MOLO!!! This trip is amazing! The people here are the sweetest people i have ever met in my life. iN the black township I am working in a daycare/church ( ITHEMBA) which means hope , and the title is completely true. I see tons of hope in these children. The very first week we ( LindsEY Kerns, Courntey Mayberry and I) got there the kids were a blessing. They would always come up and hug on us and climb on me. The first time i walked into the place i almost burst into tears. These children are so sweet. Yet the way they abuse one another and even me at times, i can tell that there home lives are not all that grand.
There is a young boy named Vicktore ( Yes i also thought it was Victor, but that isn’t how we should say it), and he is a handful and a half. He has the worst temper i have ever seen in a 5 year old. Nombsa, one of the day care leaders told me that at his home he is abused so badly that he is completely numb to any spankings or punishment, which is heavily enforced at ITHEMBA. He will refuse to learn anything they teach him, and if they make him try to do anything he just screams so loud and curses in the Afrikaans language. But God has given me a heart for this boy. I can see light at the end of the tunnel. After a burst of madness and crying the other day, he came up to me and just crawled up in my lap and just laid there. I almost cried again. I just put my hands on his head and told him i loved him and prayed for him. He is getting tons better. He is actually learning now. I see so much hope in this little one.
All the people and children are not like this though. Most of the kids are so hyper and cute. There is a boy named Shawni who looks exactly like a teddy bear. He always wants me to hold him and hug him. If i can’t hug him he ALWAYS cries. It is the most pitiful thing ever. I love all of these children SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much. They are all so beautiful and i have such a great connection with them, even though they speak a different language, but God has showed me so much patience through this language barrier. He has showed me that i can show love with my actions and expressions, and not just my words.
Christ is becoming so real in my life. I am seeing him everyday in the people of Jeffreys bay, and i am also being his hands and feet. God is good and he has not failed us once.
Im so encouraged to hear of your work there and the way God is teaching you and opening your eyes to what even a hug can do! Ill keep praying. Give my aSHLEY A HUG!
Wowser right back at ya! I am sitting here reading your blog holding back the tears. I am soooo glad that you are getting to have this experience. It makes me wish I was there. We are praying for you and keeping up with the updates.
Love ya
Glen, Sandra, and Cody
Dude…I never knew you could make me cry so much (sobs again). I really respect what you’re doin’ over there, and it excites me to see how you’re growing in Christ and truly showing and experiencing his love. You know, with Crist’s love, we don’t need words, it’s amazing all by itsself. Keep me posted on how that Victore is growing too. God Bless You, man, and everything you’re accomplishing over there.
Hey Caleb,
I don’t know if you still check this or get e-mails when people post but I thought it was worth a shot. I stumbled across your teams page through facebook and thought I would check it out. I actually just got back from the glorious JBay a few weeks ago. Your post stuck out to me because Victor and Shawn were two of the kids that captured my heart at Ithemba. I saw so much light in them while I was there this past year and thought you would like to know that they are both doing really well. Victor was for sure a hand full at the beginning but our ministry team covered Him in prayer and you could see God moving in Him. He still had his moments but by the end of this year, you could see so much growth and joy stirring in him. He is starting to behave much letter and really learn at the creche in the morning and play with kids during the after school care. It was amazing to witness. I know that God used your team and many before in big ways to impact Ithemba so thanks for the seeds you planted and just be encouraged that they are still being watered and things are sprouting up. And it’s the most beautiful picture ever! Sorry this got long, I could talk about the kids for days. But I hope things are going well and God is showing up in your life and continuing to use you to reach out to others.