Friday - Digging Deeper / Journey Home

​This morning we awoke to a beautiful sunny, crisp morning and as has become habit over the years enjoyed breakfast on the terrace as a team. There was laughter and reflectiveness as our time at Hands in South Africa was drawing to a close. 

Before we left there was the Hands Friday meeting. Today this was called “Digging Deeper” and being live streamed across all the countries in Africa that they work in and was led by Levy. 

Levy spoke about the ‘Hands’ model and reminding the wider organisation of what God has called them to as a charity. He spoke about the importance of scripture and prayer and there was much good that we could do in the World but is it what God is calling us to now. 

He spoke about the process of graduation for the different communities and how this will look and has looked in the past and how we can ensure that we are setting them up to be self-sufficient alongside the local Church. 

Levy spoke about pruning and how this can be a positive activity to enable growth and doesn’t always have to mean that something is bad. He shared this picture below with the question “Are we trying to catch six chickens at once when we should be focusing on the one?”.

Some questions that he posed throughout this morning were; 

- What is God doing and how can we join in with it? 

- What is God ask us to simplify or stop? 

- What or where is God asking us to give more attention to and where are we putting all of our energy? 

One of the Hands long term volunteers shared John 15 which summed up the mornings message. 

““I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Following this, it was time for the team to share some reflections on the week to the wider Hands teams. 

John, Freya, Ben, Rachel and Jack shared their experiences, reflections and changes they had noted both personally and collectively as a team. 

One of our highlights and changes that we had noticed Ben shared the following; 

“Coming two years ago and this year we have seen Mafambisa progress and the care workers come out of their shell. Particularly Dudu who was (newish) to the Care Point four years ago. When we met her, she was quiet, holding back and staying in her shell. This may have been due to COVID and teams not being able to visit but the difference over the past four years has been astonishing.

2 years ago, she started talking more and we noticed it then. She started to come out of her shell and began having chats with individuals and she opened up a little bit more. 

However now, she is bold, courageous and willing to step out and encourage others. 4 years ago, Carolyn shared a bible verse and encouraged the careworkers but was hesitant to do so. This reminds me so much of Dudu as she is now able to speak comfortably and not feel anxious doing so. 

We also learned she is now the Co-coordinator alongside Khetiwe which was lovely to hear. You could see she has clearly taken to this role well and is empowering the children, the other careworkers and the whole community.

Following the feedback, we were prayed for alongside a couple of volunteers who were travelling to Nigeria and a couple who were celebrating 29 years of marriage. After some emotional farewells, the final items were placed in suitcases, toys sorted and organised to leave behind for use by the service centre before the packing of the bus! There was marginally more space that on the way a fortnight ago. 

Lastly, there was the annual team photograph on the steps before departure! 

We set off for Johannesburg Airport with a brief stop at Alzu to see the rhinos, pick up a coffee and use the facilities! Packed lunches were eaten on the bus during the final leg to the airport. On arrival, it was an effort to decipher road signs to find the petrol station but after two laps of the local motorway we were successful and returned the vehicle. 

Once unloaded, we headed for check-in, passport control and some last minute gift shopping! We shared a light snack and drink together before Lucy and John headed off to their gate to catch their flight. The rest of the team headed to the gate to await departure! Whilst awaiting take-off, there was time for a quick game of rage before the movie watching and hopefully sleeping commenced. See you in the UK! 

Blogged by Alice