Saying Goodbye

How do you sum up four months of life in South Africa in a blog? or even put it into words? 

Amazing, eye opening, difficult, fun, friendships, tears, laughter, a journey,  LIFE CHANGING

Four months ago, to the day i arrived at the Village of Hope, after a long flight and some difficulty at customs in Jo'burg. I immediately felt welcomed by the VOH family, after what seemed like a long drive up some bumpy, windy dusty roads in the dark. I was a tad disorientated, but greeted into a family, a community who will be on my heart and in my prayers from here on out. 

The village relies on volunteers to help it run, so i have had the fortune to meet a great number of people these past months. In total i can count that i have lived with 33 different people, met many more than that, and been blessed by even more. 

Every time volunteers leave, a leaving doo is held. We each take our turn to mention our highlights and lowlights of the persons trip, and then they finish with theirs. 

I thought for my final blog i would jot down a few of mine.....

HIGHLIGHTS

+ The children- In the unit. Being able to play games with them, pick them up from school, take them to the shops, and on various outings. In general just being able to get to know them, and LOVE them.

+Feeling comfortable enough with girls i havent known for that long, to break in to sing, not knowing the words or the tune. 

+ Bosom buddies- Each week i have driven down to volunteer at one of the local hospitals. To bless new mums with a goodie bag of essentials, to congratulate and PRAY with them. I have made information leaflets on a variety of different topics, which are now being handed out at clinics and in each of the goodie bags.

+ Seeing baboons for the first time, whilst driving along the N2 with Heather.

+ The children- in the townships. Playing sports and teaching life skills each afternoon.

+ Road tripping up route 62, and along the Garden Route. 

+ The children- at Rainbow Smiles. Helping run a support group each friday, for children with HIV. Getting to know them. REJIOCE, the director of the group, and the Themba Care nurses that helped us.

+Shark diving. Not as scary as it sounds, once you have seen a shark head straight for you, thrash against the cage, and not pay the least bit of attention in you.

+ Being able to work with the house mums- Getting to know them, their individual stories and the inner STRENGTH they each have.

+ Making a group of friends, who have been instrumental to my time here, and who i have made life long FRIENDSHIP with.

+Seeing the joy, the love and the HOPE, that the people of Grabouw have. The don't have much in terms of material possessions, but they have HEARTS FOR GOD.

+The new Audi, blowing up. Half way up a mountain, on the way home at midnight. 

+Learning things about myself, that i either didn't know, or didn't want to know. 

+ Finding BEAUTY in the little things.

LOWLIGHTS

- Getting pharangitis, and going into acute renal failure, at the start of April.

- Having to leave. 

Contrast again and again

Last weekend, was the last weekend, Ashlyn, Lauren, Jess and I spent together. Saving the best for last, as we drove to Franchhoek: ‘The French Corner’. Nestled in the valley is the beautiful little village. Full of boutiques, a village market in the hall, French bistros, quaint cafes and wineries for miles. 

We shopped- window shopped anyway as funds are dwindling.

We ate - at a French Bistro, easily fooling ourselves that we where in Paris

We drank- at a lovely winery. Vrede en Lust. Over looking the grape vines, we tasted different wines. Tried to retain the information about how the wines where made so we could pretend we learnt something.   

And....

We ate and drank some more- going to chocolate cafe to top the day off before driving home. 

Monday arrived like it does every week, struggling to get out of bed, reaching for a strong cup of coffee. To then be once again, blown away by the contrast between lifestyles in South Africa. Hit with the harsh reality of what is life for a large population of Grabouw. A s the four of us girls, went to help with the delivering of food parcel for Saphlie Sonke. 

Each month Saphlie Sonke, (another NGO who work in Grabouw) deliver food parcels to people in the most need. The poorest of the poor, people who are unable to work due to ill health or disability and are waiting for their grant/ financial support request to be processed. A grant that will give then give or take R2000 / $300 a month. Processing can take up to 3 months, once the papers are signed. In the mean time Saphlie Sonke provides monthly food parcels. Packed full of tinned foods, rice, samp, mealie meal, cooking oil, stock, vegetables, soup mixes, and a variety of other cooking necessities.

