It’s been far too long and I apoligize. It’s not easy to blog. Sometimes I don’t think what I write would be of any interest to anyone. But here’s an update.
Since Zambia I’ve found myself incredibly busy with the office in Bushbuckridge. We did a Pastor’s training, countless workshops, and much planning for 2010. We had a team from the UK for 10 days and it was a very positive experience. Right now I’m hosting a team from First Assembly Church in Calgary and praying it is positive as well. There are two people that began working with our Bushbuckridge team, Pontso from Lesotho and Kennedy from Zambia, and I’ve spent a lot of time helping them to understand Hands, involve them, and training them up to take on some roles of their own. It’s been incredibly exhausting but the fruit will be very impacting and probably really juicy and delicious.
It’s been confirmed! I’m going to Nigeria Nov 24-Dec 8. I’m so so excited! I’ll finally be doing community school work. There are three areas we work in: Lagos, Kano, Ibadan. There are multiple community schools that we’ve started up in each area within the slums. I’ll be assessing the schools and then doing a workshop for the teachers based on what I see. It’s really strange going through teacher training manuals and reading up on assessment & evaluation, teaching methods, learning profiles etc. It’s been a while since I’ve even thought about being a teacher, so this is really exciting. The other day I did a workshop with one of the communities and felt so much like a teacher and was SO excited and realized how much I LOVE teaching. Nigeria will be an interesting place though. Basically it holds ¼ of Africa’s entire population and they really want to be like America, so… it’ll be interesting.
On the note of teaching, I’ve reactivated my subbing contract with Holy Rosary and am already getting booked for dates upon my arrival home. I’m pretty excited about that too.
I organized Canadian Thanksgiving once again this year and it was a HUGE success. There were approximately 50 people there. We even found turkey this year, so that’s a plus. Will and I baked a butt-load of pumpkin pies (made out of carrots). They were delicious but it honestly took us until 10:30 pm, which was unfortunate. I also organized Halloween this year. We didn’t do it last year. We bought lots of candy, made popcorn balls, and rented movies. We rented this one movie called Trick’r’Treat. It was kind of scary, kind of awkward, and kind of a lot of things. But perfect for Halloween, I guess. I dressed as Peter Pan. Classic. But my tights were too itchy so I really only resided in Neverland for 30 minutes. Other people dressed as Simon Peter (not bad), Granny (pretty good), a recreational golfer (laaame Jed), a missionary (bruuuutal Brooke). There were a ton of people. [Insert Canadian sarcasm] Not the best party I’ve ever put together. Need to seriously take this one back to the PPC.
I stayed in BBR all last week and it was great! But I somehow came down with something. I haven’t had a voice since Friday. Greasy.
I LOVE HEROES! I just discovered how awesome the show is. I crushed season 1 and 2 recently. It’s the kind of show that you feel like you’re in and even though you stop watching it, you look around and wonder what kind of powers everyone has and feel like you could just start flying or stopping time.
Speaking of shows, I just finished Season 5 of the Office. Congrats Jim & Pam!!!
On Saturday is Levy and Prag’s wedding. I’m pretty excited. I’m a bridesmaid and if you know anything about African weddings, it’s not an easy task. We’ve been rehearsing for over a month now. You don’t just walk up the aisle, you dance, so we’ve been learning all the steps. We got Zambian outfits made and it’s going to be the party of the year. But Prag is making me grow my nails out, straighten my hair, wax my legs and wear make-up. Barf.
Lastly I’d like to give a shout out to my brother, Rob, for running for mayor of Lloydmonster. I heard you did well and spoke well and I was rooting for you! I’m sorry to hear you didn’t make the cut.
Love and miss you all! Only 6 weeks!
Kristal Dawn
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
just pick one
I have so many stories to tell. Spending a month in Zambia makes it inevitable. I don’t even know where to begin. Which kind would you like?
Maybe a story of a girl named Elizabeth who destroyed me while I stared into her big, sad eyes then, days later, gave me hope as she smiled into mine.
