Matthew 19:14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
Mahangeni Care Point has become so much more than just my ministry. It became home for me and each one of my teammates. The children became like younger siblings, and our shepherd Bongiwe has become a close friend. Saying goodbye to each of them was harder than I expected it to be. Three months ago when my team got our ministry assignment I never expected to fall so in love with our care point and the children that came there. Looking back it wasn’t always easy especially with walking an hour each way every day and being used as a personal jungle gym by several children at a time. But it was so worth it.
Every morning we would leave the compound just after ten and start the long walk to ministry. When we arrived at our care point the children would come running out with open arms, just waiting for a huge. I will never forget the joy that they carried within them. We spent the morning playing with them and helping our Gogo cook. After lunch, we would either play with them or teach a lesson. Most of the time our main job was to just love on the children.
Over the course of the three months, I gained a whole new perspective on what we were really doing for these children. Our coach Melissa explained it best, she said “ How beautiful is it that the Lord has sent you all the way to the other side of the world to play with these children and love on them. They will remember that. They will know how amazing their Father is that He sent you all the way here just to play with them how precious is that.”
She is so right I am beyond blessed to have had the opportunity to love on the children. The Lord used me as a vessel to show these kids his love and I couldn’t be more thankful. I was able to build relationships, teach them about the Lord and watch their faith blossom. My team planted so many seeds in the children hearts. And we didn’t just change them they changed us and for that, I am eternally grateful.
