“Just before my very first visit to the Hands at Work Hub in South Africa in 2015, I remember feeling totally overwhelmed and inadequate, wondering whether I had made a terrible mistake in agreeing to make the journey at all.
I was joining a ‘Link for Life’ team, representing my Church in a partnership with the local secondary school.
It was my own fault, as I had asked God for a new challenge, but I hadn’t expected Him to respond by sending me to the other side of the world! Be very careful what you pray for! However, I knew that God would equip me, so the Bible passage that has always carried me through is Deuteronomy 31: 8-9 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
On our first day at the Hub, I was warned that I might have to let Africa break my heart. Of course, I didn’t comprehend what this meant until my first visit to a Care Point and it was there, seeing the resilience of the children, the Care Workers and the Caregivers, sharing in their amazing worship, spending time with them during Holy Home Visits that I began to understand. At the end of that day, as I was walking alone towards our minibus, a boy was staring at me as if to say, “Are you leaving me too?”. I will never forget his eyes, challenging me, and I knew that my heart had indeed been broken in that instant.
I have been part of two student teams since then, and I stay resolved to be the very best advocate I can for Hands at Work.”