Maybe a story of surviving in a grass hut deep in the wild African bush, dodging hippos and following lions on foot.
Maybe a story about a shunned man who sacrificed his own. Or perhaps I need to add onto that story the way I ignored God’s prompt for me to talk to him and the way I denied this man the opportunity to receive something big from God. But then I’d also have to add that it eats me inside weeks later.
But maybe I could tell a story about two of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met.
Or I could tell a story that one just doesn’t tell home about. Oh right, forget about it.
But then I could tell a story of the way God is revealing so much to me about the power of His Son and the way my heart just leaps when I think of this hope that anchors my soul.
Or I could tell a story of a humbling moment when a widow named Beauty wrapped her shawl around me, looked into my eyes and called me a Mother of this Nation.
Did I mention the story about the wild African bush and the hippo staring at me, his big eyes going “BLINK BLINK?” I think so.
Maybe a story about saying good-bye to 80 weeping and wailing children, getting on the bus only to find something is wrong with the bus and sitting staring for 20 minutes longer at these, let me emphasize, weeping and wailing children.
Or the story about the day I received a big fat bag of Hint of Lime chips. Sigh.
Or a story about my miracle phone. The story is something along the lines of driving deep into the bush, peeing on the side of the road, losing my phone, and then finding it again two days later.
Oh, don’t forget to let me tell you the story about how God is the greatest romance of my life. It’s a good one.
PS - It’s late at night and I find myself missing home terribly but strangely content. Lying on my bed, listening to a Vinyl Café story talk about jock straps, hockey, and Canadian Tire, eating Nerds, looking at a beautifully written letter typed on a sheet ripped out of a magazine, I can’t help but be so thankful for incredible friends.
Thank you.
Maybe a story of a girl named Elizabeth who destroyed me while I stared into her big, sad eyes then, days later, gave me hope as she smiled into mine.
Maybe a story of surviving in a grass hut deep in the wild African bush, dodging hippos and following lions on foot.
Maybe a story about a shunned man who sacrificed his own. Or perhaps I need to add onto that story the way I ignored God’s prompt for me to talk to him and the way I denied this man the opportunity to receive something big from God. But then I’d also have to add that it eats me inside weeks later.
But maybe I could tell a story about two of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met.
Or I could tell a story that one just doesn’t tell home about. Oh right, forget about it.
But then I could tell a story of the way God is revealing so much to me about the power of His Son and the way my heart just leaps when I think of this hope that anchors my soul.
Or I could tell a story of a humbling moment when a widow named Beauty wrapped her shawl around me, looked into my eyes and called me a Mother of this Nation.
Did I mention the story about the wild African bush and the hippo staring at me, his big eyes going “BLINK BLINK?” I think so.
Maybe a story about saying good-bye to 80 weeping and wailing children, getting on the bus only to find something is wrong with the bus and sitting staring for 20 minutes longer at these, let me emphasize, weeping and wailing children.
Or the story about the day I received a big fat bag of Hint of Lime chips. Sigh.
Or a story about my miracle phone. The story is something along the lines of driving deep into the bush, peeing on the side of the road, losing my phone, and then finding it again two days later.
Oh, don’t forget to let me tell you the story about how God is the greatest romance of my life. It’s a good one.
PS - It’s late at night and I find myself missing home terribly but strangely content. Lying on my bed, listening to a Vinyl Café story talk about jock straps, hockey, and Canadian Tire, eating Nerds, looking at a beautifully written letter typed on a sheet ripped out of a magazine, I can’t help but be so thankful for incredible friends.
Thank you.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The Real Africa
Mulishani from Zambia!
Before I get into it, my phone number while I’m in Zambia is +260 96 858 3910. I’m pretty sure it’s dialed the same as my South Africa number, so from Canada, dial: 011 260 96 858 3910. If that doesn’t work, e-mail and let me know so I can figure it out. Or perhaps you can just google it.
