A new addition to my week has been tutoring a precious 6 year old boy named Sipamandela.His name means “Give us Power”.Sipamandela is the son of my good friend Nokuzola from church.I met Nokuzola shortly after I arrived in Cape Town, and had the privilege of staying in her home for an overnight last August.She runs a small bed and breakfast business (giving up her bedroom to guests), which allows foreign visitors to experience the township life and culture.She is a single mother of two children, Tembisa (16) and Sipamandela.They are a very sweet family and love Jesus very much.
Last month Nokuzola approached me with the humble request to tutor her son who is struggling in school (taking the first grade for the second time).Due to my love for her and the flexibility in my week, I of course agreed…but initially hesitating a bit as I had never done this before.Would his work be in English?Would he understand me?Could I give him the specific tools and practice that he needs?Well my doubts were quickly depleted.Now, every Tuesday at 4:30pm I drive out to “TamboVillage” the neighborhood where my church is located to spend time with Sipamandela.We do some basic math problems, practice the English letters and sounds, practice writing his name and simple words…and then read lots of books.Each week I bring with me a big bag of Children’s Books and he gets to pick a few for me to read.I love reading to children…it is honestly one of my greatest joys.Thank you Jesus for giving me this new opportunity!
I left this past week filled with joy as I realized that I have now memorized all 50 of the boy’s names!This remains a powerful tool…especially as I am now able to greet them personally and call out those that are misbehaving or not listening!I have started a good routine of spending the morning slot, 8:30-10:00 with one class, and the afternoon slot from 11:30-12:30 with the other.The hour and a half between is lunch & outside play with all the boys.The boys who didn’t see me in the morning are certain to make sure at recess that I will going to class with them.Once seated around the circle inside I always have many little boys fighting over who gets to sit by me (I must say that still being a single woman, having boys fight over me, despite their age, feels like a compliment!).
My favorite time of the day is recess for I can catch up with the teachers, talking about our lives and getting to know each other more deeply.I had a great chat with one of the assistant teachers named Tina the other day.She asked how I was earning money while I was here, and I was able to tell her about living on faith, and some of the incredible stories of how Jesus has provided for me.It was a sweet moment and I could see her fascination in my lifestyle.I also love immersing myself in play with the boys…not simply just standing guard and supervising, but actively playing with them…children come alive when they recognize that an adult is stepping down to their level…into their world.A few weeks ago I let the boys bury me in the stand pit, but only up to my knees.Of course, as you can imagine, one or two buckets made their way on my lap and shirt…and I wasn’t too happy when a small bucket full ended up in my bra! They love to be chased, tickled, pushed on the swing, watched, and especially listened too!These are the many reasons why Jesus has me here!
Khayelitsha Crèche:
Unlike SACS, I have not learned any of these children’s names yet.Language continues to be a barrier and I am never with a single child for more than a few minutes.However, I am proud to say I have recently memorized all the teachers’ Xhosa names!This just shows that at SACS right now Jesus is using me more for one on one time with the children, and at the Crèche more one on one time with the teachers.
Every Wednesday I continue to load up my car, with different woman volunteering at The Warehouse, and travel 45min into the CapeFlats to the vast township of Khayelitsha.It has been a difficult month for a few of the teachers.A few weeks ago we showed up to the news that Nombongo (the 4 year old teacher), was away from school as her brother had been arrested.It wasn’t until the following week that we heard he had burned down the shack of a local witch doctor, in retribution of a curse, and a child was accidentally killed (he is now in prison, possibly for life)…horrible spiritual situations such as this one happen daily here!The community rallied in anger and unfairly turned against this young man’s entire family.Nombongo is now forbidden by the community to come back to the Crèche and teach!Rumor has it that she has moved...fearing her safety.I will most likely never see her again.Her departing words a few weeks ago keep ringing in my ears… “I love you guys”. Jesus protect this young woman and her family…may you bring justice and love into this situation!
The day I showed up to the Crèche to find Nombongo gone, was also they day I met Nikkolo (the new 4 year old teacher)…it was her first day and she looked rather wide-eyed at the out of control group of 40 four year olds under her care!My friend Lara and I stepped in the best we could.I pulled out every song I could think of from my preschool memory tank and did my best at entertaining the unsettled group.At one point the many children craving some personal attention began to pull at my arms and then my skirt.So many bodies were around me and pulling at me that I could feel my legs give way and I actually fell to the ground!The children thought this was hilarious and I had to tag team with Lara for the rest of the morning to try and pull off the kids that were now deliberately trying to push us over.Later, the art activity for the day was getting the children’s hand print (in runny paint) on a piece of paper…this was clearly not my idea!There was absolutely no order!Can you imagine one bowl of red paint and forty little hands pushing and shoving, trying to get in at the same time?Paint was dripping on clothes, on the floor and all over other children’s artwork.Remember I don’t know the language…and these little ones with their teacher gone were not listening to “NO” and “STOP”!
