Two weekends ago, Monique and I volunteered for the day shift at the AIDS hospice in the community. There were 10 beds and 10 patients—a full house to say the least! On the weekend they have two nurses on staff and, with a full hospice, they were on their feet all day. Our desire while being at the hospice was just to bless the patients and the staff, so we began our day by cleaning the bathrooms, moping the floor, and cleaning the kitchen. We helped to make breakfast for the patients and cleaned up afterwards and then did the same thing at lunch. At lunch, one of the nurses asked me to feed a patient. He was sleeping so I was hesitant to wake him, but she assured me that he needed to eat. I woke him up and gave him one spoonful of pop. I swear the pop sat in his mouth for two minutes before he had the strength to swallow the food. I could see the pain and the sweat on his body. He was so stick thin that I wanted so badly for him to eat and get some meat on his bones, but, at the same time, seeing how difficult it was for him made me want to take it out of his mouth and let him fall back asleep! The patients were sleeping most of the time we were there, but there was about a half hour window when the women in the hospice were awake so Monique and I gave them hand massages. It was about 1:30 when the nurse was finished giving medicine, bathing patients, and with her other duties. Since we arrived at 7 in the morning, I had not seen her sit down once so I tried to help her relax the only way I could think—by giving her a back massage. After visiting the hospice I see there is room for prayer for the patients and also prayer for a continual renewal of energy and strength for the staff!
Then this past Wednesday, our whole DTS went to Kobokweni to spend three nights living in the community. We were each given a different family to live with for the time. I lived with a family of 3 children—Zanele (11), Julia (16), and Sanezo (4). Their mother and grandmother lived with them along with their cousin who is 22. Their father works in Johannesburg and comes to visit at the end of every month. Their house was modest and, in comparison to others within the community, it was one of the nicer houses. However, the poverty was still very evident. They had two bedrooms with one bed each and then a third bed that was in the kitchen. There was a very tiny washroom with a sink, but no running water. In the corner of the kitchen were a few buckets that they filled with water that they used for their daily needs like washing dishes, cooking, and bathing.
While I was there, I shared life with them. We spent the days with Elizabeth helping her run the feeding program, but we spent the night and morning with our families. I ate dinner with them, which was a huge pile of pop and some sort of stew to go with it each night. On Thursday night, the Gogo (grandmother in SiSwati) insisted that I cook dinner. Praise the Lord that the oldest daughter, Julia was there to help me. I always thought that I could cook, but without the simple things I take for granted like a carrot peeler, sharp knives, or a stove I was lost! It really taught me an appreciation not only for the things I am blessed with but also for their ability to take simple things and creatively utilize them to the fullest!
At night I shared a bed with Zanele and at the end of our bed was a bucket in case I needed to use the bathroom. The first night I woke up freezing in the middle because Zanele was completely wrapped in the only blanket we had on the bed. I didn’t sleep very well, but in the morning Zanele woke up and threw the blanket on me. She sweetly came and tucked the blanket under my shoulders and feet and told me to go back to sleep. It was a simple act, but she showed me so much love in doing it! The African culture is a very early rising culture and since I was sleeping in the bed in the kitchen, I was woken by about 5:30 every morning. I managed to roll over a few times but never for too long. Without a second passing of me sitting up in the morning, Sanezo would run towards my bed and jump to sit next to me and talk. He didn’t speak any English, only SiSwati but that didn’t make a difference to him. He just talked and talked and occasionally paused to see if I had any reaction. I would smile and then he would just go on talking! Although I couldn’t understand Sanezo, the oldest daughter, Julia, spoke English very well. It helped to have someone I could talk with while living in a house and she also gifted me by teaching me a bit of SiSwati. She laughed a bit at my accent, but she was a very kind and patient teacher. Then every morning they filled a bucket with hot water for me to use to take a bucket bath and then served bread, butter, and tea for breakfast. They were a very welcoming family and I am grateful for the opportunity to have formed relationships with them and experience a new way of life!
