I don’t know what it is about this place but it feels like home! It could be that after a month of sleeping on sleeping pads in a room with 30 other people we now have beds, with real pillows and duvet covers. It could be that after sharing one shower between 20 girls, we now have three showers and one three person bath to choose from between the seven of us. We also have a full size kitchen and every time we come through the front door of Beam House, it smells like we’re walking through the dryer sheet aisle at the store because of the flowers.
The entrance to our door at BEAM
All of that has made Beam House feel like home but the real reason is the people.
Since day one, our ministry hosts, Erika and Louis, have invited us into their lives. They have unselfishly given us an entire month of their lives. From bible studies and devotions to runs to McDonald’s for the internet and a safari. They have dedicated their entire lives to Beam Africa and their ministry. Their hearts are 100% Beam Africa. They are an amazing couple and hold a special place in my heart!
Jillian, Louis, and myself after we were baptized
Uncle Henni spoiled us with Coke, chocolates, and sweet chili sauce once a day. He has spoken so much life into each of us. Encouraging us all to become the women God designed us to be.
Louise, Erika and Louis daughter, hosted weekly movie nights for us. Usually a couple of us ended up crying (Maybe Raquel & Abby??). We also fell in love with Carmen. Carmen works with the kids at Beam Africa and is also the caretaker of Beam House and our roommate for the last month.
We also have five dogs to call our own. Moppy, Muppet, Molly, Benny and my favorite, Courage.
Courage. the dog
Beam Africa is located in an area called Nellmapius outside of Pretoria, South Africa. Homeowners in Nellmapius rent out their backyards to families who build shacks, the size of a small bedroom in the U.S., and live in them. Every backyard has about three to four shacks. There are pockets of trash everywhere. Darkness and poverty are so evident in Nellmapius. South Africa is filled with corruption of every sort and because of that, the people suffer.
Women from the neighborhood picking up some of the fruits and veggies we unloaded from the truck
Beam Africa brings light to Nellmapius. The ministry teaches life skills, like computer training, cooking, and sewing, to adults. They also feed about 75 orphans every day. It gives the kids a place to go and eat after school. The kids love our presence and eat up every compliment and encouraging word we give. The work Beam Africa does is so amazing! Erika and Louis are bringing so much change to this neighborhood little by little.
Team Shekinah & BEAM Africa staff on our last day – Abby, Erika, Carmen, me, Jillian, Sandra, Imelda, Bethany, Raquel & Brian (in the front)
