25 December 2012 First day of outreach to Johannesburg South Africa

This day, it’s a Christmas day! Everyone here in Worcester cerebrate together because this day is the most important to everyone. At the base, we are as one family! We are celebrating Christmas and feasting together. It is fun but it’s sad that I have to leave the base today for outreach for 2 months but I am excited what it gonna happen in the future. I said good bye to someone but not all of them because the time not allow me to do that. At 3.30pm we four of us were in the train heading to Johannesburg for 24 hours. During this time, in the train, it makes me been thinking a lot about in the past. One thing that I was thinking is friendship. Sometime I think that I had any friends but I had no one who is a truly friend, who can stand there with me when I got trouble. I really have been seeking those truly friends. Sometime I was tired to seek. However I could learn through these things. So I could be stronger and also I could stand by my own self wherever I go. So give thanks to the Lord our God, when I pray to Him. He makes me think that Boy, you have any friends around the world. Wherever you go in this earth you have friends who are ready welcome you to stay with. They love you so much and love you in the way you are. You don’t have to change yourself! Just be yourself.

 

Loooking back to the very frist day which I got in South Africa. I left Thailand on the 21st of the September 2012 for studying IPHC (Introduction Primary Health Care) school. Jerome was the one who picked me up at the airport. (This travelling was the first trip which I’ve been outside of Thailand for a long flight by my own self. It made me freaking out a little bit) I felt so comfortable with the frist met to know that someone waiting for me at the airport. The weather here was cold@ Fortunately, I brought some jacket with me that I can make myself warm. From Cape Town to Worcester, it took 2 hours. Meeting the school leader, he just took me around YWAM base a little bit to know what place is and also the place to sleep. I met someone who I could be friend with while I was studying here. For the second day, every Monday we have worship in the morning to give praise our God and after that we had a bride party. It’s a national day that every family will have/spend time together since they’ve been working all year. So this time it was great to me that I could meet and talk with other people who came to study in the different area at YWAM Worcester! I met  Ricado and his wife who come from Brazil. They are so friendly. We got to talk with them hour and hour to get to know each other. So now a day, we are friends together and they are the one who supported me for outreach fee. I am so thankful for that. They are so a big blessing for me! So I got to know more people and more. For the next day we, my school started, I just found out that there were only 3 students in this school. It’s quite small but I felt comfortable. First week of studying, it made me felt nervous that I could make or not because this school quite tough for me! However it’s the first week of adjustment. So after the following week, it’s fine for me. I had a chance to go for a walk in the town to see how the town to see how the atmosphere is. All things in the town are new to me to see. I took some photos which they can be my memory in the future! The people here are friendly but they lives quite tough, especially the people who live in the ghetto area. We’ve been observing at the area how their lives are… Definitely, time goes by I miss Thai food so much. The first food which I miss was noodle soup, meat ball, chicken with basil, and so on. I was so blessed, there was one girl from Thailand  who I met before came to visit this base. So she told her mom to post me some Thai ingredients. Lastly, I got to eat Thai food and sharing to other of my friends. They like it. Time for sad. Once I got hair cut which style I don’t like. I was so sad. Almost for one month until my hair grew back. Every night I’ve been praying to God that He will give me peac, happiness, joyfulness. I cried all night. I met one guy who is very good friend of me. He took care of me so well when I got sad. And he is my best friend that we could share everything. His nave is Charles. He comes from Malawi to study xBCC for 3 months. We hang out together, going out for a walk, eat and etc. Life is good. Learning from each culture. Some time I felt so hard to be fit in the position of friend to other because I don’t know how I could do for that. Sometime I don’t understand what they are trying to do. I’ve been searching what I should do the best for being friend.

