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