Saturday April 17, I had one of the happiest and most memorable days of my time here in Cape Town. Our class spent a day at the beach and what a life-changing day it turned out to be. Our sewing computer ladies and instructors met for fellowship, fun and a chance to listen to God in the splendor of His creation. The weather cooperated and we had a perfect day, cool enough with surprisingly, warm, silk soft sand on which to sit. After breakfast at the bistro, a first for almost all of the students , we strolled along the mile long beach and I loved hearing the their laughter and that of their children. The beach was their idea for a special day suggested by my sister Aurora and they were pumped. We played games and I probably laughed the hardest at their responses. The best part though, was how open they were to spiritual truths. Our speaker Connie spoke to them about Tamar, a woman whose integrity was violated but whose name is listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. As Connie spoke some of the ladies began to weep. They identified with Tamar in her troubles and they asked if they could share how they felt. "When I found out that I was HIV positive, I thought my life had come to an end," one lady sobbed. "Today I learned how much God loves me and how my life is special to him." Another shared how, a former successful businesswoman, a divorce had sent her life spiralling out of control and how the message had just showed her how God still loves her.
It was so moving to me and I also learned so much more about them. To conclude I asked them to write down their dreams on a card, place the card in an envelope and before they gave them to me, pray for each other and believe that God would help them, HIV positive women, with broken marriages and homes, with babies they care for as single mothers,yes, that God would help them to fulfill those dreams. I have the cards with me and I will pray for them every day, and at graduation, hand them back, in the sure knowledge that God will hear and answer their prayers. We then headed back for lunch and we stayed there until we were good and ready to leave.
On Monday, Rachel told me she asked each woman how she felt about the day and every one was just overjoyed and happy they attended. In a post- apartheid Cape Town, it is surprising and yet so normal that poor African women have no money and little access to even a simple restaurant at the beach. How proud I was that Evangeline Ministries could provide that experience. It broadened their world and reminded them how valued they are in spite of the stigma they must endure. This was a first for them and for me, but certainly not the last.
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