Life is so fragile here... and so many kids are growing up without parents...it is heartbreaking.There is such a dearth of daddies - caring fathers who will stay with the kids, not chase away women or beat them or spend away their house-keeping money. Pray that God will raise up a generation of fathers who will be examples...role models... prophets to the following generations
Global warming starts to affect seasonal rainfall is a headline which we might barely discuss at home...but the impact here, is that the whole community struggles because they have no water...No water? And how often do we just leave the tap running?
It's so hard too, to get your head round the poverty when it is side by side with all the 'mod cons' we are used to. South Africa is so full of such contradictions and contrasts.
Thought for the week is definitely the one that Madiba said and we keep repeating- that serving the poor is not an act of charity it is an act of justice.
It just cannot be right to ignore the suffering of the orphaned and vulnerable.
Things have to change.One child at a time.One care-worker at a time. One by one.
Ruth
Saturday, 7 March 2015
Friday, 6 March 2015
Siyathuthuka 2
It's been an amazing journey so far... we are a team drawn from different parts of the world thrown together to learn and grow and it's been awesome but challenging to face up to the realities of life which some people face.
In Siyathuthuka they usually get water brought by the Government in a tanker every two weeks...but last time it didn't come and they don't know when it will come again. So instead of a regular water supply for the family, the Grandparents we met were having to fetch it from across the hillside container by container. These 25 litre containers are really heavy- I could hardly walk straight with one- but they carry water from a young age and make us feel very weak and unfit!
The parents of these children have died. So Gogo and Tata ( Granny and Grandpa) are supporting everyone off a meagre state pension.This particular Grandfather - a pensioner-and his 2nd wife try hard to meet the needs of their dependants, but it's tough. In small bare, breeze-block shacks, he shares his home with a wife, 6 kids and 5 grandchildren. The other 16 of his children live in the surrounding area.
Last year there was so much rain it was no good for the crops. This year, on his land, he planted a field full of maize- but there has not been enough rain and so only a little will survive. Pray with us that rain will come here in Mpumulanga...
Ruth
In Siyathuthuka they usually get water brought by the Government in a tanker every two weeks...but last time it didn't come and they don't know when it will come again. So instead of a regular water supply for the family, the Grandparents we met were having to fetch it from across the hillside container by container. These 25 litre containers are really heavy- I could hardly walk straight with one- but they carry water from a young age and make us feel very weak and unfit!
The parents of these children have died. So Gogo and Tata ( Granny and Grandpa) are supporting everyone off a meagre state pension.This particular Grandfather - a pensioner-and his 2nd wife try hard to meet the needs of their dependants, but it's tough. In small bare, breeze-block shacks, he shares his home with a wife, 6 kids and 5 grandchildren. The other 16 of his children live in the surrounding area.
Last year there was so much rain it was no good for the crops. This year, on his land, he planted a field full of maize- but there has not been enough rain and so only a little will survive. Pray with us that rain will come here in Mpumulanga...
Ruth
A few pictures to show you...
At the Cathedral on Sunday morning in Ikageng
Playing games with the childrenOshoek- Visit 2
Wednesday 4th March- Karen's blog...
It's easier to leap out of bed at 6am ( eek!) when the sun is shining and it's already 25 degrees. 7am. Simon and Bethuel- care-workers- travelled with us to Oshoek- on the Swazi border- where we walked with Sarai for a home visit.
I no longer have to imagine what it is like to sit in the dust with women alongside small children, outside their one-room shack- home for 12 people. We listened and watched as they told their stories.
The scene changed with the arrival of the 15 year old boy who had returned unhappily from school. Having to be in a class with 12 year olds was humiliating and he was NOT going back again,
Without an education his future is bleak and his whole family is depending on him to merely scratch out a future. Sarai and Bethuel quietly encouraged the boy to return to school.
Sitting in the dust with nothing to offer, say or do, except listen and simply be there, reminded me of the words of David Primrose at our Commissioning Service.
Isn't God great?!
Yeah!
Isn't Jesus great?
Yeah!
Isn't the this team going to Matlosane great?
Yeah!
STOP!
When they get there they will not be great. They will have nothing to offer, they know nothing and they go with empty hands.
David was right. All of our education, eloquence, abilities and gifts mean very little here. We can only sit in the dust alongside the people we meet and be surprised when they express hope in a hopeless place.
Hands at Work= hope at work.
