from Katherine
We have just returned from Chiang Mai, Thailand where we attended a Mission Society conference. "Why?" you ask. Camaraderie with fellow missionaries and their kids from Africa, Asia and Europe. We learned, shared, laughed, worshiped and more.
At first I felt guilty about leaving the Pre School and other ministries in South Africa but our sending agency felt the time away would be valuable. So there I was being loved on, encouraged, comparing notes with other missionaries and being reminded that people are people all over the world. I came home both tired and refreshed!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Garden Spirituality
from Elliott
I do 'hear' God a bit better than normal while working in the garden. Today I was thinning the carrots...it seems that my seed was much more productive than I was expected and I ended up with extremely dense seedlings! On the one hand I was overly proud that they had done so well but I realized what looked like lush growth was actually going to choke them out and they would never grow to full size.
The only way to give them the proper growing room would be to remove about every third one - but which ones should I remove and what should I do with them? I could not just remove the weakest ones since they all looked the same above the ground. What was different though was the invisible growth below the surface. I paused wondering if I was going to be wasting some good ones since I would just be picking them at random.
It reminded me of spiritual pruning - when God removes that part of each one of us that is not of His plan and hinders our growth. We too might look like the lush row of carrots on the outside to our peers but God knows that not all is well with our soul and that we have too many things 'crowding out' the person that God has created us to become.
Of course, many times those things needing pruning are not always visible to us or other people much like the portion of the carrots that lie beneath the surface. But nothing is invisible to God so as a loving Gardener He goes about removing that which hinders our growth. And while the process might appear in the short term to reduce us or challenge us as the season unfolds new growth occurs and, like the carrot, we take on the appearance that the Gardener had originally intended- achieving our fullest potential!
I do 'hear' God a bit better than normal while working in the garden. Today I was thinning the carrots...it seems that my seed was much more productive than I was expected and I ended up with extremely dense seedlings! On the one hand I was overly proud that they had done so well but I realized what looked like lush growth was actually going to choke them out and they would never grow to full size.
The only way to give them the proper growing room would be to remove about every third one - but which ones should I remove and what should I do with them? I could not just remove the weakest ones since they all looked the same above the ground. What was different though was the invisible growth below the surface. I paused wondering if I was going to be wasting some good ones since I would just be picking them at random.
It reminded me of spiritual pruning - when God removes that part of each one of us that is not of His plan and hinders our growth. We too might look like the lush row of carrots on the outside to our peers but God knows that not all is well with our soul and that we have too many things 'crowding out' the person that God has created us to become.
Of course, many times those things needing pruning are not always visible to us or other people much like the portion of the carrots that lie beneath the surface. But nothing is invisible to God so as a loving Gardener He goes about removing that which hinders our growth. And while the process might appear in the short term to reduce us or challenge us as the season unfolds new growth occurs and, like the carrot, we take on the appearance that the Gardener had originally intended- achieving our fullest potential!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
A Hunger for Knowledge
from Elliott
It was amazing! We had a registration day today for our third session of computer training. Four classes will be offered- two introductory and two levels of Word. When I arrived at 11:00 to set up for the Registration which was to begin at 12pm there were already 42 people in line!
We only have four computers so to offer a good learning environment we have had to limit classes to 16 learners. Yes, they have to take turns during the class period! But they are very much willing to do so...just so they can have an opportunity to be in the class.
I had been concerned because in previous sessions the intro class was offered without charge and now we are charging a modest R25 (~$3) fee to help defray the cost of materials and build a reserve for computer repairs and supplies.
By 1:30 all 64 spots were taken and they was a list of alternates. It is difficult to turn people away or tell them they have to wait until the next session. They clearly see personal value in the knowledge that they can gain. And if it increases there potential for employment then we will have made a good investment. And in the meantime, we can share the Gospel in the class devotion each week! That makes it all worthwhile!
It was amazing! We had a registration day today for our third session of computer training. Four classes will be offered- two introductory and two levels of Word. When I arrived at 11:00 to set up for the Registration which was to begin at 12pm there were already 42 people in line!
We only have four computers so to offer a good learning environment we have had to limit classes to 16 learners. Yes, they have to take turns during the class period! But they are very much willing to do so...just so they can have an opportunity to be in the class.
