2 Feb 2010
There's a youth that I connected with from day one on my first visit to South Africa in Sept 2008. I got to spend great time with her in June 2009, wrote letters to her and sent them through the mail and teams that went after me. She and I have a special friendship and for some reason she has opened up to me. This precious girl (about 15 years old) goes to Teens Club at Living Hope and is really involved in Capricorn Church. Last week, she was weeping through worship at church and during a prayer time, I felt the Lord tell me to go hold her and pray with her. She continued to cry through the entire prayer (and let me remind you that public prayers in South Africa are always long). After the service, I pulled her aside and asked her what's on her heart. She began telling me that her mother started drinking again. This meant that her mom stayed out most of the night and left her alone at home. In Capricorn at night, no child should be left alone. She told me that relatives were in and out of the house (not in a healthy way), she has issues with her father, he's not around a lot (I really think she's scared of him). This teenager has been so fearful of being left along that she has begun staying at friends houses; this concerns me because none of her friends have stable home lives either. She's not escaping harm, she's just finding company in it.
She came to the pastor recently and asked him if the church or Living Hope could help her buy some school supplies and books. School here is January-November; she hasn't had books to use or simple school supplies (pen, paper) all year. She's getting behind in her work… because her mom isn't providing for her. I've watched her devour the sandwich and small cup of juice we give out at Clubs and wait to see if there are leftovers to take some home.
She hasn't told me this, but I'm sure she's afraid of being abused. I'm sure she's aware that her mother could contract some sort of STD with her actions and 'late night behaviors,' I'm sure she's wondering where her next meal will come from.
Today I spoke with the pastor at Capricorn Church and the Living Hope Clubs staff about her school needs. They're uncertain of where the money will come from or how to directly help her. I told them to have her write a list of all the school books and supplies she need and I'll make sure they're purchased. At Clubs, I sat with her while she was eating her snack; I said, "Do you know that I care about you and love you a lot?" She replied, "I wish you were my mother."
I see these kids everyday. I see the dirt on their clothes, the unkempt hair, the feet that are filthy. I know they're not cared for. However, for the 2 hours I'm with them, I don't want to think about that. This is both naïve and practical; I don't want to think about the hurts they have at home and in there community, and I don't want them to think about it either. For those brief moments, they can be told that they matter, that they are loved and most importantly that Jesus loves them.
This teenage girl has blessed my life by being a part of Capricorn Church and the Kids/Teens Clubs and sharing bits of her joy with me. Now I'm face to face with her real life struggles and fears. I'm asking God for wisdom to help her through this pain and physical need. Please pray that with me.
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