Community Day 8 - Sthobela A

We rose early this morning and jumped into the bucket bath, which is like a manual shower but still very refreshing. Time for a bit of breakfast and we then sat down with Levy, our host while in Osheok, and the Osheok Service Centre team, for a time of prayer and sharing! We went around the room, sharing how we were feeling and identifying any prayer points! 

We prayed for baby ‘Gift’ (see later in this post) and other prayer points identified. Levy then led a discussion about the Hands at Work 2022 Watchword. 

Each year Hands adopt a verse or verses from the Bible which they use to support them throughout the year. This years Watchword comes from Colosions chapter 4 verse 17 which says:

 “ Tell Archippus: See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”

Levy suggested that we should substitute our own name for that of Archippus. And so this then becomes a challenge to us all to understand what God is calling us to do and to ensure that we complete that! 

It was now time for us to leave the Osheok area and head back to the Hands Hub, but not before we visited one more Care Point, known as Sthobela A.

Sthobela A is a remote Care Point amongst the Osheok hills. Some of us had visited the Care Point in 2019 and painted the black lines on the building so it was good to meet some of the Care Workers from before.

We set too, chopping vegetables and preparing thechicken ready for the childrens meal, but sadly, due to the long drive back to the Hub we knew that today we would not meet the children. 

Food ready and onto the stove for cooking we took time out to pray and sing with the Care Workers and Service Centre Team. 

One of the Care Workers, Lilly was at the Hospital with her baby ‘Gift’ who had been rushed to hospital on Monday and following investigation it had been discovered that she had a heart problem!

Nktula, who is Gifts sister, is part of the Osheok Service Centre team, and she came to the Care Point today and asked that we pray for her baby sister, as she needs to be transferred to a more major hospital, but having tried three suitable Hospitals, as yet they had not found one to take her! 

Prayer time over, John, Carolyn and Lucy set off for a Holy Home visit. (See Johns separate post) Alice, Jack, Ben and Chris stayed behind to help finish the cooking, chop wood and play with the under 5’s.

Holy Home visit complete, it was time to eat our dinner with the Care Workers and set off on our journey back to the Hub. But not before Ben and Jack led us in a couple of songs!

A lovely foot note to this blog is that before we left we got the good news that Baby Gift has been given a place in Pretoria Hospital and will be transferred on Friday! Please pray for ‘Gift’ as she receives treatment in hospital, for Lilly her mum who waits patiently by her bed and her sister Nktula, who continues to support the Osheok Care points and waits for positive news! 

By Chris