I had been concerned because in previous sessions the intro class was offered without charge and now we are charging a modest R25 (~$3) fee to help defray the cost of materials and build a reserve for computer repairs and supplies.
By 1:30 all 64 spots were taken and they was a list of alternates. It is difficult to turn people away or tell them they have to wait until the next session. They clearly see personal value in the knowledge that they can gain. And if it increases there potential for employment then we will have made a good investment. And in the meantime, we can share the Gospel in the class devotion each week! That makes it all worthwhile!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
A Unique Twist on Veg Marketing
from Elliott
Our garden helpers came to us with a great idea. While we have been selling produce to grocers and restaurants
in town they thought people in the community around the ministry site would want to buy some also. Knowing that we had a 'retail' site with excellent 'visibility' and high 'walk by' traffic at the community water tap, the ladies set about selling spinach and cabbage. I suggested that we call it a 'Mobile' Tuck Shop after the small community shops.
We had been wrapping the bunches of spinach with elastics which is what they call a rubber band. The first day of operation though they got started early and we were not there with the elastics so they came up with a good local alternative. They used local grasses to tie a raffia like ribbon around the leaves. Quite an attractive presentation!
They thought they had simply added a cost free solution to holding spinach together. I explained to them that in America you could charge extra for something so artistic yet functional!
Our garden helpers came to us with a great idea. While we have been selling produce to grocers and restaurants
in town they thought people in the community around the ministry site would want to buy some also. Knowing that we had a 'retail' site with excellent 'visibility' and high 'walk by' traffic at the community water tap, the ladies set about selling spinach and cabbage. I suggested that we call it a 'Mobile' Tuck Shop after the small community shops.
We had been wrapping the bunches of spinach with elastics which is what they call a rubber band. The first day of operation though they got started early and we were not there with the elastics so they came up with a good local alternative. They used local grasses to tie a raffia like ribbon around the leaves. Quite an attractive presentation!
They thought they had simply added a cost free solution to holding spinach together. I explained to them that in America you could charge extra for something so artistic yet functional!
Community Entreprenuers
from Elliott
Cason got a remote control boat for his birthday so we headed to the closest calm water we knew of - the estuary behind the town beach. There are a group of ladies that sell tourist items, fruits and veg as well as flip flops and 'crocs' . Cason was going to need a pair of new sandals for a rafting trip he is going on at a future Mission Society Gathering.
Katherine has befriended with a number of the ladies there so that is where they headed to look for the shoes. These entrepreneurs work long hours for very limited economic opportunity but they are very friendly. Each vendor has many of the same items and in our little town there are a limited number of potential customers. In many cultures that would breed intense competition and perhaps feuding.
Cason tried on a pair and then another but they did not have the color he wanted in the one that fit. Instead of pushing the color that she did have she immediately went to the 'competition' to see what they could work out. With a smile the two made a trade and Cason paid her the 70 rand she requested. No feuding, bickering or manipulating the customer - just working together to meet the need.
Often we see that here - a different perspective on community and being an entrepreneur!
Cason got a remote control boat for his birthday so we headed to the closest calm water we knew of - the estuary behind the town beach. There are a group of ladies that sell tourist items, fruits and veg as well as flip flops and 'crocs' . Cason was going to need a pair of new sandals for a rafting trip he is going on at a future Mission Society Gathering.
Katherine has befriended with a number of the ladies there so that is where they headed to look for the shoes. These entrepreneurs work long hours for very limited economic opportunity but they are very friendly. Each vendor has many of the same items and in our little town there are a limited number of potential customers. In many cultures that would breed intense competition and perhaps feuding.
Cason tried on a pair and then another but they did not have the color he wanted in the one that fit. Instead of pushing the color that she did have she immediately went to the 'competition' to see what they could work out. With a smile the two made a trade and Cason paid her the 70 rand she requested. No feuding, bickering or manipulating the customer - just working together to meet the need.
