Swap Shop Day!

Today was our fifth day at the building site laying bricks. We have had the joy this week of working side by side with some incredible men of the community. As Lynne said during our devotions tonight, at first both sides were a little standoffish towards each other, but now everyone knows each other by name and can laugh and joke around with each other. It has made a tremendous difference in getting tasks accomplished and getting as far as we have on the house.

After lunch we were given the opportunity to go the Swap Shop at the community center. We initially were only planning on being there for a half hour, but that turned into almost two hours. It was amazing how much of a difference these kids could make in their own community by cleaning up trash. The way the swap shop works is that the children will go out and collect recycles and trash, bring it to the community center, have it weighed and then they are given points that they can trade in the swap shop. The swap shop carries food, toiletries, toys and occasionally clothing that the children can get. Each child is also given a piece of bread and fruit as they walk in the gate.

My heart was so filled with joy as we walked into the community center this afternoon. We were told ahead of time that this would be the most likely time to see some kids we saw last year at Planjties. I was not expecting to see any of the kids, but was secretly hoping to see two of the little girls who stole my heart last August. Low and behold, after standing in the center for a few minutes, a not so little girl anymore, Mishka, came flying into my arms. I don’t think I have ever been so overwhelmed with joy, I did not stop smiling the entire afternoon. I often do not think our work makes that much of a difference in the grand scheme of things, but I have slowly learned that the most important part of these trips is relationships that we build and leave behind wherever we go. I never in a million years thought Mishka would remember a crazy American from over a year ago, but she came running yelling “Shannon!!”.

There is no doubt in my mind that the relationships we’re making with the men, women and children in Paarl Valley will slowly make a difference. We have incredible examples leading us through all of the work we are doing here. I cannot even express how much praise Nielen, Stefani, Corneal, Andre, Annika, and all of the other Ma’s of Wellington and volunteers at the community center deserve. I am forever grateful and thankful that God put a heart of service in those people and put on their hearts the desire to help change the community around them.

Swap Shop container at the community center

Bread and fruit each child received as they entered the community center

Shannon and Mishka this year (left) and last August (right)

Tony teaching the group how to plaster the brick walls on the inside

Julie and Amy throwing bricks up to Christopher and Power

Trash and recycles collected for weighing and trading at the swap shop

Jen laying bricks almost as high as she can reach