Mitchell’s Plain is on the opposite side of the mountain from where we’re working. It’s another not-so-great part of town. On Wednesday, all of us went over there to help with Hillsong church because they had a little thing for the kids and parents down there. None of us really knew what exactly we were doing until we got there. We split up half and half. Amanda, Katie Kelly and I stayed to help out with the kids and Mary, Alison, and Sarah went to help with the women. The kids we helped with were pretty young; around age 6 give or take. The first thing that we did was just play with the kids with the dozens of toys they poured out of these big bins. The kids’ eyes just lit up with excitement. I helped this one little girl find all the pieces to an alphabet puzzle and help put it together.
After every piece she found, I showered her with praise and high fives. It only took a few pieces to give her an unlimited amount of determination to find the rest so she would get some praise. It really takes so little to encourage these kids and it comes so easily! I loved playing with them and just showing them some love.
After we played with toys, we invited the kids into this other room where they all had a placemat with a cupcake, lollipop, chips, and a fruit punch drink. Sounds nutritious, huh? But they loved every bit of it. We all sat down and attempted to watch the movie “Rio”. With all the sugar those kids consumed, it was going to be impossible to get them to sit and watch a movie. And it was. But it was all okay because we just wanted them to have fun. By the looks of it, they had a blast! I’m so glad we got to be a part of that day.
Later that night, Hillsong Church held a service at the same location. They pretty much brought the entire service you see on Sundays to this little building in Mitchell’s Plain. Well, what they could fit, anyways. When I walked into that room just a few minutes before the service started, I was flabbergasted at how many people came! There were so many people who had to stand because there weren’t any seats left! It was amazing to see how much God is working in even the poorest of cities. It touched my heart even more when people were singing the same worship songs that we sing back home, but with their South African accents. I just thought it was so awesome that people half way around the world sing the same worship songs to the same God that we do. He’s not just nationwide, He’s worldwide. Of course I knew that, but just seeing and hearing it physically has such a bigger impact.
Going to help out at Mitchell’s Plain has been my favorite thing we’ve done so far. Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when you just hang out with them makes everything more than worth it. Lives are changing in South Africa. God is moving right before our eyes.
Until next time,
Katie Smith
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