Saying goodbye is always hard, but I didn’t think it would be this hard to leave South Africa. I thought that after five weeks I’d be ready to leave, that I’d be tired of it and ready to return to “normal life”. I’m not. I don’t want to leave. I miss my family and friends, sure. I miss being able to talk to people on the phone and have internet on a regular basis. I miss my pets and summer weather. But there are things here that I will miss more than that.
I will miss seeing those smiling little faces everyday. I’ve been working in preschools and schools since I was 16 years old but there is something so special about working with these children. There’s something in you that makes you want to love them a little extra, make them laugh a little harder and hug them a little longer.
I believe it’s knowing that they are so underprivileged, that the hug you give them might be the last bit of attention they get until the next time they walk into the school. Child headed households are rampant in Ikageng. It’s not uncommon to see a 7 year old girl with a 2 year old baby on her hip and a 4 year old in tow. Susan had to make a rule that you had to be at least 8 to come pick up your sibling at the preschool. My heart hurts for these children. I want so much for their future. I want them to see that there is more than the slums of Ikageng. I want them free of disease, free of worry, and full of food and love. I want them to make it to the end of high school. I want them to get jobs, maybe go to University. Most of all I want them to know how loved they are by us and by their Maker. I want them to know that they are not alone, that they can succeed.
I want more people to have compassion for the poverty stricken. I want this to be a daily worry in our lives, not an afterthought from a touching commercial or a powerful sermon. I want more people to realize what how lucky they are and stop complaining about trivial things. I want people to want to help, to feel like they aren’t doing enough.
I believe that we are on our way. I think over the years Americans have become much more conscious of third world countries and poverty throughout America as well. I believe that we are becoming more proactive rather than reactive, but we still have a long way to go. Our wealth as a nation far exceeds most other countries. In Africa, 40% of the population lives on less than $2 a day– chump change to Americans. It’s not even enough for a fast food meal anymore. This two dollars has to provide families with food, clothing a place to lay their heads at night and, if they’re lucky maybe, a light. The amazing thing to me is that most of the people here are still praising God through it all. Their praises and prayers are even different than ours, though.
Us: “Thank you for the food on the table, the roof over our heads, thank you for my new clothes, thank you for Channing Tatum, thank you for letting my team make it to the Super Bowl.”
Them: “Lord, thank you for another day. Thank you for the sunrise, and thank you for waking us up to see it. Thank you for protecting us through another night.”
Perhaps it’s time we change our prayers: “Lord, thank you for all that you’ve blessed me with. Help me to bless others with what you’ve given me. Everything I have is yours, and there are children of yours that are hurting. There are people in need. Help me and guide me. Show me how to help those in need. Remove my selfishness and my greed so that I may be a blessing to others.”
I’m going to try to pray more like this. I’m going to try to not let these sad feelings ever leave my heart, because when the sadness leaves, so does the compassion. I want to forever worry about people other than myself. I want God to remove my selfishness, to remove my attachment to material things so that I may be more free to give.
I have had the most wonderful experience here in South Africa. Thank you to Susan and Bill of Tentmaker Ministries and Tentmaker Trust for hosting me and allowing me to have a glimpse of the life they lead. Thank you to all of you who supported me both financially and emotionally for my journey here. Thank you to all those in my life that have taught me how to love and live life with great joy, especially my brother Justin, my mom Gail, and my dad Terry. Thank you to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, members of Oak Ridge United Methodist, my ‘Grammom’ Betty, my grandparents Ted and Joan, and other friends and family members for being such great supporters of me on this trip. I could not have been here without the support of everyone and for that I am eternally grateful.
Love Always,
Lauren Elizabeth Fritz
Wayfarer's World 