a day in the life...

by Ashley Morehouse

Yesterday we had an amazing day, we spent it in the heart of Kwazulu Natal, in a township in 1000 Hills. Everywhere you turn poverty is there, extreme poverty like you've never seen or could imagine in Canada.

For most of the day I spent it with Mama, the daughter of the founder of the orphanage / shelter / clinic that we were at. I did dishes in freezing cold water and she was more than happy for me to do more and more and more of them, it was a joy for her to have someone else help her. "I finally get to have my own cup of tea, I haven't been able to do that all day for it's been so busy around here" she says to me. Just knowing how something so simple as washing the dishes from the day was such a blessing.... is amazing. They have 12 children there right now, from the ages of newborn to 11 years of age, many were brought by the police and by neighbours who noticed they were left alone in their homes - as parents were either violent or abandoned them. Many of the children have AIDS.

When we brought out the food for lunch and I saw our Team working hard together building the fence and painting the community centre and the housing for the abused women & children - it was breathtaking and beyond what words can express. So many hands working together to help one Grandma make a difference in her community.

By the end of the day we got a chance to play with the kids and teach them hand games, it was the highlight of the entire trip so far. What a joy and heartbreaking all at the same time. The reality hit as we were leaving - we were going back to such comfort that these kids and women have never and may never experience in their lifetime. Did you know that 50% of the entire world live on less than $2 a day?

Please pray for the opportunity for us to go back into that community to finish what we started. The fence that we put up around her garden so that the goats wouldn't eat her crops isn't finished, almost but not quite. The classrooms and shelter structures are needing another coat of paint. We also would love to go back to bring up more supplies for the Go Go (grandma) for the school and for the gardening. It's no use to garden in the condition the soil is in now, it hasn't rained for 2 weeks and the ground is as hard as concrete.

Today we are spending the day in a Safari Park close by and tomorrow we are off to Hillside Church in Hillcrest, Richard and Jill Lawton's church. They will have work for us to do as well, it's just down the road a bit.

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.

Hamba Kahle (good-bye in Zulu)

Ashley
for Team 91:1