I arrived here finally on Sunday. Let me tell you, it was hectic.
I spent the entire week before coming to Zambia in Bushbuckridge with a woman named Grace in the village of Delani. I wrote about her earlier. It was such an incredible and inspiring time. I’m trying to decide how much include on this blog. Brace yourselves, I think it’s going to be long. She is a widow; her husband died a couple years ago from Aids and as she tells me the stories, she brings me to tears and I can tell it is still so fresh and so painful. She lives with her three children (Memory, Mordeca, and the second born which I can’t remember the name) and her husband’s youngest brother (I’m awful at this name game today). The second born was not around the entire time I was there, as he ran off to the initiation school without his mother’s permission. The initiation school is another topic of discussion, but basically they spend 3 months in the bush learning how to be a man. They miss 3 months of school and most can never catch up. Every day I walked from Delani to Hluvukani to catch the taxi with a man named Petrus. It is about a 4 km walk each way. He is an inspiring man as well. Sometimes I feel so discouraged in South Africa with the behaviour of men. I always thought it was not a stereotype if there were no exceptions. But Petrus is an exception. He works at the clinic with disabled people and also pastors a church. But unlike all other pastors who insist on not having a name, but rather “Pastor”, he ensures he is referred to as “Brother”. One thing that really stood out to me when we walked together is his love for children. I also found this rare. He would greet children as they passed. Greet children. This is a concept also foreign to me with South African men. But Petrus, he is different. I found a new love for South Africa and the work I’m doing. When people like these exist in the communities, I know why I am here.
I left Bushbuckridge on Friday and returned home by 4:00 pm. I busied my butt in the office getting everything settled before I left, hung out with some dear friends, and then packed until 2:00 am. I woke at 4:30 am to head off to Nelspruit to catch the bus to Johannesburg, not knowing that I was heading towards a very frustrating and (now) comical day.
My bus arrived a little late to the airport. I was scheduled to leave at 12:20 pm and arrived only at 10:00 am. The gates close an hour before the flight. The airport in Jo’burg is chaos and big and, I think, poorly organized. So I struggled to find where the heck I was going. I got to the check-in finally and they couldn’t bring up my ticket. I was at the wrong check-in and wasn’t flying with South Africa Airways, but South Africa Airways Airlink. I got to the right check-in and the woman couldn’t find my booking. She asked another woman and she couldn’t find my booking as well. They sent me to the ticket counter and told me to get my … e-something or other. So I went and the woman found my booking but said it was cancelled. (Okay, please let me reiterate I arrived at 10:00 and the gate closes at 11:20 for my flight). The woman said the booking was cancelled because it never got paid. When I booked the ticket I told the travel agent to charge it to Hands’ account, but I guess Hands never paid it. She re-booked it and said I can still have it but will have to pay. I gave her my card. Declined. I could feel a knot in my throat forming, the kind when tears are preparing to come. I searched around for a FNB (my bank in South Africa) to check how much money I had. I went to the ATM – Out of Order – so I had to stand in the line to get to the teller. The ticket cost R4,500. I had R4,000. The day before I had spent R900 on a coordinators meeting that Pepfar is to reimburse me for and a week before I had lent out R3,000. Pity. Oh, I also had no airtime for my phone, so that made things difficult too. I called Lynn and asked him to quickly drive to a FNB and deposit R500. That way it is instantly in my account. Now it was about 30 minutes before the gate closed. Lynn finally deposited the money, but it is too late. It was 11:20. I asked the woman about the next flight. It left the next morning. I asked to book that flight but now it cost R4,900. LUCKILY, Lynn deposited R1,200 so I could pay for the ticket and have R300 leftover. Now I have to figure out where to stay in Jo’burg until tomorrow. Again, luckily (for me but not for them) Lynn and Jayme were spending the weekend in Jo’burg to celebrate Jayme’s birthday and their 6th anniversary. They said I can join them on their anniversary celebrations and stay with them, but I needed to get a shuttle to Pretoria. I went to the shuttle place and the shuttle cost R480. I only had R300. I could feel the knot all day, now my eyes began feeling a little moist. I asked another lady and she tried to help. She brought me in her little office and grabbed a man. The man said he could take me. I said I now just need to go to Sandton (an area in Jo’burg). The lady said she will get her driver since I don’t need to go to Pretoria anymore. This made the man mad because he really wanted to take me. They argued over me a little bit and the man sounded desperate to take me. He said he can take me for R300. I’m feeling a little sketched out at this point, a little stressed out, and ready for a break down. They both stared at me awaiting my decision. I asked the man what he is driving (I just got a sketchy feeling from him). He said it was a shuttle, but I assumed it was a taxi. Jo’burg is dangerous and taking taxi’s also dangerous. I asked him if I was the only one going or if he had other passengers. He said I was the only one. I told him I didn’t feel comfortable going with him alone. He gave me a look like I was crazy. Jayme called and I tried to explain the situation to her, in code, while the two stared at me. She said her and Lynn will just pick me up. The man left the room and then I just broke down and cried in front of the shuttle lady. I was a sad case.
