The African Community

This past week, we have been doing work in some local townships.
On Tuesday our team went to a township called Stinkwater. There is an organization there that works with orphaned children – their parents all died of HIV/AIDS. This organization can only feed the children three times a week – it made me wonder how often these kids get a healthy meal. Some of the children had popped bellies while others looked too tall for their frail bodies.
While we were here, we shared a Bible story, fed the children, and played games with them. The joy these kids had was so encouraging. They have lost so much and have hardly anything, yet I was surrounded by smiles and laughter. I played soccer and held the little ones. It is one of my highlights from my trip so far.
Today, I worked with another organization in a local township. This organization works with the ill in the community. I went door to door in a group of 6 or so. The majority of the people we visited with had HIV/AIDS. The people we talked to were all at separate stages – some on their deathbed, while others working and doing fine with their medications. It was hard for me to see people so weak. One lady couldn’t move and we could barely hear her speak. All I could do was pray for her – that when she passes she will be able to rejoice and feel no pain with our Heavenly Father. It was also difficult to see all the children in these homes. I couldn’t help but think what would happen to them once their mother/grandmother would pass. Would they become more orphans?
I saw the affect AIDS has on people today. I got to step inside these tin shacks and see how the majority of the population lives here. They are proud of their home and welcomed each of us with hospitality. I was so humbled today. One lady we visited was blind. It brought her so much joy to have visitors. She profusely thanked and blessed us. All I brought was my presence – it was amazing to see how much that uplifted her. We also went into a home where the grandmother was paralyzed. We went into her room where she has stayed for 10 years. She hasn’t been able to go outside or leave her room. She’s been waiting for a wheelchair for over a year now. That’s all it takes – a wheelchair – I loved riding in the old wheelchair in my grandmother’s basement when I was a child – a dusty old wheelchair I played in as a child is extremely difficult to find/purchase here.
I’m so thankful for the eye opening experiences I have been able to have so far. I’m praying that I will be able to know how to apply what God is teaching me here/.what I’ve experienced to life back in the states.