We drove round the townships, walked though the squatter camps, looking for the homes on our lists. We where welcomed into their homes, we talked and assess their living situations. We handed out blankets to families who had very few.  As winter has now set in, and is taking hold. A middle age man, living alone, in a shack - the smallest i’ve seen, assured us he had enough blankets, as he showed us his sheet.... and a deflated rubber boat. We gave him blankets, the rest of what we had. We handed over his food parcel, and asked if their was anything he was short of... ‘a sauce pan’, and a few other things. 

How do you cook without a saucepan? or even without paraffin/ a stove?

Saphlie Sonke will try and provide what they can for those in need, from the donations they receive, but for now we can pray.

Happy Hearts

I am now nearing the end of my time at the Village of Hope, and it is a bitter sweet feeling. Whilst i am excited to embark on the next part of the adventure, I am struggling with the truth, that i am to leave a place that has given me a new outlook on life and a place i feel so at home. 

In a community where HIV, AID's and TB are spreading and access to medication and health care is a never ending struggle, where tragedies happen with no report and where people burn whatever that can find to stay warm at night. In a place where now winter has set in, the winds scream and rain pours through thin corrugated iron roofs. Joy shines though the sadness and heartache. 

A place where seemingly simple gestures and acts, make all the difference. A cup of coffee and cake, may be a guilty pleasure on a cold miserable day some. But for those who have to wonder where their next meal is coming from, this is a blessing. 

It was easy to fall into a routine. To go from day to day, doing what needs to be done. The school run daily, the unit food shop weekly, and the monthly ARV clinic appointments. Spending time in the community of Grabouw, getting to know people from all walks of life and children who long to be loved. Some days i felt disheartened, like nothing was ever enough, wanting to solve the troubles of the world in a day. But looking back, reflecting on the past 4 months, i am filed with inspiring, heart warming, tear provoking stories of happiness and hope. 

A fortnight ago a team from ‘In Focus’ Church in Augusta, visited. They set to work painting the children’s unit with a fresh coat of paint. Who knew the excitement that would follow as the children's faces beamed with excitement, as they ran their hands over the new walls. In attempt to keep the children's unit free from children as much as possible during the week, we all prayed for good weather. Our prayers where answered and we were blessed with a week of sunshine, outings and excursions. Which where as much fun for the house mums as for the children. 

To make bath time fun and educational, bathroom words had previously been painted onto the walls in English, Africans and Xhosa. With the new coat of paint, a new theme was born. I spent Thursday and Friday creating an ‘Under the Sea/ Nemo themed bathroom. With children running in and out of the bathroom, watching intensely as i painted away, and sat admiringly when it was finished. I can only assume it was a success. As staff coming on for the next shift where led into the bathroom to “ Look what Katia did."

A few months ago, i was struggling to understand how i felt about life in South Africa. How some people have so much, and others so little. I was talking to one of the house mums, and she surprised that myself and the other volunteers got upset. She thought we where always happy because we where always smiling, flitting off on weekends to explore the country. The country that is one their doorstep, but out of arms reach. She told me not to feel guilty as guilt doesn't help anyone or anything, to always be grateful for what we have, and to start everyday with a smile. 

‘One day at a time: This is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering.’

A Different World

Living up on a hill, it is easy to feel far away from the townships and squatter camps that pave the bottom of the dusty road into town. But it serves as a constant reminder, when  the happenings of days and weeks get upon us and weigh us down. As we can all see is the reason we are here: to serve the community, and develop self reliance by providing education, health care and training. 

Working out in the townships and squatter camps, we all see a lot and are all affected by the things we see. We cry often and reflect on our own lives. as we realise just how fortunate we are. We have police forces that protect us, fire brigades that come to rescue us, and hospitals that serve us. 

This week, as i drove a house mum home for the night, we passed a group of teens playing football on the street enjoying life and having fun... Less than 100m down the road, a child was being physically abused. As an adult threw him to the ground, repeatedly kicking and hitting him. No police came, and all we could do was drive by.  

Disasters like shack fires are another common occurrence. Families lose everything they have, even family members, when flames turn a shack to cinders. Yet the following day, they are out searching for new materials to rebuild a 6 by 6 family home, getting on with the reality of life in a informal settlement. 

Women arrive in a taxi at hospital. They lie alone, in a room with 8 others, in pain and afraid. They birth alone, nameless except for the title of ‘mama’. There is no privacy and no dignity. A nurse’s bedside manner is unlike the textbooks teach us, as procedures happen with no explanation nor warning. 

