We the Sunflowers arrived here at Eden Christian Ministries only one week ago but I feel like we have already have already found our place here in this community. Eden is a home for the mentally challenged. Here in South Africa there isn’t much direction or awareness of how to care for those with mental disabilities. Often times they are thrown out on the streets and left to fend for themselves even by their own families. They are seen as the “untouchables” mostly due to simple ignorance. To wrap your mind around this concept it’s much like throwing a child out on the street. They are not completely helpless they just need some supervision. Eden is one of the only places of its kind here in South Africa but hopefully over time they can begin to inform and engage other churches to take up something like what we have here! Eden is also unique in the way that they also take in a few able bodied “untouchables” as well. A few orphaned kids who were dropped off by their Aunt one day, two homeless mothers each with a child, some women fleaing from physical abuse, and a few recovering drug addicts. Though this handful of people do not have mental challenges they have still found themselves at the door step of Eden with no family to support them or to run to. Here they have found refuge, purpose and best of all experienced the love of Jesus that they may get back on their feet.
Over the past week I have watched to see how Eden runs and functions on the day to day. A few positions are employed; A few care assistants, a cook, and an office administrator. The rest of the help comes from the residents. Each resident helps with something be it washing laundry, sweeping the dinning hall, cleaning gutters, yard work, pealing carrots, moping floors you name it they do it. Naturally as a “doer” I came in saw this and thought ” I am young and able and I can do that thing much faster and give them a break from taking care of it”. For example if you saw and old crippled man carrying a stack of chairs at home (in America) you would quickly jump to relieve him of the burden. In fact it would appear rude if you didn’t. Naturally I jumped right too it. Pealing the carrots doing the dishes and cleaning the dinning hall. Before long I noticed that those who usually did those jobs begane to wonder aimlessly about the property. I noticed the residents retreating to the court yard where they just sit, still, in the sun just staring off blankly with nothing to fill their time. I thought ” how hopeless and life less they look.” How could that be?? I was helping. I was giving them a break don’t they enjoy the relief? This is when I began to notice that each of their jobs were not a burden on them but rather a purpose for them!! With the job they filled they we receiving an opportunity to serve one another and something to fill their time. Without these duties they are stuck feeling un needed and hopeless. These duties were their relief from doing nothing and having no purpose. I also noticed that this was a therapeutic exercise for them to keep their hands and minds working, otherwise they would sit and deteriorate. They find joy and belonging in their duties.
So where does that leave me and my team? Why are we here and how can we help serve them if it isn’t in physical labor? Well we can encourage and bless everyone while they work! We bring joy to the lifeless court yard with songs and activities such as coloring. Christi runs a a men’s workshop where the men can build planters and decorations for the property. Jenny sings songs and tells stories to the women in the kitchen while they shred carrots. Olivia hangs out and brings new lesson plans to the kids in the daycare. Melissa helps out in the office where there is never a shortage of tasks. Laura uses her skills as an RN to help out in the clinic, Medicating 75 residents is no easy task especially when you don’t have an official medic on hand. Finally I get to run a women’s workshop where we make necklaces and other crafts to brighten up the residents day. In each of these positions we get the opportunity to be taught by the residents and hear about their lives. Ralph and Rhoda run the place here, they are the care takers. Ralph and Rhoda have even given us the chance to give them feedback on how Eden can run smoother in certain areas! As if we are even experts haha.
Its not easy everyday but it is life bringing and we can see a transformation happening here! I cant wait for other teams to come in with their various skills and bless this awesome ministry! All I would say to future team is remember to look for how you can help with out stealing their purpose here! They are willing and able they just need the encouragement!
Stay tuned for the next update and keep us in your prayers!!
Just a little reminder I still need to raise roughly 7,000 so if you would like to donate or continue donating just click on the support me tab on my home blog page! thanks again for following along. I hope that you were encouraged and challenged by this! I pray that as your week moves by you look for ways to encourage and help others in a way that is specific to their needs!
Love always,
Amanda
