Day 5 - Mluti Community

Travelling today, in cloudy conditions to the Care Point at Mluti, we were joined by Charissa, Audres, Loneck, Virginia, Eunice, Prudence and Rosie, along with a Canadian couple, Adrian and Kirsten and their three young children, who are at Hands as short term volunteers. 

Alice and Chris had visited Mluti on their first trip in 2015, and had described its confined space and limitations, but on arrival much work had happened in the past nine years - the cooking shelter had been renewed; a new shelter constructed; and a large climbing frame had been installed at the top of the site, with a long slide down to the lower level. (It wasn’t only the children who enjoyed first climbing up and then sliding down to the bottom!)

After taking in the development of the Care Point we were welcomed by the Care Workers - Rachel, Angel, Thabile, and Cassilla - and got involved in chopping vegetables and washing plates in readiness for lunch later. 

Then we all sat for Relationship Group; we introduced ourselves; we sang songs and prayed for the day ahead and one another; and Mark led a beautiful reflection based on verses from Isaiah 41:10 and Psalm 56:8, giving encouragement to all of us, but especially the Care Workers.

After splitting into three groups most of us left the Care Point to go on Holy Home Visits (more of that in the next blog) walking through much greener vegetation than the previous day in Mafambisa.

On returning about an hour or so later we found a local school class had arrived with a project to help poorer people in their community.  They helped tidy the Care Point, wash dishes and dig a new pit behind the cooking shelter for the rubbish. 

But their endeavours were brought to an abrupt halt when we turned the speaker on and began blasting out our sing-along/dance-along tunes. Pippa and Ben, accompanied by Rosie led the enthusiastic dancing to favourites such as Shine, Be Happy, Our God Is A Great Big God, Great Great Brill Brill and Be Bold. This coincided with the older children from the local school walking past on their way home - they soon stopped and, attracted by the sounds and sights, joined us in our praise, making the Care Point appear to be the place to be in Mluti today.

Once we had settled back down from the exuberant singing and dancing, the children sang their song of gratitude and gave thanks for their food before we served their meal of pap, cabbage and beans; all too soon it was again time to say farewell and leave for the day.

On arriving back at the Hands Village, it seemed that someone had left the kitchen window open and the monkeys had been in to spread the sugar across the oven and worktop! Quickly clearing up the mess we sat down and relaxed with a cup of tea and rusks before devouring our prepared meal of burgers, wedges, salad, corn on the cob, and the remainder of last night’s pasta. Another day full of energy, life, joy and laughter, alongside the heartwarming and heartbreaking stories and situations we have encountered.

Blogged by John

Day 4 - Mafambisa Holy Home Visits

Today we visited 4 different homes. Here are the stories of the homes we visited… 

Visit 1: Ben, Matthew and Chris W

We went on our first Holy Home Visit today.  Ben, Matthew and I went on a visit to a house a short walk away from the Care Point accompanied by Audres, Rosie, Ketiwe and Nyiko. 

The family we visited was a single mother with two sons.  The two sons were regularly attending the care point.  The younger son, who was only 13 went off to initiation school at the beginning of June.  Young men get a lot of peer pressure to attend initiation school and some people say it is part of becoming a man - but it encourages behaviours that the Christian faith would consider to be bad or inappropriate.  Since he left, the older son has not been attending the care point.  The care workers believe he is angry with his younger brother for going to initiation school because it will cost the family a lot of money,  He is also missing his younger brother and being at the care point is a reminder that he has ginger away.  The younger brother is due back next week and it is going to be hard for the family. 

Before we left we formed a chain around the mother and all prayed for her and her two sons.  We prayed that the brothers would be able to forgive each other, and the younger brother would return to Church and the Christian teaching that his mum and older brother are following.

Visit 2: John, Harry and Adam 

Revisiting a home we visited two years ago with four siblings, one of whom had two young children. The mother had left for Johannesburg and not returned, leaving her older children to look after the family. Since our last visit the mother did come back, but only to bring another child to be cared for by her elder siblings; meaning there were five girls and two boys living in one room with an additional lean-to corrugated shed. 

