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

Final Canada Tour Dates!

Hey everyone,
My time in Canada is quickly coming to an end. I'm going to be making a final tour to cover the main areas. I want to see you so please contact me and we'll try to get together before I head back to Afreeka. This is a tentative schedule for my last weeks:

July 18 - 20 -- Lloydmonster
July 20 - 24 -- Saskatoon
July 24 - 28 -- Calgary
July 29 - 30 -- Lloydmonster
July 30 - 02 -- Goodsoil (Family Reunion)
Aug 2 - 5 -- Calgary
Aug 5 - 7 -- Sky Abyss
Aug 7 - South Africa

Much Love.

Bernice

Today I met Bernice.
It's funny the way these things happen. I saw this woman stumbling down the street. I was going to continue walking down the alley as I was but found myself pulling a U-turn (on my feet of course). As she heard my footsteps, she turned around and said "Can you help me?" I said, "Yes I can". We walked for a while and talked. She told me a bit about her story but continued to say in between tears and long periods of eyes-closed silence, "It's a hard life".
And now I'm burdened by the question, "What can be done for these people?" They are literally lost, with no place to call home and no place to go. Sometimes I wish I had my own house. I doubt my family would appreciate me bringing over strays for lunch and allowing them to take a nap on the couch after. Bernice seemed very tired and said she can't remember the last time she slept longer than 15 minutes.
Sure I can buy her Combo "A" and a Ginger Ale, tell her she's beautiful, and pray for her as she sobs in my arms, but .... what can be done?

We have to Believe it

It's much easier to spread the Love when we believe it ourselves.

I still think of and pray often for my friend Hank. I've been thinking a lot about how this evangelism thing is easier than we think.

Today I walked home through City Hall (like every day) and stopped to chat with three people I saw drinking along the side of a building. We talked about many things. I told them about Africa, they told me about street life, and for some reason, the conversation always steers towards God. Two are believers, one isn't. I talked to them about cleaning up and about how much God loves us. I think I even used the example that God loved that woman just as much as he loved Obama, the way they are right now. They desperately wanted me to pray for them and so I did. We talked about church after and two of them plan to show up Sunday morning. I hope they do! I told them I'd treat them to lunch after. We'll see what happens, but I'll pray earnestly for their arrival.

We must believe what we say. If there is no truth in our words, there is no light in our words. And it's the light that casts away darkness. The Spirit can't use idle words. Our words are only transformational if we speak them boldly and we honestly believe them!

And evangelism isn't about "saving souls", like it's some kind of rat race. It's about allowing people to experience the life Christ intended for us! Life in communion with Him. It's full of love, joy, peace, and hope. One thing our world is missing right now is HOPE. We talk about oil spills, drug lords in Jamaica, Aids in Africa, outrageous numbers of suicides on reserves, and there seems to be no point. Our world is a disaster. We need to hope.

It's funny. One of the men I met really wants to help support me in Africa. He wants to find me on Monday to give me $50 when he gets his cheque and even in the summer, he wants to raise money at a Pow Wow for me. He wanted to know how to get a hold of me by that time and I really didn't have an answer for him so the best we could come up with is sending a smoke signal.

Half of what is mine is yours

Today I went for lunch at BPs. I had the most delicious buffalo chicken sandwich. I never steer away from it and try anything else, it's just too good. It's a very large sandwich and I usually eat the whole thing. I just can't stop eating it. But afterwards I hurt and immediately regret my impulsive decision. Today I ate only half of it and boxed the other half.

Today I also met Hank. Well Hank is his street name he says. His real name is Henry. I met him walking home from school. He stopped me and asked for a quarter. I did my usual, "Sorry I have no money" but we continued to talk. He told me he's a lone ranger, originally from Battleford. Between his slurred speech and drooling he also told me he's 57 and I also heard the word "hungry" somewhere in there. Perfect, I thought! I have half a sandwich. I gave it to him and he seemed excited. But he told me not to worry about him because he's a survivor. He went to a Residential School, been through two divorces and travelled all over alone. When I asked if he had kids he immediately broke down and cried, telling me he had a son but the police found him frozen just outside of Saskatoon ten years ago. My heart sank. I asked him if I could pray for him and he tried to brush me off, saying he was fine. But he never left. He then let me pray for him and in the middle of the School Division parking lot, as people walked past, I prayed for him. We kissed and hugged and talked some more and said good-bye a hundred times but never seemed to be able to leave.

Half of what is mine is yours.

John was speaking to a crowd, and after he called them all vipers, they asked, "What should we do then?" John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." (Luke 3:11)

People interpret this many ways. But I say, if you have a whole buffalo chicken sandwich, half of it doesn't belong to you.

Letter from George

We will never understand God or His love if we do not love our neighbour actively, and we will never love our neighbour actively and regardless unless we understand the love of God. We do not have the capacity to love our neighbour with our own love. We can have sympathy and even try to care but we cannot love without God. God is love. The first sign of dead religion is running from this love (to practise it) and replace it with rules and commands. This also will never work and is done out of guilt. The only love that will last is love from God. With that love we can love our enemies and we can love when it is not appreciated.

Henri Nouwen wrote in Open Hands, “It is hard to bear with people who stand still along the way, lose heart, and seek their happiness in little pleasures which they cling to... You feel sad about all that self-indulgence and self satisfaction, for you know with an indestructible certainty that something greater is coming...” Luke 9:25 says, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” C S Lewis said (my own words) “men and women who really changed the world are people who thought about the next world the most. People who think about this world and its pleasures spend their time to be as happy as they can in this world.”

John Piper asked this question, ”If you could have heaven with no sickness, and with all your friends, and all the food you like, and all the leisure activities, and all the physical pleasures, and no human conflict, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?” What a tough question for many!! Paul writes, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

Love only starts when you discover and acknowledge who you are and where Christ met you – in your condition. I studied theology and listened to many wise people on grace and yet I had no clue because I never saw myself. When I met Niki I saw myself and asked God why me? Why her? That is grace!! Out of that understanding we are compelled to love. Not commanded, not out of guilt but out of a deep sense of gratitude. What kind of God will do that – Phil 2? David Livingstone once said, “People said I made sacrifices in Africa... they must not talk like that I never made a sacrifice. We ought not to talk of sacrifice when we remember the great sacrifice which He made who left His Father’s throne on high to give Himself for us.”

Now Hands is saying our testimony is that we defy the rules of culture and perception. We believe Africa need outsiders and outsiders need Africa. We believe submitting to each other and servanthood and giving up rights and the “us and them” attitude. Although many bad things were written about Christians (and rightly so) we believe there were amazing communities living out the Mount Sermon principles. Radical love! Are we there? Are we sinless? No but we believe! We aspire and dream if not us then the next generation. We refuse to let the stinking world and materialism and peer pressures tell us what is important! We believe in the parable of the man who found the great treasure and sold EVERYTHING to buy that field. We challenge and defy the world telling us to gather and out of security to give a little! We rather face uncertainty and criticism with those that we serve. We chose Christ unashamedly and in a world where it is so unpopular to trust Him we will should it out... mostly by what we do... but we will shout it out!
-George Snyman