Hello There--Caitlin here!
Mom, Dad, Kevan, and Stephen--I've
missed you guys so much! I can't wait to see you all soon! :)
I volunteered to write on the last day
of the trip because I knew I would need time to process all we've been through
these past few weeks, and boy was I right. (Sorry Mom!) ;)
Well, today marks our last day here in
ZA (South Africa), and to be honest, we all have mixed emotions about leaving.
While we miss our homes, loved ones, etc…South Africa has stirred something in
each of our hearts, and we're not quite ready to leave.
At least we had a very easy day today.
We went to St. Paul's church in Philippi (a township near the Sweethome
township), and painted a few rooms in the church. Afterwards, we headed back to
the Retreat Center (which we now call home) to pack. As we all became
accustomed to sixteen hour days filled with classes, camp activities, screaming
kids, midnight bedtimes, and 7am alarm settings…the quiteness of our last day
made all of our hearts realize just how much has happened in the past few
weeks, and how much our hearts are now forced back to the reality of everyday
life.
But while our day is less full
schedule-wise, it is packed with goodbyes. Today we say farewell to our Bridges
kids, and that is not something I'm personally looking forward to. I have a
very hard time with goodbyes, so tissues will be a necessity. I have absolutely
fallen in love with these kids, and hate the fact that I won't get to see them
throughout their school year. Their warmth, joy, laughter, and hearts have
captured all of us, and we all wish we could take them with us, or better yet,
stay here with them. Our hearts pray that God would lead them through this
school year, and that they would grow into the men and women they're meant to
be. The love we have for these kids is abundant, and we will miss them every
single we day we're not with them.
Oh my goodness, I am so overwhelmed
while thinking over the last few weeks. I seriously feel like we've been
here a few months rather than the fourteen days we've actually been here! God
has done such incredible things! And now that we're leaving, I can't say that
I'm taking my heart with me. From the second we landed in Cape Town, it felt
like home; and I know I am not the only team member with that feeling. It's every
missionary's dream to fall in love with the place they're called to serve in,
but I found that we didn't fall in love with South Africa, we fell in love with
its people.
Whether it was a child from the
Sweethome township, a member of the CHE's (Community Health Evangelism), the
high schooler's at Bridges, we all made deep connections with the people we
were called to serve. And while, in my mind, I would be bringing home the
weight of their stories, and the burden of their sorrows, I'm blessed with the
gift of their joy. Because in spite of their circumstances, I saw more joy,
more laughter, and more peace than anyone I know back home. God has blessed
them with the peace of His presence, and they choose to rejoice, rather than
weep. I am changed by their example of trust, service, and faith; and I pray,
for our entire team, we hold on to the mentalitiy these beautiful people live
by.
While I could go on and on, I know I
need to end with this simple statement: God is here. God is working here in this
broken Country. And while there will always be worries and concerns for the
people we leave behind, God isn't leaving them. The family we have here is just
as close to us as the family back home. We are bound by our Savior, and in
that, we can smile knowing He is with them always.
South Africa, you stole my heart. And
I don't really mind! ;)
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