Day 10 - Tuesday 22nd August 2017
This morning was a prompt start for the ladies as we had Women's prayer, which meant a lovely lay in for the men! In Women's Prayer we looked at Psalm 23, a well known Psalm that sometimes we skim over too much and don't look deeper into what the message is really saying to us. Kay shared thoughts about how the Shepherds hook is there to pull the sheep in when they stray, and similarly Our Lord pulls us back closer to him when we sometimes lose our way in our faith or do something that may be wrong. It gave us all time to reflect upon who our shepherd is. The session closed in prayer and we all departed ready to start our day refreshed with the word of God in our hearts.
We quickly gathered our things and all jumped in the minibus ready for a full day in the community. We arrived in Maposa after picking up a few bits of food for the community on our way. The children warmly welcomed us again and we soon got onto playing with bubbles which goes down a real treat! We then went into the school house with the Care Workers and after a quick round of introductions sandy some amazing worship songs in which I was dragged into the middle of the circle with the Care Workers to dance with them as part of praising God - a new experience for me!
We were then split up into groups ready for our Holy Home Visits. Today I went out with Lauren and Emma as well as 2 Care Workers and a Hands volunteer to help us translate. After a very long walk to the first home, which was on the edge of the community of Maposa and the neighbouring community, we arrived to be greeted with open arm into Andrew* and Mary's* home. We heard that Andrew* is the grandfather to two of the children on Care Point programme, one of which came to the camp last week and was so happy to share with the grandfather all the things he had learnt and made from the week. The reason he was looking after the children was due to them being single-orphaned children as their father had passed away and the mother lived in a different town. They had no financial support from the mother so were struggling to support the household. Andrew* shared at they had had a bad harvest due not being able to get fertiliser for the land to grow anything on, and only harvested 2.5 bags of maize for the whole year between the 6 people that lived in the household. He was trying to make as much charcoal as possible but was finding it difficult as he is getting older and weaker. Unfortunately his livestock was depleted as most if the chickens cows that he originally had have died, as well as the dogs and puppies that they had. We helped them collect water from the local well and did the washing up for them. We then shared prayer together, and thanked them for their welcome.
We then journeyed to our next house whilst skating our stories with each other which is so humbling to hear. We arrived at our second house to find a line of boys sitting in a bench made from branches of wood looking very lonely and empty. We discovered that the house we were at was one of the other Care Workers from the Care Point and the children that we met were her grandchildren. We all introduced ourselves and got to know a little bit about how old the children were, how they were doing at school, the struggles facing the family due to some of the children being single-orphaned children, and if there was anything that we could help them do, however the head child of the household said that he had completed all the jobs for the day, including sweeping, fetching water, cleaning. We the. Got the balloons and bubbles out and the children's faces became alive. It was so lovely to see them all engage with each other and play like children should. I think today this was my highlight - to see the change from when we first met them and joy rise within them as they started to play. We prayed for the household and shared a photograph to remember them when we go home in our prayers. We headed back for the long walk back to the Care Point in the very hot heat of the sun, coming across some drunk people from the community along the way - all adding to the experience!
We arrive back to the Care Point after two very successful holy home visits and we were the last team back. We had lunch and after a 'funny tummy' feeling all day I only had the cabbage and beans! It was soon time to say goodbye and practice our Bembe again saying 'Tukamananamailo' meeting 'See you tomorrow'.
After falling asleep on the journey home, we arrived back at camp and after a quick refreshing shower we debriefed from the day with everyone sharing the stories that they had heard from their Holy Home Visits. Debriefing is a great way to share you emotions and start to process some of the things you have seen and to share in prayer those who you have met that day.
We then sat down at the table for dinner and were looking forward to discovering what we had for dinner, and it did not disappoint, Fajitas it was!! It was amazing!!!
After sharing different thoughts with Zoe and Prags tonight I now feel a little bit more excited for what lies ahead of me when I return home to the UK.
*All names have been changed to protect the privacy of these people in line with the Hands at Work guidelines.
We quickly gathered our things and all jumped in the minibus ready for a full day in the community. We arrived in Maposa after picking up a few bits of food for the community on our way. The children warmly welcomed us again and we soon got onto playing with bubbles which goes down a real treat! We then went into the school house with the Care Workers and after a quick round of introductions sandy some amazing worship songs in which I was dragged into the middle of the circle with the Care Workers to dance with them as part of praising God - a new experience for me!
We were then split up into groups ready for our Holy Home Visits. Today I went out with Lauren and Emma as well as 2 Care Workers and a Hands volunteer to help us translate. After a very long walk to the first home, which was on the edge of the community of Maposa and the neighbouring community, we arrived to be greeted with open arm into Andrew* and Mary's* home. We heard that Andrew* is the grandfather to two of the children on Care Point programme, one of which came to the camp last week and was so happy to share with the grandfather all the things he had learnt and made from the week. The reason he was looking after the children was due to them being single-orphaned children as their father had passed away and the mother lived in a different town. They had no financial support from the mother so were struggling to support the household. Andrew* shared at they had had a bad harvest due not being able to get fertiliser for the land to grow anything on, and only harvested 2.5 bags of maize for the whole year between the 6 people that lived in the household. He was trying to make as much charcoal as possible but was finding it difficult as he is getting older and weaker. Unfortunately his livestock was depleted as most if the chickens cows that he originally had have died, as well as the dogs and puppies that they had. We helped them collect water from the local well and did the washing up for them. We then shared prayer together, and thanked them for their welcome.
We then journeyed to our next house whilst skating our stories with each other which is so humbling to hear. We arrived at our second house to find a line of boys sitting in a bench made from branches of wood looking very lonely and empty. We discovered that the house we were at was one of the other Care Workers from the Care Point and the children that we met were her grandchildren. We all introduced ourselves and got to know a little bit about how old the children were, how they were doing at school, the struggles facing the family due to some of the children being single-orphaned children, and if there was anything that we could help them do, however the head child of the household said that he had completed all the jobs for the day, including sweeping, fetching water, cleaning. We the. Got the balloons and bubbles out and the children's faces became alive. It was so lovely to see them all engage with each other and play like children should. I think today this was my highlight - to see the change from when we first met them and joy rise within them as they started to play. We prayed for the household and shared a photograph to remember them when we go home in our prayers. We headed back for the long walk back to the Care Point in the very hot heat of the sun, coming across some drunk people from the community along the way - all adding to the experience!
We arrive back to the Care Point after two very successful holy home visits and we were the last team back. We had lunch and after a 'funny tummy' feeling all day I only had the cabbage and beans! It was soon time to say goodbye and practice our Bembe again saying 'Tukamananamailo' meeting 'See you tomorrow'.
After falling asleep on the journey home, we arrived back at camp and after a quick refreshing shower we debriefed from the day with everyone sharing the stories that they had heard from their Holy Home Visits. Debriefing is a great way to share you emotions and start to process some of the things you have seen and to share in prayer those who you have met that day.
We then sat down at the table for dinner and were looking forward to discovering what we had for dinner, and it did not disappoint, Fajitas it was!! It was amazing!!!
After sharing different thoughts with Zoe and Prags tonight I now feel a little bit more excited for what lies ahead of me when I return home to the UK.
*All names have been changed to protect the privacy of these people in line with the Hands at Work guidelines.
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