Hi family and friends 🙂 I just want to start off by saying I FREAKIN LOVED MINISTRY HERE IN SA! In one of my previous blogs, I mentioned manual labor being my team’s first ministry experience. Which, don’t get me wrong, I also really really loved. After a month of digging trenches, gathering rocks, sifting soil, painting, and doing just about whatever was needed from us, we began our second month of living in Jeffery’s Bay, serving at an organization called Beats and Books. I really had no idea what to expect going into this ministry. I knew that we would be working with and teaching children, but I had no idea what that would entail. Wow. Now, writing this blog about what ministry has been like, brings me to tears because of the love I have for the program and the people/children involved. This is just a glimpse of what went on there!
Pulling up on our first day to the Beats and Books house, our team went in with a good attitude, ready to serve. Walking in, each of us were greeted with hugs and smiles from the staff. One by one, we met Auntie Carla, Uncle Jonathan, Auntie Grace, Father Cornelius, also known as Father Cornie as we and the kids like to say, and Auntie Prima. After an introduction and overview of Beats and Books, we got to work. From 9 am until about 2 pm we work with the staff, setting up for when the kiddos come in the afternoon. Sometimes that looked like cleaning, shelving/organizing/labeling books, grading papers, preparing food, organizing a spelling bee, sewing curtains, or even choreographing a whole Christmas dance.
Everyday, we excitedly waited outside for the kids to walk from school to the Beats and Books house. Most of the time, I’d wait in the driveway watching them come down the street and to the house. They would greet us all with enormous hugs smiles. My favorite part of every day was always watching them arrive.
My little friends at Beats and Books are super dang special. Let me just brag on them for awhile. Within the first week of us serving there, they began rehearsing for a worship night that was going to be held for the community. During their first rehearsal, my mind was blown. THESE KIDS WERE SO TALENTED!!! The children either played the violin, piano, trumpet, djembe (a drum), or sang beautifully. The whole entire room was filled with worship music flowing straight from God’s children. I couldn’t stop crying. For 5 days straight, they continued rehearsing for the worship night/concert. When the night came, they rocked everyone’s socks off. Everyone was on their feet, with their hands up, and singing along. God was MOVING that night, let me tell you. (My favorite song from that night, that I learned through Beats and Books is “Come Holy Spirit, Uthando” so all y’all should listen to it to hear a piece of South Africa). During the school year, the children practice and learn more of the English language by learning a set of words at the beginning of week that they are to memorize by the end of the week and then test on. Because one of my jobs at this ministry was writing the grades in the grade book, I was able to see the progress of the students each week. There were countless times after intentionally encouraging and working with those struggled, that I watched their grades improve. I was so impressed by how hard they worked each week to improve their scores. I felt like such a proud sister. I loved cheering on my brothers and sisters and getting to know them. Oh man, these gals and guys have personalities like no other. They will forever be a part of my life and my prayers.
Each and every day of ministry was such a blessing. Spending time with the coolest kiddos, from Monday-Friday for two months, taught me an incredible amount about loving and seeing others like Jesus does. I learned patience. I learned tough love. I learned some Xhosa (the language that most of the kids spoke). And most importantly, I learned so much about love. Not the love in romantic movies or even love for your best friends. I learned about the raw, passionate love of Jesus Christ that is in every single one of us.
I didn’t realize what this sort of love was until leaving Jefferey’s Bay. After realizing that I had to leave so many people that I love, I was wrecked. It took me awhile to understand that the reason why I felt so much pain was because the love I had for them wasn’t a superficial kind. There have been many relationships in my life that I don’t give my all and love wholeheartedly. But in this case, I did. I didn’t hold back this time. Instead of being fearful of getting hurt or too attached, and not diving in headfirst into ministry because of my walls, I felt the Lord working through me in the way I loved. Unending, non-judgmental, abounding love. Yes, this caused A LOT of pain while leaving South Africa (probably harder than a breakup lol), but I wouldn’t change anything about it. Learning how to love in that way is one of the hardest, but most beautiful, experiences that I have undergone. I’ve always heard the phrase, “Love like Jesus”, but I never truly understood what it meant. Obviously, it’s impossible for me to have a love like the love He has for us; he paid the ultimate sacrifice. But — I feel like I finally have a taste of what it’s like to strive to love like Him. Having a big heart has always terrified me. So, I am so so so thankful that I am finally in a place where I can embrace it and use it in the Kingdom.
What a cool first 3 months… Thanks God!!!!
p.s. I am about 1000 dollars away from being fully funded (YUHHHHH) feeling very blessed to have come this far. Thank you everyone for helping me! It means the world. The deadline for me to be fully funded is January 16th, which is quickly approaching. Every single dollar helps tremendously. Anyway, I hope y’all are having a great holiday season! 🙂
