Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika

“The journey had begun. And now the fear back again, the fear of the unknown…Deep down the fear of a man who lives in a world not made for him, whose own world is slipping away, dying, being destroyed, beyond any recall…The humble man reached in his pocket for his sacred book, and began to read. It was this world alone that was certain. “ Cry of the Beloved Country

“Sometimes in life every one of us finds himself out of control, caught in circumstances that he is helpless to change. When this happens, welcome such times! Often it is only then that we lesser spirits enter into the truth of Jesus’ statement from the fifteenth chapter of John: ‘Apart form Me ye can do nothing.” –Catherine Marshall

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Sawubona!!!

Last Sunday, after the Zulu immersion experience, we went to Durban! Durban is a big city a couple hours drive away. We went shopping at a few markets and then I swam in the Indian Ocean. Although it started raining, the water was rather warm, mid->high 60s, and we had so much fun! When we returned we put together an epic slip n' slide event in which the nursing students skills were called into action a couple times. Later that night we were reunited with the rest of our group as they returned from their Safari. I never realized 44 people could become so close. We had only been separated a couple days, but we all missed each other and were so excited to be together again. We had a wonderful time sharing our different weekend adventure stories with one another.

Last week I had clinical at Mason’s clinic. Tuesday I was in the ARV clinic and for the first couple hours I was working with the doctor. I charted and assessed the patients as he assessed, diagnosed, and prescribed. After the doctor left, I continued doing the same thing but with the nurse. In South Africa, it is legal for nurses to basically act as doctors when there are no doctors around. Thursday, I was in the main general practice/ family planning section and did the same type of charting and assessing as I did Tuesday plus lots and lots of injections. I did a lot of birth control injections, and a lot of Strep. injections for TB patients. They do almost all their injections in the buttocks, which is so rarely done in the U.S.A. that this was my first time doing so.

I found myself that week feeling slightly overwhelmed with the issues here. I’ve seen little girls in clinical who were raped and infected with HIV because of the myth that sleeping with a virgin will cure HIV. One of the CLCs told me that it is especially bad in cities like certain areas of Cape Town in which family members will actually arrange their daughters’ rape because they figure it is destined to happen anyways so it might as well be by the uncle or someone else close to the family so that they will be the ones “cured.” Other students shared that they have learned that it is really bad in the physically and mentally disabled population because men just assume they must be virgins, so despite them trying to tell otherwise, they are repeatedly raped due to this myth. You would think that people would start to realize it is false when they are still positive afterwards. How does a myth with no results to back it up last for so long?

A nurse told us at clinical the other day, and was later confirmed by my professors, that there used to be a big problem with people buying TB infected sputum to send to the government to get grants so they wouldn’t have to work, or patients trying to be sick with HIV for that same reason. She said it was because they were lazy and didn’t want to get a job. I would think it is maybe more out of desperation, and not being able to get a job…maybe it is a combination. This high rate of HIV has erased much of the middle-aged generation. Many households are run by grandmothers or are child run households. And then there also are the orphans who are taken in by foster families who do not take care of them but just use them for foster parent grant money.

At clinical the nurse also told us about how they would offer STI education, but patients would not come or they would receive education and still not change. We can give all the education in the world, but they have to want it otherwise nothing will change here. And it is also so much more complicated than just education, it is a battle with traditions and customs and lack of resources.

I have heard from several that a lot of pregnant women still get (and often die from) illegal abortions (which we see signs for everywhere) because they don’t want to do the mandatory counseling required, or by the time they get an appointment for counseling it is after 12 weeks and the sister (nurse) then won’t do the abortion so they take it into their own hands. Women are very strong here. In Zulu culture, women do the majority of the work because in the past the men would be away during the day in the army. Now, there is no Zulu army, but those gender roles have remained in many areas. Despite all the work they do, there are many women that still have little control in their lives or over their bodies. They are desperate to cling to any control they can which is where abortions and birth control injections come into the picture.

The issues here are not limited to health but continue onto things like police corruption and whatnot. It is odd and disturbing to see such rich houses right next door to squatter camps; the juxtaposition of the First World and Third World. The gap between the two is so wide here, yet so visible. When I was driving through a bad part of town after clinical Tuesday and starting to feel bogged down by all the need around me, I was reminded that I have the opportunity of just flying home and physically "escaping this," but the people here can’t. They can’t just snap their fingers and be free from this state of being. Although it is not impossible for someone here to break out of the situation they are born into, I believe it is much more difficult to do so here than it is to do so in the United States.

At home it is easier for people to live in a state of bliss and ignorance or in denial. We see commercials or news repots, but can then quickly just place it in the back of our minds and move on with life focusing on ourselves. But here, it is so in your face. I don’t understand how one could live here and not feel desperate to change the situation, to help their neighbors. However, I also understand how the nurses and many other people I have met here have become jaded and burnt out. It is too overwhelming to take on such huge problems alone, and frustrating when your efforts seem fruitless. We must remember why we are here and what our purpose is. Not changing the world does not make you a failure. You are loved and delighted in by the Lord-no matter what, and saving the whole world from all its problems is not what he has called us to do. He is the only one who can truly save us.

Matthew 22: 37-39 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

"We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed." ~Brother Lawrence

Making a difference in even just one life, as insignificant as it may seem compared to the big picture, is still a glorious thing. God values and cares about every individual; Matthew 18:12-14-“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish" All countries have their own set of issues and the United States is certainly far from perfect. There are people around you who need the Lord’s love, who need a smile, or a helping hand. Compassion. You may not be able to solve world hunger or cure AIDS, but you can make a world of a difference to someone in your community. We are easily consumed with ourselves and our selfish desires that bring fleeting happiness. We are called to open our eyes and love our neighbor, and that requires a degree of selflessness, but it is worth it. Our true joy and blessings come from the Lord, not from the time focused on ourselves or from material possessions.

As I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed and feeling like the situation here in SA is hopeless, the Lord reminded me that anything is possible with Him, and I am certain that He is here and working. I absolutely love South Africa. It is a beautiful country. I love the people here. For the most part, the people are kind and charismatic. There are aspects of South African culture that I personally prefer over American culture. This is a wonderful country and it is obvious that God has worked here in the past and was apart of the Apartheid ending among other things. God is here and as I go about my time I am reminded that God did not tell me to come and fix all the problems here. He told me to come and love, and that is what I will continue to do. Give the Lord your burdens and do not become tired of doing good. It is all in His hands; we are in His hands.

Matthew 11: 28-30 " Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Galatians 6: 8-10: Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.