But I spent the evening with Lynn and Jayme, watched some live music (a Nigerian guy who had a sound similar to Ben Harper), and ate great food. I feel bad I joined them on their Anniversary night, but very appreciative of their generous and hospitable character.
I finally arrived to Zambia and it’s beautiful. It’s safe! I can walk around alone! I don’t live in a prison! I spent some time with Jessie before she left, visited some communities, and began preparations for my church team to arrive. I also got to visit Ben and Alicia, my old youth pastors from Lloyd. They are currently in Luanshya (where I am) with an organization called FCE. It was awesome! SO good to catch up and so crazy to catch up in Africa together. Very random. But I’ll be seeing them again on Saturday before they head off.
I’ll stop here. Sorry it was long, but there was a lot to tell.
I’ll be in Zambia until September 3, so feel free to call.
Love you all.
Before I get into it, my phone number while I’m in Zambia is +260 96 858 3910. I’m pretty sure it’s dialed the same as my South Africa number, so from Canada, dial: 011 260 96 858 3910. If that doesn’t work, e-mail and let me know so I can figure it out. Or perhaps you can just google it.
I arrived here finally on Sunday. Let me tell you, it was hectic.
I spent the entire week before coming to Zambia in Bushbuckridge with a woman named Grace in the village of Delani. I wrote about her earlier. It was such an incredible and inspiring time. I’m trying to decide how much include on this blog. Brace yourselves, I think it’s going to be long. She is a widow; her husband died a couple years ago from Aids and as she tells me the stories, she brings me to tears and I can tell it is still so fresh and so painful. She lives with her three children (Memory, Mordeca, and the second born which I can’t remember the name) and her husband’s youngest brother (I’m awful at this name game today). The second born was not around the entire time I was there, as he ran off to the initiation school without his mother’s permission. The initiation school is another topic of discussion, but basically they spend 3 months in the bush learning how to be a man. They miss 3 months of school and most can never catch up. Every day I walked from Delani to Hluvukani to catch the taxi with a man named Petrus. It is about a 4 km walk each way. He is an inspiring man as well. Sometimes I feel so discouraged in South Africa with the behaviour of men. I always thought it was not a stereotype if there were no exceptions. But Petrus is an exception. He works at the clinic with disabled people and also pastors a church. But unlike all other pastors who insist on not having a name, but rather “Pastor”, he ensures he is referred to as “Brother”. One thing that really stood out to me when we walked together is his love for children. I also found this rare. He would greet children as they passed. Greet children. This is a concept also foreign to me with South African men. But Petrus, he is different. I found a new love for South Africa and the work I’m doing. When people like these exist in the communities, I know why I am here.
