So routine has recently started to make itself known here. In the past four weeks I have been able to further develop friendships and relationships with the children, teens, and other staff. This will obviously be ongoing for me, as trust in relationship requires a lot of time, however I am pleased with how well I have been able to connect specifically to the teens. I feel like they view me as a friend and joke around with me almost as a peer, but also have a healthy balance of respect mixed in as I am also an authority figure. These teens are some of the most down to earth and carefree kids I've ever met. I'm sure some of it can be coping mechanisms or a facade but honestly it seems genuine to me and it's hard to believe these same kids are HIV positive orphans. It's inspiring.
I have had sporadic one on one "meetings" with teenagers on my caseload over the past few weeks and for the most part those talks have gone really well and the kids enjoy the individual attention because they rarely find it anywhere else. Along with meeting with the teenagers, I have also started to plan life skills development activities. Today, I organized for two groups of teens to take taxi's (practically the only public transportation around) into Pietermaritzburg to get lunch and then come back. This sounds like a relatively easy task, however the taxi system here can be very chaotic and intimidating (speaking from personal experience) and navigating can be difficult. I realized that understanding how to use the taxi's would be crucial for them once they leave the village. This is just one brief example of the sort of things I will be planning in the near future. Some activities will be on site and some will be off site (i.e. money management, creating small business initiatives, typing classes, mall scavenger hunt, individual tutoring, etc). Oh, and if you guys have any ideas regarding life skills development for kids aged 13-18, let me know I'm all ears!
Adjustment has been a continuous process for me and some days are more difficult than others. My work at Lily is very draining but not necessarily because I am super busy. It's mostly because I'm always in the village and there is constant stimulation which can be overwhelming. Interaction with the children often feels like it requires an unlimited source of energy... Anyway, these are just a few challenges that have presented themselves and they haven't come as much of a surprise but I still would like prayer for a constant daily renewal of energy and optimism because ultimately I want to pour myself out into the children's lives which cannot be accomplished through my own flesh. It needs to come from the Father. Also there has been increased crime inside the village so you can also pray for the safety of the children and staff as well as wisdom and discernment for the management as they have to make decisions regarding security.
Over the next few days I am having a spiritual retreat with MCC to reflect on my transition and to have a much needed break. Today was the first day and I already feel spiritually, mentally, and emotionally refreshed. I'm starting my 7th week here in South Africa! Wild. I miss you all at home and I'm jealous of the fall weather and fairs, but I have much to be thankful for here (and the weather here will be nice for the next 8 months :p). Thanks for the continued support and prayer, I don't take it for granted!
