It's been a minute since my last entry...sounds like I've been institutionalized or out at sea or in prison...Anyways, my mental state has been a bit static (in the fuzzy t.v. screen kind of way) so blogging was more of a burden that a cathartic release (just one more thing to do) but...I'm back
Moloweni S.A.
Oh my goodness I am not over South Africa yet. Not that I intended to "get over it" but I was hoping that I would not miss it as much as I do DAiLY! I truly feel like I miss home. Here are mas fotos from the Orphanges that we served at. One was in GuGuLetu and the other at the Rainbow House. I think about these kids all the time. Here's the thing some of them are HIV positive and there are so many of them & no help that they can't all be played with. They go some days without loving, playful touches. I tried to tickle one and he looked completed starlted as if I punched him. He was almost 2. Then he stuck his belly out so I would do it again. He couldn't tell what this sensation was or if he like it. It made me chuckle and made me so sad at the same time. Trying to post video soon. Pictures just don't do the experience justice. We all deeply love and miss them.
At Barcelona (I'll show Rainbow House pics later) the Pastor founded this church under serious duress. His first services were held outside in the dark in front of his car lights under the open threat of murder by the men of Gugulethu...And we have the nerve to complain we God "interupts us with His will. Lord forgive us.
Mama counting with her angel. "Normal" is not universalThis angel was not used to being held. She was found in her "home" eating off of the floor (i think next to her dead mother). When they would feed her at the orphanage she would dump the food on the floor and then eat it.
So cute...all the girls carried there babydolls like this. Gotta love culture differences, no strollersMama & Aunty preparing lunch in the kitchen
Outside of Barcelona orphange, playground area My God...that face!Doing laundry...she didn't want me to help...I probably would have slowed her down :-P
Barcelona family!
So Hard to say goodbye. Mike (in the car) held this little one the entire time we were there...quite a while. When we left he just stood at the car and looked at Mike like..."you are coming back right?" I can't articulate what that departure felt like. We were so nervous about going and broken before we left.
There's more to the story but I'll blog about it later.
Sweeping Crux: after all the planning and theorizing here's the deal. Christ is love and we are to love. You don't have to be a seminary trained theologian to love. I witnessed the stream of love cross between cultures through touch, talk and time. Touch someone, talk to them and invest your time. I promise they will meet Christ.