I left Bushbuckridge on Friday and returned home by 4:00 pm. I busied my butt in the office getting everything settled before I left, hung out with some dear friends, and then packed until 2:00 am. I woke at 4:30 am to head off to Nelspruit to catch the bus to Johannesburg, not knowing that I was heading towards a very frustrating and (now) comical day.
My bus arrived a little late to the airport. I was scheduled to leave at 12:20 pm and arrived only at 10:00 am. The gates close an hour before the flight. The airport in Jo’burg is chaos and big and, I think, poorly organized. So I struggled to find where the heck I was going. I got to the check-in finally and they couldn’t bring up my ticket. I was at the wrong check-in and wasn’t flying with South Africa Airways, but South Africa Airways Airlink. I got to the right check-in and the woman couldn’t find my booking. She asked another woman and she couldn’t find my booking as well. They sent me to the ticket counter and told me to get my … e-something or other. So I went and the woman found my booking but said it was cancelled. (Okay, please let me reiterate I arrived at 10:00 and the gate closes at 11:20 for my flight). The woman said the booking was cancelled because it never got paid. When I booked the ticket I told the travel agent to charge it to Hands’ account, but I guess Hands never paid it. She re-booked it and said I can still have it but will have to pay. I gave her my card. Declined. I could feel a knot in my throat forming, the kind when tears are preparing to come. I searched around for a FNB (my bank in South Africa) to check how much money I had. I went to the ATM – Out of Order – so I had to stand in the line to get to the teller. The ticket cost R4,500. I had R4,000. The day before I had spent R900 on a coordinators meeting that Pepfar is to reimburse me for and a week before I had lent out R3,000. Pity. Oh, I also had no airtime for my phone, so that made things difficult too. I called Lynn and asked him to quickly drive to a FNB and deposit R500. That way it is instantly in my account. Now it was about 30 minutes before the gate closed. Lynn finally deposited the money, but it is too late. It was 11:20. I asked the woman about the next flight. It left the next morning. I asked to book that flight but now it cost R4,900. LUCKILY, Lynn deposited R1,200 so I could pay for the ticket and have R300 leftover. Now I have to figure out where to stay in Jo’burg until tomorrow. Again, luckily (for me but not for them) Lynn and Jayme were spending the weekend in Jo’burg to celebrate Jayme’s birthday and their 6th anniversary. They said I can join them on their anniversary celebrations and stay with them, but I needed to get a shuttle to Pretoria. I went to the shuttle place and the shuttle cost R480. I only had R300. I could feel the knot all day, now my eyes began feeling a little moist. I asked another lady and she tried to help. She brought me in her little office and grabbed a man. The man said he could take me. I said I now just need to go to Sandton (an area in Jo’burg). The lady said she will get her driver since I don’t need to go to Pretoria anymore. This made the man mad because he really wanted to take me. They argued over me a little bit and the man sounded desperate to take me. He said he can take me for R300. I’m feeling a little sketched out at this point, a little stressed out, and ready for a break down. They both stared at me awaiting my decision. I asked the man what he is driving (I just got a sketchy feeling from him). He said it was a shuttle, but I assumed it was a taxi. Jo’burg is dangerous and taking taxi’s also dangerous. I asked him if I was the only one going or if he had other passengers. He said I was the only one. I told him I didn’t feel comfortable going with him alone. He gave me a look like I was crazy. Jayme called and I tried to explain the situation to her, in code, while the two stared at me. She said her and Lynn will just pick me up. The man left the room and then I just broke down and cried in front of the shuttle lady. I was a sad case.
But I spent the evening with Lynn and Jayme, watched some live music (a Nigerian guy who had a sound similar to Ben Harper), and ate great food. I feel bad I joined them on their Anniversary night, but very appreciative of their generous and hospitable character.
I finally arrived to Zambia and it’s beautiful. It’s safe! I can walk around alone! I don’t live in a prison! I spent some time with Jessie before she left, visited some communities, and began preparations for my church team to arrive. I also got to visit Ben and Alicia, my old youth pastors from Lloyd. They are currently in Luanshya (where I am) with an organization called FCE. It was awesome! SO good to catch up and so crazy to catch up in Africa together. Very random. But I’ll be seeing them again on Saturday before they head off.
