Small Group Projects

For three days last week our Site was split up into small groups where we each served at different ministry and organizations. The pictures below show what we were up to!

Emthonjeni:

It's really incredibly what God has opened my eyes and heart to this week. My small group and I were able to spend the last few days working and experiencing life at Emthonjeni, an HIV/AIDS clinic located in a rural area called Sweet Waters, just outside of Soweto. Earlier this week we were challenged by our speaker to go into our service projects with love, whatever we ended up doing. The first day I found myself cutting cabbage with love. Who would ever have thought that one could get such an awesome feeling from cutting cabbage?
With love we also, washed dishes, relocated a big pile of plastic pieces from a shed (to be converted into homes for patients within the next year), my favourite was being welcomed into people’s homes, already fill of love. Being able to meet such strong and faithful individuals was an incredible blessing. For example we had the chance to visit a Grandmother who was looking after her 5 grandchildren after their mother’s death last December due to AIDS. Would I be able to do the same thing if I were in her position? Only by the grace of God.

The people we’ve met have been so full of hope, kindness and generosity. I feel that these people have made a bigger difference in my life than I’ve made in theirs. I’ve seen that it’s so important in our lives to be thankful and keep focused on God. Whatever comes our way good or bad. Don’t dismiss a blessing and don’t dwell on the misfortunes that happen. Through him we can find the strength, love and peace we need to make the most of all situations.
“Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. That way you will realize that nothing is certain in this life” Ecclesiastes 7:14
Submitted by Julia Campbell

Dana's Small Group (aka DG VOLVO)
Back L-R Ryan, Rebekah, Meghan, Kim,Dana
Front (L-R) Thami (0ur Guide for the week), Julia, Riel


Creche (Day Care)

Tessa's Small Group (L-R) Sully, Tessa, Hannah, Adrienne, Reuben, Jen, Darren

One of the projects was sewing for the children. Here the group enjoys their time together.

Pretoria Home Stay Week

Welcome back to Outtatown, Site Three!

Pretoria, South Africa
What an awesome way to start a new semester living with families in South Africa! Our group was split up in to three groups and sent to different churches where we were boarded with Afrikaaner host families for a whole week in Pretoria.
Daren and I were blessed to by the hospitality of an elderly couple. Everyday when we got home from our lectures or tours they would make sure we sat down and told them all about it. It was awesome just to experience some of the cultural differences as well as to hear our host families’ opinions on important issues in their country.
Despite going to sleep early (blame it on jet-lag, and the heat) we had a hilarious time and I’m glad we got to know each other and our host family better, as well as seeing the work God is doing in their lives and this beautiful country.

Submitted by Dave Young

Here we are touring the Voortrekker Mounument which commemorates the migration of the Afrikaaner people within South Africa.

A Lecture on South African History at the University of Pretoria with Professor Piet Merring, who played an influencial role in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the mid 90s after Apartheid ended.


Beautiful South Africa!

Where Theory and Reality Meet

We have now spent one amazing, jam packed week in South Africa. I am really enjoying my time here and to some extent it feels a bit surreal. I have spent a lot of time studying South African history, particularly the history of Apartheid and the transition out of Apartheid; it is amazing to be to here and seeing the reality. I love having the opportunity to see the theories and concepts I studied lived out and worked through in everyday life.

Our students read the autobiography of a black South African living in a township during the 1980s over the Christmas break. Many important questions came out of their reading such as: how could the majority of white South Africans ignore the horror that was around them, where/how do people learn to hate and are there similar situations currently going on that the global community is choosing to ignore? Students were also struck by the tremendous perseverance shown by the people of this country. This week we travelled to the Voortrekker Monument, which commemorates the history/struggles of the Afrikaaner people and to Freedom Park, which is created to remember and honour the people who gave their lives to create a harmonious country. The president can view both of these places from the parliament building and they symbolically remind him of how both histories are the truth of the Rainbow Nation (the slogan of the new South Africa) and that he must continue to guide the country towards a unity that recognizes the history of all people. Throughout our time here we must also strive to open our hearts to everyone’s story and respond in ways that are filled with grace.

The concepts of justice, fairness and truth seem a lot clearer in books then in the lives of people. When you met people and hear stories, these concepts become increasingly muddled. It is easy to see areas that still need improvement, for example schools and neighbourhoods are still largely segregated. The challenge is to look for the growth and see the hope. There has been tremendous movement and change, public places are now integrated and people are allowed to live where they choose. Equity is now built into legislation and people are slowly changing their beliefs and actions. However, change is hard and although much of the new legislation is excellent, the social structures still need time to be able to make them a reality. For example, many people do not have the education and training needed to fill the jobs created by affirmative action legislation. People of colour are getting high ranking jobs but are at risk of making poor decisions because they do not the background needed to make informed decisions. As I seek to understand the Afrikaaner perspective, I try to imagine how our country would be affected if the first nations people became the ruling party.

I agree with one of our speakers, that the relatively peaceful transition out of Apartheid is a miracle and as we continue to live and learn in South Africa we are blessed to learn from people who had enough faith to act with forgiveness and grace and to strive for truth.

Written and submitted by Tessa Callan, Site Three Leader

Safe, Sound and being Spoiled

Pretoria, South Africa

This week we are safe and sound and being spoiled by our Afrikaaner host families in the political captical of South Africa. Each of us gets dropped off in the morning at the church only to be picked up by the bus for the day's events.
We've had a variety of experiences this week from History lectures at the University of Pretoria, to visits to monuments and parks that recall South Africa's story. Earlier today we rode a commuter train that has been called "the gospel train" as it is home to a church full of lively signing and dancing as only black Africans can do. We felt very welcomed despite being the only white people on the train.
The weather here is warming up to the high twenties and low thirties, which is a stark contrast to Winnipeg's minus thirty-degree winter weather. We will not complain about the heat, although some of us have come to realize the importance of sunscreen... and the necessary repeated applications!

Until next time...
Site Three

Safe and Sound

Johannesburg, South Africa

A quick update from Site Three!

We made it safely to South Africa and are staying at Heronbridge retreat centre to get some rest before moving to our home stay week in Pretoria tomorrow.
The flights were uneventful and we are all enjoying the warm welcome of our South African hosts, not to mention the mid-twenty-something temperatures!

More stories to follow.

Five More Days Until Summer

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I'm sure there must be a great deal of mixed emotions in the air at the homes of each of Site Three students. Some feeling excited to get back with friends after a month apart, others wondering what it will be like leaving home again after Christmas, and for all the mix of excitement and nervousness about traveling to South Africa.

Wednesday we will reunite and head to South Africa to begin our three month time there, where we will do a number of things from serving with local churches and organizations, to learning about the history of the nation, as well as lots of time to travel be adventurous and enjoy the beautiful country of South Africa.

We continue to covet your prayers for safety as we travel, and we thank God for the ways he was faithfully present with our group in the first semester portion in Western Canada.

And for anyone in Site Three this year... hang in there, only five more days until summer!