My time on the race is coming very short! I only have a week left in this community that I’ve grown to love. I believe that people are what make a place the way it is, not the land, or the attractions, but the people give it life and character. So I’m gunna tell you about the people of ocean view. At first, I didn’t know what to think, our curfew to be in the house was 7:00, and it was an unsafe area. I didn’t know what these three month were going to look like, but I soon realized while being out in the community that these were some of the friendliest people I have ever met. One day we were told that for morning ministry we were doing door-to-door. Which means literally going to random people’s houses, knocking on their doors, and telling them about Jesus and asking if they need prayer. Basically every house we went to would openly invite us into their house to sit and talk with them. The first morning we did door-to-door I was so nervous! In America you don’t just go up to random people’s houses and knock on their door, and people definitely don’t invite you into their houses, they make up some excuse and send you away. So knowing that and starting that ministry I was pretty nervous! But after the first couple houses we went to and they invited us in and got to pray over them and their family and house and anything they needed prayer for, I realized things were a lot different than in America! We have met so many friendly people doing door to door, it has been a true blessing. Also going to the Anglican Church service, and doing our ministry with the kids each day in Ghost town and meeting their parents, we have got to know the community and the people who live here. So I just wanted to share with you all some people who especially have touched my heart here in this community.
Shirley: One day a few boys from my team and I were getting on the public taxi to go to the mall about ten minutes away, and we sat at the back and in the front I saw this lady that I knew I had seen at the Anglican Church before, but I haven’t talked to her yet. And so we got out and I think she was waiting for us to get out, and I gave her hug and she recognized us too. So we introduced ourselves and talked for a little while as we walked from the taxi drop off to the mall. She was very interested in our trip and wanted to know more about us so we made plans to go to her house after church on Wednesday morning. So when Wednesday came around we walked with her to her house, she gave us cookies and cool drink and we hung out with her in her home. Then after talking we found out she was an amazing sower and is insanely talented! So she showed us her sow room and some of the things she’s made. And the boys had been talking about wanting an African shirt ever since we got to South Africa, and so long story short, Shirley made all seven of us these beautiful African shirts! They all match, so we are cute like that, and they are so great! We also got to meet one of her daughters Nicolette and she gave me a running jacket that she made. They are both SO sweet and caring people. We go and visit Shirley once a week to check up on her and see how she’s doing. She’s like my South African grandma, giving us cookies and caring for us, in exchange for us fixing her computer and helping with technology. Its people like Shirley that ill miss when I’m back home in America, thinking about South Africa.
Our ghost town children: This is a hard one for me to explain, these children are so crazy but so beautiful. These kids are the children we go play with in the afternoons once their done with school. We tell them Bible stories and teach them songs, they lovvvee the songs! We love them, give them lots of hugs and attention, which goes farther than anyone knows. And we teach them manners and to be kind and basic things that they should be learning. These children have so much potential in them, they are full of it, I can see. The goal is to pray for them and invest in them daily so hopefully they won’t get caught in the gangsterism and drugs cycle and mindset. I pray they choose to be different, to grow up to be men who don’t hit their wives but instead love them, and women who are valued and love their husband and family and care for them. I know God has them in His hands and they are taken care of always, and that they will choose to walk in light and the path God calls them on. I can’t explain how sweet and loving these kids are, you’ll just have to come to South Africa to meet them for yourself, they would be worth it.
Martin: Martin is a man that I met doing door to door ministry, we were walking down the road and decided to go to his house. He opened up his home to us and as soon as we introduced ourselves and I heard his name was Martin, I instantly thought of my dad, which is Marvin. And he is just this little cute old man. We started talking to him and asked him if he was okay, he got a little choked up and then told us about how he has been diagnosed with prostrate cancer and has been doing therapy. Then we knew why we were at this house. We talked to him more and he told us that he hasn’t lived in ocean view his whole life but he used to live in the northern Cape and grew up on a farm. Again he reminded me of my dad, a farmer! My heart hurt for Martin as he talked about his wife and family, he was so sweet. So we asked if we could pray for him to be healed and he said yes, so we prayed for healing and for his family and all, he told us when his next check up was and to be praying for that. So we went back again before his next doctors appointment to check up on him and pray for him again. Then we went back after his doctor visit and found out he is cancer free! It was so amazing to know that his body is free of cancer and Martin is healthy. It was special to pray for him and see him healed while being in Ocean View.
Elam: Another person we met doing door to door is Elam, we went to her house and met her and talked to her for a bit, but she was right in the middle of doing her washing, so she couldn’t talk long. She is Muslim and invited us to come to the mask and join a service with her and check it out. She was so friendly and nice, we said we would come see her again soon! Then we went to a couple other houses and a couple hours later we went home for lunch and when we got there they said someone came by and dropped off samosa’s for Rachel and Tina. Samosa’s are like cooked meat and onion inside a crunchy deep fried outside coating, they are so amazing. And we had no idea who bought them, and then I was walking down the road later and Elam drove by and asked if I got the samosa’s! I told her yes and thank you so much! Elam had only met us once and talked for a little bit and she went out of her way to make them for us and remember where we lived and our names! So crazy sweet!! She lives near us and found out she is related to our next door neighbors!
Pumsa: So I’m cheating a little bit in this one, Pumsa is actually from a village next to us, called Masiphumele. It’s a black village, where they have their traditions and things within the village. But we go to a preschool there once a week and Pumsa is the teacher in the classroom I’m with. She’s so fun and goofy, she’s the type of girl I would choose to be friends with. Cause in ministry you can’t really choose who you work with, you just choose to be friends with them because you are working with them, but Pumsa, oh yeah I would totally choose to be friends with her. One day while we were eating lunch, one of the little ones was so sleepy she was falling asleep while she was eating her sandwich, and we laughed about it and then put her down for a nap. But we have a fun time together and with the kids, it’s one of my favorite mornings.
Octavia: Octavia is the mother of the family my team and I lived with for the first half of our time in South Africa. As soon I met her, I knew I was gunna like this women. She is one of the most amazing women I have met, she is so generous with her time and is always willing to serve her family and everyone around her. I’ve learned so much from her about what putting others before yourself looks like and the strength to continue you to do that even when you want to be selfish. She was always looking out for us and making sure we were okay and taken care of, she is so hospitable and caring. Some one said that there isn’t a fruit of the spirit that Octavia doesn’t carry, and I couldn’t agree more. She’s joyful, kind, good, patient, she’s all of them, and I’m so glad I got the pleasure of meeting her and living with her family for a season.
These are just a few stories of a few people that have touched my heart in this community and my time here during South Africa. Ocean view has their problems with drugs, gang violence, and alcoholism, but the people caught up in those things are people that God loves to pick right up and scoop them into His arms when they call on His name. God is glorified in a person who has done wrong and caused so much hurt but Jesus washed him white as snow, and he’s a new creation to be used by God. And even though ocean view has its problems, it has beautiful people who care for those around them and want to see the gangs stop fighting and the drugs to be gone. You can see bad in any place, but if you believe there is good you will always find it.
Thanks for the time Ocean View, I’ll miss you.
