Millie’s Story:
This morning, we travelled to Share from our temporary accommodation at Wits, with Morgan and Audrey. The girls went to the storage room with a care-worker to get some food, while the adults began to cut the butternut squash for our shared lunch. The group continued to prepare vegetables before entering the care-point building for a worship session, where we praised the Lord and sung and danced to songs. Once the worship was over, Audrey asked each caregiver how they were and how their children were, really showing them that people cared about their welfare. Afterwards, we set up stations for careworker appreciation day, including hand massages, nail painting, feet washing and making bracelets depicting Jesus’ life and ministry. Following that, we ate our Pap which was served with potato, butternut squash and soup. Soon, the children had arrived home from school so we tried to become acquainted with them, although our terrible attempt at speaking in Tsonga didn’t prove very successful!
When we had finished talking to the children, we served them their pap. When everyone had finished eating we played a type of bulldog, the children really enjoyed it and so did the care-workers and caregivers. We then played with some of the children and they did our hair.
Libby’s Story:
I helped in the careworker appreciation day by helping Val with the hand washing of the ladies, they really enjoyed the hand cream massage at the end of the ‘routine’. I was really glad we got to take part in this day as it encourages the careworkers to keep going at all he amazing work they do even though they have their own struggles.
When playing the bulldog game, one of the girls called Catherine* hurt her knee, I took her inside to Promotion. She then sat on my knee whilst the others finished playing the game. When I was told that I could walk home with some of the children I really hoped I could walk Catherine* home, luckily I could! Me and Rachel took Catherine* and her sister home, her grandmother Rebecca* greeted us at the door, she introduced herself and thanked us for taking care of Catherine*.
Later that evening, during the de-brief, I found out that Catherine’s* mother had been found dead in her house. Unfortunately, this was only a year ago. Shortly after her mother had passed, her father left Catherine* and her younger siblings alone. He did not inform them that he was leaving. This left Rebecca* to look after her three grandchildren. Catherine* has still not fully got over her mother’s sudden death and has also not forgiven her father. She does not know whether he is still living or where he even is. This made me very unhappy when Audrey told me as I just can’t understand why her father would want to leave behind three other children and not support them through the death of their mother.
Today was filled with amazing memories, amazing people and amazing activities. I don’t think I’ll ever forget this day.
Amelia’s Story:
Today was the care-worker appreciation day, as you already know there were four activities and I participated and helped in making bracelets that represented the life of Jesus. It was entertaining but took a lot of patience with the small beads. All of the ladies seemed to enjoy that and I hoped that they had a nice time. after that we got our meals and I was extremely excited because I think the meal is different but very flavoursome. After that we carried on helping with the activities until the children started to arrive. When they started to arrive we all sat down on a slope and some of the girls and boys started to plait our hair. We all parted ways and I sat with Millie on the grass and we chatted whilst she had the loveliest little boy on her lap that was smiling and laughing all of the time. What really made my day was a little girl who came over to me and plaited my hair and chatted with me, she nearly fell asleep in my arms until one of her friends came over and sat on both of our laps. They kept taking turns on sitting with me until they both found a seat. She stayed with me for the remainder of my stay at Share and after she ate and played with me, Millie, Libby and Georgia and 3 other children, she was ready to go home. Georgia, Liz and I all walked her home and what bothered me was that there was lots and lots of glass on the floor and she had no shoes on. This definitely got to me and made me appreciate all that I have and that they appreciate what they’ve got. We walked her home and she was welcomed by her family and they were polite and she waved us off and smiled at us, as she had throughout the day. I had a spectacular day that was filled with memories that I will never forget.
Georgia’s Story:
Something that had an impact on me was how the children walked around barefoot, despite the shattered glass and rubbish littering the floor. Compared to the life of luxury that I’m used to it was shocking and deeply upsetting to think that some people lack even basic essentials.
During the careworker appreciation day, I helped wash the feet of some of the ladies, which was very important as it links back to Jesus washing the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper, I felt honoured to be able to give something back to the people that had dedicated their lives to making others happier and safer.
Later, the children ate their food while they socialised, they seemed to enjoy their Pap. Afterwards, we played some games with the children, including Ring-a-ring-of-roses, the hokey-cokey and an attempt at the macerana. It was heartwarming to see the children so joyful and grateful as we played with them.
*Names have been changed. The views expressed in this blog post are those of the contributors and not Link for Life project or Hands at Work in Africa