The door of hope

http://www.joburg.org.za/images/stories/2011/June/door_top.jpg

I love a good story. 

I enjoy listening to what people have to share about their life and the experiences they have.

This has been a week of story listening. 

We each have a story to tell. Our story is unique and belongs to us.

Some of the stories I heard this weekend were uplifting and good. 

Like the ones about the gangsters who are set free by hearing about Jesus and what he has done for them , on the cross.

 Prison ministry is alive and well and brings real hope for people who are right at the bottom of life.

The stories people shared with gratitude of one of our teachers who has written personal, individual letters to each of his team members he coached, was a delight.

The effort and hard work that some parents sweat at to help their child pass. The sms that brought the news that indeed he had and much more than that, he had passed excellently.

Stories of hope.

Stories of love.

But then...there are also those stories, the ones that break a heart.

Living in the South African context there are many of these kinds. The ones that break the heart.

The Door of Hope is one such story. The excellent and loving work that this NGO does in JHB, taking in those abandoned babies. The ones no one wants. 

The interview highlighted for me, the facts of baby abandonment in SA. It is catastrophic and deeply saddening. It is overwhelming!!

Living in SA is often both deeply saddening and overwhelming.

Lord, please give us grace.

 

 

Mandela Day

 Lets all give back a little

 The 18th July is Mandela Day. it is a day when people all around the world are encouraged to give 67 minutes of their day to doing something for someone else. See the officail website for lots of ideas and more information.

Mandela Day

My brain is buzzing with trying ti think of what we can do in our local area and how we can get other children and families who would like t, to join us. I think I have one that might work. Lets get cracking....

Can I invite you to give back too!!

The Refugee in me

Last Friday a friend invited me to join her on a local adventure. it was not the kind of adventure filled with thrills and colour. It was an adventure of quite a different kind. Our local car guards at our local shopping center have been given one days notice for the termination of their 8 year work.

My friend had been approached by one of the women who told her the sad story. would I join in the small protest and support these people? On the Saturday I casually gathered up the family and we set off. I had not given the who thing much thought to be honest. We met with a few other locals and the car guards were there too.

We spent a good 2 hours talking and thrashing out the story with another good friend translating the french. The sad and broken story that emerged began to be sifted out and with each new arrival and each new explanation more and more of the concern and fear from the " car Guards" and more and more of my own selfish thoughtlessness was revealed.

For all the years we have lived in Bergvliet and fro all these years having shopped at this local shop, I had given little or no thought to the people who stand and watch our cars. They are there every day and all week, come rain or baking heat. They smile and offer help with heavy trolleys and bags. year in and year out I have smiled and waved at times but never really stopped to give much thought.

But this Saturday , we shared in a slither of their lives; their fear of loosing all they have fought for and the lack of care or concern those who benefit from their labour have.  It was a good morning with some great and hopefully real help from a local councilor. It was a time of good will from us the residence and a time for our children to see something of politics and helping those in need but it was also a time for me to stop and really see the people who stand and wait and watch and hope that we might give them something  - even a small R2.

When we left theses people who we came to stand alongside and try and help hugged each of us - they hugged our kids and were truly, truly thankful.  and now when we park to shop, their is more than a friendly smile and hello. I am praying that the meetings that follow will really  be beneficially for  them and that in some more real and permanent way they can continue to serve us.

This whole thing gave us some opportunity to share with the boys something about the war torn countries these people come from. DRC, Somalia, Rwanda, Uganda, and the like.   It was a great reminder that for many life is a war and survival is not certain. Lord please have mercy! It was a reminder that I need to try and see the person again - may compassion and kindness rule my heart again.For I am the refugee, the alien in this foreign land and heaven is my home.