Day 13 - Oshoek

 Today we had a slight lie in as we knew we would get a little longer to get ready and get cleared up from the staying at the Oshoek Service Centre. This morning we were joined at the service centre by Ma Nester and the service centre team (Penelope, Nontebeko and Senzo) - who arrived in time for breakfast which was really nice to share all together. 

We then gathered around the stove where we checked in on each other and how we are feeling, we spent some time sharing prayer requests - which we then prayed all together.  Penelope then gave some lovely words about our time in Oshoek and how special it had been to them as the service centre team but also to the Care Points - even referring to us as “the fun team” which was very encouraging. The service centre then wanted to pray for our safe travel back to the Hub so we stood and they surrounded us all and prayed for us which was really special. We then shared in Holy Communion and took some time on our own to pray before coming back together to worship and Ma Nester closed us all in prayer.

We then finished up our packing and headed on the very short 5 minute journey to Oshoek Care Point where we were greeted by some of the Care Workers we had met yesterday. There wasn’t much to be done - even though we kept asking - however Nick and Rachel made themselves busy by chopping tomatoes and onions ready for today’s meal. The others of us spent some more time with Virginia and the service centre getting to know each other and sharing lots of laughs. 

Once the food was prepared we held a RG (relationship group) outside in the sun with the service centre team and Care Workers. We were joined by a couple of other Care Workers who we hadn’t met yesteday which was really nice and once we had all checked in with each other Rachel then shared some words of encouragement. The passage was taken from Philippians 4:13 ‘For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength’. Rachel encouraged both the Care Workers and the service centre to not only rely on their own strength but also through God. 

We then got a picture with the service centre team and Care Workers before Alice and Pippa gave them a hand by grating beetroot for lunch. Before we knew it, the time had come to leave to head back to the hub. We said our goodbyes, went via the service centre to collect our belongings and Gift (from the hospitality team) before making the 2.5-3hr journey back to White River and the Hands at Work Hub. 

Once back and unpacked, we all enjoyed a warm shower before settling down for the evening - ready to enjoy another delicious meal prepared by the hospitality team and probably a game of rage. 

We are all very much looking forward to heading back to Mafambisa in the morning for our Care Worker Appreciation day and to see some well known faces which will follow a time for some members to share about our time in South Africa tomorrow morning at the Hub. We all feel very strange that everything is coming to an end but are excited to get back to the UK to continue sharing our stories and the amazing relationship and partnership we have formed with such an amazing community. 

By Oliver

Day 12 - Oshoek Home Visits

Visit 1: Noah and Nick 

Today we visited Luke who is the eldest of the 11 grandchildren who are cared for by his Gogo. When we visited his Gogo was not in as she was at an elderly person group in the town playing a Netball match which she has been practicing for. When we spoke to Luke he told us the story of how is Gogo who is originally from South Africa crossed the border to Swaziland when she who a young woman and that she met her husband in Swaziland, additionally while in Swaziland she had children and settled down. Once the Gogo husband died she made the decision to move back to South Africa to be closer to her growing family. 

The Gogos children live close by and do piece work to make money, which is the main reason that she cares for 11 out of her 14 grandchildren.

Luke had very good English and spoke to us about his love of football and in particular Chelsea F.C. and about his interest in cars, he said ‘I like big cars SUVs like Land Cruiser or Ford Everest or Jeep Wrangler Rubicon or to have a Bakkie (Pickup truck)’. 

We were also informed that Luke used to be the care taker for the house at the service centre at is Oshoek, however he is now just doing some piece work and then coming home to care for the land and their animals.

Luke told us about his struggles with getting South African Papers and how is limited him in being able to do his metrics at the end of grade 12, however, we were delighted to hear that he now has his papers and is planning to go back to School to do his metric and get his certificates and wants to go on to be a electrical engineer.

Luke was also interested to share what he dreams of doing in the future and said that he wanted to visit England to see Chelsea F.C. play and ride the London eye. He said he also dreams of having a wife, children and  a German Shepherd.

During our time with Luke we asked him to show us around is land, with him showing us the fenced off area were he intends to grow vegetables although he explained that he needs water to help the plants grow and that he intends to buy a waterpump to pump the water up from the bottom of his land saying that it will help the plants to grow. 

The area was half dug and we encouraged him to use the chicken manure to fertlise the ground. 

My hope is my encouragement that I gave him to continue to get the ground ready for planting and will be very beneficial to the family.

Before we left, Nick had his picture taken with Luke and assured him I would pray for him and the rest of the family and his plans for his future would come fruition.

