Welcome to Inchanga Mission

What an honour...

Somewhere just west of Pinetown, off the beaten track of the N3,
around Peacevale, leading toward Inchanga, is a little world that I visited with a few people from our Parish and my own family.  I know this little world as the Inchanga Mission.  I understand that it was established as long ago as 1924 by a certain Fr Hannon.  A amall band of Trappist Missionaries brought Our Lord to this little corner of the world.  The Parish of Hammersdale, among others in the area were brought into being by this group of selfless people.  

Although the buildings were old and delapidated, I felt they were truly beautiful.  Perhaps that is because of the history they carry and I equate them with the rich life that has been lived within their walls.  Imagin the prayers prayed by, and the lessons taught to men who would take the Lord's Word out to the likes of you and I.  Imagin being called to do the Lord's work, forsaking all else...  This is the likes of the people who actually lived here.  I am sure I even felt the presence of the prayers that were prayed so many years ago.

We were told that there were many of our influencial Priests and Bishops who began their vocations at this very mission, such as Bishop Nxumalo.  Again, I wondered as to the many struggles these priests had while there, the prayer for the strength to carry out the immense tasks they were called to do.   Oh yes, what an honour...

The original priests house was built by Fr Patterson in the 1970's and eventually, with the changing needs of the community, it became a Mater House, housing abused women and children.  It was quite distressing to see all the barbed wire and burglar bars and my thoughts were that it was so sad that the ugliness of the world could reach into such a seemingly serene place. it was explained that because of the abuse that some of the women and children suffered, it was important to allow them to feel protected from those who had previously threatened them, this was their safe house from the violence they had previously experienced.

Moving on, we went to what I felt most affected by... this was in the form of the old Church Hall.  This was a long building that was broken into a series of large dorm type rooms.  On the one side was a "ward" for women and on the other side there was a "ward" for men.  At the time, there were only three women and three men in the ward although I was informed that there were four more patients expected that very afternoon and that these people that were expected were probably not going to be able to ever go back to their families again.  Yes, I am talking of the Mater House serving the terminally ill HIV Aids patients.  I stand to be corrected, but I only saw possibly three ladies who were looking after these very sick people and although this sounds pretty much of gloom and doom, there was a strange peacefulness about the place.  I fell terribly short as I had a problem talking to all the ladies and gents that were in the wards that day (I made a firm promise to myself that as soon as I could, I would definately have to learn Zulu).  I was, however able to chat with two women and at least one of the gents.  The worst was that there was not enough time.  I did find out that there is an urgent need for disposable adult diapers and bed protectors and request that if there is anyone who can assist with any items that can be used in the care of bed-ridden people, please, please come forward.  

Our next stop was Kwa Thintwa, the School for deaf children.  What an uplifting place to find myself.  These children, about 300 and ranging from Grade R to Grade 11, board at the school and are broken onto age groups with male on one side and female on the other.  The underlying sense of humour is evident at all levels and the happiness plays in their eyes.  The schooling is at the same level as any other school so the children can leave with a true sense of achievement and not a feeling that they are any less able to build a life for themselves once leaving.

I would strongly urge that anyone that is interested in finding out more about the mission, please make enquiries.  Remember that we are extremely blessed and sometimes our blessing is in these people, who are possible a little different in some ways, are exactly what we need to fulfil our own lives.  Our gift to them may be just a little of what we have freely available to us.  Our gift we receive from them may be just the smile and hug that they give us but my word, that is so humbling.  

Should you have any queries, please to not hesitate to contact me, Patti Hunt on 084 645 3002.