When we arrived in Durban I was more excited than anything else, after the initial worry of losing my team members on the way, luckily that didn’t happen. I was just so happy to finally be in Durban, after months of planning, packing and fundraising, and was looking forward so much to the next two weeks, preparing myself to be changed and challenged by God, to open my eyes and change my lifestyle. The orientation a few months previously had first sparked this excitement, as until then it hadn’t seemed real that I would be going. I found the weekend so valuable as it was right in the middle of exams and coursework deadlines, and I was able to for that time forget about my stress and focus on issues that seemed much more important to me. I loved meeting new people and felt from very early on that I would get on with my team! Which proved to be true!
The first shock was the drive to Concord – our guesthouse, this was the first time out of Europe for me and so I was trying to soak up as much as I could. Seeing the townships, thousands of tiny shacks brimming with people brought to the surface of my mind all the reasons I chose to come, reaching out to those not to change their culture but to provide the love and comfort that they deserved.
I remember that evening at concord being introduced to many important people from both the COGS church and the Vineyard church, but was suddenly hit by fatigue and so can’t honestly remember much of what was said, and was glad to get my earliest nights sleep in for a good while! The next morning was similar; I had a cold and was still tired but was introduced to all the COGS leaders, and the Indleila project. It was this introduction that we were told that we were human beings and not human doings - and to scrap our expectations, something I didn’t understand until later on, I was just eager to get out there!
Much of our time was spent at the COGS church, more time than I expected, with planning and discussing life skills and various other things. I loved this time spent with the team and members of COGS but felt more at home and at the core of the whole trip when we were in Amaoti, handing out food or toys, laying down carpet in Penial or just simply playing with the many children that we met. The first week seemed to be more visits to different places, 3 different pre-schools, Amaoti 3 and Pinky’s home on the Thursday when she handed out soup.
The second week was spent more at Penial church, which I found more rewarding as we got to know some of the children and teachers more, and build some relationships. It was lovely to go to the Sunday church service and recognise many of the children there, and for them to recognise us. However I am really pleased we were able to see different areas of the township, as we were also able to visit one lady’s home, which opened my eyes as to the kind of lifestyle that is lead, and realised just how easy our lives are in comparison – and how unfair that seemed. Despite this everyone we met seemed to full of life, and happy to see us. The Amaoti church was an amazing experience, hearing all the songs and amazing singing, all in Zulu, and just to see the passion and faith they all had, even though in our eyes these people didn’t have anything. It was Derrick’s (the pastor’s) crazy dancing that made me realise just how much of that passion we lack back at home.
The first Wednesday was our first drive through Amaoti, and although seeing just how poor the area was it didn’t affect in quite the same way I thought it would. I was preparing myself to break down in tears, but I think God strengthened me, not necessarily hardening my heart but keeping me strong so I could actually carry out his work. When we saw the children all lined up outside that first Wednesday I remember thinking ‘wow, it really is just like on the TV’ – it was amazing to be able to experience it first hand, and to see the reaction of the teachers, exclaiming ‘this is Jesus!’ something we all felt was the other way around.
Another hard experience was meeting two young children on the streets just outside the pizza place, where we got our dinner on our first day off. After one of our team telling them some chips were coming, I tried to start talking to them, although the language barrier was very hard. I found out the boy was 3 and the older girl was 12 – something which shocked me, as my own sister is 11, and to think of her on the streets trying to find food for her younger brother really hit me as unjust. This also spoke powerfully to me that, although its our day off – these people with nothing don’t get a ‘day off’ or any time to reflect or talk about their life, its just one constant struggle for survival.
Over the two weeks we grew to know many of the COGS pastors and youth, through prayer meetings, cell groups, youth services and dinners out. Although I didn’t necessarily see this as important as our time in Amaoti, I learnt that these relationships were just as valuable. To see the same heart for the poor in them was really encouraging, to know that the work we were part of was continuing after we left. I felt that due to interruptions in the programme, (the last Thursday) the time we spent could have been used more effectively, yet this was no-ones fault, and we used the time to reflect on our experiences and share which was very interesting and lead to a handful of us talking at the COGS service Sunday night.
The culture shock for me was softened in that the majority of our time was spent in similar surroundings to home, large houses and supermarkets, shopping centres and even visiting some of the houses of the COGS crew. It was harsh to think that the people we spent the day with in Amaoti were still there, yet we were able to come and go as we pleased. For me although I’d spent the day with happy smiling children, knowing that they were not always like that pressed on my heart. I felt I couldn’t even begin to imagine how hard it must be for them. This feeling was shared with my team members at the inter-youth service at Grace Church. We were frustrated by the talk, as it was way off where we felt Gods heart was for us, and so prayed for all those we’d met in Amaoti, that God would keep them safe and comforted in the heavy rain we had that night. What hit me the most was the massive contrast between rich and poor, and how far away Amaoti seemed when you were back at your comfy room with running water and nice pillows.
Overall the experience has had a massive effect on my life. God challenged me on so many levels, to simply read the bible more, live a prayerful life and put everything to Him, but also showed me the importance of being a child of God. During the second week after spending days playing with the children, who loved the attention and would want continuous hugs and attention God gave me a picture of me wrapping my arms around one of them, something I did most of the time! And just felt him say, this is how I love you, which impacted me and made me realise its that love that gives me the strength to be able to pass that love on, and the love is Gods. Although it sounds simple it impacted me, as I think sometimes we think that the problems in the world are too big to conquer, yet God is bigger. I came back encouraged and on fire to carry on with that lifestyle in my own community. I wanted to and still want to make my life count and make a difference in peoples lives. As a group we also felt that from our experiences and times came worship and praise, which at first confused me as to why after seeing such poverty that just doesn’t exist in England we would want to praise God? Then I realised that worship and mission go hand in hand, and stepping out of our comfort zones to do Gods work comes blessing, and God blessed our team as we all left wanting to just thank and worship God.
25th and 26th November 2006
