A – MY INSTALLATION at ST. THOMAS CONGREGATION, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
The Installation Service at St. Thomas Congrgation was performed by Bishop Dieter Reinstorf on 23rd January assisted by the Councilors: Quinton Aubrey, Shawn Johnston, Marja Wybrow and Guenther Meier.
The call and other documents were signed after the Installation service: Bishop Dieter Reinstorf,
Pastor Carlos Walter Winterle,
And the Councillors: Mr. Guenther Meier,
Mrs. Quinton Aubrey
Mrs. Marya Wybrow, and
Mr. Shawn Johnston.
Some official pictures were taken by Lídia.
Bishop Dieter, Lídia and Pastor Walter.
In the evening, Bishop Dieter took us to see Bloubergstrand, one of the beautiful beaches of Cape Town, with the Table Mountain in the back.
We stayed there to see the sunset: gorgeous! - And here we are! Please, contact us, pray for us, visit us. Welcome! Visit our Website: www.st-thomas.org.za
*************************************************************B - ARRIVING IN CAPE TOWN
We arrived in Cape Town on 6th January afternoon, after a four and half-hour flight from Nairobi to Johannesburg + a two-hour flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town. People of St. Thomas Congregation were there to welcome us and to pick us up: Wesley, Quinton, Mandy and Gunther. Our son Léo and Carol came with us to Cape Town and stayed with us until 16th January, helping us with the moving a lot!
We were taken directly from the airport to see St. Thomas Church...
… and to see the parsonage, our home for the next five years, God willing.
Gunther and Lydia Meier hosted us and our children in their house for the first 12 days. The parsonage was painted during that time, we were introduced to the city by some friends, and we began to buy some furniture and other stuff for the house. – Gunther lent us a car and Léo and Carol gave us a GPS.
Quinton sent the following welcome letter to St. Thomas members:
Hi St Thomas congregation, (Thursday, 06 January 2011)
The Winterles are here!
They arrived on schedule today. Gunther, Wesley, Mandy and myself were there at the airport to greet Pastor Walter, his wife Lydia, son and daughter in law at Cape Town International. They enjoyed their trip here, and are very happy to be with us. Their journey started at 03h00 this morning. After a brief showing of the parsonage and St Thomas, they were left in the care of Gunther and Lydia, who are graciously accommodating them, while we prepare their home.
Tomorrow we are all geared up to collect their luggage at SAA Cargo and hopefully set them up at the Parsonage as soon as possible. - A special thanks to Wesley and Jackie.
(Friday, 07 January 2011) - After a good night's rest we set off early this morning. We managed to secure the Winterle's luggage safely to the parsonage and proceeded with sightseeing and shopping. The Winterles are quite captivated by Cape Town.
While we were showing them around town, Gunther was kept busy with the tedious task of arranging all the paperwork and red tape that comes with the welcoming of a new Pastor. We thank him for his effort.
Please be reminded that Pastor Walter is currently residing with Gunther and Lydia. He can be contacted through Gunther or via his newly activated cell: 0726333997.
Pastor Walter and his family will be introduced to our congregation this coming Sunday 9 January 2011. We hope that our congregation members who are back from holiday will come to greet them.
With kind regards, "LOVED BY GOD. LOVING OTHERS" , Quinton & Mandy
Besides the first services (on 9th and 16th January), (see the Table Mountain behind the church) and the organization of our house and of our luggage, we found time to visit some tourist attractions in Cape Town with our children.
On our Wedding Anniversary (13th January) we climbed the Table Mountain. It was a perfect day to go there: clear, without wind! We took the coach...
...that took us up to the top of the Table.
This is now our new flag: The colorful and beautiful flag of South Africa!
We could see the city all around...
… and the new soccer stadium built for the World Cup 2010 as well.
We were walking around for more than two hours.
Many indigenous flowers were blooming...
… a snake was on our way...
… and a lizard was relaxing on the stone...
We could see also the mountain next to Table Mountain. When we came down, the Table became cloudy and we couldn’t see it anymore.
Another day we went to Cape Point. On the way we visited the Vasco da Gama Pillar.
The Portuguese brought the Christian faith to South Africa before 1500.
And they found the way to India through the Cape of Good Hope.
It's really windy at the Cape of Good Hope, but an unforgettable experience!
Léo and Carol enjoyed to visit the Cape Point.
The sign points to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Lídia was born in that city!
We thank God for this opportunity to see another nice part of the world!
****************************************************** C – BEFORE WE LEFT KENYA
Two Confirmation Classes finished their courses at Uhuru Highway Lutheran Church and were ready to confirm publicly the Christian faith before the congregation: One Adult Class and one Teenagers Class. They were prepared by Deaconeses Mary Khainga and Khatleen Lutz, and by Vicar Jeff Ross, with the assistance of Pastor Carlos. They came together for a last review on 18th December 2010.
The Confirmation was performed on the Sunday before Christmas, 19th December. 15 were confirmed in the English service and three were baptized: two children and one adult.
After the regular questions & answers and the confession of faith, little Nathan Dickens Omala was baptized.
After this Ina Len Juma was baptized.
And then Dennice Murimi Khadeji was baptized.
One by one the confirmands received the blessing given by P. Carlos, assisted by P. Omodhi, Vicar Jeff, Deac. Mary and Deac. Khatleen.
The confirmands are: Eunice Akinyi, Gunnel Akinyi, Emmah Awudr, Jackline Akinti, Edwina Gowi, Edna Kisivuri, Rosebella Komen, Kim Miguel, Meghan Muthoni, Dennice Murimi Khadeji, Gertrude Atisah Mulima, Billy Omondi, Divinah K. Ondimu, Cornel Otiemo, Emmanuel Ratemo. (+10 people from the same classes were confirmed and/or baptized in the Swahili Service:Dorine Amisi. Daaniel Ndelilio, Beatrice Nyaranga, Joseph Saigura, Lexon Omambia, Jonathan Nyang'au Ondieki, Gift Mmbando, Xavier Nshimiyimana, Angel Moraa, and Sebastian Mzei.)
The freshly confirmed were the first to receive the Lord's Supper. We pray that God will strengthen their faith and that they will remain faithful until the end.
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Our son Léo and his wife Carol arrived from Germany on Christmas Eve. This was our special Christmas gift!
Rev. Claude preached on Christmas Eve, and Bishop Obare celebrated the service and preached on Christmas Day.
Some friends came to our home on Christmas Day for a farewell lunch. A Maassai Folk- dance Group came to sing and to dance in our garden. The leader of the group, Daniel, is a Lutheran brother and a good friend of mine. - This was a very special farewell for us! 
We left Kenya on 6th January 2011. We thank God for these four years and three months of blessings!
It was a very special time for me and my wife, and for our ministry. We miss our good friends in Nairobi, the Uhuru Highway Lutheran Cathedral, and everything more. Greetings and blessings to all!- But we are sure that God placed a new and good challenge in front of us as he called us to serve Him and His people in Cape Town! To Him be the Glory!
It was a very special time for me and my wife, and for our ministry. We miss our good friends in Nairobi, the Uhuru Highway Lutheran Cathedral, and everything more. Greetings and blessings to all!- But we are sure that God placed a new and good challenge in front of us as he called us to serve Him and His people in Cape Town! To Him be the Glory!
