St. Augustine's

Like many South African cities, Grahamstown has a large township - an urban sprawl of shacks and unkempt buildings. Used as non-white housing during apartheid, these areas lack many of the luxuries afforded to the inner-city population.

For the past 2 Mondays, I have accompanied Stephen Smith and Br. Josias to a weekly youth program at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, located in the Grahamstown township. Their Monday program involves feeding approx. 20 children after school, and giving them a place to play.

Last Monday, we stayed inside due to rain, but it was an invaluable experience none-the-less.

After explaining the rules, Stephen played dominoes with the older boys while Br. Josias led a religious studies class with the rest of the youth. They discussed the 2nd day of creation and cut-and-pasted sky, water, and land pictures into a journal.

We finished with dominoes, puzzles, and bingo (led by me!).
What stood out to me was how incredibly respectful everybody was. The youth were attentive during rules, and very focused when one of us had something to say. This was very much ‘in the trenches’ of a crime- and poverty-ridden area, but the kindness displayed was first-rate.
….of course, we still had some spontaneous laughing and dancing :)

This is an exciting ministry that I have the option to pursue further. Jr. High and Sr. High is an age range I have very much felt called to in the past, and it was a refreshing experience to be with them after several months away. As God continues to work in me during this journey, I look forward to pursuing whatever calling He reveals next. 

Have a blessed day!!!
In Christ,
-Cameron

Take a road trip, come to Jesus, and start learning (again)

part 3 of a two-week recap
no photos today due to blogger issues

After the break, it was back to the books for the 4th term of school.Our morning ABC/numbers routine has expanded further -several students have now counted to 100! Considering the South Africa standard for grade R is 1-10, this is a significant step.
Counting back to zero is in-the-works :)

This morning ritual has been a great window to witness student improvement. Recently, students have correctly pronounced “three” and “thirteen” with ease, and several counted to new personal bests. We occasionally slip back to old habits, but overall we are learning.

This routine occasionally ends with a childrens-edition bible story (think: basic Sunday School).  Last week, I read Samson and Delilah; yesterday, I read Noah’s ark while the head teacher translated.

With only a handful of these mini-books available, the students hear them multiple times over the year. Many of them recognized the story before I started reading.

The students, for the most part, have handled every new challenge we present. Some students are still struggling, and some of these 'challenges’ might seem simple, but never-the-less you can clearly see the improvement over time.

Thank you for the continued support, and thank you for joining me in this journey!!!

In Christ,
-Cameron S

Take a road trip, Come to Jesus...

part 2 of a two-week recap

     Later in the break, the Monastery hosted several boys in the scholarship program. Our community social worker -who works for Holy Cross School- put on a two-day workshop that focused on life priorities, personal baggage, and false assumptions about schooling. The workshop concluded with private meetings between each student, Br. Josias and the social worker.

                             

   

I realized this workshop’s success was thanks largely to the Monastery’s long-term commitment. Over the years, the monks have developed personal relationships with each student, knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses, and have constantly shown them that they matter. Students know they are being cared for, even when given unpleasant news (ex: “No, you can’t transfer just because school is lame”)

     The Holy Cross monastic order involves a vow of Stability -To quote Br. Robert, “We’re not going anywhere.” Living among the monks, you clearly see an unwavering focus on the families, the students, and the retreatants who come to the Monastery. Life among the brothers can vastly widen your idea of ministry; it is a privilege to be among such servants.

All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ,

for He Himself will say, "I was a stranger, and you welcomed Me" (Matt. 25:35)

-Rule of St. Benedict

Take a road trip...

part 1 of a 2-week recap

Holy Cross, like most schools in the Eastern Cape, had a one-week break at the start of October. During our break, Stephen and I visited YASCer Jared Grant in Maseru, Lesotho. You might remember him from “Itipini-Update”, where he showed considerable flexibility following Itipini’s collapse. Jared now serves the Anglican Diocese of Lesotho, headquartered in Maseru, where he and the fellow church staff graciously hosted us for a few nights. 

We shared stories of YASC life, learned Lesotho culture, and enjoyed mountain-side views.

Jared, Stephen, and myself. Picture taken just outside Roma, Lesotho.

Jared overlooking Maseru, Lesotho.

Our drive around Roma. Yep -it was steep.

The Diocesan Headquarters contained the Cathedral, the Bishop’s house, and guest lodging -where we stayed. These grounds have been home to all the past Lesotho Bishops, including Desmond Tutu.

We enjoyed each other’s company, and hope for future YASC meet-ups throughout the year. Plans are already in the works for a reunion at the Monastery!

Thanks for following, and look for part 2 soon (God willing)
In Christ,
-Cameron

Christmas Wish List!!!

Dear friends/family on this journey,
The Holy Cross School has put together a Christmas Wish List for its students. We are hoping to give each child a Christmas ‘goodie bag’ at the end of the school year –December 7th. You are invited to contribute in any way you can. Any offering is a valuable investment of your time.


A new link has been posted at the top of this blog, entitled 'Christmas Wish List', where you can find the following list whenever you need it.

Our Wish List:

Prayers: Any and all prayers are welcome. Praying for safety for the children during the break, a renewed focus upon return, an openness to seeing God in their lives, and renewed vigor for the teachers and staff (just saying :)) will be highly cherished, along with any other prayers offered.
            *Advice: If you would like, you can type out a prayer and email it to us. We could share it with the children/staff and show how they are being cared for.

Christmas Cards!!! A personal message to a child can be a wonderful gift. We have 28 students total, listed below. Store-bought or handmade, the cards would be touching. Other than prayers, this is possibly the best way you can show your support.
If you organize a group to make cards, take pictures and send them to us! It would be great to show the children that people across the world are caring for them. You can email them to me, or include them in the package.

Candy: Small, bite-sized candy could be a pleasant treat. Also, if you can find a small package of candy canes to send over, please do so! They are not common in South Africa.

Socks: Many of the children only have 1-2 pairs of socks. If you can supply a pair of socks that fit a child between 5-7 years old, it will be a very useful gift. Any color can work.
            Advice: Don’t worry about high quality. These socks will get worn out fast.

Puzzles: Both grades use puzzles on a regular basis. Sending puzzles for children up to age 8 could certainly be put to use.

Money: If you would like to make a monetary donation, perhaps in honor of a loved one, we will welcome any and all offerings. Send a message or leave a comment, and we will get in touch with you.

Many heavier items, such as books, would not be worth sending to the school. Holy Cross is well-stocked on these supplies, and it would also be highly expensive to send them to South Africa.  A monetary donation would be a far more efficient use of your talents.

*Please note: you may have to send packages one month early in order for timely arrival. This would mean mailing them the week of November 5th.


For monetary donations, please contact us to learn how to offer them.

Would you like to know more about the school? Do you have a gift idea not mentioned above? Leave a comment on this blog and I can get back to you.

In Christ,
-Cameron S, along with The Holy Cross Community