Inhabit Your Moments

Inhabit your moments: This is a statement I am learning to live out. It is a paradox of time when in one moment it seems that I have been in Africa for a time much more significant than a month and a half, and in that same moment I feel as if that month and a half has been merely a day. So, to cope with this paradox, I am learning to inhabit my moments; to not let even one pass by without being IN IT with intention. This is proving to be a difficult lesson, but one with great value, I think. I want- no, I NEED to soak up all that Africa and the people that fill it have to offer. I need to submerge myself in all that God has to teach me and in all the ways that He loves me; because this place and this amazing God are teeming with lessons to be learned.

Speaking of time, there is a thing we call “Africa time” in which everything moves at a pace pleasing to the peaceful and being late is the norm. One of our professors told us, “Americans have the watches, but Africans have the time.” I think that has been my problem all along- I have lived my life being late to almost EVERYTHING and always being the last one out the door. I am convinced that I was born on the wrong continent.

Having said these things in regards to time- these are my excuses for taking so long to write another blog…I have been scolded and this blog post has been demanded of me by my wonderful, beautiful mother, whom I miss dearly :)

So much has happened since my last blog, it would once again be exhaustive and most likely boring to list it all, but I will write about the most significant stuff to catch you up on all the fun I’ve been having!

First of all, we are finished with the majority of our classes! Zulu class will continue for the next few weeks, but the intensity has been lowered a fair amount, which, needless to say, makes me quite happy. After we completed the finals in all of our other classes, we began the Community Engagement class that is required during Service Sites. This class is taught by Francis Njoroge, who is an extremely well known and renowned man in Africa. I believe that his class will prove to be extremely enlightening and helpful in both my Service Site and in my future profession in the field of Social Work. He has a lot to say about service, loving people, and empowerment…all of which spark my interest greatly.

Last week was one full of fun and excitement. We kicked it off with a Jesus Culture concert that rocked me in more ways than one (which I will have to write about in my next blog). The next day the group was split in half to begin what I’m calling the ‘Week of Wonder’. My half of the group began the Week of Wonder by heading off to safari for 3 days. Those were some of the most spectacular and tiring days of my life. We spent 3 days in what looked and felt like vehicles from Indiana Jones, in the wilderness of South Africa searching for game. I saw some of the most beautiful animals, sunsets, and sunrises I have seen and ever will have the pleasure of seeing. Sadly, I did not get to see any lions or leopards, but I saw my fair share of rhinos, elephants, zebras, buffalo, wildebeests, impala, baboons, etc. I also woke up earlier than I have in years in order to see these magnificent creatures. By the end of each day, Reg was asking me if I had been drinking as I suffered through delirium. I will never have an experience quite like it again in my life…unless of course, I visit South Africa again. When we returned to our campus 3 days later and swapped spots with the other half of the group, we had a night to rest, and the adventure continued the next day. Our group took a trip to the river and went cliff jumping! I could not get enough of the adrenaline and fun, so I jumped around 6 times. After jumping we enjoyed a Braii (BBQ) and chowed down to fuel ourselves for the end of the trip. It ended with the strenuous hike back up the extremely steep hills to arrive at the van, sweaty and sore. It was completely worth it. The next day we woke up bright eyed in anticipation of the event of the day- zip lining through the jungle. Oh my goodness, what an experience that was. 2 hours of zip lining through the greenest scenery, with the most beautiful, picturesque view. It was exhilarating, breathtaking, and fairly therapeutic. Laughing with overwhelming joy and excitement until my stomach hurt was very therapeutic for me- always is. I think this week reminded me of how much I thrive on adrenaline and enjoy doing slightly dangerous things…I just may go bungee jumping here in South Africa after all :)

This week we being our Service Site visits and I absolutely could not be more excited. I have been placed at a site called ‘Riv-Life’ in the township, ‘Cinderella’. There is so much to be said about this place that my words will fail it. When I first visited Riv-Life, I immediately felt that it was the place I was supposed to be. I got this overwhelming feeling that I cannot explain. My heart yearned to be there. Cinderella is one township, like many in South Africa that is plagued with HIV/AIDS. The majority of people living in Cinderella are infected and living in desolate conditions. There are many children who are orphaned or living with parents or caretakers who are infected with HIV/AIDS roaming the streets and living in a cycle of poverty and hopelessness. Many of these children are also infected with HIV/AIDS for one of a few reasons. Most likely, either their mother was infected with HIV while she was pregnant with them, and therefore passed HIV to them through her blood, or they were the victims of a horrific belief taught by Isangomas, or witch doctors, in the past. This belief was that if a person was infected with HIV/AIDS, they could be wholly cured by having sex with either a young virgin or a baby. This resulted in an outrageous number of rapes and the rampant spread of HIV/AIDS. This is not unusual in South Africa, as it holds the largest population of HIV/AIDS infected citizens in the world, reaching around 5 million. Riv-Life is working to lower that number, starting with Cinderella. Riv-Life is an organization in connection with a church called ‘The River’ that is working to better the community of Cinderella by providing a variety of services, education, and support to end the cycle of poverty, HIV/AIDS infection, and to love and assist those suffering with HIV/AIDS. If you would like to learn more about Riv-Life’s mission, you can go to this website: http://www.rivlife.com/programs.html  -Check it out!

I feel so unbelievably blessed by this opportunity to serve the community of Cinderella. I am certain that this experience will bring so much knowledge, growth, both spiritually and personally, and that I will be forever changed. The team of APU students that I will be working with is absolutely incredible and shares the same excitement and eagerness to begin serving that I do. I am so looking forward to being completely broken; having my world shattered, my heart broken. I want my heart to be broken for what breaks God’s. I want my vision to be aligned with heaven’s so that I may see people with the eyes of the Father and love people to the best of my humanly ability. The people of Cinderella who are suffering with disease and poverty, as well as every other human on earth, need the love of Jesus desperately, more than anything else that can be offered. I may not be able to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, I may not be able to stop people from dying from it, I may not be able to heal people, and I may not be able to provide better living for every person in Cinderella, but what I can do is LOVE and PRAY. I can love to the absolute best of my ability, listen with not only my ears, but my heart as well, and serve the people with the heart of Jesus. I can pray until there are no words left- until I am on my knees, humbled by the power and love of God, and I can live in the confidence that God reigns over this place. Gosh, can we just start already?




YIKES: Sorry, about the length, y'all!