I’ll stop here. Sorry it was long, but there was a lot to tell.
I’ll be in Zambia until September 3, so feel free to call.
Love you all.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Living Truth airs again
Last year, a church in Toronto came and recorded some of the work Hands is doing in South Africa and Mozambique. They shared the stories of a couple families from each country. They came back again this year to film new stories in Zimbabwe and Mozambique but also to give an update on where the families from last year are now. I would highly suggest watching the Zimbabwe stories. Zim is an incredibly difficult country, as I'm sure you have all heard in the news.
The two families from South Africa are in Bushbuckridge, the area I'm coordinating. I spent a great deal of time preparing for them to do the second filming.
Please watch so you can have a little bit of an insight of what's happening here!!
Dates for broadcast are as follows:
Oct 11 Mozambique
Oct 18 Zimbabwe and South Africa updates
You can check out www.livingtruth.ca for specific broadcast times. Please send this on to your friends at home who have the opportunity to watch.
For Albertans it looks like it will be broadcast on CTS at 4pm MST, but just test this before advertising.
Thanks for your interest and support of this exciting event!
The two families from South Africa are in Bushbuckridge, the area I'm coordinating. I spent a great deal of time preparing for them to do the second filming.
Please watch so you can have a little bit of an insight of what's happening here!!
Dates for broadcast are as follows:
Oct 11 Mozambique
Oct 18 Zimbabwe and South Africa updates
You can check out www.livingtruth.ca for specific broadcast times. Please send this on to your friends at home who have the opportunity to watch.
For Albertans it looks like it will be broadcast on CTS at 4pm MST, but just test this before advertising.
Thanks for your interest and support of this exciting event!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
A Glimpse of the Future...
DATE 15JULY09
HANDS AT WORK
GADSBY/KRISTAL MS
PO BOX 3534 WHITE RIVER MPUMALANGA
SOUTH AFRICA
1240
SERVICE DATE FROM TO DEPART ARRIVE
NORTHWEST AIRLINES 16DEC JOHANNESBURG AMSTERDAM 0005 1020
NW 8422 WEDNESDAY O.R. TAMBO INT SCHIPHOL
Q ECONOMY AIRCRAFT: BOEING 777-200/300
KL 0592 FLIGHT OPERATED BY KL KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLIN
RESERVATION CONFIRMED
NORTHWEST AIRLINES 16DEC AMSTERDAM MINNEAPOLIS MN 1530 1750
NW 55 WEDNESDAY SCHIPHOL ST PAUL INTL
Q ECONOMY AIRCRAFT: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A330-300
RESERVATION CONFIRMED
NORTHWEST AIRLINES 16DEC MINNEAPOLIS MN CALGARY AB 2140 2343
NW 1541 WEDNESDAY ST PAUL INTL CALGARY INTL
Q ECONOMY AIRCRAFT: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A319
RESERVATION CONFIRMED
HANDS AT WORK
GADSBY/KRISTAL MS
PO BOX 3534 WHITE RIVER MPUMALANGA
SOUTH AFRICA
1240
SERVICE DATE FROM TO DEPART ARRIVE
NORTHWEST AIRLINES 16DEC JOHANNESBURG AMSTERDAM 0005 1020
NW 8422 WEDNESDAY O.R. TAMBO INT SCHIPHOL
Q ECONOMY AIRCRAFT: BOEING 777-200/300
KL 0592 FLIGHT OPERATED BY KL KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLIN
RESERVATION CONFIRMED
NORTHWEST AIRLINES 16DEC AMSTERDAM MINNEAPOLIS MN 1530 1750
NW 55 WEDNESDAY SCHIPHOL ST PAUL INTL
Q ECONOMY AIRCRAFT: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A330-300
RESERVATION CONFIRMED
NORTHWEST AIRLINES 16DEC MINNEAPOLIS MN CALGARY AB 2140 2343
NW 1541 WEDNESDAY ST PAUL INTL CALGARY INTL
Q ECONOMY AIRCRAFT: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A319
RESERVATION CONFIRMED
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Nokuzola
If you've kept up with my blogs, you should know Nokuzola.
