Derek and Shea in SA

a conversation

A conversation can show much more love and care than any amount of money.

Today shifted my world upside down when I started to realize the power of coming along side someone in need with weakness instead of strength. It was the difference of a hand out asking what will you give me to a hand to the plow asking how can I give.

We were a part of a support group today where Mama's come to receive basic care from our friend Vava. At the beginning of the group they wondered why we were there and bluntly asked "What are you here to give us?"

We told them that we were there to offer a relationship and encouragement. To help them find the one true giver of life. We asked them what their biggest need was. As a group they decided that their community needed a clinic. The community is literally seeing young women and men die of HIV/Aids. It is running rampant in the village. Also, a lot of the mamas have high blood pressure and need basic care.

We engaged in a conversation.

We cast vision and gave them hope of a true community where each give a little for the greater good. We pitched the idea that they all give something to achieve the goal of a clinic with basic medicine and care giver for their community. One mama offered a building at her pre-school for the clinic to be held. Others offered to help fund the medicine. Vava (the woman who led us to the community) is a licensed care giver and offered to mentor and assist someone in the community to become the care giver for the clinic.

It was amazing to watch this all take place before our eyes. To watch an idea they had grow into a conversation and hopefully one day grow into a reality for their community.

We hope it can even grow into a place where care groups can happen for the people of the village to come. There the care giver could give them the gospel through discovery Bible studies and give them help for their physical needs as well.

It was amazing to be a part of that conversation and it gives us great hope for the future.

Today's conversation makes me want to blow my vuvuzela (Even if I only have it as an iPhone app) that coming into a village in our weakness actually turns out to be a strength. To help them see a future that is brighter than the reality they live in today. They all have their heads down and can't see any way out. The amazing things a conversation can do! The crazy hope I have for this country and the people in it!