“My day is
full. Thank you Jesus.” This was Uncle David’s famous line I came to
know this weekend while staying in Ocean View.
Uncle David and Auntie Alice embraced Drew and I as their own through
the love they displayed. This weekend
was a fresh reminder of the beauty of simplicity in life.
Thursday night we
had our Ballroom dance lesson. I danced
with a young girl for most of the evening.
I did ballroom dancing in high school gym for years in Germany, but the
class was a reminder of how long it’s been since I’ve danced or used it. I told my girlfriend about dancing and she
was like yeah I wouldn’t know whether or not you can actually dance, so I made
a promise to dance with her when we both are reunited at the end of the
year.
On Friday, we
spent the day helping at the pre-school field day. Drew, Derek, Amelia, Mariko, and I spent most
of the time “catching” the students when they finished their race. It was so windy the little ones practically
were toppled over by the wind. But
regardless of the wind, their spirits were high. When the students passed the finish line, I
would lift them up and twirl them around.
I realized at the end of the day that I probably shouldn’t have started
this so early because it got to the point where the second the kids crossed the
finish line, they would jump into my arms, and I would catch them and twirl
them around. When the day was over, I
went back home for a quick 20-minute recovery power nap, and then Chantel came
and picked Becca, Derek, and I up. We
went to help her with her youth project, where students of all ages are split
into different groups throughout the afternoon and given a space and place to
grow together, get off the streets, and learn life skills. With the younger youth we had a dance party
and played games, it was fun watching them dance – their moves were very
impressive for their age. Then in the
second session, the age group was about high school age. There we had a serious conversation about
what was happening in the community and they all participated in a silent
activity where they wrote out whatever issues they had in their life. Before the session started, Chantel
instructed me to have a man-to-man talk with a 13 and 11 year old who were
having “dating” issues. Coming from the
US I found it strange to realize how serious the relationships these boys were
in are. They told me that their
girlfriends broke up with them. I told
them I couldn’t say anything miraculous that would instantly make them feel
better, but as 13 and 11 year olds, they could spend the rest of their teenage
years chasing after girls and end up with a decent girl, or they could spend
the rest of their teenage years chasing after education and developing
themselves into the men they want to be, and they would end up with the girl of
their dreams. Later on, Chantel told me
that one of the boys was dating two girls simultaneously. I began to think about why this would be? Then she told me that it is a common theme
among men in South Africa, or at least where she lives, that men often date
multiple women. If the youth are looking
up to men with such habits, they will surely embody similar moral compasses and
habits.
On Saturday
morning we went to Spur for breakfast. It
seemed like between Uncle David and Auntie Alice, we were stopping and saying
hello to every other person we passed in the mall – definitely a testament to
the strength of the community within Ocean View. Then Uncle David took Drew and I on a walk
through the community. We went with
Becca, Derek, and Abby to the farm right down the road. I found it ironic that there was such a
touristy destination right by. After the
farm, Uncle David took Drew and I on a tour throughout the community. We went into multiple people’s homes and got
to see the joy the people have simply in conversation with one another and the
strength of community between the people.
Uncle David told us that his favorite thing about the community is that
everyone knows everyone. He said he
wished less people drank excessively, but that he didn’t think that would be
something that really could change.
Later that day we relaxed, ate a lot of food, and played dominoes. Saturday night, Drew and I stayed up late and
had a great conversation ranging from politics to religion to the experiences
we are having to the community within our group. Definitely enjoyed getting to know someone
else on the trip simply through having conversation.
On Sunday
morning we had church in their home. The
preschool they run is converted into a church.
Pastor (“Uncle”) David had Drew and I share something with the
congregation. I shared on Drew and my
behalf. I talked about how whether you
are in South Africa or the US or Europe or South America it’s a joy that we
serve the same God. I also mentioned how
in the US church can often become about the “production” or the technology or
sticking to a schedule, but it was a beauty to see these people in their simplicity
with their voices simply worshipping God.
And I also mentioned that many people who would come from the outside
would see Ocean View for its “poverty” or for the amount of people drinking or
using drugs, but what I saw that morning was a group with their hearts after
God shining a light in the community.
Overall, the
weekend was a great refresher. Drew and
I both said that we hadn’t felt this relaxed probably the entire time we have
been in South Africa. But the weekend
also provided a great opportunity to see love in action. The life Uncle David and Auntie Alice live is
a simple one, but it is a full one. They
live their days to the fullest in community with one another, and it is for
that reason that Uncle David would say “my day is full, thank you Jesus.” If my Visa situation is figured out so I can
stay here in South Africa until the end of July, when my family visits we will
go to church at their home and share a meal with them.
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