A letter

This post is from a volunteer of Helping Hands, one who visited the villages. This is her letter to friends and family upon arriving home.

Dear Friends and Family,
It is good to be home, but oh so difficult to leave the wonderful kids of Top Village and Molowane Village! Since arriving home, I have been doing a lot of journaling to help process all experiences of our trip. There was sooo much to take in, in just 10 days. Photo-shopping the 400 pictures I took, has been bittersweet but I have enjoyed reliving the great time. I have such wonderful memories.

I have thought a great deal about how to write this update. Knowing that just reading this, will never fully communicate the incredible impact this experience had on my life. I have come up with 4 adjectives, which in a very broad way, describe my experience.

Exhilarating – Being a part of two incredible worship services, the first at the New Life Church in Mafikeng and the second in the village of Mabela-a-Podi. In both of these services the worship time was so moving. Being a part of people singing and dancing praises to God with their whole being, completely uninhibited, was like nothing I had ever experienced. What a privilege and a blessing. The church at Mabela-a-Podi village is a tin shed type of structure with dirt floors. No instruments, no overhead projection system, just four young women leading incredible worship.
Educational – Our first full day in Mafikeng, Mike and Michelle Tessendorf, the founders of Helping Hands in Africa, gave us a wonderful orientation regarding the history of South Africa and the lasting effects of Apartheid. We also were given an introduction to the AIDS pandemic in South Africa. It is a multi-faceted, very complex issue. Our media tells us “For just $10 a month, you can supply medication to an AIDS victim that will save his or her life” The issue is so much more complicated to solve than just sending money. It will take a substantial educational and humanitarian effort to eradicate this pandemic. Helping Hands focus is changing one village at a time. They are targeting kids in their early teens and younger in their educational effort, while caring for these children’s parents, who have already contracted the AIDS Virus.
Emotional – The fun of meeting these wonderful kids who are identified as vulnerable because they are orphaned, have lost one parent to AIDS or have loved ones that are infected with the AIDS virus. The kids were exuberant, had wonderful smiles and were willing to join in all activities. It was great to see the kids begin to identify emotions and feelings, as well as risk sharing some of those emotions, being a part of a culture where feelings aren’t talked about. It was also great to just be able to play with them. But oh, how difficult it was to say goodbye.
Sobering – To see from the kids beautiful smiles and hear their words of the belief that their hope is in Jesus Christ, even though some of them live in the direst of circumstances, literally put me to shame. How often do I complain about the inconveniences of my life and yet I live in a lovely home, sleep in a warm bed every night and have more than I need to eat. It was wonderful to see and hear the kids respond to the scripture lessons each day during our small group sharing time.

I can’t thank you enough, for partnering with me, which allowed me to be a part of this experience. I believe the organization of Helping Hands in Africa is getting it right. They have established programs where none are in place to feed, care for and educate those in need. Where government services are available, they don’t try and reinvent the wheel, but rather try to work with the government programs to get the villagers the help they need. Please check out Helping Hands website for more information. Also please consider continuing to support this organization through your tax deductible charitable gifts.
www.helpinghandsinafrica.org

In Him,
Debbie Carpenter