Wow, so much has been happening here I haven’t had time to even think. Ok, I have actually had a ton of time to think, there has just been SO much to think about! I’ve written and rewritten blog posts, I’ve thought long and hard about what to write in one and what to send you as an update but even with so much going through my head it’s been hard to find the words to put down in a message. I’m still not even sure what to write, but I know that I need to get something out to you so I’m going to try.
It took us 4 days of travel time to get to our ministry here in Heideveld which is about 20 minutes or so outside of Cape Town, South Africa. We’re living and working in a church here, The Father’s House, and we have had an interesting time due to ministry not looking like we expected it to look. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, just surprising and something that we had to work through individually and as a team to accept the fact that our expectations weren’t going to be met. The church we’re at is in one of the most dangerous area in South Africa. That being said, there are a lot of things that we’re not allowed or able to do being an all girl team. The church is on a lot that is surrounded by a gated fence with barbed wire and we are supposed to lock ourselves inside the church whenever we are alone here, which is a good chunk of the time. The staff is here on the weekdays from 9:30-3:30 so during that time we work with them and just get to know them really well. It’s also the time for us to go outside if we have time, but we have to stay inside the gate. We are only allowed to leave the property if we have a man present with us because it wouldn’t be safe for us to go out alone as 7 white American girls. That really has been the hardest part of this for me, being so close to the community and the people and not being able to interact with and know those living here. We have had a couple opportunities to get out into the community and talk to people when we were inviting them to different events at the church and that has been one of my favorite things. One of the girls on my team made the comment that she loved seeing me out in the community because I came alive when I interacted with the people. Its true, that’s where my heart is- with the people. I loved being out and being able to interact with them. It made my heart happy. Another thing we’ve done is host a Holiday Club for kids, which is like a Vacation Bible School.
The Holiday Club was this past week and there is so much that could be said about what we did and how we felt about it that I can’t write it all down. I will say that it was hectic with 200 kids to 7-10 workers. I was overwhelmed by the noise and activity of all those little munchkins. I was also sick with a cold most of the week which made me extremely miserable and easily frustrated. I will also say that it was wonderful, that I loved being with the kids and playing with them. As tired as I was, I felt content and I can say that those kids left a lasting impression on my heart and I loved every moment with them. I’ll share my favorite moment of the week with you though. There was this 9 year old boy named TJ who was a trouble maker right from the start. Not only did he cause problems on his own but he encouraged others to do things that would get them in trouble too. The entire week we had to continuously be on him for fighting with the other boys, and when I say fighting, I mean actually throwing punches and kicking. I’ve worked with kids most of my life and yet that was a first for me. Seeing little kids acting that way was tough. Throughout the week I was more and more drawn to this little boy. Whenever he would start acting up I was the one who would deal with it, pull the boys off of each other, and take TJ aside to talk to him. As the week progressed he would only act worse. One day in particular, I was working with his group so it became my job to make sure him and a few others stayed away from each other and participated in the activities. I just couldn’t understand why they would want to fight so much and it really frustrated me that I couldn’t get through to them to make them understand that fighting wasn’t ok. I couldn’t just give up and let them beat each other up, so I stuck with them the rest of the day. Our last rotation was story time where we were watching a movie about Noah’s Ark and the kids wouldn’t listen to anything we said. We told them we wouldn’t start the movie until they paid attention and listened to us. They were all sitting on the stage when they weren’t supposed to be and TJ of all the kids went around and got every kid to get off the stage to sit on the floor. Then, instead of joining his group of friends, he went to the back of the class and sat by himself. I decided to go join him and the boy he had been fighting with all day came over and sat in my lap. Instead of fighting they sat there quietly watching the movie, but when Liam got off my lap to sit somewhere else. TJ looked up at me for a minute then got up and climbed into my lap. I was in shock, this boy who had caused as much trouble as he could think of, who constantly ran away from me and wouldn’t listen to a word I said was initiating this action. As we sat there watching the movie he cuddled up to me and held my hand, then turned and talked to me about how much he liked the movie and told me that he loved me. That moment still brings tears to my eyes. I have no idea what changed in that moment, but to me that made all of our struggles that week well worth it. I have no idea what little TJ’s life at home is like, I don’t know what he’s seen in his short 9 years, but he can make a difference. He can impact and influence the lives of all the kids around him, he has those leadership skills, they already follow him, can you imagine what could happen if he knew Jesus? This sweet boy stole my heart this week, and I may never see him again but he has forever touched my heart. He will forever be in my prayers, I might not know who he turns into or where he ends up, but he will be influential and I hope that you will join me in praying for him, whether that be once or a million times. Please pray for TJ, pray that he will find Jesus, that he will boldly lead people and change lives. Pray that he will have a positive influence on those around him, and no matter what his life circumstances bring, that he will know and remember that there is a God who loves him eternally. A God who loved him enough that died for him and that he is never alone. Pray strength and peace over him. Your prayer makes a difference too. Be bold in those prayers, trusting that they will be answered.
Sweet TJ and I
