It takes time

It takes time.

Our Evangeline Class is nearing graduation date,Saturday July 9 and we are all excited, anxious, happy and sometimes short tempered and that includes me. I am anxious that they complete all they need to do and anxious that they understand what I am trying to say to them. Sounds just like me. One of my biggest challenges is to get the ladies to respond and especially to the Bible teaching they read. Some days they do so eagerly. Yesterday for example we read Psalm 23 and they knew that Psalm. In fact when Pumeza offered to read it, I later realized she recited it from memory since she had to learn it in school. We all laughed when they asked her to slow down and read with the full stops and commas. Today, one woman was left out in the lunch count and I was not pleased and when it came to the Scripture as you can imagine, getting them to respond was like pulling teeth. And yes I deserved it, so feeling a bit discouraged, mostly with myself, I shared my concern about the Bible with Mandisa, the computer teacher. After we chatted for a bit, she said, you know Wendy, it takes time. They do understand what you are saying. Mandisa backed it up with this example. One student came to her and said for the first time in her life, as she studied the Bible, she realized she has to care for the other person and that means the people in her class. When she saw another student was not yet here and had already missed Tuesday she phoned her to ask what was the matter. She learned the student was having some trouble with her feet but was on her way to class. She did something she had just learned, acted in a caring way, and that meant so much to her. My heart warmed to this story. Yes it takes time for them and for me to learn to do what Jesus asks us to do. Caring for your neighbor is not what you do in Masiphumelele where poverty makes you do whatever to survive. There are too many stories about greed and corruption after the recent massive fire when people from the surrounding communities and government poured in supplies and help. But that is not only true of the township. With rising petrol and food prices and scarce jobs, I think all of us have to remember what Jesus taught us, to love our neighbor as ourselves. So thank you Evangeline student for your example to me too.