In no particular order . . . these are my top 10 favorite moments in Africa. I have to say I love being there (although I miss you all terribly).
1. Being greeted at the airport by some of the African teens (they really are in their 20's but they are called teens). They came with open arms and were so excited to see us all again. How did they remember my name? I loved talking with mCopseni - for such a young man - he sure is wise. He insisted that he carry my carry-on bag wherever we went!!
2. Driving around Africa all day picking up kids for the clinic. I drove into the heart of the black townships and deep into the rural areas. The roads were atrocious - potholes, dirt holes, missing parts of the road, and roads that really weren't roads - just cow paths. At one point in the day I dropped 38 kids off at the clinic. Yes - 38 kids fit into my 10 passenger van. The kids would sing the entire way - I'll upload some video of that soon. By the way - African's drive on the left side of the road.
3. Praying with people before they left the clinic. The people were so receptive to prayer - many people were sick, tired, and worried about their futures - especially their children. One woman I prayed with was diagnosed with HIV, her husband died a few months ago and she was desperately trying to find a job so that she could leave her children with some money. She prayed along side me with great passion.
4. Seeing the African sky at night - the stars are mind boggling - they are "thick" and you feel that you could reach out and touch them. The milky way and the Southern Cross were in full view. (My camera does the sky no justice)
5. Laughing with my missionary host Mercy - she always makes me smile until my cheeks hurt.
6. Praying with people in the hospital in Empengeni. Our friend, Katie, has been a missionary in South Africa since the 1950's. She is now in her 80's battling breast cancer. Despite everything - she is an ACTIVE missionary (she is from the U.S. and speaks fluent Zulu). She visits the hospital regularly and is able to "get us in" to pray with people who are ill. It is a real privilege. This year a message was given in each ward, we then sang 2 Zulu songs, and then prayed with each person. One boy I prayed with asked Jesus into his heart and I was able to give him a Bible. Katie followed up with him after we visited and all of the boys I prayed with in that wing asked for Bibles. My friend Prasanth and I also prayed for a man in bed H28 who had been shot through the mouth. He was unable to speak and he was trembling with fear. Big wet tears rolled down his eyes as we prayed for him. I was really moved by God's power in that moment.
7. I loved my time with the grandmothers (gogo's) who are given the title of respect "mama". Two particular ladies warm my heart every year: Mama nKosi (her last name translates to Lord) and Mama Zima. They both always great me with huge open arms and we have lovely conversations about everything. They are very wise old women - they have been incredibly courageous - living through the apartheid - poverty - and many of her family members affected by HIV. Mama nKosi is a nurse - her husband has passed away and she takes care of many people in her household. She lives in a very rural area and I had the opportunity to drive her home with my friend Cebo late in the evening after a clinic. She normally rides in the back of the 4x4 truck and it is a very bumpy ride. She was so excited to be in the van (it was still bumpy to me) and she said that I drove so smoothly that she would like me to drive her all the way to Durban (3 hours away) so she could enjoy the smoothness. [Thanks Dad] Mama nKosi also drove in my front seat on the way up to the top of the mountain and I asked her all about her life. She had never been to the mountain but the doctors insisted that she go because she is the best interpreter. Mama Zima always gives me a hardy laugh and puts her hands on my hips and says "studla" which roughly translates to hearty and active girl. It's a real compliment in Africa - I'll take it!
8. I had two different opportunities to "perform"! I was the lead actress in the skit about depression for the community. The doctors held a 1/2 day seminar on the topic. I decided to just go for it and be as dramatic as I could be [yes mom - I know this is not a stretch for me] and it went off without a hitch. I think people were surprised. Several teenagers came up to me afterward and expressed how they could relate to my "character" so it made me feel good that I didn't hold back. I also was invited to sing at the Easter service. The kids had heard the songs from the CD that my church put together last year and they insisted that I sing "cease striving". It was such an honor since my African friends can REALLY SING. The Easter service was a true highlight for me - there was an ABUNDANCE of JOY in the people. The wooden church was packed to the gills - there was singing - rejoicing and testimonies. The teenagers - ran the whole thing under the watchful eye of Baba (father) Mafu (Isaiah to us). We served South African sausages, a pasta like salad and homemade cake with the entire congregation. It may have been the only meal that day for many of the people attending. We also hid Easter eggs (empty) and handed out candy and then played games with the kids. It was so much fun. Several of the little girls wanted to hold my hand so I just took 3 or 4 hands into each one of mine and ran and ran and ran with them. I loved it!!
9. I loved seeing the animals - Giraffes (my favorite), elephants (my favorite too), warthogs, zebras, a LION, cape buffalo, rhinos, hyena, a leopard (I swear), blue guinea, exotic butterflies, vultures, baboons, monkeys and these gorgeous iridescent blue birds.
10. Handing out medicine to the people who needed it so badly. What an honor to be God's hands and feet. I loved explaining to the kids how to take their medicine and coding the dispensing cups with symbols so that mom's and grandmother's could keep track of what medicine went with which dropper. I loved shaking the hand of each patient and even getting and occasional hug when I was able. I loved when the old ladies would listen in on what I was saying to the patient in the next chair and hearing them chime in. I loved meeting all of the different people. The pharmacy is a really hectic place to work - but I love the pace and I loved that I have to be serious there - it's just who I am. I loved improving my Zulu. It was thrilling when I was able to hand over the pain medicine we provided for the cleaning staff at the game park after all of our clinics were done. Mercy stood by and I was able to explain, rudimentaly, what I was giving her and how to use the medicine. The woman was so thrilled and said that I must be Zulu I spoke so well. It was really cool!!
I have so many other wonderful memories - but these are my current highlights. God moved mysteriously on this trip - we were without luggage and water and we faced many challenges - but God's mighty arm led us. He worked in marvelous ways - feeding the community, healing the community, giving hope to the community and bringing me Joy even when I hadn't showered in days!
Can you tell he likes them?
Here are Hansel and Gretel in front of the gingerbread house. The kids have been collecting more food to add to it. So far they're going to add Peeps and McDonalds french fries. Yum!
Here the kids are singing and dancing the final song: Celebration. They're singing: "Celebrate the witch is dead!" They did their own choreography! It was so cute!
"We're going to State!!! We all get to stay in a hotel together! We even get to eat at Wendy's AND order pizza. Our coaches said they'd take us swimming! We get to miss a 1/2 day of school?! Yahoo! Can we stay up all night?"
Here's a close up of it. It's amazing to be driving down the road and see this! Congrats Isaac!!!
