CANSA TLC training

I never liked blood or in any sense wanted to become a doctor. Maybe nursing but my fear of blood and needles has just been to intense. In that sense, I think I can often relate to kids because of those fears. At a very young age I experienced having a lumber punch, and have had quite a few since then. For kids, this can be an extremely traumatic experience, especially being held down so that they can do this.

Recently, as many would know, I have had to experience and come into contact with many people having cancer. Riamien, who has finished Chemo, Ben and Wihann, as well as Bernhard’s dad. I’ve seen some come through it but also lost quite a few to cancer. But of late, after visiting Bernhard’s dad, I have experienced a great sense of compassion for people with cancer. I’ve experienced God’s feelings towards these people, or at least a sense of it, and especially that I really want to work with the kids living with cancer. God has always put it on my heart to work with kids and their families but never did I know when and where. These past two days, I was given the opportunity to visit CANSA TLC – Nicus Lodge near Steve Biko, where I got to go inside and see what some of it looks like and then go for training on how to work with Cancer patients and their families. During as well as after hearing all the stories and how you work with them and what they go through I have really felt this is what I would like to do part time and potentially full time.

After hearing what they go through, especially the kids, I could relate in the sense of needles, lumbar punches, being sick and scared and facing possible death. But also this week we have been doing Dollar a Day, and being so low on energy, not being able to concentrate and process things, not being able to remember things and being extremely emotional and tired physically and emotionally has made me so much more aware of what Cancer patients go through. They obviously experience it a lot more and more intensely, but with Chemo and treatments this is how they end up feeling. It really has given me a new understanding for those who live in Africa, on the street but also for these Cancer patients and what their families also have to deal with and is not easy. Going through these things and being up and down is really hard. I have become a lot more sensitive to these things the last couple of weeks, as well as our words and actions towards people.

So, I am extremely excited to work with the kids at CANSA TLC soon if possible. The training was so helpful and I would recommend it for everyone, pastors and their congregations, schools, faculties at University, as well as people who have or come into contact with Cancer or any other terminal illness. It gives you great understanding and can be extremely useful.

Adventuring in the World

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It has been a crazy month since I last posted. A lot has happened. Studies are going – quite busy and intense. But life is constantly rolling on.

In the past 3 or so weeks we have experienced snow for the first time in all 9 provinces in our country. It was a super cool day as EJ picked us up in the Leach-mobile and we drove through to East Gate Mall and played in the snow. My first time ever seeing snow and it was incredible! Afterwards we enjoyed a good cup of coffee before coming home.

In this time I also got to go watch the latest Batman movie with Chris and spent a night over at Liz’ place watching Olympics and just having deep conversations. Again, I must say, she has such a beautiful heart! Then I gave her paint, cloth and she could write her story with it. I’ve also had the opportunity of having breakfast with Mari since she’s been back and we also went shopping and had the car washed. I have had time to get involved at Doornkloof’s church with Chris and Mona and we now have a cell group called CRAVE.

I’ve spent time with some of my rugby mates and it has been awesome to just catch up over coffee, go support their games while others of them have really opened up their hearts to me and have also been such amazing spiritual warriors who themselves have picked me up and encouraged me through great conversations. They really have made an impact in the short time I’ve gotten to know them in my life without even knowing it. To those guys – Craig, Courtnall, Christopher & Jaco – thanks guys!

I’ve met amazing people through ECHO like Calvyn, Wacko, Karoo, Jaco & Marine. Soon I will be involved with Let’s Go Jozi. I have also spent some time with Christo & Daniel lately, they are from the other Intentional Living house and I have found such a deep respect for these two guys. They are just always willing to help and take on a new task with such great attitudes. They have now been facing a rough time and I owe them way more than I could ever thank them for. Christo as well, although only 20, he has a wisdom and love for God way beyond his years! The few moments over the 2 days that I got to spend with him, I really was humbled by his heart for God and love for people. Not only that, I learnt what it means to love unconditionally through a guy named Walter. I met him through Daniel and Christo, a guy about as old as my dad with such a great love for God and wanting to help people. He seems to see the good no matter how small in people and to focus on that, watering it with so much love that it can’t help but grow and be all that you see in that person! He really showers you with love…. I also had lunch with my aunt and sister and had time to spend a weekend with my other aunt, uncle and cousin which was lovely.

In the past week though, I have also witnessed a few other things. Wihann, Ani’s boyfriend and our good friend – was diagnosed with Cancer on Wednesday. He had his operation on Friday and it seems he doesn’t need Chemo which is great news. Ani was on her way back from WitRivier on Friday to see Wihann before his op and ended up in a car accident on the N4. Her car was written off but luckily she was okay with only a few cuts and bruises. There were numerous amounts of burglaries in areas that I visited as well as people who tried to break in to our house over the weekend. Talita, our housemate also showed us some footage and spoke to us about Human Trafficking. It really opened up our eyes to what really is going on in the world but also in our own country, police force and government. I really have a heart for helping the women and children who get trapped inside human trafficking, so this really has been on my mind a lot.

So although I have had a great time, a blessed time, there have also been really sad, tough and terrible times. But I want to encourage all of you to remain positive and keep praying. God is faithful and I have seen His hand in all the things I have experienced this last month. I have seen Him in people’s lives even though they might not be able to. He has the bigger picture and He is faithful. In these hard times, when we get stretched – we grow most. We are given the opportunity to grow, we just have to choose to take it. Our hard times can also be used to relate to others in similar situations or to help those who are going through what we have. Use those experiences to shed some light on the situations of others, use it to love people more. You’ll be surprised at the reactions you get. In the times that have been hard, I’ve learnt to surrender and God has come through each time, being so faithful.

Joshua 23v14: “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”