This morning we had the opportunity to visit several of the social services the Orchard:Africa organization is involved with for a first hand experience of some of the challenges the people in Mafikeng face.
We started at the local government health clinic where people receive family planning counseling, AIDS and TB medication, and care for other chronic diseases. The tiny building was packed to beyond capacity with mothers and babies for immunization day. Additionally, many sick people waited their turn for daily TB shots or AIDS treatment.
In the face of the overwhelming disease and chaos, the staff of dedicated nurses served with sympathetic smiles and stern admonitions. A doctor only visits the clinic twice a week, so most diagnosis and care is done by the four or five nurses available at any one time.
From there we went to the local cemetery to gain insight into the generation lost due to AIDS. Long rows of white stone mounds, decorated with only simple markers are what remains of this village's former youth. It was a moving experience to view the sheer volume of people between the ages of 25-35 who have died from this disease. Most of their children now live with various family members and some are students of our VBS classes.
Finally, we joined one of the care givers as she visited the homes of sick or disabled people. We weaved in between houses, picked over barbed wire, and avoided thorns (though not completely). At each of the homes it was our privilege to talk with the individuals and offer prayers for them and their family. These people rarely receive guests, let alone from overseas, and expressed happiness that we would make such a long journey to visit their homes. Part of Orchard:Africa's goal is to instill a sense of pride and value in the forgotten of South Africa, and it was an honor to be a small part of that process.
The highlight of the day was our visit to one of the school feeding programs.. As we pulled up to a small house across the street from a school, two people hefted a huge vat of corn mush as big as a wash tub. Dozens of children raced across the street for what is probably their only meal of the day.
Food was slopped onto plates, rinsed in a bucket of cold bleach water and dished out again in a repetitive sequence. The members of the team caught in the frenzy of silverwear-less youngsters where subjected to grubby hands eager for hugs and games.
When it came time to leave our team leader, Papa Jo, had to trick the kids into a follow-the-leader game in order to clear the path for the van.
Our theme for Vacation Bible School in Dihatshwane today was "God has a plan for me!" We told the story of queen Esther saving the Jews from Haman's plot and the kids where thrilled to be Kings and Queens themselves, complete with the crowns we brought from home.
The next project was messy but will be a great souvenir for both our church and theirs. Each of us dipped our hands in paint and placed them on quilt squares. We have pictures of each of us that will be added to the squares and made into two quilts; one of our handprints and pictures for their church, and one of their handprints and pictures for our church.
As the sound of laughter and song faded away, it warmed our hearts to watch the gaggle of crown topped heads bouncing across the field towards home.
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