Dear Friends and Family,
I cannot believe it's June already, time is positively flying by. The last month has been full of new projects and has been at times a little hectic, but it has also been packed full of blessings.
WORK
At work my role has expanded substantially, I am no longer simply working for the orphan care side of Bulembu, I am also doing work in community enterprise (which is what provides the funding for the orphan care) on top of my old work. This means that I am becoming the Queen of soft skills. Some days I am busy doing admin - creating lists, putting together contracts, contacting donors. Other days I am a book keeper - looking after petty cash and helping sort of some of the finances for orphan care, I am occasionally the communications person - putting together donor reports for children, updating Bulembu's twitter and facebook pages, lately I have been the researcher - helping put together grant proposals for hydroponics, solar power, sports centers, and most recently I have been putting my business hat to help put together new business plans and business revival plans, also doing a bit of HR involved in meetings with the future of the school, and writing up policy manuals. Most days I feel like I haven't a clue what I am doing, however with a can-do attitude and a prayer I approach every day, and somehow everything is getting accomplished and I'm also learning a lot in the process. It is really neat to be involved in so many different projects and to know that in the end they are all related to help give the orphans of Bulembu the best kind of care possible. Thanks so much for your support, there is so much work to be done, and me being able to do this job is only possible through you guys!!!!
Day-to-Day Life
The last month has also been really crazy in terms of how transient it has been. This week I said goodbye to my best friend in Bulembu, and another good friend as they head off in new directions, and over the following month I will say goodbye to many other friends as they leave. I will be the last of the short-term volunteers left in Bulembu which is very strange. I have been so blessed in my time in Bulembu as I have made amazing life long friends. What is strange though is that when I leave Bulembu I can never return to this season as the people I shared it with have gone on as well. Having time alone though is also a blessing as it gives me more time to seek God which is something I really need right now. However, it has also gotten incredibly cold and incredibly dark in Bulembu so it is often hard to find motivation to do anything other than sleep after work!
Reflections
All of this leaving by friend has of course made me think about what my time here a lot as I too will be getting ready to come home in August (I can't believe how quickly it is flying by!). I have thought a lot about the changes I see in my life, and about the person I am becoming, and the things that have happened over the last 7+ months. It has made me think a lot about why I am here and what Bulembu is doing...and the more think about it the more I am convinced that I wish all of you could be here to see the work happening in Bulembu as there is no way for me to possibly convey how beautiful the ministry is through emails alone. It is a practical ministry but it radiates with the love of Christ. I am so honored and blessed to be here, and I truly wish there was some way to show you how incredible it is. I love it here, and there are days even after all this time when I wake up full of overwhelming joy because I truly cannot believe I have been so blessed as to be able to come here. I just cannot believe I am this lucky. That is not to say that it is not hard most of the time. A few weeks ago a beautiful little girl named Simelane went into the hospital because her AIDS flared up and she is not expected to live, she is 12. Another little girl entered our program last week, and she is too afraid to let anyone touch her because she has been raped so many times, she is six. Walking along the streets of our town a few weeks ago someone found a dead baby in a bag, probably from a teen mother who didn't want the child, all the mother had to do was leave it on the doorstep 100 m. away at Bulembu Babies to allow it to live, but she didn't. These things are hard things, the things that break our hearts, but they are the reality we are seeking to change through our program.
There is something I do want to emphasize above all though - in spite of all this sadness there is so much brilliant hope. I feel like when people talk about Africa they always talk about the hard things and the sad things and they fail to talk about the beautiful things- because we must remember where there is great darkness there is also great light, and this is the reality that defines my world in Africa above all. I have never found so many moments of unconcerned laughter, unabashed dancing and pure joy, I have never known so much peace or heard God's whisper so clearly, I have never seen such beautiful grace as I see those that have experienced so much pain, I have been on the receiving end of so much generosity and hospitality, I have never seen so much healing, I have never seen such tangible change in people, and I have never known such hope. Africa has become associated with so much fear and darkness and hopelessness but the place I have come to know is one defined by light - it breathes life into those it touches (both those on the receiving end and those on the giving end) and whispers that if we fight for it we can see our hope come to fruition.
One of the things I have become so convicted about since I arrived here is the fact that at home I lived at a distance for so long from those in need.... and the person who ultimate lost out on getting to know Christ better and look into his eyes was me.
