Living Hope- South Africa

When Obee laughs...

When Obee laughs, I can’t help but giggle with him

When Obee laughs, the world somehow seems right for once.

When Obee laughs, I am reminded that maybe, just maybe, my time here did make a difference in someone’s life….

It took a while to get Obee to smile. It took about 2 weeks to figure out how to get him to smile at me…he’s ticklish. It took me 3 weeks to get him to voluntarily smile at me and about that amount of time to get him to play with me and some of the other children. By week four he was running up to me as soon as he got there, playing with other kids, and LAUGHING! He also began to actually TALK to me at the end of the week. Today, he laughed more than he even had before. And on top of that, he SPOKE to me…voluntarily! Before I even asked him how is day was or how school went. Maybe I’m not supposed to say this but oh well. About 2 weeks into holiday club, Obee came in not feeling well, and one of the volunteers asked if he had eaten that day; he said no. She asked if he had eaten the night before; he said no. So he ate an apple and then had lunch when we served it. But it broke my heart…he’s so tiny! Then at the beginning of week 4, I randomly asked one of the other children who plays with Obee and I, why he doesn’t talk to anyone. Expecting to hear that he only really speaks Afrikaans, I was shocked when this was her response. “His mommy yells at him and hits him all the time. His daddy too.” ………………………………… What?................................. No………….This can’t be real.

                                                                                                                                                                        

But the reality for SO many children in Capricorn, in Cape Town, and in the whole world is that they don’t know love. Like Obee, it could take them weeks to open up to someone who loves them. It breaks my heart.  I knew that Obee had a trust barrier; that was obvious. But I really hoped it was just that I was WHITE or something haha. It is good, however, to know that Christ has come and can change that. He can love those who don't have it. Whether that be through a Living Hope Life Skill Educator, a church, or some crazy white girl from America, GOD has loved us so that we can Love others; we CAN be the Hands and Feet of God. YOU can help make another little Obee laugh....

Although Obee chose my last day- of all days- to be naughty and get sent home early for the first time EVER, today was a good day. We spent all of ‘play’ time, laughing and talking, and laughing some more. My last day in Capricorn could not have been any sweeter. 

Natalie, Roger, Ilana, Stacy, and Shagmie- all of the Life Skill Educators for Capricorn and it’s connecting township, Overcome Heights,- joined all of us volunteers for some AMAZING ice cream at this place called Sinnful Temptations haha. It was SO wonderful to spend my last Club afternoon with them, even if just for a few minutes. I just love them. If there is one thing I would change about my time here, it is that I just did not spend as much time as I would have liked with the Life Skill Educators and other local volunteers. I’m telling you, they are fabulous. They are the true heroes of Living Right and I have been forever changed by simply knowing them; just being around them for 6 weeks has shown me a little bit more of what it looks like to Follow Jesus. 

I will get to say goodbye on Monday, my last full day here before my plane takes off at 11:55pm. It’s certainly bittersweet. Where I am saddened at the thought of saying goodbye to all the friendships I have built here, I am equally just as excited, if not more excited, to get home and reunite with the friends that I have had since pre-school; The family that I have only seen via computer screen on Skype for 6 weeks. I’m excited to come home and show pictures, tell stories, and have dinners with my friends that turn into sleepovers that don’t last very long because none of us can stay up past 9pm without falling asleep because we are all grandma’s at heart.  To sit on the back porch with my parents in the morning while they drink their halfcaf coffee and I drink my South African rooibos tea, and we swap summer stories. I can’t wait. I absolutely cannot wait. 

 

But for now, I must say that today might have been the best day ever. I got a FULL tour of Living Hope since I was unable to have one when I got here because things were crazy. I am still processing. Again, Living Hope is incredible. No wait. GOD is incredible. Living Hope is just the vessel through which He loves on the people of this city. I had a wonderful last day of Club, as I said earlier. I got to talk with my parents which always makes my day! And I had a much needed conversation with Christy Ridings (among many other wonderful things, Christy is a Univeristy Minister at Belmont- she also basically helped open the door for me to come to South Africa- Thanks Christy!!) that just gave me SUCH a Peace about what this year might look like for me when I go back to school. This week, that has been one of the main things that the Enemy has been taunting me with, so that conversation was definitely ordained by God. I don’t know. Best day ever? Maybe.

I know I said I had exciting news for you yesterday, but yesterday our power in the house decided to go out. I know you think I am probably always making this stuff up, but alas, I am not. And since the power/internet always seems to go out when I make a promise of some kind to blog, I will just tell you the exciting news next time I get a chance!

Praying for you!

To God be the Glory,

AC

6 More Sunsets left...

So, I am sitting in my room watching the sun go down. This is definitely my favorite part of the day. But I only get to watch 6 more sunsets here in South Africa, and that fact is beginning to settle in....bittersweet. As the sun sets, the moon is rising and the stars are coming out from their hiding places. The moon seems so close that I feel as if I could touch it. I'm not trying to be dramatic or anything, I'm just stating a fact. This place is just so beautiful.
As a side note- I'm also wishing I had some good instrumental Celtic hymns in my iTunes...it just fits my mood right now :), but alas, I will just have to settle for Sigur Ros...

Holiday Club ended last Friday with a bang! Living Hope sponsored a HUGE tournament, inviting ALL the children, ages 7 and up, who were consistent at Club to attend. It was a BLAST! Although, all the adults, myself included, agreed that just that ONE day felt like an entire WEEK of Holiday Club at the end of it. It was quite hectic...I think somewhere around 1,000 kids were in attendance. We bused them in from all the townships and of course there were wonderful volunteers from the area that helped out. We hosted soccer and netball tournaments that seemed to go over really well. Capricorn did really well, if I do say so myself. We won in both sports for several different age brackets...Auntie Anna was quite proud to say the least. I stayed with the non-sporting children throughout the day and we went around to different stations and played games, did crafts, had Bible quizzes, etc. Praise God for his faithfulness! It very easily could have rained that day; there was no way of knowing. And so much advanced planning was involved that rain would have just been devastating. God is good. And I believe it is HE who gets the glory for that day. These kids received a day that they may never forget. Hallelujah! 

If you've been keeping up with my recent blogs, then you know that things here in South Africa have been quite chaotic. Xenophobia has had us all on our toes, waiting and watching. It is only our Lord who can be given praise for the lack of violence in the recent days! Threats have been coming for months now, and the fact that nothing has happened is nothing short of an Act of God...seriously. Living Hope is still fully prepared if something were to happen, but my prayer...OUR prayer is that Peace would continue to reign. The police and security around here are fully prepared as well. They have been great about responding quickly to calls placed by locals who are watching for suspicious activity. God is good, yes? Thank you for your prayers! God is listening!

Oh goodness. There is so much to catch you all up on. I have been terrible in the recent weeks about sitting down to share with you. The internet has not helped with that either. Hopefully, some updates will come soon!

Until then, God be with you!

AC

P.S.- I will be sharing some VERY exciting news with you all tomorrow, so be sure to watch for any updates!