I’ve gone into the township (also called the community or
location) a lot more lately. When the team was living in JBay, I went into the St. Francis
Township quite a bit, but barely at all
since I’ve been in PE.
I’ve recently started up Outreach with Firehouse kids and
it’s been really awesome. Last Saturday we went to a place called Lethemba in
the Walmer Township. It is a children’s haven that
is home to about 13 kids at the moment. Andrew and Sarah Buller used to
minister here on a regular basis. As a team, we would refer to it as Doreen’s,
which was the former housemother. And if
my team is reading, yes, she is no longer there. But I went and saw her and she
is good; just resting. She was getting physically sick from working so hard. Eight
Firehouse kids showed up to go into the township last Saturday. We played
Twister with the kids, read books, sang songs, and colored. All of the boys got
“arrested” and placed in the corner about 50 times each. Tristan, our youth
pastor, came with, which was so much fun and I could see that the kids really
appreciated him being right there in the action with them. Everyone had a
blast! In the car on the way home, everyone was very chatty and kept saying how
much they loved it. A few of them gave testimonies at Firehouse that night
about how blessed they were. Many of them have spent very little to no time in
the township and their eyes were opened. They realized that you don’t have to
be spiritual when you go on an outreach, you can be yourself. When we went back
today (Saturday) we got invited to watch a wedding that was taking place just
down the road. It was so fun and so African! It’s so different than the way
Westerners do things. Everyone is invited and everyone is instantly family. Wow…what
beautiful people they are.
A girl called Donna that I mentor and myself went back to
Lethemba on Thursday. Again, we just hung out with the kids and shared life
with them. We didn’t go to read Scriptures to them or pray or anything; we just
wanted them to see they are valuable to us. Donna and I were dancing and
singing and laughing the whole time. It’s times like these that I wish I were
African. I’ll always be the white American girl, and that bothers me. I want to
be part of them. I want to relate better than I do. I want them to see me for
the heart that I have for them.
My favorite story, however, is about another girl that I
mentor called Sam. What an awesome heart this girl has. She comes from an
upper-class English white family and hasn’t been exposed to much diversity. I
guess that is true about many white South Africans; they’re experiences are
limited to what others tell them. One day last week I told Sam she had to get
in the car and come with me somewhere. I didn’t tell her where because I knew
she might freak out. I took her to the township to see what life is like and to
visit some friends there. We visited with a few people in their home, and also
went to the children’s haven. I really think Sam was blown away. She wrote me
an awesome message the following day. She said:
hey leah i just wanna say thank you so much for taking me to the
township yesterday. I realised people have pre-conceived ideas about things and
because of the ideas we have, we become afraid of going places all because someone
told us something about that place… but I tell you, we all need to stop
thinking the way we do and start taking risks and living it up because
seriously, Walmer township was totally different and I actually felt safe there
because that’s the way everyone else feels there and that is safe!! Fine, I
might be surrounded by scary people, but they will not harm me because just
like them, I AM HUMAN, and I also had to understand that just like me, THEY ARE
HUMAN and deserve to be treated equally and fairly because the flesh does not
matter, God doesn’t judge you on the colour of your skin or the way you smell
or the way you talk, he looks at something much deeper and that’s your heart.
I also was blown away by her heart and her vulnerability.
My heart still aches for more. When I’m in the community I
am so happy and I feel so fulfilled. It feels like a missing piece of the
puzzle. The people are so beautiful. I really wish I could spend way more time
there. I just want to rock up at people’s houses and drink Coke with them and
talk about life. But who would I go with? Everyone is either in school or at
work. I talk to God about it day and night. He knows my deepest desires and He
knows my heart is to be with the poor.
I’ve been really worried about my future lately. I think
just because I’m not totally satisfied where I’m at. Don’t get me wrong, I love
what I do, but I still feel a longing for more. But, something that God has
really been placing on my heart lately is to desire the BLESSER rather than the
BLESSINGS. I know if I seek His face I’ll find everything I need. I know God has
a plan for me, and I trust Him completely.
Well, that’s a bit about where I’m at at the moment. My
heart really longs for more. Now, I just have to make sense of it and keep
coming to Jesus about it.
Hi Leah, I always love to read about what God is doing with you, thanks for writing about it and sharing with all of us. I also want to encourage you to remember God created you just as you are and sent you there for a purpose. It seems to me that in a place where there is a lack of diversity it would have a greater impact on those people to have someone like you want to come and share your life with them if that is not what they have been used to seeing. And also, you have the ability to reach out to others like Sam and bring them along. What an awesome tool. Don’t get in too much of a rush, even little stones produce great ripples in the water, so can the ways you love the people there. Have a great day!
Leah, the stories about Sam and Donna are so touching. What an impact you are having on these girls. I love what God is doing in your sweet heart. Thanks for sharing with us. Praying… 🙂
Thanks for always being sooo real, Leah! We are praying for you!
The lord has a great plan for you! He will show you more and more in His timing. Stay where you are and be there fully!
Much Love!
Good to hear Dorien is resting her body some, I love that women! Im SOO happy to hear that your getting into the township more AND bring the FH people out with you. I miss walkin those streets. Keep it up Leah. lova lova
Well Leah… after thinking so much about my kids there and how much I love them dearly… it is nice to know that they are not forgotten by our ol’ team. I have been missing them dearly and have felt deep in my hear that I was just another person, “More like father figure because I was the seccond guy to ever work there in six years,” who abandoned them. Abandoned my dear beloved children. I didn’t want to be that to them, but because of everything in the end, I had to leave the country and I felt ashamed for having the leave them after all they have been though because of poor decisions made on our teams part. However… it is good to know that there are people like you there who havn’t and probably will not forget them. Seeing their faces and how much they are growing up brings joy to my very sad heart when it comes to Sarah and my ministry there at Doreens.
Leah, do tell Doreen, and all my kids there that I love them all sooooooooo much I think of them almost every day at work, and havn’t forgotten them. They are kept in a special place in my heart.
Oh and Leah… I remember asking God to show me how I could do more for Him… and found out later by just being myself and doing what God has asked me to do in the big and small parts of life, “which is mostly love everyone though my actions,” and be there for others has made a bigger difference than I could have ever imagined…. and still don’t fathom. God is doing the same thing though you there…. and God will continue to use you… He loves you desperatly… and is so proud of you for who you are and what you are doing for Him right now! “Now if only I could practice what I preach… :-S”
You are Loved!
Leah, I am so glad you went to visit the children! I kinda freaked out when I read that Doreen isn’t there anymore. But, I am glad she is resting and taking care of herself! Thanks so much for going by there and spending time with the children! I am sure it meant the world to them!! You have such a servants heart!!