Kinship

It’s amazing how God weaves relationships throughout our lives, time and across the globe.  As I grow older I realize that relationships are the biggest gift of our lives.  I’ve learned that kinship is what Jesus modeled for us.  Kinship- a feeling of being close or similar to other people or things: He felt a real sense of kinship with his fellow soldiers.

Jesus told his disciples,

 “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Our team includes Vicar Ken, Susan, Valerie, Pastor Brones, Katie Jo, Jessica and Ron.  It’s been such a pleasure serving with a team that has a deep heart for people and gifts that always allow for what is needed.  Love one another.

Our Pastor Thwala at Ntshongweni Lutheran Church is such a good shepherd to the people around him and truly a member of many families.  Here’s his youngest daughter Shiloh with Jessica.  Such a joy and I feel like our families are one big family.  Love one another.

After church service we saw Gogo Zulu who we’ve known since 2009.  She was reconnecting with Jessica and caught up on both of our families.  She’s such a joy and like another family member.  Love one another.

On this trip our pastor and vicar have been doing morning devotions at the public schools.  Here’s Charles Primary School where the kids are so focused on Pastor Brones message it’s amazing.  Smiles all around and amazing singing, see below.  Love one another.

Here’s the teacher committee at Charles Primary responsible for supporting the kids needs, many folks provided backpacks and school supplies for 30 of the neediest kids at the school.  Love one another.

Mlondi is someone we’ve known since 2009, he’s an amazing young man who is one of our African family members.  He’s been helping us all week painting, delivering food and serving others.  Such a great man.  Love one another.

Busisiwe (Blesssing) is one of Thwala’s angels.  She knows the needs of the village and is able to identify the neediest families across this area.  She’s having some challenges and we were able to share in her suffering as well as have her identify some new families for us to help.  She’s an amazing blessing and absolutely is loving her neighbor.  Love one another.

Pastor Brones took time to speak with Micah and Nobusiso in the shade as the team worked to paint their home.  They were able to relate and share stories being from two different cultures.  Love one another.

Pastor Thwala is such a blessing to so many across the globe.  We are so thankful to have met in 2009 and that Pastor allows us to be a part of his family in Ntshongweni.  Love one another.

Pastor has young men in the village that help us throughout the week, here I am with Fundo (means “good man” in Zulu).  He’s such a great help and so full of joy.  Love one another.

Pastor Thwala with one of our teammates, Katie Jo, shopping in Hammersdale for our food deliveries.  Such a blessing that we can serve in His name.  Love one another.

As we left the second house we painted yesterday, the kids wanted to help us take our materials up the hill.  This was after Katie had played with the kids for a few hours and built kinship with them.  Love one another.

Mr Duma, who is retired from a construction job, is helping Sanele build cabinets for the families with the greatest need.  So great to see a young man without a natural father, learn carpentry skills from and older man who is a great teacher.  Love one another.

I had a group of kids at the end of the day who were filled with energy and wanted to play.  We had so much fun playing and sharing in enthusiasm.  Love one another.

So very thankful for kinship with our family in Ntshongweni South Africa.  They teach me so much over the years and strengthen me in so many ways.  Thank you my Ntshongweni family, this is a part of my life that fills me with joy.  The joy of knowing each of you.  Love one another.