Here I sit, in the middle of February, and already 6 weeks have passed since Christmas break. I thought I would take this entry to write an actual update and get people up-to-date on what I’ve been doing these past 6 weeks.

I switched ministry sites this semester and now visit Kalafong (the regional hospital) 2-3 time each week.
  Here are two stories of separate interactions I’ve had at the hospital in these first 5 weeks of ministry there.
 

Side note 1: The first visiting hour at the hospital doesn’t start until 11, so anytime I get there beforehand I’ll sit praying and/or journaling in the different waiting rooms.

Side note 2: During some teaching sessions during our first weekend after break, we brought up the subject of ancestor worship and how to approach it. We were told that direct asking will give us a truthful answer because if someone is involved in the practice, they have to answer yes or else it would be displeasing to their ancestors.
 

On the second day I visited Kalafong I walked over to the café to get a drink. On my way back to the waiting room I ran into a woman named Elizabeth who asked for some money so she could get a taxi ride home. We went through the typical small talk and she brought up that had a stroke a few months ago and has monthly appointments at the hospital for therapy. I asked to pray for her and if there was anything else she needed prayer for and she mentioned several other health problems. I prayed for her, she mentioned how she loves prayer and thanked me for the money (equivalent of less than $1) and as we parted ways I said that I hoped that it blessed her.
 

I spent a bit more time in one of the waiting rooms and had several questions going through my head. I prayed/journaled and asked God that if they were relevant to bring Elizabeth across my path again. Then I went to one of the children’s wards for a couple of hours. Shortly after 1 I went back to the café for another drink and then to one of the waiting rooms. I went walking back out towards the café and I ran into Elizabeth. She was heading to the waiting rooms to wait for a prescription, so I joined her and we talked for another 30-45 minutes. There was some more small talk, and she said she had joy from our earlier interaction and was excited to talk. I did get around to asking those questions, including if her church had ancestor worship, and these questions were relevant. We kept talking and she would agree with me when I said Jesus was the only way, but a lifestyle that includes ancestor worship proves different beliefs. We talked for a little while and then parted ways around 2.

I had the chance to meet up with her for about 20 more minutes as she returned this week with another scheduled appointment. She also mentioned that her Bible is falling apart, so I’m hoping to find one in her language before her next appointment on the 27^th. There is a possibility that we will have 2-3 more interactions before the FYM program is over in May. I truly hope we have the chance to dig deeper this next time and
  I pray that God will reveal the lies that are mixed in and around the truth that she knows.

I also had a great interaction recently with a man named Thulani. I was sitting in a waiting room, wearing a Kansas City shirt, and he approached me and asked if I was from America. We engaged in typical small talk as he sat on the bench across from me. Thulani told me he was a teacher and a pastor and I got to the point of asking him if his church taught ancestor worship. He somewhat laughed the question off in an “I can’t believe you just asked me that” sense. He had the attitude of “of course not.”
  I found out he is a new pastor (of a few months) at a church 160 km north of here. He’s working on transferring to teach at a school that’s closer to his congregation because he drives up there every weekend, and sometimes for meetings during the week.

Thulani is a man hungry for more of God. He shared about he has never taken his daughter to see a sangoma (witch doctor) and that is part of the testimony he shares with family and friends. He is currently digging into God’s word and specifically the subject of the prophetic. He was also reading a book on curses. We exchanged emails and prayed for each other before parting ways. Thulani was a great encouragement for me, sharing his joy in our generation and how we are able to think for ourselves. He knows the young adults of Africa are questioning their spiritual upbringing, especially when it comes to ancestor worship. I can only hope and pray that God used me to be just as much of an encouragement in his life through this brief interaction.

These are just 2 stories from these past 5 weeks at Kalafong. Most of my time is spent the childrens wards; ward 6 for the first 4 weeks and now ward 3. I’ve had the opportunity to play cars on the floor, run around on the playground equipment and sit around coloring and reading. I’ve also had the chance to hold an 11-month-old infant, probably sick with HIV, who’s mother was also in the hospital, to rub the head of a boy who through such a bad tantrum the nurses tied him to his bead, and hold the hand of a 12 year old girl who was in pain after the medication she took for surgery was wearing off. Sometimes I get to use words too; visiting with the older children, their families, and daily interactions with the nurses. 2-3 days a week I have the chance to see the same people over and over again, and may these visits shine a glimpse of light to some painful situations.