all went. So distressing. So horrible. It's easy enough to break into houses in an  informal settlement of course: security is minimal and residents fight a losing battle protecting themselves and their precious but hardly lavish property. Snarling, barking dogs are the best alternative to Securicor. But this is dirty business. And during Xmas to a faithful Christian family living right next door to the Church, whose home is full of love, welcome and ginger tea to all comers? Please... 

Primal rage courses through veins and heartbeat quickens. Grrrr! I swear if I met those thieves I'd do something that would quickly become a discipline case for a Methodist minister. Then the entrapment of twisted logic starts. Why couldn't they have sneaked a laptop from a rich tourist's suite in town at the Grand Pacific or the Holiday Inn instead?! 

OK God of Justice [and mercy...] help us out here.

There isn't a record in the Gospels of whether anyone took their chance at a minimum security stable and tiptoed in to bag the gold, frankincense and myrrh. Always possible I suppose. The Nanuku incident felt a bit like that. 

Holy and Ever Present God:

you and you alone are the One who truly knows

your people's hearts, motives, sins and sufferings.

We dare to believe in your righteous rage

and penetrating gaze: we cannot hide from either.

Restore, we plead, the honour of your name

by bringing good out of evil, hope out of despair,

and striking the hard places until healing waters flow.

Yours is the justice. Yours is the mercy.

Ours is the witness in this New Year

to Jesus and his far, far better Way.

This we commit to, yet again. 

Confidence shaky but Covenant solid,

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen