Saturday, July 5th, 2008
I met Masee today.
She is articulate, intelligent and stunningly beautiful, with creamy warm skin and perfect white teeth. Her home is built with tin and decorated with the delicate hands of an artist, the outside painted in an assortment of dainty patterns. The "windows" are covered with scraps of lace, serving as simple curtains. And the inside of her two room home is meticulously cleaned (dirt floor and all) by a woman who clearly takes pride in her dwelling.
Masee has Tuberculosis, or so she says. I believe she probably has AIDS. Since February. The disease would be difficult in any circumstance, but is only complicated by her living conditions and the presence of winter. One look at her thin frame makes it clear she has been robbed of much of her life.
Before we left the US, some family members donated money so we could purchase Bibles written in Sasotho, the language of the Basotho people. Today we gave away our first–to Masee. You would have thought it was a million dollars. She held it with such reverence, tired eyes shining, hands slowly caressing the cover. She’d never dreamed of having her own Bible.
I pulled out my own and opened to one of my all-time favorite Psalms, hoping to encourage my new friend. We read it together–first in English, then in Sosotho.
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–who forgives all your sins, and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5
Wow. I doubt I’ll ever read it the same again. I sat next to a beautiful woman trapped by both poverty and disease, and yet beaming with a smile of hope only the hope of a Savior could provide. To be reminded again that God sees, knows, cares, heals and redeems was like a heavy blanket of hope wrapped around each one of us. We held hands and prayed (God, heal her!), and left with moist eyes and bursting hearts.
Saturday, July 5th, 2008
Thrive Africa’s mission, as pulled from the back of their ministry guide, is "Discipling believers, equipping leaders and strengthening the church in Southern Africa." Today I witnessed a shining example of their mission in action. Approximately 120 youth, ages 14 to 19, gathered in a local church in Qwa-Qwa for the Leadership Summit, where they learned leadership principles and discussed ways they can cast vision in their communities and schools to make a prevailing impact.
Four years ago Thrive began training local Besotho Christians to become mentors of the youth in the school system. These coaches work at the schools, often mentoring 300+ children single-handedly after the school day is over. They invest in the children’s lives significantly, infusing them with hope and courage and character. The coaches are also instrumental in teaching the students about HIV/AIDS and the importance of abstinence in curbing the AIDS epidemic.
As of today, 17 coaches are paid by Thrive to invest in 17 schools. The group who gathered today were pulled from these schools, chosen by the principals and teachers as the students with the most leadership potential. Literally, these youth are South Africa’s future. 
This program has been so incredibly successful they have been asked to put a coach in each school throughout the entire province. This is HUGE! Unfortunately, Thrive can’t add anymore until additional supporters are able to sponsor coaches (each coach is paid $120 per month!) Though this is such a small amount in our standards, each coach will end up impacting over 300 students.
I listened to these students talk about their desire to make a difference, share their vision for their village and hopes for a better life. They came to this Summit even though they are on school break, and they hung on every word of their leaders! I was more than impressed. I wanted to move here and dig in! If you are interested or want more information, please check out the Thrive website or email them at office@thriveafrica.org. This is good stuff, people!
Saturday, July 5th, 2008
Named the poorest village in all of South Africa, Intabazwe is home to 65,000 people of the Basotho (pronounced "ba-soo-too") tribe. Most live in squatter camps, in homes made from scrap metal, tin or mud bricks and a thatch roof (it is winter here & the homes are VERY cold). Every street is covered with children of every age, playing next to trash heaps and burned fields, shoeless and coatless. In fact, 45% of Intabazwe’s population is 14 years old or younger. And did I mention 88% are unemployed and 1 in 3 live with HIV/AIDS???
Intabazwe is also where we’re spending most our time. With so much stacked against them, the Basotho people struggle against prevailing hopelessness. I believe this is a primary reason we are here: To let them know they are loved, to serve them any way we can, and then somewhere in the middle of all that, to make sure they hear the truth that God is crazy about them. 
Over the past two days we have done laundry, carried water, swept dirt floors, made porridge, helped construct make-shift homes, and held a children’s club full of songs, games and a whole lot of laughter. Everyone we meet is so gracious, honored that we would come and visit them, overwhelmed that we would be guests in their home. I can’t help but feel the reality is just the opposite: WE are the honored ones, privileged to be allowed to spend some time with them, exchanging our lives over a hot cup of tea.
In many, many ways, the Basotho people excel far beyond us: in relationships, in warmth, in grace and acceptance, in their ability to share their limited food and belongings with guests who are wearing coats worth more money than the contents of their entire home. Whereas we Americans fight against selfishness and greed, they fight to out-give one another.
We may have multi-bedroom homes with running (and clean) water and furnaces which pump out warm air in the winter, but our poverty of heart and spirit is often profound. I can only speak for myself, but any generosity I may display is offered out of my abundance. I doubt I would be so quick to share if I have little to nothing for myself and my family. And I’m somewhat ashamed to have to travel half-way across the world to finally have a clear look in the mirror.
I guess that’s what life exchange is all about–stepping into someone else’s shoes and, hopefully, being different because of it. 
Thursday, July 3rd, 2008
I thought I was going to be bored. It’s tough flying 28 hours to Africa only to spend a day training. However, Rebecca of the Thrive Africa staff was able to educate us completely, leaving us feeling surprisingly ready (or as ready as we can be with so many unknowns) and yet not drowning in an overkill of info.
After lunch (during which one of our team–whom shall remain nameless for now–ate the leftovers off nearly everyone’s plate), we worked with Josh, another Thrive staff, who led us to a low ropes obstacle course. Not only was it a heap of fun, we learned a lot about each other as well. For example, 
I discovered Kevin has—how shall we say—limited balance skills. Fortunately, he isn’t planning to join the circus. However, standing stronger than his wobbly legs was his obvious natural leadership ability packaged in a soon-to-be-a-college-freshman’s body. VERY cool. I also learned my own husband has an uncanny ability on a tight rope (who knew???), as well as Mitch (a football player) and Bethany (who just came to us after spending some time in a broken Kenya). 
Laura’s uncharacteristically long arms came in quite handy as she stretched from rope to rope, and—this comes as no surprise—she never failed to encourage anyone who was struggling. Alex hunkered down in a perfect weightlifting stance while expertly sliding step by step on an unstable cable (effective, not picturesque).
Long story short, though none of us were graceful or experts by any means, we each did our part while the other twelve encouraged and applauded and cheered (thank you, Lauren & Alyssa). This show of faith and support left me thinking our highly comic display was—in fact—beautiful. Though we began this adventure 48 hours ago as an oddly mixed assortment of thirteen, many of which didn’t know each other, we emerged from today’s training as a unified and dynamic family who absolutely adore each other. 
Tomorrow, here we come.
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008
I didn’t think any place on earth could cook up a sunrise like Colorado. Apparently I was wrong. 
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. Psalm 19:1-5