At one point during that day as I looked around at these precious children, I began to feel overwhelmed…holding back tears I thought, “Jesus what can be done?...These little ones need so much love and attention.They are desperate for love…and I find when I am with them that I am desperate for more of You…desperate to hear Your voice and to be obedient to Your call." Later that night I wrote in my journal:
“There is so much loss and injustice around me here in South Africa, that it often gets overwhelming...thinking that the needs and pain I see in peoples lives is too much to bear...but Jesus continues to LOVE through me...giving me the strength to be his hands and feet, and proclaiming the faith and hope that he brings.”
I have never been one to share my faith or pray for strangers on the street…but last week I was challenged to do just that. Walking up to strangers and asking them if I can pray for them is definitely outside my comfort zone, but the fact that I was in Khayelitsha, (the largest township in Cape Town) and one of the few white faces within miles added to my initial discomfort. I was joined by my former London church, Christchurch Fulham who was in Cape Town for a week doing ministry at a church in Khayelitsha. One early evening, before the service we walked down to the train station with the local pastors to invite people to the service and pray for them. It was rush hour, the hustle and bustle of people coming home from work…African taxis were hooting their horns, women with babies securely fastened on their backs rushed by and children of all ages loitered among the crowds. We stopped on a street corner…a group of white ‘foreigners’! As I saw the more courageous team members step out and begin to pray for people I knew in my spirit that I needed to be bold and do the same. I went up to the nearest stall, which was selling cool drinks and snacks, and said hello to the individuals working behind it. I started making small talk with one woman, telling her why we were here and also telling her where I had come from. I asked her if she had any children, not an unreasonable question as most women my age here have many of their own children…but she was very shy in her response as she quietly said one and then walked away. I was thinking to myself, “Oh great this is going well.” The man behind the counter was very friendly and we quickly struck up a conversation. He was a member of the new political party, Congress of the People and proceeded to talk for ages on politics and some interesting insight on where he feels like his country is going. I then asked him for his opinion on Obama which added to another long conversation. Obama is well loved here, and I have found that I can talk about him with anyone. To be honest, most Africans know more about my President than I do! After a while I told my new friend that I was here with a group praying for people and inviting them to the evening service at the church around the corner. The woman I had previously talked with then immerged behind the counter…The man said to me, “This woman would like prayer, she has no husband and is going to have a baby.” At that moment, I walked over to the woman and found out her name was Sarah. She did want prayer…so right then, admits the busyness of life going around us I grabbed her hands and began to pray for her…asking the Lord to bring her a husband who would care for her and also a healthy delivery for her baby. No wonder she was a bit unsettled when I first asked her if she had children…for there was so much fear and uncertainty surrounding the little child she was carrying. After our prayer, the man said to me… “Take some chips”…I looked at this humble stall and said “No thank you, I don’t have any money on me”…he said, “No it is a gift” and proceeded to hand me my favorite bag of chips/crisps. I then felt something else in my hand and when I looked up Sarah had placed an entire packet of biscuits/cookies in my palm…another generous gift that I couldn’t refuse. At that moment the group I had walked with was leaving and I quickly said my Thank Yous and Good Byes. I was beaming with joy. Did I just hold hands with a precious woman and have the opportunity to pray for her…was I just blessed by two people who generously gave all the had…was I experiencing the joy of breaking out of my own fear? I may never see those two ever again…I may my never know if Sarah meets a man and delivers a healthy baby…but what I do know is that I serve a God who loves those two very much…a God who knows everything about them! I am continually reminded that as I step out of my comfort zone, I am met with unbelievable experiences.
My story begins back in Tacoma, when I was home for Christmas.One of the highlights was getting back into the classroom, surrounded by my former preschool students!I realized how much I missed teaching and the constant joy that children bring to my life.I had the privilege to teach on four different occasions, to four different groups of children between the ages of 4-11, sharing about my experiences and adventures in South Africa.It was a delight for me to open their eyes to how other children, clear across the world are living in economic situations that these children would never face.To grow compassion within a child at an early age has a lasting effect…that could one day transform the communities they will live and serve in! As I prayed about my next season in Cape Town, I realized that a desire of my heart was to get back into some preschools and not only love on children…but come alongside and encourage and bless the faithful teachers.
Well in only a matter of days of being back two opportunities came my way to serve in two very different schools!Wednesdays I have been volunteering at a Preschool, also known as a ‘Crèche,’ in Khayelitsha (the largest township here in Cape Town).The simple one room school is run by the wife of a friend of mine.I had visited this school last year, but the timing wasn’t right then to make a weekly commitment…but now that I have a car, and also some companions (3 young interns) to make the 45min journey with me it has felt so peaceable to go.We arrive to the crèche at around 9am and leave about 12:30pm.It’s a very full morning as the classroom contains three sectioned off classes (3yrs, 4yrs and 5yrs)…with a total of 90 children and 4 teachers. The sweet children who attend this crèche, speak limited to no English at all…but what’s amazing with children is you can communicate without words the majority of the time.I think a child understands the word “No” when they are hitting another child, in a variety of languages.The children love to be hugged, and when we enter the room in the mornings we are literally trampled by little bodies embracing our legs…one time they even managed to hug me to the ground!I have loved embracing children closely and praying over them, whispering in their ear who God has created them to be.I know the child doesn’t fully understand everything I am saying, but I know it can sense my love!This past week we had an amazing time talking with the teachers during the nap time (all 90 kids sleep on mats for an hour and half!)…We laughed and learned more about each other and are going to give manicures this next week.As we were leaving one of the teachers looked and me and said, “Thank you for coming…I love you”.Just shows that a little love goes a long way!
