Surprise, child! There's a White Lady in your bed!

Ughhh facebook really does not function well here and so I feel I am slowly being weaned off of a drug that I allowed 8 months of fast internet to enslave me. Sometimes all I want to do is put a little status like this:

“Went to church at 6pm Friday night not expecting the service to go until 6am and be put to bed at 1:30am on the floor of the Pastor's home with all the other small children while the adults continued to praise Jesus”

True story. What a crazy night. These Africans know how to party Jesus-style. I must admit, most of it made me feel uncomfortable. Yes there were beautiful moments and powerful moments, but for the most part I felt uncomfortable. This could be a result of Christian culture in North America where we are scared to pray aloud but some of it is also sometimes the type of gospel that is preached and focused on. But I sang and dance and slept well beside a little 4 year-old guy.

The reason I went was to watch one of my previous students, Nokuzola, preach. She has recently received a calling on her life to be a pastor. She was fantastic! Most preachers scream and yell and the congregation cheers and shouts "Amen" even though no logical points are made, but Zola stood up there and taught. She was gentle but strong and connected points well and really knew her stuff. Before she started to preach, she sang a worship song and it was beautiful. I teared up and felt so proud of the woman of God that stood before me.

This week I'm excited. I'm going to Oshoek with a group of fellow Hands people for three days to put on a Church Leaders Workshop. Oshoek is right on the Swaziland border and I hear it's stunning! It's really quite a privilege to be a part of challenging and encouraging pastors to care for orphans and widows. It's also a challenge, because these people know much more about the Bible than I do, so it's more of facilitating discussion on what's happening around the community and the church's role in it than actually training or teaching. These pastors have the solutions, it's just a matter of encouraging them to come up with them and supporting them along the way.

Ever have the feeling like you're being watched? As I write this, there is a monkey hanging on the bars outside the window 2 metres away from me, staring at me.

Red Soil and Black Faces

Well, I guess the first post is to communicate or display that indeed I have arrived alive. Other than that, I’m not sure what to say. I haven’t really been up to much since I’ve been here and one would think that despite not doing anything, there must be tons to say about being in South Africa, but it’s all so familiar to me that it hardly seems like anything significant to write about. But I’ll try.

My flights were good. They seemed short. As soon as I got on the plane I ordered the usual red wine (a missionary’s traveling secret), drank it up, and fell asleep instantly. Helen and Paul gave me sleeping pills that I thought I would try out, so did on the second leg of the journey, but besides the fact that they tasted absolutely awful, I’m pretty sure they did nothing. After quickly arriving in Johannesburg, I waited patiently for 10 hours for Shelly to join me. And join me did she ever! As soon as she came through the doors and saw me, she hopped around, literally, with excitement. Our adventure begins. We drove mostly in the dark to get to the Hands Village in time for George’s birthday party. As soon as we pulled up, my legs were shaking violently. I was excited to see everyone, but for some reason I was terribly nervous.

But it’s been great to reunite with my African family. It honestly doesn’t even feel like I left. The wonderful 8 months I spent at home feels like a breath. There have been changes, as Hands is always changing, but I feel as if I’m slipping right back into where I left off. Sort of. My role here is up for discussion. I’m actually supposed to be meeting with Lynn and Levy today to discuss where I can put my hands. I’ll be staying in South Africa, probably getting involved in similar stuff I was doing before (supporting communities as they strive to care effectively for orphans, widows, and people dying of HIV/Aids) but there is talk of dipping my hands into some new things. Maybe some international team (marketing and advocating), maybe some volunteer stuff (helping to place new volunteers that come in and equipping them for service). It’s all quite exciting.

I had the opportunity already to visit Sesinyana, Nokuzola, and Patricia. All of them are doing very well. Sesinyana and baby Prosperity are looking great! Prosperity even said “Gogo” while I was there, which means Granny. Sesinyana has been working as a server at the country club in White River, which is great. She gets bored easy and loves to be around people. Patricia finished her Social Auxiliary Work program and has been working with Masoyi Home Based Care helping to run the program Winrock, which educates young orphan girls on HIV/Aids and supports them through school, often helping them with school supplies and uniforms. Nokuzola also finished her Social Auxiliary Work program and has recently received a calling on her life to be a pastor. She’s so excited but terrified. It’s so fun to see her talk about it. When she first heard this calling, she responded the same way many of us do when we don’t necessarily want to do what God tells us, “God, WHY are you doing this!?!?” She preaches this weekend at her church so I’m definitely looking forward to seeing her in action.

I’m not exactly sure what the next couple weeks will look like, but I’m sure I’ll get busy very soon. I’m planning next weekend to drive up to Venda to visit the other students in University. I’m also very, very much looking forward to welcoming Todd and Katie here and re-welcoming Morgan!! I can’t even bear it I’m so excited!!!

As much as there are exciting things happening around me, I do miss home terribly
already. I had such a great time at home and this next stint here in Africa will be more difficult than the first. I’m really looking forward to this next while to really develop my gifts and grow in new ways. I’m surrounded by such a beautiful and authentic community of believers and led by such passionate men and women of God. It’s good to be back and contribute to the big things God is doing here.

Please pray that I can get settled in, find the role that I will find most joy in and can be most effective, and also that I can continue to communicate well and journey with my friends and family back home.

Much love to you all!

Kristal

PS – Shelly, you’ll be happy to know the monkeys stole ALL my bananas and made a horrid mess of the kitchen!

ALSO!
Here is my contact information. Feel free to send me letters, e-mails, text messages, or even phone. It is free to receive calls internationally and text messages. Also feel free to give out my blog: www.kristalgadsby.com to anyone you think would be interested in following.

Kristal Gadsby
c/o Hands at Work in Africa
PO Box 3534
White River, South Africa
1240

kristalgadsby@gmail.com OR kristal@handsatwork.org [goes to the same place]

My number is +27 72 183 8626. To call from Canada, dial 011 27 72 183 8626