Day 8

Today we went into Qwa Qwa, broke up into four teams of four, and did friendship evangelism in the homes of people. The people are for the most part very receptive and willing to talk and share with us. We went to four different homes and had very different yet similar experiences as we spent time with the families. Some of us were in what would be considered middle class homes and others were in tin shanties.

The group that spent time with the family in the tin shanty discovered a family who loved and served God even through their severe poverty. The time spent there was described as having church. The team returned in the afternoon and planted spinach for the family. They also gave a Bible written in Sesotho, which was received as a treasure. This team returned energized and moved by the severe poverty that they saw.

Another team spent time with a family that was wealthy in material needs yet very bankrupt in needs of the heart. They talked with the oldest daughter for some time, which gave her an outlet to release the heavy burden she carried. She and her husband are separated and she desires to finish her education which he does not want. She refuses to be controlled or live with him while he drinks. She has not been able to share this with others and she was finally given an avenue to release her burden which has left her extremely stressed and depressed. This team also gave a Bible to this woman and she said that she had been given medicine.

One of the other teams did children's church with around 40 children. They played games, told a Bible story, and just enjoyed two hours with these children. The children love to play and spend time with the teams. They even followed the team back to the bus to say goodbye.

God could be seen in a variety of experiences, and we each knew we were with the family that God directed us to. To provide such gifts as Bibles and a listening ear left us as blessed as the families we talked with. I think we also returned with a new perspective on life and what true treasures are.