Hello again!
We have had an awesome five or so weeks here in Jeffery’s Bay! It has been quite the switch from eSwatini. The area were are in is a little more tourist-focused since J-Bay is globally known for some of the best surfing! However, there is still quite a gap in the upper/lower class, as there was in eSwatini. To offer some perspective, 50% of the population is unemployed. There are large shack communities just a few minutes walk away from “normal looking” houses that we’d be used to seeing in the US. However, this specific area is a little safer than the area we were in in eSwatini. If anything, this area would experience more petty theft, influenced by the lack of work available for the residents.
Anyway! For the whole month of March I’ve had the privilege of working with some amazing women at a school for 3/4/5 year olds, called Ithemba. 🙂 Many of the children who attend there live in the shack communities. It’s a quality Christian school with low/affordable school fees that has been around for about two decades I believe. So, they’re able to help many children get a good start to their education! While we were there I would help my teacher, Luci, prepare some lessons and help the children learn to write their names while I was in the classroom. It was great getting to know Luci and being inspired by her journey with the Lord. At other times I’d be pulled to help prepare the kid’s meals (of porridge, butter sandwiches, and rice and chicken) in the kitchen. I had a special time getting to know the kitchen ladies too. One of them, Gloria, has a side hustle of sewing tote bags which I supported her in. 😜😁 In some ways they do school for young children in a style I’m used to, but in other ways their methods, mindset and culture is so different! Maybe a little more old-school if you will. 🙂
The teachers have a great community among themselves, too. They have fun together and all love the Lord! Interacting with the teachers and children has been my favorite part of being there. Seeing how the Lord is the Lord of their lives and is the rock they build their lives on is so cool to see. I’ve been learning here too as I was in eSwatini that it doesn’t matter where we are on the globe- God is the same God! Last week on Friday, March 31st, our team of girls that were helping at Ithemba hosted the teachers at our mission house for a little appreciation party. We played charades, drank rooibos tea (rooibos tea is like the tea here haha!) had snacks, and painted their nails at the end. It was so so fun and so special! The teachers have been so welcoming to us and treated us like family, so we wanted to do something for them in return! (Pictured:))
The next week we started at a new ministry called Timion! Timion is a non-profit organization that makes equipment for kids with cerebral palsy. On our first day we learned how crucial and how much a blessing this organization really is to South Africa. Unfortunately, so many kids in South Africa are born with cerebral palsy. Their healthcare system is supposed to provide equipment for the children as well, but due to the government’s lack of funds many children do not get equipment within a reasonable time. Without equipment, the children’s condition grows worse. What our team has been doing at Timion is helping their new building get ready for the grand opening which is five days from today! Some girls have been working to plant and harvest in their garden too. I’ve helped dust off, organize and put their equipment into the new storage areas. Their new building will allow for space to host families for camps and do therapy sessions with the kids, as well as provide space to make and store equipment for the kids. Their goal is to also share Jesus with the families and try to encourage the parents to keep viewing their kids as so special to God. It is an amazing organization! Please let me know if you’re curious for more information about this organization or feel inspired to support it in anyway. They do amazing work and have such good hearted leaders! It has been such an honor getting to know the staff and working with them already.
We have about two weeks left total here in South Africa before we fly back to the US for a few days of debrief in Georgia. As I reflect on my time in J-Bay thus far, I’m just so grateful for the ways my eyes have been opened to see how gracious and consistent God is towards me and every person. My goal is to just continue to simply be available for God to be using me in every space- to share His passionate love in whatever way He wills!
I want to say thank you again if you have supported my trip financially or have prayed for me and my group at all. I am so thankful for you, and for you being in my life and for you keeping up with this journey! 😁
HAPPY EASTER! Fun facts about South Africa:
- On Easter, they greet each other with “He is risen.” And the other person responds, “He is risen indeed.” 😁 just learned that one!
- “Load shedding” – occurrence where the whole country has the power get shut off everywhere for a few hours each day, basically because the government has no money to pay the power companies. Our headlamps come in clutch at these times.
- The current severe drought means 3 minute showers for us!
- “Lackar” – South African slang for “so cool, awesome, or way to go.”
- There are rows of flourishing fig plants in the garden on our campus where the mission house is! I was getting tips for my fig plant at home haha.
- There are no mosquitoes here! 🙌🏼😜
- Bethel worship based out of California came on a mission trip here and put on a worship night in Jeffery’s Bay. It was so powerful! The Lord healed many people that night and I believe also relieved some tension in my shoulders that was causing tension headaches.😁
- We stopped by Kruger National Park on our way to J-Bay and got to do a safari. We saw all five big game animals. It was so fun! So thankful.
Enjoy your Easter and springtime in the USA! 🌸
Gina