 

Back to my school, we learned a lot of health care, especially more than that, we had chance to go to teach students in the primary school. I had my own class. All of them knew God! And I had a very good time being with them. Teaching about God/the words of the Lord and also playing game which was the most one part that they like to do. Another thing, we all went to observe at the clinic/hospital to see what all the nurse doing with patients. We learned how to do vital signs, sugar blood test, urinary test, and wound cleaning. One thing that amazed me a lot this clinic for the patients who come here, they don’t have to pay for the service and medicine. Also the foreigners they don’t have to pay!... Every two weeks, we have special day for everyone in our class, we got to do something maybe watching movie, watching video clip or dance. Time for fun after hard studying to release our self in freedom. Time here I am so thankful to the Lord to bring me here in South Africa. With His mercy makes me so grateful that I have something special in Christ more than other who don’t know God. How amazing that God has a plan for me now and the future. I know that after this time, He will bring all good things to my life to fulfill what I’ve missed in the past. South Africa is the first step of success in my life because through this time He has shown me a lot now I could handle with unpleased situation. (Time of preparation)…. Almost forget, I really enjoyed the time at the church a lot. I received good messages from pastor which teach me a lot to walk in Christ. People at the church like to sing and dance. They are joyful in Christ before the presence of the Lord. (African worship style). One thing that like, they treat to each other as family being on everyone side, help each other when they get problem. Since I’ve been to this church “Victory Church” I felt comfortable…

 

Now I was in the train, there are many things in my mind which I don’t know how I start to write on this journal. However I am so happy in this day. Merry Christ mas to family, friends, and me.

 

The second day in train, slept overnight quite comfortable with the bed chair but I always have headache, that’s a problem for me. Right now my body is so tired because I‘ve been thinking about either in the future and in the past. I don’t know what I should stop this thought… Hahaha there is 5 hours left to Johannesburg. I am looking forward

 

December 27th 2012 We actually arrived Johannesburg yesterday evening at 4:45pm. It’s quite a big city as Bangkok. It’s more developing. Finally we met Jennifer who is our school staff at the station. We all been waiting for taxi to bring us to Joseph Ministry where we will be staying there for a while before going to Zambia. At Joseph Ministry, we all met some of our friends who studied DTS at our base (Worcester). I am so much glad to see them here… So I have heard that this city quite more dangerous than Worcester. It means I can’t go outside from the base by myself. Otherwise I will be robbed or trouble. Time here I don’t feel like home, I’ve been mission someone in Worcester. The situation with our team right now is not quite good because of our financial. Especially me, I just paid a little bit of our outreach fee. I’ve been praying for the miracle from God how money will come. I trust in Him who can do all possible. Personally I like to spend time with God so much. It makes me think what I should talk with my father in Heaven. I know definitely He listen to my prayer in everything I pray.

 

During the day we did some ministry in the town, praying around the park. I got to talk with some people but not really. Come back to the base and I don’t do anything much more just play with kids. This is the day here in Johannesburg. I really thank God who put me on the right base in Worcester to study because I don’t really like here Johannesburg neither in Mouzemberg in Cape Town. So that I know God has a wonderful plan for me.

 

December 28th 2013 Still be here in Johannesburg and don’t know yet when we gonna leave here but I hope soon enough. Today we have ministry in the park with kids. I gotta talk with someone there. It’s so much nice everywhere to go I make friend there. To get to know their lives is great because each life has different part as we grew up different area/community… On Sunday, we waited for Pastor who would pick us up to his church. Quite many people attended who come from Zimbabwe. We sang, danced together (I think these people like to dance so much even kids do). I could tell that I don’t understand what the service was because the accent of pastor when he speak totally different what I have been heard. Music is quite important for them to play. Every part of service, they have to put music along with. After the service finish, we said good bye to all people at the church. They are so nice people, warm welcome and warm good bye… So we all decided to walk around the town to see what it’s going on there since we’ve been hear for many days. We walk around took some pictures, hoping get these pictures back to Thailand to show some of my friends. We went to the transport station where we’ve arrived to Johannesburg on the first day. Unexpected we met someone from Worcester. We greeted him and say good bye. We had lunch there at KFC. Everything seems fine to us. We were robbed! There were a bunch of robbers came to attack us with knife in public area where many people walked passed. They took my phone which one that my mom bought for me, some stuff from my friends I was quite shock how about the robbers’ attacking. We walk back to the base. Then I tried to search where my Iphone was in the internet. But I couldn’t do anything. Finally we made the decision to report this ting to the police… So I gave thanks to the Lord for what happened to us this afternoon that all of us still alive, not getting injured. Thanks for His protection. And I believe that God look into our heart and the situation what happens to us, He is God who will provide all good things. I might not know what will happen but I know some things there for us in the future. I love you Lord, praise to Him. It’s very ridiculous to me because some time I laugh to this situation. I might become crazy person. Ok let say “How can I survive without Iphone? (Iphone is a gift from my mom, it’s the most value than anything. Not value in money. This is a heart of my mom give it to me. I miss my Iphone because I could do all stuff with this phone. I felt I was missed something.) Another thing that make me thought back I hated myself that I couldn’t do anything even I couldn’t protect myself neither my friends. Let see when I go back to Thailand, I will learn how to do Karate because I can’t trust every now. I have to be strong in this world. I f I am too week, I can’t survive in this world because it’s complicate to live… For me I don’t want to come back to this place any more. It’s not good for what this thing happen. Johannesburg is the worse place in my life compare to any city in South Africa.

