beauty through pain.

"Love each other with genuine affection. And take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality." -Romans 12:10-13

This verse has helped motivate me so much while I am serving at Ethembeni. It has summarized the time spent and the way I strive to spend my time while serving the Mpophemeni community.

Over this past week, It has really been hitting me the importance of the family center in this community. On Thursday, I was informed that a young girl named, "happiness," opened up and shared that the only meals she receives are from the family center. She mentioned that she is not sure what she is going to do next month when two days will be cut out of the week...She is about 17 years old and lives on her own because both her parents have passed away and she is just getting by. I was in shock hearing this... I honestly cannot imagine what her life is like.. to now know when your next meal will be... Hearing these stories about the kids' lives are very hard to hear and accept... so my Thursday ended with a feeling I had not yet felt before... It really sank in the reality for many of these kids... and the hard obstacles they are facing at such a young age : /....

I am trying to see God in all of these situations and trust in him more and more through hearing these stories... and having faith that he will provide for these children and that there can be beauty through pain...<3

Friday came around and it was a completely different day than the all of our other days..It was the first day that all of the kids did not come because it was a staff retreat. It was a time of reflection, praise worship, and fellowship. We started off the morning with worship with about 25-30 of us.They combined the staff who work at the clinic and the family center. A lot of the worship was in isiZulu but it I was familiar with a lot of the songs! However, we also sang a lot of familiar hymns that we sing at church back home, which I loved. One of the songs that I have enjoyed singing in isiZulu a TON is, "Siyagudumisa." This in english means, "We glorify your name," and it is such a beautiful song. Then we had a tea break and had time to be in fellowship and get to know some of the volunteers and staff who work at this ministry. I spoke with a woman named, Norah, who I went on the home visits with last Thursday. I had a chance to get to know her and her time spent with Ethembeni. She has been volunteering here for 10 years and absolutely loves it and reaching out to people in the community. She had such a peaceful spirit and said that she knows this is exactly where she is supposed to be. I enjoyed talking with her. After tea break, a man came to preach about forgiveness with us. It was so great because he translated into isiZulu and English and had so much energy when he spoke. I could not help but want to listen to everything he was saying! The rest of the day was more worship and time alone with God. I could not have asked for a better way to spend a day... I love having the opportunity to slow down because it allows me to think and process so much. So today was so great!!

Back to the topic of thinking and reflecting.. For our community engagement class we have journals that we are writing in and it is a part of our final grade for the class. I actually enjoy this part of the class because through journaling, I really am able to recognize my own feelings. This is one of my journal entries to my "So what? Reflections on How this experience is changing my life" for week 3:
"This experience is changing the way I want to live my life. I am so blessed with the life God has given me and the people he has placed in my life. It has been difficult for me to see the struggles that many people in the community face, even at such a young age. It has been shaping my perspective on the things that really matter in life. I am more aware of the little, but huge blessings that I have in my life. I have a home to go back to, an education, supportive and loving family, money, and so many luxuries. Now, I do not feel guilty for what I have, but I am so much more appreciative. I want to bless others in need with the blessings I have. I want to help, even after service sites are over. I am just trying to figure out by what means am I able to do this and what that may look like when I am back home. All I know is that my heart is aching for and hoping for a change for many lives that are struggling in this township and the rest of Africa."


On a side note... haha.. my weekend consisted of the following!!
This weekend was a bit hectic with school! I had over 15 pages to write for two of my classes... so it was very overwhelming. But I finished it all this afternoon so I am a happy camper right now. On saturday, we went to uShaka all day! Yes, I could have been a good student and stayed back to work on my papers, but pshhh. I'm only in Africa once right?! So I went! It was a huge water park/marine world place! It was in Durban and right next to the ocean. I spent the day acting like a kid, racing down water slides, being silly in the lazy river, etc. I got to spend the day with people I have not hung out with since being here. So I loved it all the more. We also saw this dolphin show. It was cool, but sea world is more impressive ;) Another highlight of my day was seeing all the sharks and wildlilfe in the deep blue ocean. There was a great display of aquariums!! And something that I have noticed growing deep within myself is that I have a great passion for sharks ever since this last summer after watching shark week!!! So I enjoyed seeing those fascinating creatures the most!! : )

There are three days left of service sites this week. I hope to enjoy and appreciate the short time I have left with the kids and staff this week. Tomorrow there are supposed to be about 15 volunteers coming in and helping us for the day! There are so many but it should be a fun time with an overflow of love for the kids!! We may be setting up a soccer tournament as well so I will fill you in tomorrow about how it goes! I hope you all are doing so well!!

Love and miss you all
<3 jamie