Over my time here in Africa, I have learned many lessons and can truly feel the Lord changing my life and myself for the better. He has placed so many different aspects on my heart in the past month and a half that has helped me grow into a better person. Something that has particularly been tugging on my heart lately is compassion. Compassion, to me, is giving and loving in the good times and in the bad times. Compassion is helping your brother and sisters in Christ make it through another day of struggles. Compassion is celebrating with loved ones in times of joy or being a shoulder to cry on in times of despair. Compassion is praying for your enemies out of love. Compassion is giving your socks to someone who doesn’t have socks.
At Camp Joy, the restoration center I am living at, I have been amazed at the compassion I have seen and been shown. These men and even some of the staff, who come from lives of violence, anger, drug abuse, alcoholism, gangsterism, and just overall negative lifestyles, have seen and learned so much about the grace of God that compassion flows from them. They are giving and caring with each other. They forgive and ask for forgiveness. They are always holding each other up on the hard days and push each other through working projects and stressful times. Even though everyone has their days, someone is always there to show compassion, whether it is another participant, monitor, or staff member. It has really taught me that no one should be left behind. No matter their story, beliefs, or past.
Here in Strandfontien, Cape Town, South Africa, I have also found myself having quite a heart for my friends down the street. My new friends live in tin shacks or wooden boxes in the squatter plot, which is commonly known as the shanties. When I pictured myself on the race back at home, this is what I pictured, me helping the hopeless and bringing help to the poorest of the poor. I imagined myself running around with the kids of the shanties and loving on the rejects of society. And here I found myself in Africa, driving past these people every day. Just staring out the window and thinking how hard that life must be… and awe poor kids that are growing up in there. But after a little Christmas Eve trip to deliver some bread to them, my heart just really grew for these families. I saw the joy on their faces and in the kid’s smiles just from that small Christmas blessing. I was reminded in that moment of one of my favorite verses that even inspired me to come on the race.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’”
Now, every morning and afternoon, some of the guys of Camp Joy, some of my team, and I all carry pots of leftover pop (grits) and bolognaise sandwiches to the shanties. It is a special feeling to see hungry little boys and girls running up to us with their bowls and asking for breakfast and knowing God has blessed us to be able to bless them with a simple gift of some food on their plate. It brings joy to my heart when I give a mother a loaf of bread so she and I both know she will be able to feed her kids today. I love hearing, “Auntie! Auntie” being shouted as I walk up to their local playground with a bucket of sandwiches and feeling kids jump all around me because they are so excited for an afternoon snack. My experiences of giving to the poor, has sharpened my image of compassion. Even if food runs out or I have nothing left to give, my prayer is that I can give them hope. Hope that God will get them and their family through another day, that God can help get them on their feet again, and hope that they remember that His mercies are new every day.
God’s compassion over us is so big it is unimaginable. I get excited thinking about how He can fill us up with love so we can pour it out onto all of His children. Giving truly is a gift to those and receive and to those who are giving. I hope to continue being compassionate in many ways to all for the rest of my time in Africa, on this race, and throughout my whole life! Give the world and yourself your gift of giving.
PC: @mollicaiteh_