On Thursdays, through another contact, and am now volunteering at another preschool closer to town…it’s a posh boys school, called South African Collage Schools (SACS).There are two preschool classes, each with 25 boys (between the ages of 5-6)…so a total of 50 little boys I get to be with from 8:30-12:30.I LOVE it there and they have captured my heart!So different from my Wednesdays but just as important.As you can imagine these two teachers and their assistants do need help with 50 boys!What I am most excited about is teaching these little guys (mainly white and privileged kids) about my work on Wednesdays and doing some slide shows to show them about how other kids are living in their same city!Jesus is growing a passion in my heart for this…bridging the gap between the social, economic and racial divides!These boys are all so unique and very precious in their differences.Sometimes as I’m on the play ground I look down to a full head of blond hair embracing my legs…I love that these boys need to give hugs and cuddles just as much as the Khayelitsha kids do.A highlight for me is having conversations with these little boys.The other day I was talking with a boy named Dominic, he kept asking me very mature questions while we were doing craft together.At one point he said, “What is your favorite thing in the whole world?”I couldn’t help but answer, “Jesus”…he looked at me with tender eyes.I said, “Do you know who Jesus is?” he replied, “Yes, is he the same as God?”…I said he was God’s son and that they are the same.He replied, “Well I like God!” Another conversation happened with a boy named Ethan, he has brown hair and big blue eyes.While we were playing he asked, “Do you have any children?”I replied, “No, not yet”…he said, “Oh, then I can’t ask you the question I wanted to ask you?”…intrigued, I asked what he question was…he said, “I was going to ask if your son likes science?”…this made me laugh.It then led into a very interesting conversation all about his love for science and explosions (go figure!).The teachers are in shock that I come back weekly to serve alongside them…but these little boys have captured my heart!
Doesn’t it seem like at times that as soon as Jesus gets you through one faith journey, he has another one waiting in the shadows?...sometimes taking us a bit deeper in our trust and reliance on Him for our many needs. Last June I witnessed the Lord’s miraculous provision for my six month stay in South Africa. I was amazed at the financial gifts that came in before I left…many from unexpected individuals…and in the end just the right amount to cover those months. This current season however, Jesus has me on a new journey. I sensed him saying to me, “Last year I provided financially for you before you left…but this time I want you to trust me to provide while you are there.” Ahhhh, that seemed a bit too scary…was I crazy…was this unwise? I knew without a doubt I was meant to return, and now just needed to walk ahead in obedience. One week before I left at the end of January, just enough money came in to pay for February rent in Cape Town and a few trips to the grocery store! God is good.
Well, as it is with money…it doesn’t stay around too long when needed…and I quickly saw my little fund getting lower, with petrol (gas) and other needs. I remember one afternoon thinking, “Lord I have no idea how you will provide for these next few weeks, but can you make it a good story…I want to share it with people for you to receive the glory.”
Last Sunday at church the financial burden was growing on my heart…thinking “Ok Lord what are you going to do here?” When I arrived home I went to make some spaghetti for lunch, and was disappointed to find that my mince had disappeared from the freezer. As frustration grew in my heart, the Lord began to show me that the deeper issue going on was the lack of faith and fear that I didn’t even have the money at that moment to go to the shops and buy some more. Sitting in a helpless state on my bed…I decided to check my email…and low and behold as my new messages came in, I saw an email from my parents telling me of a financial gift that had just come through from a woman I had never even met! It was enough to go towards groceries, petrol and some of March’s rent!!! I burst into tears as I tenderly thanked the Lord for his timing and compassion, and asked forgiveness (as I frequently need to do) for the continual unbelief in my heart.
What deeply blesses me is the fact that I have never met this faithful woman. I have been deeply blessed by her obedience to Jesus…hearing that still small voice and following through on what he was asking her to do. She is now apart of a greater story. As her gift helps with my gas, groceries, and other living expenses…it also serves those that I serve in my day to day life here…the men and women I get to pray with, the teachers I get to serve, the children I get to love on…she is now an extension of that and I am grateful!
A new addition to my week has been tutoring a precious 6 year old boy named Sipamandela. His name means “Give us Power”. Sipamandela is the son of my good friend Nokuzola from church. I met Nokuzola shortly after I arrived in 