Often we see that here - a different perspective on community and being an entrepreneur!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Isando! Isando!
from Elliott
We needed to repair the fence surrounding the water tap so Thamsanqa Madikizela, our caretaker, and I gathered the tools and materials necessary for the job. While the work would not be particularly difficult, Thamsanqa speaks very little English and I know 'kancinci Xhosa' - a small amount of Xhosa. The communication barrier can be frustrating but we started the project.
He is typically very serious and rarely smiles at us. It wasn't until that we learned his first name - everyone else calls him by his surname. When Katherine asked his name, he said it straight faced. The 'q' requires a distinctive click sound. She tried to say it to him and got close enough that he grinned from ear to ear.
Thamsanqa began the project showing me how it was done. At one point early one he said in a very determined voice, "Isando. Isando" I had know idea what he was saying so he started pointing at the pile of tools. I started pointing from one to the other waiting to get an affirmative nod. Finally, I got it. "Hammer, Hammer." I repeated the words in Xhosa just to let him know I was trying to learn. He smiled.
Then the next miracle happened - he handed me the hammer while he held the nail. TRUST! This is a major breakthrough! The day went well with me picking up new words along the way.
A couple of days later he was working on a project and needed a tool. He came to me and said, "Hammer" I responded with a shrug, I don't have a "hammer", but I do have an "isando". He laughed!
We are making progress...one Xhosa word at a time! It does confirm for me though people feel valued when we call them by name and learn even a small amount of their heart language.
We needed to repair the fence surrounding the water tap so Thamsanqa Madikizela, our caretaker, and I gathered the tools and materials necessary for the job. While the work would not be particularly difficult, Thamsanqa speaks very little English and I know 'kancinci Xhosa' - a small amount of Xhosa. The communication barrier can be frustrating but we started the project.
He is typically very serious and rarely smiles at us. It wasn't until that we learned his first name - everyone else calls him by his surname. When Katherine asked his name, he said it straight faced. The 'q' requires a distinctive click sound. She tried to say it to him and got close enough that he grinned from ear to ear.
Thamsanqa began the project showing me how it was done. At one point early one he said in a very determined voice, "Isando. Isando" I had know idea what he was saying so he started pointing at the pile of tools. I started pointing from one to the other waiting to get an affirmative nod. Finally, I got it. "Hammer, Hammer." I repeated the words in Xhosa just to let him know I was trying to learn. He smiled.
Then the next miracle happened - he handed me the hammer while he held the nail. TRUST! This is a major breakthrough! The day went well with me picking up new words along the way.
A couple of days later he was working on a project and needed a tool. He came to me and said, "Hammer" I responded with a shrug, I don't have a "hammer", but I do have an "isando". He laughed!
We are making progress...one Xhosa word at a time! It does confirm for me though people feel valued when we call them by name and learn even a small amount of their heart language.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Inviting the Wrong Pig to Lunch
from Katherine
We save scraps from breakfast and lunch at the Pre School for the pig that belongs to one of our Garden Helpers - Liziwe. The children scrape their plates into the bucket and laugh at me when I say 'oink, oink.'
I took the scraps by Liziwe's house down the road today. When I arrived a pig was on the left side of the road the same place where her pig was the first time I visited her house. So I told the pig I had lunch and he followed me. I went to the door and told Liziwe's son that I had scraps for the pig who was now standing right next to me. And he said, "great but that is the wrong pig."
He then showed me his mom's pig and her 4 new piglets. The wrong pig is still following me at that point. We dumped the scraps out and the right pig was excited and the wrong pig got a bit of PB and J also!
Thank goodness he did not follow me back to the school!
We save scraps from breakfast and lunch at the Pre School for the pig that belongs to one of our Garden Helpers - Liziwe. The children scrape their plates into the bucket and laugh at me when I say 'oink, oink.'
I took the scraps by Liziwe's house down the road today. When I arrived a pig was on the left side of the road the same place where her pig was the first time I visited her house. So I told the pig I had lunch and he followed me. I went to the door and told Liziwe's son that I had scraps for the pig who was now standing right next to me. And he said, "great but that is the wrong pig."
He then showed me his mom's pig and her 4 new piglets. The wrong pig is still following me at that point. We dumped the scraps out and the right pig was excited and the wrong pig got a bit of PB and J also!
Thank goodness he did not follow me back to the school!
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