South Africa: Christmas by the beach
Well I’m officially half way through the race now and Jeffrey’s Bay South Africa was a great place to spend this milestone. I lived in a beautiful home right on the beach, had amazing hosts that cooked delicious food and got the chance to work with a ministry that impacts the lives of over 200 local underprivileged kids. But that wasn’t good enough for me. It was Christmas and I missed my family. Most of the month I wished not only the month away but the race away. I just wanted to be home. I was living in the past and the future but not the present. But now that the month is over I just want to relive it.
Due to the holiday season, we only had ministry for the first two weeks of the month to work with the Victory for All children’s program. In the short time that we were able to spend with the kids, they were able to make a huge impact on my heart. In the mornings, we would walk to the church, just 15 minutes inland from our beach house. The church was surrounded by shantytowns and government housing neighborhoods in every direction. My team and I would walk through these neighborhoods collecting kids for the holiday program and within minutes we would have an entourage of 30-80 kids following us back to the church. The kids would see us and run out of their tin, plywood, dirt floor, one room homes and jump into our arms. Day one, I was in awe of the pure joy that came from the kids who lived in such poverty. And how just a 15 minute walk away I was living in a huge house on the beach. It didn’t seem right.
After we collected all the kiddos, the games, dancing, and festivities began. We averaged between 150 and 200 children ranging from age 4 to 14. Though everything didn’t always go to plan, each day was a new adventure and the kids always left with a smile. We were able to work with some incredible guys who many years ago attended this program and were so impacted by the love and heart behind it that they wanted to give back and help keep the program going. Two weeks flew by in a blink and our goodbye to the kids seemed surreal. I didn’t want it to already be over.
That’s a constant contradiction on the race. Always and never wanting something to end. Always wanting to see the kids face light up when you walk in the room but never wanting to keep 200 kids quiet and orderly. Always wanting to go home and but never wanting to leave these beautiful countries. Figuring out how time can go so fast and slow at the same time. This trip kind of tears you apart. But in a good way.
The rest of the month we had a lot of down time. Although we were right on the beach, most of the time it was too windy to go enjoy it but it was still beautiful. I had the opportunity to help out in some of the local neighborhoods painting house and cleaning the church. I went to work with our host and worked at a spa for a day, folding towels and serving the ladies who came to treat themselves to a day of relaxation. I made some of my dreams come true by riding a horse on the beach(which was dreamy and I’m still giddy about it). I went surfing where they hold the Billabong World Champion surf competition every year. I celebrated Christmas with 18 world racers and our amazing host family who did their best to make us feel at home for the holidays. It was a great month.
My goal for next month is not wish my time away. To live in the present and make the most of each moment. Thank you to everyone back home for all your love and support.
