So I feel like I haven't posted anything awhile...a couple of days perhaps,a lot could happen in a couple of days.Anyways, I will try to do a recap of the last couple days as best I can and when I say recap I mean the things that I remember as memorable.
Event #1: I caught the train by myself :)
I was heading out to the jewelry making workshop held in Mowbray ( its about a 40 minute train ride).I probably talked about this already but for anyone who didn't read that particular post or simply wasn't paying attention,here goes. Every Wedenesday and Tuesday there is a jewelry making workshop for refugee women,most of whom have converted from Islam.The workshop is an opportunity for them to fellowship with other women like themselves as well as earn some income from the jewelry they make ( the necklaces they make are absolutely beautiful and are sold in shops locally and at churches overseas).This is a cool ministry because it is based on relationships and discipleship yet it offers something practical,a way to make money.
Right,back to the train ride,apparently I can pass for a South African so that definitely helped me to not feel so conspicuous.But I think that was totally canceled out by the fact that I had no idea when and where my stop was, every time the train stopped I was practically breaking my neck off to see if A.there was even a sign saying where we were and B.where we were... not very inconspicuous behaviour.But thank God I got where I was going in one piece..mininmal trauma.
Why is this a big deal you may ask? Well, South Africa has quite a crime problem...I don't feel unsafe,but at the same you have to be very cautious and in the back if my head I was thinking "o gosh someone is going to know I'm not from here and try to mug me".Another interesting thing about the train system here are the divisions between first class and second class carriages. From what I have gathered, under Apartheid the whites traveled first class and everyone else on second, and from what I have observed its still very much like that today.I travel third class because it seems like the most normal thing for a person my complexion to do,plus its safer...there are always more people on third class,the class of the masses I suppose.
Event #2: I did a dance,woooo hoo
I don't think I ever stop being amazed at the freedom I've found in knowing Jesus,I mean there are still things I'm a bit skeptical of doing but for the most part I am no longer afraid of people,of their opinions and strange looks.
Last Wedenesday I was asked if I could do a dance for the women's Bible study the following day,my first response ( mentally at least) was nooooo way,you can't be serious.I like to dance but the thought of doing a solo piece at such short notice was downright terrifying.But it was put forward as a challenge,I generally don't like challenges but in the past I have found that there's no better way to see God move in your life than to accept a challenge, a challenge that you know you can't complete in your own strength.So I accepted the challenge and prayed that God was use me to be a blessing,more importantly this dance was to be an act of worship.When you make something an act of worship the pressure and nervousness goes away,its not about you anymore,its about God..biggin Him up by any means available to you. So Thursday I did my dance, and I wasn't afraid...it may seem small but for me that was a majour God thing.Its funny because yesterday, a week later a lady who was there asked me if that was my ministry..all I could do is smile.
Event # 3: I visited an Sibongile
I confess that I had heard of this orphanage but had made no attempt to go there in my first week and a half,I was scared,scared of what I would see,scared of how I would feel. Its not just an ordinary orphanage,its an orphanage for children suffering from Cerebral Palsy in a township called Kheylitsha (http://www.sibongile.org/en/). I just didn't know what to expect.Well by the second week I definitely felt this was somewhere God wanted me to go to,soooo I sucked it up and went. I'm not going to lie to you,it was hard...I'm not going to tell you that I went there and had warm fuzzy feelings,I went there and my heart just broke.To relate to those children was not something that I could do in my own strength,most of them can't speak or walk,some were fed through tubes in their stomachs.I felt so utterly powerless and started to question why God would allow children to live like that...the day went very slowly.But it was pretty in the endrewarding to realise that I could put a smile on their faces,I sang Sunday School songs to this one girl and her face just lit up...or just smiling could get you a smile in return.It was challenging but I can't get those children out of my head.
I was telling my mum about this and she reassured me that its not about us but its about the Holy Spirit being able to touch these children,so true because at the end of the day what are our physical bodies except something that will eventually deteriorate and shut down.The state of your body does not dictate the state of your soul.
And on a more positive note,they will be receiving help from a physiotherapist.Some of the children should be able to improve with the necessary therapy and attention.Our biggest trump card though is this, we can pray for healing,God is still a God of miracles.
Those were some highlights from last week,this week has been a lot of meetings, missionaries are not exempt from meetings believe it or not.{ fellow YWAMers would relate to his).Some cool connections are coming out of them though and exciting things are on the horizon,so I'll keep you posted.
Till next time.
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