Gratitude

In light of seeing what many people in the informal settlements live without, these are the things for which I am truly thankful:

> God's unfailing love, grace and mercy
> The love and support of my family
> A steady family income
> A safe and warm place to call home
> Clean running water in the house
> Legal electricity
> Healthy food options
> A refrigerator and stove
> Readily available healthcare
> Good schools for the girls
> Being able to shower and brush my teeth on a regular basis
> Transportation
> Clothes that fit (relatively)
> Shoes without holes
> A bathroom in the house
> Bedrooms

A Little More About Masi...

One thing I was surprised to discover is that many of the people living in informal settlements don't necessarily have an issue living there.  We wonder, how can this be?  Don't they want this?  Don't they want that?  The truth is each of the settlements we visited has a sense of community.  Also, this is the life they have known for some time.  Originally named site 5, residents renamed the settlement Masiphumelele which means we will succeed.  There are some active individuals and groups who are working to make positive change.  The difficult thing is that even though Apartheid has ended the most recent government doesn't necessarily have the best interests of the people in mind.  And, racism is still alive.  It is hard to know how to turn things around.  People need work and there are not enough jobs. Education needs improving.  There is a high rate of substance abuse, child and domestic abuse (physical and sexual), and promiscuity resulting in the spread of HIV.  Living Hope has come alongside several of these settlements to partner with them in HIV/AIDs education and prevention, substance abuse rehabilitation, programs to strengthen families, and programs to provide life and entrepreneurial skills.  And of course they introduce God's redeeming love, grace and mercy which will change a person's life even if they are enduring difficult circumstances.

Home SWEET home

I arrived on my front porch a little after 2 p.m. yesterday.  It was so good to be home.  It was great to see Jeff even though I couldn't get much of a hug since he was on a conference call.   Mojo was able to give me an overly enthusiastic welcome however.  He's definitely grown.  I was thrilled to find him still here considering all his naughty behavior.  Rusty also seemed happy to see me even if he can't show it quite like Mojo.  I had a little bit of time to get unpacked and settled before the girls would be home.  Jeff and the girls did a great job keeping the house in pretty good order.  However, before I was even done unpacking I found myself doing things around the house.

I am extremely blessed to have parents who love me as much as they do.  The prayed with me over the phone before my departure.  They sent me an email message a few hours before I arrived in South Africa.  My mom emailed me again prior to my departure with encouraging words which I know she meant.  However, there was the underlying subtle message of 'call us when you get home!'  Then when I returned home there was a loving message, again which I knew she meant, gently cloaking the message, 'Are you home yet?  You should be home.'  I credit my parents with so much in my life.  I know they have spent more hours praying for my well being than I probably have.  I LOVE you mom & dad!!!!

I was so excited to meet the girls at the bus stop.  We missed each other terribly.  A couple times in Dezi's email messages she said, "I want you home right now."  As they rounded the corner and saw me they ran full speed into my arms.   That was a wonderful moment holding onto my babies who aren't so much babies anymore.  They were very sweet as we were catching up on things…however, I could tell they were scouring the scene to see what might be awaiting them.  Delanie sweetly asked if I had brought other things beside the Rooibos tea she saw piled on the counter.  And of course I did…I can't go on a trip of this magnitude without bringing them some goodies.

It was definitely dinner out last night.  I was fading fast.  After returning home after indulging in pizza we all cleaned up, watched a little MNF, and got ready for bed.  I haven't been to bed before 10 p.m. in a long time.  However, I probably should have tried to stay up a little longer because at 2:45 a.m. my eyes popped open and I was wide awake!  This would have been noon in SA and we would have already put in a half day of volunteering.  I thought about coming downstairs and catching up on email and such, but decided to lie in bed thinking about the trip…and keeping Jeff awake.  When I did get up I checked email and found three of my other teammates were up around 3 a.m. sending messages!!!

I made it to Bible study this morning and sure am glad I did.  We wrapped up the study of David focusing on the 23rd Psalm and it was powerful.  I was also glad to participate in fellowship with the lovely ladies at my table before possibly not seeing them until after the first of the year.  I've allowed myself to kick back this afternoon and not do much, but tomorrow it is back to my normal routine.  However, I will be refocusing and doing all of the things I typically do with more gratitude and appreciation.

Amazing Worship & the Trip Home

Sunday morning we worshipped at the Living Faith Church pastored by Jeremy's cousin, Clive.  It is a church in a Colored community where they speak Afrikaans.  However, the service was given primarily in English…possibly for our benefit.  (I find it difficult to use the Black, Colored and White labels, but this is life in South Africa and unfortunately this is still their reality.