Visit 2: Pippa and Oliver

We went with Penelope, Gift (from the hospitality team) and a Care Worker on a visit to see a child headed family. The route was longer than expected as due to the altering terrain, the lower parts were muddy and boggy as they are next to the water source. The family we were visiting was, 24 year old Nancy who was living in a house with her siblings but also her own three children. Unfortunately both of Nancy’s parents had passed away and therefore she was responsible for caring for the other children. 

Nancy was being supported by relatives - aunts/cousins who lived close by however she was unable to get a job as there are not many around. We met with her aunt, Wendy, in the yard and she explained that everyone in the family doing well. Penelope asked about the young men who were around and playing music, Wendy explained that they had finished grade 12 at school however were unable to take their exams because they do not have any South African identity therefore were at home without a job. 

Two of Nancy’s children are attending the care point and were at school when we visited as well as her siblings.  The service centre and the Care Workers check in with Nancy and her family regularly to make sure everything is going well. Towards the end of our home visit we asked for prayer requests from the family:

- Nancy asked for prayer regarding the possibility of employment or potentially getting some form of job soon. 

- Wendy requested that we pray for her home as she believes it is haunted by demons and impacting her sleep (Alice explained that this is probably conflicting beliefs regarding the Gospel as well as their traditional tribal beliefs).

Day 12 - Oshoek

This morning started with a small group. Senzo from the Service Centre led the group by checking in on how we slept and also what our energy levels were. The sun was shining so the feedback was positive. Rachel then led a word of encouragement for the team and Service Centre which they loved and found inspiring. 

It came from Isaiah 40:31. She reminded us that even the most strongest of person can get tired and weary from giving their time, energy and love serving those in need. We need to put our hope in Him and he will refill us with what has been poured out. Even though the journey is long and often unseen - God promises endurance to those who lean on Him. 

Busi shared that as we were coming to the end of our trip as a team it was very important for us to remember that we find our strength in the Lord. 

We then prayed for people in both the Oshoek community and people in the Mafambisa community who we had heard were having health concerns. We additionally prayed for Busie’s safe travel back to the Hands Hub to prepare for her travels to Zambia. 

Penelope shared that Oshoek Care Point cares for 60 children and that security and crime is one of the biggest challenges in the area. Busi added that it is the closest Care Point to the border so as you can imagine it is situated in a dangerous area. Objects both good and bad are smuggled in. Busi also shared that it was one of the first Care Points to open during COVID as the Care Workers felt they couldn’t just sit at home waiting and worrying about the children. 

After the small group we visited the Oshoek Care Point and helped to prepare the meal ahead of the children’s arrival and the planned Holy Home visits. On the menu for the meal today was samp (fat rice), beans and cabbage which some of the group were very excited for as they love the cabbage. Noah and Pippa quickly got to work chopping cabbage and peeling carrots! Noah had to have a quick lesson from one of the Care Workers on the appropriate chopping method! She was very fast! Oliver and Rachel collected wood to stoke the range cooker! We all admired the view from the back of the Care Point and also the graffiti inside the cooking hut! 

After chatting in the sun we sat with the Care Workers and worshipped, prayed and checked in on each other! The team then split into three groups one consisting of Noah, Nick, Virginia, one of the Service Centre team and a Care Worker. The second group consisting of Pippa, Oliver, one of the Service Centre team and a Care Worker who both went on their Holy Home visits, while Alice and Rachel stayed at the care point to continue preparing the meal and play with the children.

Sam who Noah and Alice had met yesterday came over to say hello on his way back from picking up his grandchild - it was lovely to see that he had remembered where we would be; made an effort to meet the rest of the team and remembered our names! He pointed out his house across the valley that we visited yesterday! 

The little children arrived first and the bubbles came out! All of a sudden the Care Point was inundated with children including some that were not suppose to be at the Care Point. This is always a challenge for us as a team to know that only the most vulnerable attend the Care Point and it can’t be for all! 

Once both the groups had returned from their Holy Home visits we were excited to see that the children were beginning to arrive at the Care Point, which signaled it was time to get the toys from the bus to play with the children. One of the biggest hits of the toys was Oliver and Nicks bat and ball game which began with just a few children and soon became a long line of children all queuing to have a go at hitting the ball. We were also delighted to see that some of the children from Houtbos Care Point had come out of the school and wanted to play while they were waiting for their bus.

After a game of cricket, stick ball and many bubbles later it was time for worship, prayer and food! The singing was incredible and the children after learning Noah’s name even and sang a song to us about him.

Alice, Pippa and Rachel served up Samp, Beans and Cabbage (a team favourite) before we then danced the afternoon away with multiple renditions of Shine, Great Great Brill Brill and I’m gonna jump up and down! 

A fun day was had by all. We headed back to the Service Centre for tea, biscuits, de-brief and no doubt a game of rage after dinner! 

By Noah and Alice