My name is Kirsten Matthias. As summer started in the USA, I was privileged to be able to take advantage of an amazing service opportunity. I am a part of a group of students from Arizona State University who have united with Helping Hands in order to minister a VBS program to 20 orphans, poor and vulnerable children from Top Village, South Africa.
Our goal has been simply to love these beautiful children and instill in their hearts just how special they are to the Lord. By interacting and investing in them, we hope that we can become the faces of love, helping them to understand the reality of hope. It breaks my heart to see underprivileged kids surprised by these truths. All week we have been teaching and playing with the group, showing them that they are valuable and worth spending time with.
We are greeted daily with a storm of hugs that melt my heart. During games the children love to get one of our mission group members to be on their team - just to be able to hold hands with these special children is worth being here.
All of my perceptions were flipped with a small incident that took place. My shoe came untied. I had a girl on either side of me, holding my hands. I stopped, and began crouching down to tie my lace when the girl on my right jumped to the ground and tied my shoe as fast as she could. With a warm smile she stood and I thanked her. It is remarkable that these children, who need the most help, are so willing to help others. They literally jump at the opportunity to serve us - yet we came to serve them.
The reality of poverty has now affected my life. I am forever changed by Helping Hands and my experience with the beautiful children in Top Village. I encourage others to organize missions groups. Take advantage of the opportunity to positively affect the poverty stricken families in Africa!
Kealeboga .... Thank you (in Setswana),
Kirsten Matthias
Visit the website: http://www.helpinghandsinafrica.org/
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