Matthew 25:34-40 says "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
… I never had the chance to look into the eyes of Christ or hold his hand before I came here because I lived so distantly from those around me that were hurting. By calling me here God has been shaping my character in new ways because I have been forced to look into the eyes of those who are suffering. To be honest ( I am ashamed to say it), even here I have sometimes just wanted to retreat to my office rather than look those who are suffering in the face- because I am tired, because it takes work, because it is hard, but as I have been forced to look those suffering in the face what I have found is Christ, and the more I have encountered Christ the more I embrace the suffering. Because even though it is uncomfortable and it takes some of my already stretched time I am learning love that costs something and which is the painful is the most beautiful kind of love, as Mother Theresa once said "I found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more LOVE”. God has been so good to me, in that in his grace he would not allow me to miss out on him. It's funny, when I came here I thought it was because I had something to offer, but I have since realized there are a thousand other people who could have done my job here probably a lot better than I could have, but God called me here to work on my heart and my character, and I am so overwhelmed that he loves me that much. God has been really good to me while I’ve been here. I've done and seen things beyond my wildest dreams. I've had my heart broken by this place and I’ve fallen thoroughly in love with this continent. I have experienced the absolute depths of sadness here, but I have also experienced joy that is closer to heaven than any person should ever be blessed enough to experience. Africa is messy but full of joy, which, lets be honest is just like me, so it just kind of works.
Prayer
I'm in an interesting place right now, I am awash in an ocean of change and I don't even know where to put even one foot forward right now... God is in control and that I have peace about (hallelujah). But I could definitely use some prayer. It's June and I still don't know what I will be doing when I get home in three months time. As of right now I am really, really hoping to go to Dalhousie for law in the fall.... I still haven't heard from them though, so I am just waiting, hoping, praying I get in, but I am not sure if it is God's time yet though or if he has something else for me this year. So I am really praying about it, and I am asking you too as well.... I know that if I get in it will be on the grace of God alone!
I could also use some prayer just about the next couple months. I am in a strange place mentally, and I just want to relish the present rather than straining ahead to what is next, I don't want to miss the precious time I have here, or the opportunity to draw closer to God. I could also use some prayer because I am really tired. I have worked very hard Monday to Friday since I got here and on the weekends I have tried to compensate by taking in as much of the surrounding countryside and local experiences as possible. I have had wonderful friends who have been incredibly generous and have allowed me to experience things beyond my means the last few month which has been such a blessing, however I have also been going pretty much non stop the last 7+ months. This compounded by all the cultural changes, being away from home for so long, and being confronted by so many hard things has completely exhausted me. I know that time will go by so quickly though and I really want to just give my all over the last few months. I am also hoping to plan some time if I can get the finances in place for the end of my trip here to just rest before I come home and start up a whole new whirlwind. So I could really use some prayer about these things as well...
Please continue to pray for the orphans of Bulembu; we have quite a few new children here right now who have suffered horrendous traumas that they are now trying to deal with. One little girl in particular (the little girl who at the age of six has been raped repeatedly), is really in a lot of emotional pain, and she really hates God for allowing these things to happen her. Please pray for this little girl and the other new children, that they would experience the depths of the Fathers love for them, and that he would somehow redeem the brokenness in their lives. Please pray that those who are trying to help these children would have wisdom in how to approach these children and how to show them the kind of love that will break their pain.
Please also pray for increased financial support for our orphans. We have taken in a ton of children this year which is wonderful, but unfortunately means our child sponsorship is a bit behind at the moment, and we really need it to pick up in order to continue to provide the kind of care that allows these children to just be children and have a wonderful future.
Final Note
Thanks again so much for taking the time to read my update. It never ceases to amaze me that any of you even read it or that any of you support me in prayer or finances. It is very humbling, especially considering so many of you are doing such amazing things in your day-to-day life to bless others that go totally unrecognized. I pray that in your day-to-day selfless acts that you will be blessed in abundance as God sees and celebrates the love-filled work of your hands. I pray that letter finds you well and that you are blessed and full of joy. Only a few more months, and a few more updates left before I will be home with all of you, and I really cannot wait! Be well dear friends and have a lovely month of June.
With much love and many blessings,
Heather Davies
"How deep the father's love for us. How blessed beyond all measure. That he would send his only son, to die for me a sinne
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