At the Lutheran Theological Institute

This morning we go up before 7, had a nice breakfast and went to the Lutheran Theological Institute. We got the information yesterday, that the morning service would start at 8. So it did. Although the church was almost empty. The church bell rang. In the procession were a priest and a number of theology students. After about 30 minutes the church was almost full. The students did almost everything up to the Eucharist. The priest gave the absolution, read the words of institution and gave us the blessing.

It was a very nice and inclusive service. We think we heard three different languages. Most of it was in English, some in isiZulu and even e few parts in either seTswana or seSotho. It was not a long service. Only 1,5 hours (which is a pretty short service in South Africa). We sang out of an American Lutheran hymnbook, which is quite common in English speaking Lutheran congregations in South Africa.

At the end of the service we were asked to introduce ourselves (which is quite common). After that those who had celebrated their birthdays during the week were asked to rise. We are used to all this. We felt at home!

Most of all we liked the sermon. One of the students preached in that African, powerful way. A loud voice and a strong message. Today about wealth. The preacher said there is nothing wrong in being rich. It’s when we prioritise the wealth before God that the problems start. He spoke about this in general and the situation in South Africa today in particular. He especially addressed those students in the congregation who study to become medical doctors, lawyers or others who might get well-paid jobs in the future. He challenged them and urged them to always think about the poor. This is maybe one of my future students! I like!

After the service we met a young women from Mozambique with a “pearls of life”-bracelet. She had visited Lund in 2007 for the 60th Anniversary of the Lutheran World Federation and that’s when she got the pearls of life. We also spoke to Pontso, a young student we met yesterday. And we had a chat with the priest, one of my future teacher colleagues.

The rest of the day we have been going around in Pietermaritzburg just to get a picture. It is a nice city with a lot of hills. We got a copy of the local newspaper, the Witness, and especially the Property part, issued every Saturday. So in the late afternoon I have spent some time in front of my laptop to prepare for tomorrow. I will visit a number of real estate agencies and right now both Kristina and I feel quite optimistic.

A very good first day in Pietermaritzburg. Our home the next three years.