The Sacredness of Every Moment

          Rebekah and I have been attending a cell group, or small group, with people from our community. With that group, we are studying and discussing the book, “Learning to Belong: Be at Home in God’s World.” One quote really stuck out to me a couple weeks ago and helped me to change some of my thought patterns. It says, “The call to be at home in God’s presence is not just about facing the great crises of our world. It is just as much about learning to discover the sacredness of every moment and every place. When our lives are flooded with a sense of God, wherever we are becomes holy ground, pregnant with the potential for a true encounter with God’s spirit.” Since I’ve been here, I’ve found myself getting frustrated when I don’t feel like I’m doing enough. I came here with this great sense of call to do something and on slower days I can become discouraged that I’m somehow falling short of the proverbial measuring stick. What this quote reminded me of was that God can use me in any situation, regardless of what’s happening around me. It doesn’t matter, if I’m at a conference and partaking in a breakthrough moment or whether I’m having tea time with a friend. God can use me to cultivate love. God’s spirit can surround me and guide me throughout my day. I am learning to be content where I am. I fail… a lot, but I’m learning. I want to be present where I am, to push for change towards a world closer to the one that God envisions for us all, but to not miss out on the life-giving moments happening around me.

Like when I got to ride in my friend's bother's microlight, which was awesome!

I participated in a conference for religious leaders. The discussions surrounded how religious leaders could become mediators in their communities to alleviate cultural tensions.

 

 

I watched my baba boeti (baby brother) play field hockey. He’s in yellow. Go Merensky! :)

 

I was invited to attend worship at one of the circuit churches.

 

 

I was also incredibly spoiled and taken to Kruger National Park, where I saw a rhino.

 
          These were all moments of true joy along my journey. So, while I’m here, my job will be to do research for the Methodist Church of Southern Africa concerning children in transition or “children on the move.”

          “Children on the move is an umbrella definition for persons under the age of 18 who have left their place of habitual residence and are either on the way towards a new destination, or have already reached such destination. Children on the Move may be:

• across State borders or within countries;
• movement can be of a seasonal or more permanent nature;
• movement can be voluntary or forced;
• they can be accompanied by parents, peers or others, or not;
• and children who are, for instance: internally displaced persons, asylum seekers and refugees, migrants, trafficked persons or child soldiers.”

-Global Movement for Children
 

          I have been tasked to survey the issue in my area (and up towards Zimbabwe and Mozambique), by networking with local non-profits, talking with community members, and researching already prepared materials. Then, I will be determining how Methodist Churches in South Africa can be more present with children on the move. This is a big issue and a lot of work. There will be many ups and downs along the ways. However, I can begin to “discover the sacredness of every moment and every place” and let God guide me through this. So, when I’m working full force or when I can’t see where to turn next (and abscond from work to have lunch with a friend), God is present and that moment is sacred.