Only sixteen days into the New Year and the only word that comes to mind to describe it so far is JOY. This joy comes from realizing the new wonderful family I have gained. Helen, Kelly and myself have been welcomed and adopted by every member of the Mafu’s family. We have gained an awesome brother Ndumiso, parents (I wish I had a picture of people’s faces in town when Mama Mafu tells people we are her children), aunts, uncles and a ton of cousins! This has been so fun for me, I grew up with only four first cousins who I only got to see a few times a year. I see at least one of our new cousin’s almost everyday! There have been multiple family gatherings this year, New Years, Khwezi’s going away party, and Malusi’s 21st birthday beach outing. The days we spend with our new cousins have been some of the most fun I have had here yet!
Who we are
Check out this video and see more about how Africa Christian Ministries impacts the community of eSikhawini, South Africa, as well as how you can support our ministry.
Jan
16
Dec
28
Training Up Leaders
After two days of much needed rest, I sit here contemplating the massive tasks that face us in the next couple of weeks. ACM classes start up in such a short time and it seems like there is no way we could possibly be ready. I think that’s one big cultural difference that we’re beginning to get used to. Ndumi is always telling us – “South Africa just has a way of pulling things off at the last minute.” Many American’s cringe at the thought of last minute scrambles for success, but maybe Tim Tebow’s infamous fourth quarter comebacks will soften up others to enjoy the process of pulling things together in the nick of time. I think we’re learning that not everything can be controlled, and sometimes the task is just bigger than the hours we have in the day. It’s easy for me to look ahead and trust that it will be pulled off, simply by looking back at what I’ve learned in the past three months.
Dec
28
A Funeral
On the Wednesday before Christmas, we got out of bed in the early hours of the morning to finish last minute preparations for a funeral. A member of the church was 43 years old when she passed a week earlier, succumbing mentally and then physically to the HIV virus which effects so many lives here in South Africa. We had stayed up for hours the night before decorating the church and preparing the program, while many people from the community spent the evening in her homestead singing and sharing stories until three in the morning.
Dec
27
Taxi Drivers and Orphans
In between ACM events and projects we have had the chance to get involved with Isaiah and Mercy’s son Ndumi’s non-profit, Impilo, which strives to put out a positive voice in youth culture.
Earlier this month I was asked to sit in on an Impilo meeting where they discussed upcoming events.
The first was a service project that took place on December 15th at the Esikhawini mall serving free hot dogs and drinks to the taxi drivers and public. Within a couple of hours we served around 300 people and collected contact information for 200 people. The purpose of this service project was to show God’s love and on every cup of juice we wrote the word Love and 1 John 4:19 which says “We love because he first loved us”.
Dec
03
November Changes
November has come and gone and we find the party month of December upon us. It’s summer and everything is shutting down as school lets out and workers take their vacations. Music starts bumping incredibly loud everyday instead of just the weekends. November saw many changes in our family party, our daily lives and in ourselves, as we learn about this new world we’re living in. The biggest event was on November 19th, when Katie Gurzi, our beloved Zulu teacher, mentor, missionary and friend boarded a plane to return to her family. We stood in the airport, hugged and cried, wondering how it was in two short months someone could come to be so rooted in our hearts and lives. We miss her presence everyday, but we know the Lord is guiding her life as he is ours.