The service was AWESOME!  Jeremy, our guide and amazing man of God, was in the middle of it all. The singing was so passionate and people did not hold their joy in at all…it was pouring out and rising to the heavenly realm.  You just knew God and His angels were smiling.  After church we visited with members of the congregation.  People with beautiful spirits and smiles to match.  I wish we could have visited all day.  I would have never guessed that we had been there almost 3 hours!!!!

After our goodbyes we were off to the airport where we found a bathroom and changed from church clothes to travel clothes.  I don't know if I have ever changed so quickly.  After an emotional goodbye to Jeremy we were on the first leg of our approximately 21-hour return trip.   Now that were were actually on our way I couldn't get home fast enough!

After flying from Capetown to Johannesburg we encountered full force security screenings - first customs, then typical luggage and body scans, then pat downs, and going through each carry on.  Honestly, I have no trouble with the screenings as long we arrive safe and sound at our destination. We had a 1-hour layover in Dakar for refueling just like before, but this time security scoured the plane and we had to take all of our carry on luggage out of the overhead compartments.  It's interesting that coming into Africa the security is a little lax, but leaving to come back to the states in stringent.  I guess they are not overly concerned about our riffraff coming into their country.  I don't understand how people are supposed to sleep on planes in these very confining spaces. I wish I had photos of all the interesting sleep positions we all had.  I didn't sleep much so it may take me a little while to readjust here at home.  I did watch the Notebook as I've heard it is a great movie.  I thought it was okay, but the ending really got me.  I wonder how many people heard me softly sobbing and sniffing!  The nearly 4-hour flight from Washington to Denver seemed like it took forever!  I tried sleeping…didn't happen.  I tried to write thank you notes…I kept making mistakes.  I listened to music…that was good, but it just felt like time had slowed down to a painful crawl.

Packing up

Well, it is 11:30 pm and after a cold and soggy final day we are packed up and ready to return home.  We will attend service at Jeremy's church and then head to the airport.  I'm not really ready for all the time on the plane,  but I am ready to see Jeff and the girls. Still so much to share, but I can't keep my eyes open.  It will have to wait.

 See you all very soon.

Photos

This year we were limited on the photos we could take...which I totally understand.  Living Hope doesn't like the residents of the townships feel like their space and privacy is being exploited.  The team will be compliling all of its photos that we were able to take and I will post a slide show in the near future.  Also some of my photos were taken vertically and I am unable to rotate them right now.

Winding down...

Today is bittersweet.  We served at our last event - a diabetes health screening today at Oceanview, another township.  This particular township is similar to what we may label as the projects.  There are government-built multiple- family dwellings with some shacks and some houses.  This township actually has a very strong community and family feel with generations of families having lived here.  Unfortunately, drugs have seeped into the fabric of the community and is threatening to tear it apart.   The cycle of poverty and employment certainly does not help.

Back to the health screening.  My role today was feet washing.  I met several amazing, beautiful, wise, faithful women.  You don't need money and material items to have diginity, be righteous, and be joyful.  Each woman (and a couple men) were so grateful for the special treat of having their feet washed and I was blessed to serve them.  Serving others can really be all it's cracked up to be.  There were times that some individuals seemed annoyed with us, but I figure that really is their problem and not mine.  I will be praying that attitudes will change and that they can experience joy in their lives.

This afternoon we were able to decompress a little and do some shopping around Capetown.  The architecture is amazing.  We saw the president's former residence and the parliament building.  We also saw a church where Desmond Tutu preached…amazing.  One small part of the church had been turned into a type of Apartheid gallery featuring photos during that time.  It was heart-wrenching to see in black-and-white images the injustices that were perpetrated towards people based on the color of their skin.  The gallery also showcased numerous images of the Black and Colored communities bravely fighting against Apartheid.  We were thinking about heading to the top of Table Mountain (even though with my fear of heights I'd prefer not to) but some major weather has moved in.  The wind really came up and it started raining.  On our way out of the shops a wind burst got us and sent us flying backward several feet.  Crazy.  We are back at the Team House and we are experiencing high winds and terrential rains.  I don't know if I will get much sleep again tonight.  I will be praying for the sun and clear skies tomorrow for a day of site seeing before we have to pack up and prepare to head out Sunday morning.

I have pretty much been getting things down without a lot of introspection.  So now that I have some down time I will be looking back over the week and considering the lessons learned and the blessings I have encountered.  I know there are so many emotions I have yet to share.  It all hasn't hit me quite yet.  Thank you all for you support, encouragement and love.  Your prayers have been received!