By Linda van Oudheusden | Marketing Manager
"If I am hungry, that is a material problem; if someone else is hungry, that is a spiritual problem." - Paul Farmer
Dearest friends
Siyabulela.
This is the Xhosa phrase for "we thank you".
It is a phrase we hear every single day in Missionvale.
We are so fortunate to have a lovely gathering space - suitably called, "the shelter" where our community come together.
When you enter through our front gate, you will see it immediately to your left, and if you arrive there in the morning, you will see a fine crowd there.
It's a scene made up of many faces. Some are whithered and tired, some belong to beautiful apple cheeked children, there are the patient amadalas (elderly men), mothers and grandmothers. There is lively chatter and hearty laughs. Their smiles are in stark contrast to the realities of life outside the gate, but in every day they manage to find joy somewhere.
If you wait long enough, you will find that the crowd will quiet down, and someone will take the lead to begin a song. The harmonizing will give you goosebumps. It is the sound of the African people that will stay with you for life. They will gently sway to the hymns before taking a moment of thanksgiving.
Siyabulela. Siyabulela.
We thank you. We thank YOU, our friends who remember us from far away.
"Give us this day our daily bread."
Our founder, Sr Ethel would always say that we can pray as much as we want, but we also need to be the hands and feet on earth to bring compassion in meaningful and practical ways.
Daily bread, and so much more, is made possible, because of you.
May your hearts be filled with joy in knowing that your kindness is feeding just as much a spiritual need as a physical one.
May the melodies of thanksgiving in Missionvale reach your heart as you read this many miles away from us. We can never thank you enough!
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