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!
Last week Thembeka, Thandeka and Zama, three of our girl cousins spent the night. The next day Mama Mafu found Helen, Kelly and myself sitting alone and she asked why we weren’t with the girls. We were dealing with the irrational 13-year-old feeling of “do they like us? We don’t want to force them to hang out with us”. Luckily Mama Mafu suggested that we all go to the beach for Malusi’s birthday. The moment Baba Mafu came home and handed over the keys to the Jeep and told us we could go (all by our selves) the six of us screamed out of excitement and ran to get our beach gear. We had a wonderful day laughing, swimming, and celebrating Malusi’s birthday!
Sometimes I miss my family; sometimes the language and cultural barriers are frustrating. Thankfully God has a way to distract us from this. He gave us an amazing and loving new family to be apart of while we are here and he turns the language and cultural barriers into hilarious moment that will be some of our best memories from this year. For example trying to explain that yes, putting ice cream into our glass of coke is not crazy and actually delicious.
In Luke Peter says to Jesus “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” I find so much comfort in Jesus’ response. “ Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:28-29
Zama, Thembeka and Malusi dancing at New Years
1 comment
Paula Andrews says:
January 20, 2012 at 3:57 pm (UTC 1 )
Colleen, that verse in Luke about leaving is what God gave Steve on a plane over 35 years ago when he left Memphis and family after High School-to never return to live. God gave beyond what Steve could imagine in new family members. When he recalls the names of people God brought into his life as a fulfillment of that verse he can’t get through the list without tears. God is still fulfilling that promise for Steve. He spent this week with 50 young Pokot pastors and fell in love with them and wanted to pack them up to come work with him at Kensington. Tomorrow he’s getting on a plane to see you, and God will fulfill his promise in S Africa. Steve will scoop you up as another of his daughters. We love you and are so blessed by your life.