This week I supported a lone mother through labour. She screamed in pain, as epidurals are non-existent and gas is a ghost of the past. She clutched at my hand as contractions worsened. Labour complications lead to an emergency C-section. She looked up at me in confusion as a consent from was put in front of her. Tears welled in her eyes, as I tried to explain in words that are understood in Afrikaans. She held my had along the corridor to theater, where we said Good bye, ‘Baai’.

Despite the hardship of life, there is HOPE. There are a number of Christian based non profit organisations already established in Grabouw, across South Africa, and the rest of the world. They are invaluable, and are the unseen heroes who shine at the end of the tunnel. 

Inspirational Youth

In a community where HIV/ AIDS is hugely prevalent and continues to increase, in certain townships it is a topic covered routinely at schools and at community groups. In regards to spreading information, increasing knowledge is one of the most affective ways to heighten awareness and emphasise the importance of ARV medication, whilst encouraging people to take their medication. 

But if you don’t go to school, or attend a community group, how do you learn about the virus that has gripped the 34% of your community? 

This week at the sports outreach, we revised HIV/AIDs. We have covered HIV numerous times before, and this week we wanted to uncover what the children knew. We planned ahead and thought that it may be difficult to get the children to engage, so gave gifts out as an incentive and encouragement; football books for the boys and bracelets for the girls,worked wonders. 

We kicked off the week in Hillside, a fairly spiritually dark area of town. There was a better turn out of boys than girls, although that lead to some unfortunate behaviors and disrespect. However the girls played hard as we had a game of netball, finishing the session with the HIV lesson. All of the girls participated well, all taking at once and over the top of one another. They knew a lot about HIV, how it is contracted, what it is, what it does and how to prevent it; what they didn’t know we were able to recap by the end of the session.

Thinking we had made a good start to the week, and feeling quiet proud of our efforts, we drove to Siteview, where one of our sports mentors had taken a football session by him self. Our jaws dropped as we saw the respect the children had for him. All the children  were sitting around in a circle and putting their hands up to answer questions. They moved to the front of the group to address their peers and share their knowledge. 

No one spoke out of turn, no one grabbed for a gifts, and no one pushed and shoved others. 

They had total respect, it was inspiring to watch. A credit. Full of integrity and leadership qualities, Michael is a prime example of what Grabouw needs. An influential role model and someone for the younger generations to aspire to. 

Each township is different ....... and that brings different struggles. The following day at Iraq squatter camp, where ramshackled shelters are made from anything and everything, where water is sparse, and electricity non-existent and where a 8 unit toilet block serves a multitude of people, we where faced with the reality that few of the children attend school. We encouraged then to share what they knew, much of which was limited and was full of misconceptions about the illness. We tried to break down stigmatised barriers and the misconceptions these children had about HIV, and they sat and eagerly listened, while one of the older girls translated into Afrikaans. 

A mothers' heart

New life is something to celebrate, is it not? To shout from the roof tops that you are a mother, and now the single most important thing to a little boy or girl. The start of motherhood should be a joyous occasion. Filled with emotions you never knew existed. A time of new life, new beginnings and new hope.  Is this what is felt by mothers world wide? Perhaps not, when you live with limited essential resources: water, food, and warmth. You are alone, in your late 20’s with no parents and no partner for support. You wonder how will you provide for this precious new life you hold in your arms.  This baby needs you, and can’t survive with out you. 

As days grow colder in the mountains of the western cape, a mother is dressed in a flowing pink summery dress, and her newborn less than a day old is in toddler’s trousers and a t-shirt. She has no baby supplies with which to care for her child. All she has is love. 

There is no love like a mother's love,

no stronger bond on earth

Like the precious bond that comes from God,

to a mother when she gives birth.

‘How will you get home?’

‘I will walk.’

And walk she would have done. 

We walked out the hospital together, her baby girl in a bundle of blankets. Helping her into the car, and offering a bag of food I had bought her, the expression of disbelief overtook the look of confusion.  As we begun the drive up the mountain, the bag of food rustled a few times, before she built up enough courage to accept the offering, and began to eat. 

We drove back to Grabouw, exchanging a few words ... english was limited. She directed me through the townships.

‘I can walk walk from here’ she said quietly. 

‘How far?’  I asked.

‘Far, far back, I live in a shack’

‘I will walk with you.’

