Capricorn Surprises!

30 January 2010

 

. First thing 'went missing'

. Maggie, Shawna, Mandla visit

. Breakfast with Alicia

. Discipline Policy/Child Protection Policy

. Friday Youth at Capricorn Church

 

I'm learning to hold my 'possessions' at low priority. My first dear possession went 'missing' this week. My spiral notebook that my little friend Heather made for me has disappeared. A volunteer at the house I live in borrowed it and lost it and now it's no where to be found- it went missing around Living Grace (the homeless ministry), so I've given up hope that it'll be found. It had all my notes in it from my first meetings with Avril and important info about my job here. I truly almost cried when it was lost, but I'm reminded that it's just a thing. While it meant the world to me -it was a personal gift with pictures of me and Heather on it and it had precious writings, I have to realize that my life will go on without it.

 

Thursday at Capricorn Clubs was the greatest day because I sent Maggie a text and told her that I'd be in Capricorn and I wanted to see her. She just showed up, I squealed, gave her the biggest hug and went outside of the building to talk to her. While I was outside with her, a girl I'd been asking the LSEs about (I hadn't seen her in clubs, they said she never came anymore) was walking past the fence. I yelled "Shawna!" She smiled and her mom nudged her toward the fence, as if to say, 'go ahead.' She hugged me and came into clubs. She's not the most social of the bunch and the LSEs think she's got some mental/social problems, so she stuck close to me the rest of the day and was timid and didn't participate much. I asked her if she'd come to Youth on Friday; she said she would. Then, out of the blue, one of the old LSEs, Mandla, came back to visit. Mandla moved to another part of Africa (I found that out when I arrived in SA) and started his own Preschool- using much of what he learned at Living Hope and curriculum he took with him! He was back for a visit with his family that didn't go with him. It was if every time I turned around, an old friend showed up! I couldn't stop smiling. It was a great day in Capricorn!

 

Friday morning, I didn't have to be at work until 8:45 am, so I had some extra time just hanging around the house. Alicia (who works for ACTS and takes care of the Volunteer House) sat down at the empty breakfast table with me and just began to ask me questions about my life and ministry, etc. It led to some conversations about ministry here, my view on teams coming to serve and wanting to make their time more purposeful. She stopped me and began to tell me how this was EXACTLY what she'd been praying about yesterday and woke up with a burden about that very thing Friday morning. Alicia said that our conversation was a divine appointment; I felt the same way. Again, I'm feeling that my ministry isn't solely the kids/teens in the township, it's the Living Hope and ACTS staff that I'm daily interacting with. God is using EVERY CONVERSATION.

 

After leaving SMBC, I thought I'd never again hear the words, 'Child Protection Policy.' However, I sat through a 2 hour meeting with the LSEs about discipline in Clubs and making a standardized policy for everyone to sign so that Living Hope can be audited and their policies will be approved by the South African government. This started a huge debate about what the Bible says about 'not sparing the rod' versus 'obey the government.' Points were brought up that we're not these kids' parents, if you hit a child, they may equate that to the beatings they get at home, and Living Hope should always be a safe place for kids. It was also brought up that when a child is sent home from Clubs for bad behavior, they aren't given the 'snack' that Living Hope provides and that's probably the only meal they get that day. It was great to hear all these LSEs process the strategy together, get ideas from each other, but it was a long, painful meeting. Natalie and Christina (Volunteer from US) will be finalizing this policy next week and put it all in print for each LSE, Volunteer, and Living Hope staff to sign.

 

Went to Capricorn's Youth on Friday night. It was great to see the youth program grow, the visitors that the regulars are bringing, and the openness of these youth. We had so much fun! We played Capricorn's Got Talent and the youth could sing or dance for the group. Beyonce is HUGE here; I knew I loved this place! After all the wild games and talent show, Shagmie gave a challenge from Romans 12- asking these youth "to present their bodies as a living sacrifice" and "do not be conformed to this world." Afterwards, the youth could raise their hands if they needed prayer. We all broke out into groups and the Delaware Team and other volunteers that were there prayed with each youth that had a need. These youth are so open to asking for help in their spiritual life. It's refreshing to see that honesty!

 

The Delaware Team that's living in the house are leaving on Monday and are hosting a Braai (BBQ) for the ENTIRE Living Hope LSE staff. This place is going to be wild in just a few hours. I'm about to go help peel potatoes and bake dessert.