Hlala kahle

Hlala kahle means “stay well” in Zulu. Hard to say goodbye to everyone. The kids kept asking would we return and our standard answer is “God willing”. Such a refreshing week in kinship with our Ntshongweni family, so thankful and stand in awe of many.

Ron with the kids.

Smiles all around.

A spirited game of African duck duck goose.

Ntshongweni butte on the way out…

Ushaka marine island- Durban

Today we had the pleasure of taking 20 Ntshongweni kids with us to Ushaka Marine Island. Day trips with the kids are always my favorite. Most of these children do not have the luxury of leaving the village often or ever. Ushaka Marine Island is almost like a Seaword meets the Georgia aquarium. We got to enjoy a huge aquarium and a dolphin show. It was such a joy to experience it through the eyes of the children. 

Day trips are so much more than just a “field trip”. They are a chance to build relationships with God’s children. It’s important for us to remember how much they are really looking to us for guidance and love. A simple hug can sometimes be so much more than a hug, not only to them but to us. 

Scott & Elihle 

Katie & Little Sanele 

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.”

-Psalm 127:3

Pure and faultless

Amazing how God knits connections around the globe.  In 2011 there was a Ntshongweni missionary named Ginger who connected with Linda, the director of a local organization called Embocraft Training and Trust.  Over the past 12 years we’ve kept in touch with Linda who has since retired from Embocraft and is serving Esbusisweni (Blessing in Zulu) orphanage and enjoying her new chapter in life.  She invited us over to the orphanage and it was amazing.  I’ve had a Bible verse on my heart ever since…

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” 

https://bible.com/bible/111/jas.1.27.NIV

Why is this on my heart?  

Gogo Elizabeth and her husband were running a crèche (preschool) out of their home before COVID.  When the pandemic hit they were no longer able to operate.  Shortly after someone dropped off an orphaned child with gogo and her husband agreeing to care for him.  Over the past 3 years one orphan has expanded to over 20 and Gogo’s husband passed away 18 months ago.  Yet gogo was full of joy, had all the kids singing and playing together and was filled with the spirit of God.  She even hosts a senior citizens dinner once a week for folks in need. 

The Bible tells us we are saved by God’s grace alone through faith.  It goes on to say we are saved to do the good works God prepared in advance for us to do.  Gogo is being faithful to amazing work.  These children don’t have biological parents but they have a loving gogo who ensures they all know the love of Jesus first hand.  Pure and faultless, the kingdom of God on earth video LINK.

Here are some of Gogo’s kids.

Here are two of our favorite Ntshongweni people Mlondi and Sanele who came with us.  Was great seeing them at this place with us.

Blessing is painted on this wall for all to see, more true than ever for these 20 kids.

Katie Jo got into the action with one of the youngest orphans here.

The Pause that Refreshes

Oddly enough this is one of my favorite moments of the trip.  Often what we see as an inconvenience, God sees as an opportunity.  I know my dear brother Scott had been frustrated by the shortcomings of our rental vehicle - not because he is entitled but because I know as our faithful driver he is concerned for the well-being of his passengers.  What might have been the death toll for our van provided a memory that will always warm my heart.  

Here is umfowethu Scott changing out our flat tire with a spare that had a nail in it.  I know his frustration was high but notice Sanele and his son closely watching every move.  For a young man who was denied the guidance of a father, God provided a learning opportunity.  How many of us grew up closely watching and learning from our fathers (often when they had no idea we were watching)?  Thank you Lord for providing this pause that refreshed and provided. 

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.

Lacking everything or not lacking anything

Today we had the pleasure of meeting Micah, his wife, his mother Alberta and daughter Kwenele.  Pastor Thwala found out months ago that they had been living with other family members and were ultimately forced out by coercion and violence only to be left looking for shelter.  We were able to spend the day with them painting their new home with an amazing view of the land of 1,000 hills.  I’m reminded of the verse-

“Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you faced trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverence finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

This family was filled with pure joy and love, facing circumstances that would cause others to crumble.  Not lacking anything.

We started the day at Ntshongweni primary school with hundreds of smiling kids and their amazing teachers.  Hear their singing below, it was beautiful.  Vicar Ken shared a message and the team delivered backpacks filled with school supplies to teachers that were so grateful for help.  I was thinking of all the stories these kids could share about adversity they are facing in their lives and can see perseverance abounding in them.  Not lacking anything.