The younger children, including a boy who befriended Carolyn on our last visit, are still attending the Care Point, and are well. Hands have addressed some of the family’s immediate needs by building an extension to create two rooms - one for the boys and one for the girls - and also a cooking shelter, with plans to develop a kitchen for the family to prepare meals. While this has addressed the family’s physical home situation, the relationship status of the elder two girls is complicated. The second eldest is eight months pregnant and the father of her baby is being evasive in his support of her and the child. While the eldest, having two children, has become involved with a married man who has four children of his own. These relationships are causing concern among the Hands family, and they are urging the girls to make the right choices for the wellbeing of themselves and their family. While we sat in the shade of a mango tree and heard all about the situation, we prayed for the family: for their safety, their wellbeing, the safe delivery of the new baby, and a positive outcome for their relationships.

Visit 3: Alice and Pippa 

We visited Peter’s house where he lives with his mother, grandma and sister. Peter does not attend school as he has special needs so was at home when we went to visit. He was attending a Government School until Grade 8 which is free to attend but after having to leave is now unable to attend a local special school due to having to pay high fees. We sat with him and his mother outside their house where they are having another room built onto their home. The Care Workers and Hands team are concerned about what he is doing now as he does not attend school. 

Peters father left the family when he was three years old and has recently returned to Mafambisa 15 years later and the family are unwilling at present to forgive him for abandoning them. His father is very unwell and has spent time in the clinic. When he awoke Peter and his Mum were there but there was no remorse or thanks from the father for helping to save his life which is adding to the unforgiveness. The father is currently staying with his brother who also has a brother who is a local pastor. The Hands Team challenged the family to forgive him so he can be part of the children’s life and also so someone can look after him as he is unwell. They shared that it is not the role of the pastors wife to do this but the family’s. She is a Christian so has taken on this role.  The Grandma used to be a cleaner at the Care Point (Siyaththuka) which is now a pre-school however cannot do this anymore as has pain in her leg. We went down to where she was sitting under a tree and laid hands on her and prayed. It was then great to see Peter at the Care Point later in the afternoon.

Visit 4: Mark, Sally and Chris P

Chris P, Sally and Mark were joined by Prudence and Lucia on a visit to Josh’s home. We met with Josh’s dad and step mother (who was looking after a friend’s 4 month old baby). We sat in semi-circle and we heard that they had arrived at the house 5 years ago when Josh was 8 and that Josh has 4 siblings aged from 6 to 17 years old. We heard that Josh was finding school challenging and does not enjoy any subjects. Josh does, however, have good friends and maybe there is some hope if they are able to support him? We learned that Josh has resorted to stealing, including from a taxi, which had placed him and his father in some danger. As a consequence, they were both beaten. Josh’s dad explained that he could not get piece work as he does not have South African papers. We thanked the family for welcoming us into their home and I (Mark) left a photo of my family with them with words of kindness on the reverse and on behalf of St Andrews. 

Please join us in praying for the children and Care Givers that we met today. 

Day 4 - Siyabonga and Mafambisa Community

 Siyabonga (Thankful) 

This word seems to have been reoccurring over the last couple of days in our singing, praying and praising and this thread continued today both at Ladies prayer and within our time at the Care Point. Yesterday we thanked God in the Monday morning meeting also and then at the end of the day after we saw the Care Point full of life, hope and joy! 

The girls were up just before 8:00 this morning for Ladies prayer (very thankful for the extra hour in bed!)

Ladies prayer started with introductions and a test of how many names “Sally” could remember! Then we went through the prayer requests from last week and thanked Jesus for all the prayers he had answered. New prayer requests were added and then Jacqui led us in a reflection about FAITH. 

She shared this verse from Hebrews 11 verse 39 and 40. 

”God said good things about all these people because they trusted him. But they still did not receive everything that God had promised to give to them. God had already decided to prepare something better for all of us. As a result, those people did not receive everything until we could join with them.“

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She shared that Faith is often evidence of something not seen and we need to trust that God is for us and where prayers are unanswered we need to stand on the truths in the word of God and have hope. It is about the attitude of our heart and not to give up when we think we have waited enough. He has said it so we trust it! Our job is often simpler than we make out - we share our request with God and the how/when/where etc is not our business but his and this can often be mysterious or look different than we think and that’s ok. We then finished with a time of prayer. 

