The South African Series

You Know What I Did Last Summer…

Note: To my knowledge, there are no South Africans in the MOM Squad. For those SA readers who specifically drop by the blog and leave me nasty Twitter messages or comments that I never approve, I know that South Africa is not one big township. The following post is merely a summary of part of an extraordinary summer I spent in the country. If you’re going to say something negative after watching/reading this, save your energy. I’ll just trash it and it will never see the light of day – at least not here. I’m even annoyed that I have to begin my post in this manner. Tschewww….!!!

 

It’s hard to believe that it’s coming up on two years since my family and I traveled to Plettenberg Bay, South Africa. I still remember the nervousness I felt visiting a country I had only seen in documentaries and the fatigue I felt after spending 17 hours in the air with four kids. However, the three months we spent in the country was well worth all the pain leading up to the trip, and I’d gladly do it all again.

As anyone who knows me – and I mean truly knows me – can attest to, I have a big, soft, bleeding heart despite the callous exterior I present to the world. In this culture that celebrates Cristal, Kanye and Kim Kardashian, I have discovered my own personal truth that leaves me convinced that although the likes of these people will be remembered, possibly even immortalized by popular culture, they will never be appreciated  in the same manner that hundreds of nameless and faceless people who serve humanity will be. Proverbs 11:25 says:

The generous soul will be made rich,

And he who waters will also be watered himself.

I’ve tried it, and it’s true. There is nothing more fulfilling (or addictive in my case) than giving what you have, and watching the fruit of that generosity manifest in returns you never anticipated. It might be in the form of money, sure…or it could be in something far more valuable, like a new friendship or knowing that someone in another part of the world is thinking of you with kind thoughts. Whenever I think of my ASP kids that live in Qolweni, an involuntary grin soon follows those resurfaced memories.

I turned 35 this year and am determined to use this year in the service of others, as much as I can, no matter where in the world I find myself. After months of threatening, my husband made this short video to document our trip which I had to share it with you guys! I hope it inspires you to do something you’ve had on the back burner or that you thought was too far out of grasp to achieve.  Go ahead and go for it. 🙂

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/58626320 w=500&h=281]