Thnankfully the return to the Care Point brought some lighter moments as we enjoyed games and singing, fantastic fun and moments of real connection alongside the feeding of 50 children.
Back at Hands at work we considered how our team is like Chakalakka- lots of ingredients mixed up with a common sauce- or is it Source?
It's easier to leap out of bed at 6am ( eek!) when the sun is shining and it's already 25 degrees. 7am. Simon and Bethuel- care-workers- travelled with us to Oshoek- on the Swazi border- where we walked with Sarai for a home visit.
I no longer have to imagine what it is like to sit in the dust with women alongside small children, outside their one-room shack- home for 12 people. We listened and watched as they told their stories.
The scene changed with the arrival of the 15 year old boy who had returned unhappily from school. Having to be in a class with 12 year olds was humiliating and he was NOT going back again,
Without an education his future is bleak and his whole family is depending on him to merely scratch out a future. Sarai and Bethuel quietly encouraged the boy to return to school.
Sitting in the dust with nothing to offer, say or do, except listen and simply be there, reminded me of the words of David Primrose at our Commissioning Service.
Isn't God great?!
Yeah!
Isn't Jesus great?
Yeah!
Isn't the this team going to Matlosane great?
Yeah!
STOP!
When they get there they will not be great. They will have nothing to offer, they know nothing and they go with empty hands.
David was right. All of our education, eloquence, abilities and gifts mean very little here. We can only sit in the dust alongside the people we meet and be surprised when they express hope in a hopeless place.
Hands at Work= hope at work.
Thnankfully the return to the Care Point brought some lighter moments as we enjoyed games and singing, fantastic fun and moments of real connection alongside the feeding of 50 children.
Back at Hands at work we considered how our team is like Chakalakka- lots of ingredients mixed up with a common sauce- or is it Source?
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Laura writes...
As a pebble is thrown into a pool of water, ripples start off as many and close together...but then become more spread out and far-reaching. The ripples touch other rocks and objects in the pool, which then create other ripples in different directions.
If that pebble is a person, we have to ensure that the ripples we generate are ones of respect, compassion and love. I hope that whoever they reach and touch they continue to be far-reaching.
The Care centre we saw today in Oshoek is relatively new but like throwing a pebble into a pool, the ripples of thee Care centre embrace the 25 orphaned and vulnerable children who are dependent on it. The care-workers submerge themselves in their work and visits pushing the ripples further out.
Bearing witness to this, we allow the ripples to wash over us revive us and bounce off us, reaching further, but also leaving us looking deeply at the reflection that remains. As the Care centres grow, and facilities expand, it will be like throwing, not a pebble but a large stone, then a boulder into the pool, More people will have ripples lapping up against them and they will then generate ripples of their own.
Please note all blogs are personal reflections and do not represent the views of Lichfield diocese.
As a pebble is thrown into a pool of water, ripples start off as many and close together...but then become more spread out and far-reaching. The ripples touch other rocks and objects in the pool, which then create other ripples in different directions.
If that pebble is a person, we have to ensure that the ripples we generate are ones of respect, compassion and love. I hope that whoever they reach and touch they continue to be far-reaching.
The Care centre we saw today in Oshoek is relatively new but like throwing a pebble into a pool, the ripples of thee Care centre embrace the 25 orphaned and vulnerable children who are dependent on it. The care-workers submerge themselves in their work and visits pushing the ripples further out.
Bearing witness to this, we allow the ripples to wash over us revive us and bounce off us, reaching further, but also leaving us looking deeply at the reflection that remains. As the Care centres grow, and facilities expand, it will be like throwing, not a pebble but a large stone, then a boulder into the pool, More people will have ripples lapping up against them and they will then generate ripples of their own.
Please note all blogs are personal reflections and do not represent the views of Lichfield diocese.
Please note that all blogs are personal reflections and not the opinion of the Diocese.
Tuesday 3rd March
Terry's Blog
Today we went to Siyathuthuka Life Centre in the Clau Clau region. Here we witnessed remarkable work being carried out with the most vulnerable children. The children we met appeared to be very needy in so many ways and I know that there many tragic stories behind the smiling faces we saw. The children were a joy to be with and they made it very easy for us to be with them. They laughed and played and were very curious about us. Some children were fascinated by some of the hair of the women in our team and also they were fascinated by the hair on my arms (I don't have much on my head!)
One young girl aged about six sat on my knee for a long time and when she left another child climbed on my knee only to be pushed off when the little girl returned.
