Our time in South Africa has come to an end and my team is now in Swaziland. South Africa was full of beauty, different cultures, and a lot of political struggle. Our team worked with Beam Africa, which helps people by facilitating life skills training and ultimately helping them get a job. It works to empower those who never finished high school still have a chance to make a living. Beam Africa also feeds vulnerable children in townships and provides a safe and fun place to learn a bit about the Bible, songs, and games. The team split up and some of us did manual labor as well, making a patio for the compound Beam Africa uses to house missionaries. We spent a lot of time with our hosts and felt right at home, having dinner together and sharing stories and laughs.
On certain afternoons we went to see the kids and sang, played, fed, and became a jungle gym for them. They would hold on to us as if we were their long lost best friend. We were greeted with smiles and attacked with hugs and hair makeovers. The truth is even at the pre-school we worked at last month we were not loved like these kids loved us. Here they cling like they’ve known us all our lives and are so hungry for affection and love that it just makes you wonder why. On occasions you see their survival skills come into play, always fighting for what they have. I experienced this first hand when I made the terrible mistake of handing out mustache stickers that my best friend Cherise had sent in a card for any “cool kids” I met. I was attacked and mobbed. Some kids lifted their younger siblings up for me to place a fake mustache on them. I was pushed and almost toppled over while my teammates looked on looking worried or chiming in as well saying “me, me, me”. Never have I ever felt the type of love and fear I experienced that day. One of my favorites always had an angry face and frown but would find my hand and lean on me in the gentlest way. Another one, Tumelo, had the most innocent and bright smile and even went on to share a speech about no violence or drugs one day when they wanted me to record them. He has the kind of personality that makes others want to be his friend and I pray he uses his influence well. He is in 5th grade.
The best children’s teacher I have ever seen works at the place where the kids go after school to eat and play. Gonste is the most energetic and fun teacher and her infectious attitude turns the whole place into a party! She shows how it is to truly be called and gifted in children’s ministry.
All in all, this month was full of making a patio, chucking and packing bricks, and loving on kiddos. I learned what it is to not only live among injustice but to see an organization doing something about it practically like making sure the kids get something to eat while also equipping the older ones to take on the world. It was the first time in months we weren’t completely stared at when walking since there is more diversity with whites, blacks, and coloured (that’s how they called mixed people). It was also a month of a lot of comfort accommodation wise with comfy beds and great food, yet it was easy to feel unneeded and useless lugging bricks with a wheelbarrow. I’m thankful I met the Lingenfelders, and if I ever come back to South Africa I’ll be sure to see them again.
