We spent our time in Cape Town, South Africa working with an organization called Living Hope where we would help with after school ministry programs. We would play with the younger kids and help pass out food to the youth. My team worked with inner city kids in the part of town with the highest crime. It was very encouraging to see the kids come to learn about Jesus everyday. And to see the youth desire more out of life then the drugs and gangs that a life on the street offers them.
Living Hope also held a free health clinic in one of the poorer communities where they provided blood sugar and pressure testing, eye exams, breast exams, and HIV and TB screenings. It was a major reality check being at the health clinic because I realized some of the many blessings that I take for granted. Many people came out of the eye exams with glasses, they had been living with poor eye sight unable to see but were able to get free glasses at the clinic. I wear contacts and it just hit me because I can’t imagine not being able to go get my eyes checked or get contacts when I need them. It made me feel selfish that I take blessings for granted, even the smallest things. I don’t want to be a selfish person that takes the blessings in life for granted. I want God to use me to bless others.
We were also able to pray with people who had just found out they were HIV positive. At times it was almost overwhelming being in the center of it all. From the outside it seemed like a happy, free little health clinic, but in reality people were finding out they were HIV or TB positive, or being blessed with a pair of glasses.
When we first got to South Africa I was wondering how much this country could really change me. But of course God used the people of Cape Town to break my heart so He could change it.