The children loved having their photos taken and when shown the results they laughed and laughed and pointed each other out.
There were many touching moments but the one that stands out for me was when I saw a young boy dividing his food and putting half in a broken plastic container to take for someone at home. He was a child who had very little materially in his life and yet he still shared.
The care workers were amazing. They give so much time and put so much effort into caring for the most vulnerable children. We were blessed to meet with them and they were gracious in the welcoming of us.
A great football match was organised by the two youngest and most energetic members of our team. The South African national anthem was sung and all the players shook hands before the game started. One of our older team members elected to play in goal and only let twenty two goals in so he didn't do too badly although he blamed his defence for twenty one of those and a bad refereeing decision for the other one!
A blessed day for us all.
Tuesday 3rd March
Terry's Blog
Today we went to Siyathuthuka Life Centre in the Clau Clau region. Here we witnessed remarkable work being carried out with the most vulnerable children. The children we met appeared to be very needy in so many ways and I know that there many tragic stories behind the smiling faces we saw. The children were a joy to be with and they made it very easy for us to be with them. They laughed and played and were very curious about us. Some children were fascinated by some of the hair of the women in our team and also they were fascinated by the hair on my arms (I don't have much on my head!)
One young girl aged about six sat on my knee for a long time and when she left another child climbed on my knee only to be pushed off when the little girl returned.
The children loved having their photos taken and when shown the results they laughed and laughed and pointed each other out.
There were many touching moments but the one that stands out for me was when I saw a young boy dividing his food and putting half in a broken plastic container to take for someone at home. He was a child who had very little materially in his life and yet he still shared.
The care workers were amazing. They give so much time and put so much effort into caring for the most vulnerable children. We were blessed to meet with them and they were gracious in the welcoming of us.
A great football match was organised by the two youngest and most energetic members of our team. The South African national anthem was sung and all the players shook hands before the game started. One of our older team members elected to play in goal and only let twenty two goals in so he didn't do too badly although he blamed his defence for twenty one of those and a bad refereeing decision for the other one!
A blessed day for us all.
We Have Arrived
Hi everyone! Sorry it's taken so long to be able to blog, everything is fine!
We have arrived!
We have arrived!
Thankfully, our flight was uneventful and we came through
the airport and collected our vehicle very smoothly. It is really warm here but
we had heavy rain and thunderstorms on our way down to Potch ( Potchefstroom) .
As we drove past Soweto, the deepest mine in the world and various towns, the
landscape flattened out into rolling plains and the traffic got madder- despite
improved road surfaces. As we travelled we swapped tales and testimonies of
things in our lives as we thought about all the unpredictabilities of the next
2 weeks and we laughed a lot together, which was great. Daunted, tired and
excited. Bring it on!
In Potch
We are being hosted by Rev Paul Letlala and his parishioners
in Ikageng township. Matlosane has opened its arms so wide for us again and
it’s been lovely already to meet up and talk of mutual friends and share a
lovely meal at MaSinas and chat through photographs of each others’ families.
Having collected us from Mugg and Bean café at Mooi River,
we were given a look around the beautiful cathedral church in Potch, where
between 500 and 1000 people from Ikageng township worship each Sunday.
(Incidentally Kaz has been asked to speak on march 1st. )The shape
of the church roof is made of curved pine which Terry reckons also offers great
acoustics. All sorts of beautiful birds roost around the building and it’s
amazing to hear of such vibrant faith in touch contexts.
Paul shared with us later about the challenges of high
levels of youth unemployment and resultant social ills here. Potch is a
University town and many young people have degrees but there is nowhere near
enough work. Andy & Terry have now gone off to stay at Mike & Duky’s
while we women have stayed at Ma Sina’s. We’ve met her granddaughter and
neighbours, watched a bit of soap in Venda language and talked about Anita,
Roseanne and others who were part of establishing the new build church up at St
Augustines.
Sunday
We rose early to go to the Cathedral for the 8
o’clock service with hundreds of others in their Sunday best from all over
Ikageng. Wa! What a service! Surrounded by warmth and welcome, 4 part
harmonies, friends and family we raised the roof with praise. Ma M’s dancing
was so moving and Tata X’s sparkling eyes and weathered face seemed to be lined
with a thousand stories. Kaz marked her 60th with a great sermon and
we each spoke in turn bringing greetings and sharing thoughts of amazing hospitality,
warmth of welcome and joy despite being so far from home.
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