Stewart 5

Last weekend, I took a 2-day solitude retreat.  My hopes were to be alone, have some quiet, read, pray, and think. I plan to write a bit about what/how God was speaking, but thought I would start this set of posts by telling you about the place.  It all begins with a story…

Near the end of 2005, two of our apprentices discovered a souvenir shop near the Hartbeespoort Dam.  This is the area that we go to and take others for African souvenirs.  But, many don’t like the hassle of bartering, standing in the sun for hours, etc.  So, this shop that Deric & Amber found seemed like a God-send.  It’s is owned and run by a family.  They take credit cards.  They have a building.  They have EVERYTHING.

If you have bought souvenirs while being with us over the past few years, you have been to Just Africa.  We’ve developed a good relationship with the family, particularly me with the husband, Asharaf.  They’ve given us really great deals, particularly because we come in so often and sometimes buy in bulk (like the drums for the recent NieuCommunities Conference).  They’ve even returned items that our shoppers have left at their store (sweaters, journals) on previous trips.

Asharaf and I have been talking for a while about having lunch together.  Then, the last time I was in the shop, he mentioned that he had bought another house, and if I even needed a place to stay, let him know.  So, when I needed a place to stay for this retreat, I called him and he said yes!

So, that’s where I stayed Friday – Sunday.  I wish I had taken my camera, because it was great.  Not fancy great, but ideal for a retreat.  It’s surrounded by trees and there is a herd of springbok who saunter buy several times per day.  Also, it was semi-furnished: table & chairs, kitchen stuff, beds, etc.  But, bare enough to save me from distractions.  And, it’s in one of my favourite nearby out-of-town spots – Hartbeespoort.

Thank God for friends with extra houses   More on the retreat itself in the next few days…