Durban Trip – July 2009
We really enjoyed our time in Durban and saw God move in wondrous ways. Many of those in our group felt the experience truly touched and changed them and the people of Durban were encouraged by our presence that there are those out there who care about their plight. We both felt that the immense poverty which we witnessed stirred our hearts with compassion for these people, with an estimated 10,000 new orphans a month, we were pleased that through your generous giving, we were able to do something that mattered to them.
Some of the stories that came back from projects situated around Durban showed the true level of work that God was allowing during our time there. One group prayed for a lady who was crippled from birth due to a genetic condition, imagine their surprise when the lady got out of her wheelchair and started to walk! Another group were in a soup kitchen when to their horror, they began to run out of soup with over 100 children left to feed. Yet the Lord provided and the soup failed to run out until the last child had been fed, a true miracle.
Our time, as can be seen in the accompanying diary outline, was mainly spent on care for those already terminally ill. This involved the provision of bed baths (certainly something I had never imagined doing in my life), the cleaning of houses, and perhaps most importantly, simply chatting to the patients and letting them know, in a mixture of broken Zulu and English, that someone cared for them and was praying for them. It was a time that was physically and emotionally challenging, and yet it was also one of the best of our lives, something which would not have been possible with your generous donations.
Thank you again!
Rachel & Joanna Vivian
Day 0 – Arrival in Durban and acclimatisation.
Day 1 – Arrival on project and run through of HIV/AIDS safety. This included a tour of the local township (government slum) of Ngobongo (Un-ka-bon-ga).
Day 2 – More safety training including a run through of TB safety and how to give a bed bath! This was followed by practical training in the local township.
Day 3 – The first day off. On this day we visited Phezulu village, a true tribe of Zulus who have for the past few years allowed visitors to visit a specially built area for them to exhibit their lifestyle and dancing. This is situated next to a Crocodile and SnakePark which we also visited.
Day 4 – Visit to Ngobongo church where we witnessed 27 baptisms! This was followed by a meal with Rob the pastor.
Day 5 – Visit to Compensation (another local township) where we emptied a lady’s house and cleaned everything. Next we visited a project named Noah (a youth club for HIV/AIDS orphans) where we taught parachute games and brought out the facepaints.
Day 6 – Cleaned a container which had been converted into a kitchen for food distribution in order to paint it later in the week. We then visited a 46 year old lady who was HIV positive, she lives with her 4 children and 2 grandchildren in a two roomed building. She receives only £80 a month for her and her 4 children with an extra £20 a month for her 2 grandchildren which is all the money she has to live on.
Day 7 – Cleaned and painted the church at Ngobongo and then played with the children at Noah who attempted to teach us Zulu.
Day 8 – Returned to lady in Compensation and re-cleaned her house. Visited project at Umuzi (our project) where they teach ladies to make intricate bead work.
Day 9 – Paint office at Compensation. Say goodbye to Noah children who sung us songs including “We love our teddy bear (followed by a rush of children hugging you), we clean his shoes (children rub your shoes)” repeat…
Day 10 – Paint kitchen at Compensation where we were visited by the local police force who were out doing 67 minutes of good work to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of service to his country. Met the local counsellor, Albert.
Day 11 – VisitedGroutvilleChurch for a completely Zulu service followed by a visit to the tomb of Chief Albert Luthuli (the predecessor to Nelson Mandela in the ANC). Visit to the local beach.
Day 12 – Second day off. Visited Tala Game Reserve ( where we saw zebra, giraffe, warthog and many more.
Day 13 – Return home.