Outtatown Site 3: South Africa: Durban Home Stay Week

Indian Host Family Week
Durban, South Africa
Last week we stayed in Durban with Indian Host families and the chance to live right with them! Many of us experienced tasty Indian food with lots of curry. Some of the girls borrowed Saris from their host mothers and wore them one day.
During the week we visited several museums, an Islamic Mosque, and a Hare Krishna Temple. We also went to a home, called the Aryan Benevolent home, for the day to spend time with the residents to spend time with them and talk to them. It was a home for people with no where else to go, many of them had physical and mental disabilities, and some where children without parents.
We had been told that touch means so much to these people so Brittany started giving hand massages. As first they weren’t thrilled, but as soon as one lady embraced it more people wanted one too! I sat on one lady’s bed (as they were supposed to be having naps), and gave her a hand massage. She was very good at interacting and we had a really good conversation about her family, and her life before she was sick. She turned out to be a very strong Christian too. She told me that she prayed and fasted all the time, and that she loves God so much. It was really encouraging to see this woman still have a huge heart for God even though she was in a home like this one.
It was hard for us to only be there for a day, and we felt unhelpful. But we were reminded that the love we gave is such an important action for the people in the home. We are continuing to pray for the people we made small relationships with.
Submitted by Hannah Weber