We walked in silence though the sandy, rubbish scattered grounds. Stopping mid stride, Embessia (the new mum) turned to me and asked, 


‘Where are you from?’

‘England‘ I replied, ‘why?’ 

‘Because I have never met anyone like you before. I will remember you even after I die.’

Embessia, I will remember you for the rest of my life. You have touched my heart and opened my eyes.

After winding though the township, we arrived at her house. A mixture of corrugated iron, cardboard and wood made up the walls and roof. There were no windows, but a few planks of wood for a door.  A double bed occupied half the house, and there was less than a meter gap before a small section of bench top. This was a house for six people.  

I was greeted by her family, ‘God bless, baie dankie, baie dankie’. 

As I walked back out of the township, I didn’t feel scared, or worried. I felt protected, and blessed. I fought back the tears at the realization that this wasn’t a one off; the are hundreds of new mothers in a similar situation around Africa and around the world. 

A mother's love is forever strong,

never changing for all time

And when her children need her most,

a mother's love will shine.

God bless these special mothers,

God bless them every one

For all the tears and heartache,

and for the special work they've done.

When her days on earth are over,

a mother's love lives on

Through many generations,

with God's blessings on each one.

Be thankful for our mothers,

for they love with a higher love

From the power God has given, 

and the strength from up above.

Freedom

Volunteering in South Africa, and Grabouw in particular, open your eyes to situations and circumstances that we all hear about may but seldom act on. Here we volunteer to work along side local communities and with kids from all over Grabouw. Each afternoon, out reach sport programes are run by sports mentors and ourselves. The significance of these programs is huge, as  we use sport to brake down all sorts of barriers. It doesn't matter is you speak English, Africans, Corsa or Dutch; sport is universal, and a unique way to build relationships, with children who's lives are worlds apart from ours. The love and the joy that they show and give to us is overwhelming, when we show that we care. A tap on the back or simply passing the ball to them, will make a friendship and someone to hold your hand. 

Running sport programmes gives us the opportunity to teach life skills and pass on biblical messages that apply to every day life. Key life skills from the past few weeks have been, respect for oneself and others, wound care, purity and HIV.  Although at times it is difficult to know weather linguistics have been over come. We work alongside the sports mentors who are instrumental to the running of the clubs, and are able to relay what is said in English. It is of my experience that all of the children who attend the clubs, listen intensely and can reflect on the message the following week. 

All of the sports mentors are teenage boys from the townships, and without them sports would not run  the same. It is nice to have the opportunity to show appreciation. Yesterday evening, we all met up in CapeTown. With the boys in their 'sunday best', we had dinner before heading to Cape Town Stadium, to watch the Cape Ajax play Orlando Pirates. 

Grace, Heather, Jess and I had been exploring CapeTown all day. We wonderer around the famous GreenMarket and enjoyed lovely burgers for lunch. This meant we where still filled to the brim by dinner time. So i at least picked at my meal while i watched the mentors savored every mouthful. 

Most of the mentors come from homes without running water, electricity or a fridge full of food. A concept that i struggled with as a child, when my dad would tell me, 'you don't know how lucky you are, to be able to go the the fridge and make a meal'. 

As we walked towards the stadium, which was lit up like a space ship, the crowds gathered. We formed lines and waited to be frisked. Through the gates and up to the steps to our entrance. I had never been to a football game before, nor a stadium this big- seating 64,000 people. When we could see the pitch, i was filled with excited. So i cant begin to imagine how the mentors where feeling, with only having seen or heard of their football fans and the stadium in the newspaper or magazines. 

The match score was 1:1, the atmosphere was unlike anything i have ever experience before. Tickets costing less that $10.00, we where of a minority, surrounded by enthusiastic Cape Ajax and Orlando Pirates fans. 

21 years post-apartheid, there is still a marked division between black, colored and white communities. Like a lot of the time, i find myself the minority group. Freedom Day, observed annually on April 27th as a bank holiday. To celebrate freedom and commemorate the first post-apartheid elections held in 1994. These were the first national elections in South Africa in which the franchise did not depend upon race.

Being in South Africa, the rainbow nation. A place where lots of different charities are working towards the common goal, to truly make this nation, a nation of 'one people with one destiny'. Freedom Day, strives to bring "Peace, unity, the preservation and the restoration of human dignity"