Please pray for her.
Her granny just passed away unexpectedly. Nokuzola was staying with her granny and her little sister Daphney (8). Now that Zola is studying away from home, we're not sure what's going to happen with Daphney and with the house.
Please pray for her.
Her granny just passed away unexpectedly. Nokuzola was staying with her granny and her little sister Daphney (8). Now that Zola is studying away from home, we're not sure what's going to happen with Daphney and with the house.
Amazing Grace
I've struggled for the last few months. I've struggled because I miss home but also because it seems like when moving forward there are way more problems and issues than there are successes. Sometimes I wonder if there is any point to what I'm doing.
And then I meet women like Grace.
She's coordinating a village in the Bushbuckridge area. I went to visit her today to see how everything is going. They started a feeding point a couple months ago and have recently developed a large garden to cook at the feeding point and to give vegetables for children to take home.
When I went to see her garden, it exhausted me looking at it because it is so big, the ground is so hard, and because I know trying to get water is a nightmare. I was very encouraged to see an old mkhulu (grandfather) and young girl working the garden. Grace says the gogos and mkhulus that look after the children work hard in the garden. Also, right after the children eat at the feeding point, they all go to the garden to help fetch water and work the ground.
I asked Grace if she is happy. She says she is very happy and that she can't complain. She says she loves her job because she gets to work with many people and help the children. She says all of us are together, me and her are doing the same job, equally important. She then takes me by the hand and walks away from the garden. She says she's HIV positive. Her husband died of Aids and now she stays alone with her 3 children. She lives openly about her status. All the orphans and care workers know about her status. She says she owes it to the children and it is her responsibility to educate them and care for them.
At the feeding point, the most important thing for her is to bring the children up in the way of the Lord. Before they eat, they pray and share Bible stories. I asked her if she's seen a difference since they began helping the children. She says a BIG difference. The children are happy. They used to have no one to open up to and were shy in the beginning. Now they tell them everything. The children tell her about life at home, their struggles, what makes them sad, what makes them happy. She says there were many who didn't go to church and now they have begun going with her!
I told Grace I'm going to come stay with her.
And then I meet women like Grace.
She's coordinating a village in the Bushbuckridge area. I went to visit her today to see how everything is going. They started a feeding point a couple months ago and have recently developed a large garden to cook at the feeding point and to give vegetables for children to take home.
When I went to see her garden, it exhausted me looking at it because it is so big, the ground is so hard, and because I know trying to get water is a nightmare. I was very encouraged to see an old mkhulu (grandfather) and young girl working the garden. Grace says the gogos and mkhulus that look after the children work hard in the garden. Also, right after the children eat at the feeding point, they all go to the garden to help fetch water and work the ground.
I asked Grace if she is happy. She says she is very happy and that she can't complain. She says she loves her job because she gets to work with many people and help the children. She says all of us are together, me and her are doing the same job, equally important. She then takes me by the hand and walks away from the garden. She says she's HIV positive. Her husband died of Aids and now she stays alone with her 3 children. She lives openly about her status. All the orphans and care workers know about her status. She says she owes it to the children and it is her responsibility to educate them and care for them.
At the feeding point, the most important thing for her is to bring the children up in the way of the Lord. Before they eat, they pray and share Bible stories. I asked her if she's seen a difference since they began helping the children. She says a BIG difference. The children are happy. They used to have no one to open up to and were shy in the beginning. Now they tell them everything. The children tell her about life at home, their struggles, what makes them sad, what makes them happy. She says there were many who didn't go to church and now they have begun going with her!
I told Grace I'm going to come stay with her.
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