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