After a long winter with lots of frost and cold wind, Spring is slowly taking over. The first green leaves are visible and in the garden the first roses are coming out. Winter here in South Africa is really tough because there are no heating systems inside the houses. Some people seem to hibernate during this season of winter, they are hiding in their blankets.
Surprisingly, however, it was that at the end of July we went out for a retreat day with 22 people from Tsibogang. We drove to a game park nearby(to Zeerust) leaving behind our families, work and our communities.
After the four retreat days, there is already a ritual, how the retreat day starts. The first night we were sitting in a circle and Wolfgang Hermann introduced us to a text of Exodus 33, where it is said of Moses, He talked to God as one would talk with his friend. That was an impressive image. All were invited to write a letter to God, as if writing to your best friend telling her/him what is going on in your life.
Most participants had already been to a retreat day before. Those who had come for the first time, shared their expectations : “At home there is always something going on, it’s always noisy and loud.” “I need time alone with God, without anyone bothering me.” “In everyday life, my prayer consists mostly of petitions and requests, now I want to listen to God.”
This is most amazing that so many had this longing to have time with God alone.
The next day there was silence after an introduction about ‘Love God with all your heart, mind and soul and Love your neighbour as you love yourself.” The focus was to look into one’s life where the relationship with God needs more space and time and to find balance in serving others.
All participants looked for a quiet space in the garden and a spot in the sun because it was still very cold. Unfortunately, the silence was disturbed by a group of young people, who had come for a drama workshop.
 |
|
Sharing with others was very important
|
In the two groups where we shared our insights, it was striking that so many family problems came up. Also problems among the employees in Tsibogang were shared. The good thing about the sharing was that everyone could listen without giving advices. At the end we had a prayer fellowship.
The sun was up and it was getting warmer; this was the time for sports: volleyball and skipping rope. The Tswana children dance, sing and skip at the same time. This is absolutely fascinating: Two skip the rope and the others jump in while singing and dancing. There was much laughter because the older ladies also joined.
 |
| Skipping and playing volleyball |
In the feed back round we heard from two what they had experienced: a young woman told us that she had realized that she just could not accept her brother and the word:’ Love your neighbour’ hit her in the heart,she goes home with a new insight to see her brother with eyes of God. Another one shared with us: “For the first time in years, someone told me: You’ve done well! This has built me up I will look at my family from a different perspective. My life has changed through these few hours of the retreat.”