For everything there is a season

It’s been 15 years that we’ve had our Ntshongweni family.  I’m reminded that- "For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1

You thought the Byrds had an original song? Byrds- Turn Turn Turn

This week we’ve reconnected with so many of our long time family.  It gives me joy to experience these different seasons.

Here’s Mlondi over the years.  Growing up to become a young man who is caring, joyful, and has the best laugh in Ntshongweni.  OSHA site inspectors may not have liked our ladder setup in the second photo.  Now Mlondi is as tall as Alex in the first photo.

Seyonda is the tallest in this early photo. He’s the tallest in the second photo too.  Seyonda has the gift of helping people around him become better.  He’s a role model and acts out of genuine love for others.

Kululeku is the little dude in the yellow shirt on the right.  He always has the best smile and perseverance that we could all learn from.  Thankful to know kululeku.  Jessica gave him his photo album with pictures going back over the years, so amazing and such a cherished thing.

Nhlanhla (Lucky) had a huge heart and an amazing countenance.  He was filled with love and always there for his neighbor.  The first photo shows his great smile.  We visited and cleaned his grave in the second photo.  We miss him.

Quit your bitchin…

“Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgement at how they carry it.”  Father Gregory Boyle

I have to admit that when I’m in my home country small things can be very annoying.  Potholes in the streets, an Amazon package that is delayed, they don’t have my favorite granola at Publix, I don’t have clean socks…  all first world problems that are totally insignificant.

The second house we went to for food delivery had 5 folks living in a single room.  Grandmother had lost her ID and was no longer able to claim her pension/disability.  So pastor Thwala suggested we drive to Hammersdale township to the office of home affairs to set an appointment for her and arrange transport.  When we arrived the woman working the office explained they don’t offer ID service and suggested booking an online appointment in Durban, or Pietermaritzburg.  Pastor say with Mlondi and logged into the website to schedule an appointment.  The earliest available appointment was next year.  Wow…  Gogo and her family have to wait for nearly three months to get an ID so she can claim her disability.  So much for first world problems…  here’s a photo of their one room house and two of the family members.

So thankful for perspective and to have pastor work so hard to help people in difficult circumstances.  Love your neighbor.

 

Faith

 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;”. Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬

Imagine being a widow who provides for 18 kids, receives a small pension and government support for 3 of the 18 orphans, and lives a life of joy knowing God will provide for her.  Gogo Elizabeth is a hero of the faith, she trusts with all of her heart and doesn’t let the world persuade her otherwise.

She provides these 18 kids with a loving home that is full of joy and comfort.  Such a blessing to be in this home.

With all of the recent rains, Gogo Elizabeth shared that her roof is leaking in many places causing flooding inside the house.  Pastor Thwala is going to figure out how we can get the roof replaced so Gogo doesn’t have to worry about flooding anymore.  So thankful that our Pastor helps everyone in need regardless of their church affiliation, where they live, etc.  Thankful for Pastor being the good shepherd for so many in need.

Worship & Wisdom & Warning

Worship- isiZulu “church” is always one of our favorite times- no bulletins, no organ, no screens- but lots of great hymnal thumping, voices harmonizing, and divine kinship.  We are welcomed and accepted as family from 2009 - 2024.  Worshipping and working together.  

Wisdom- We have come to at first maybe tolerate and now to celebrate our differences and yet our unity in Christ, and as human beings with faith as our “pillar,” per pastor Thwala.  The pillars of Ntshongweni are the gogos- isiZulu grandmothers serving not only as faithful guides but as true pillars of the community in their wisdom and example.  Examples of sacrificial love, fearless joy, and cultural integrity.  Today we celebrated Ntshongweni Gogo’s by honoring them at a lunch at a restaurant in Hillcrest and by giving them handmade bags with our tokens of thanksgiving inside.  Ephesians is our letter for this trips study and it reminds us in chapter 1 v. 10 that God’s will, which is His pleasure is to bring unity to all things.  Who would have ever thought that we could worship and share wisdom as family- black/white, Zulu/American, male/female, young/old, but this is His design.  His will and great pleasure that all would be bound in great love and communal- suffering, sharing, and hope.

WARNING- watch out for monkeys!

Thankful

 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬

Feeling so thankful.  Visiting our brothers and sisters in South Africa, feeling like a family for 13 years now, having a soul full of joy, reviewing our plans for the week, reconnecting after a long journey.  Thanks pastor Thwala for always making us feel welcome and for being the good shepherd for the people of Ntshongweni.  Excited to work through your plan this week and see what God has in store for us.  Siyabonga Kakhulu!