Following morning prayer we headed out for another day in Mafambisa. Holy Home visits were on the cards and there was a mixture or apprehension and excitement amongst the team. We were given a warm welcome at the Care Point again and while some helped to chop chop the cabbage, others played with the Under 5’s and some kept the cement watered for the new toilet block! 

Shortly after we all gathered together and shared how we we were feeling about the day before praying and thanking Jesus for the day by singing the phrases “Siyabonga” and “Thank you Jesus” before splitting into 4 groups to embark on some Holy Home Visits. (Check out the next blog about the homes we visited and the stories we heard) 

Once back at the Care Point there was time for more playing with the children; catching up and debriefing on home visits with each other, Care Workers and the Hands Team; last minute cooking adjustments and some 1:1 interactions. Praise and Worship came next with the children before a meal of Pap, Beans and Cabbage.

This led to more playing; chatting and some intentional interaction by the Hands Team. Skipping, Bubbles and Football continued and just looking around at this busy Care Point demonstrated how far Mafambisa has come on its journey particularly since Covid. We are so thankful for the demonstration of Gods love through the Care Workers that are being Jesus’ hands and feet on the ground and creating a beacon of light and hope in a somewhat broken and challenging community. 

We couldn’t finish a day in the community without some singing and dancing so Ben and Pippa along with one of the twins led us in ‘Shine’ amongst other Holiday Club favourites! At one point even John was on the stage reliving his Holiday Club days leading us in the classic “Whose the King of the Jungle” with actions and everything! We finished our time at the Care Point with the lads playing football with the older boys and the rest of us being treated to Choir Practice by the older girls in preparation for a wedding at the weekend of one of the International Volunteers at Hands. 

There was so much to be thankful to God for today from start to end. Yesterday during our time with the Care Workers Psalm 100 was shared and this definitely resonated throughout our day today. 

Psalm 100: For giving grateful praise.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Blogged by Alice 

Day 3 - Mafambisa Community

Just before 11am we set off in the bus for Mafambisa. We were giving service centre workers Virginia, Prudence and Eunice a lift and we spent the journey getting to know each other. The combination of speed bumps and pot holes made for a very bumpy journey.  Before too long we arrived. It was exciting to look out of the bus window and suddenly realise that I recognised the building I was looking at. It was the distinctively decorated children’s shelter. 

We received a warm welcome from the care workers who were excited to see us and it was incredible to see that they could remember some of the returning team members. As we arrived later than usual all the food preparation had already been completed so we started our day at the community with a relationship group. We got the opportunity to introduce ourselves to the care workers and the chance to hear some of their stories as well as pray for each other as a group. 

At the care point there is a new set of toilets being built, funded by recent fundraising in Biggleswade. Some of the team volunteered to get stuck in and get involved in mixing the concrete for the base of the block. While this was happening the rest of the team kept the under 5’s entertained with bubbles and a balloon ball creating great excitement, lots of fun and laughter.

Around 2pm the older children started to arrive from school and join in the with the fun of playing with bubbles and some tennis balls. A while later all the children gathered in the shelter at the care point where we started to sing and dance all together. 

Before eating the children all recited the Lord’s Prayer in siswati. We joined them in eating lunch of pap, veg and potatoes in sauce. It was very tasty but eating with your hands caused us all to slow down in an attempt not to burn our fingers. 

After eating we helped to wash and clear up before having to return to the Hub so the service centre workers could return home safely before dark. After dropping them back we all popped over to the local supermarket to pick up some snacks and essential foods including Chris’ marmalade for breakfast.

We then returned back to the Hub where we enjoyed a dinner of rice and stir fry prepared for us during the day by the hospitality team. This was followed by a debrief from Charissa where we talked about all we had done today including highlights and any worries for tomorrow. 

It was an impactful day getting to meet all the amazing care workers and the joyful children of the community. I personally made a connection with a girl at hub who is almost the exact same age as me. Her English was amazing, much better than my siswati! This meant we could have a lovely conversation. We talked about all she had done at school that day as well as our shared excitement for tomorrow when we will take the new loud speaker with us  (which needed charging) and we can sing Shine and dance together which is something we both love to do. I am looking forward to going back tomorrow after a good nights rest. 

Blogged by Pippa