 

January 1st 21013 I couldn’t imagine myself that this was another year I spent time here again for New Year. It’s quite sad when I think about my friends back home how we celebrate together but today I stood here in the most dangerous place in the world. I have been learning to many culture right now how can I survive myself or adjust myself. I don’t know why every day I woke up I felt this place was unsecured for me. I couldn’t feel it as my home… Any way somehow I miss to spend time with God every night at Worcester base. I like to stare up to the sky look at stars. I could imagine that God is looking at me as His child what I am doing right now I felt peace after talking with God as a son talking to father. I don’t know. I think some time I waste the time. However life is still going on. This is a new day for me. I’d ask God to fulfill my dream to come true. This year I turned to 28 already. This is No. that I don’t want to have it but I can’t reject it. Hahaha, this is a day that I could say as my team struck here Johannesburg waiting to Zambia. Hope we could move to the next place soon.

 

Life every day not changing. It’s always the same. I tried to understand myself and control as possible as I can. Life with mission never easy for me. How can I change my perspective? How can I handle to any unpleasant situation? Sometime I wanna run away from these things but I can’t because my experience taught me to fight/confront, never give up easily. I will try to control my mind…

 

Today, it’s Friday. We got day off after ben ministering since we’ve been here. It seems normal day that I didn’t know what I should do for today. Finally I got to talk with my friend from India “Sam”. His life is wonderful/amazing. Experience with God. He took me for a walk near the base, we tensed to see the shelter from homeless people. We didn’t get to talk with people there but we just walk around and discuss what it’s going on there because he used to spend time with these people. We kind like share our experience to each other what it’s happening here and also our country… In the afternoon I got an invitation to go to the mall with my two friends (Indian, and Madacusca). Thanks to the Lord for this trip I didn’t have to pay for anything because both of my friends they paid for me. You know? This is the first time I got in the van taxi to go to somewhere. I really enjoyed this trip. We got to the mall and walked around little bit before watching movie. We watched “Here it’s the boom”. It’s such a great movie and this is also my first time watching movie in South Africa. This story is about how to help someone to get through tough situation but more that this reason, is the motivation what we are going to “never give up”. There is one teacher who is always late teaching for his students, also he never teaches his students in the class. Just is on his chair and read his newspaper. He almost gets fired of his job but he is lucky to stay on. One day all of teachers have a meeting together with the principle and the committees. They decided to shut the musical department because they don’t have enough financial to support. So it’s much sad too that one of the teachers who take charge of this department has to be resigned. But the actor thinks it’s not fare of this situation. He wants to keep everyone in this school. So he fights this for his friend by finding some money to support this department. One day he met one guy who can help him to make money. He became a fighter. First time with his fighting is even worse but step by step he gets improve more and more until he won the last fight. During those times he got some money until enough for paying. He never leaves his friend. Thanks to my friends who took me out today to see all the things outside. This side of this city I felt saved. This is a highlight for me today but there is always low light at the same time. We don’t know when we gonna leave here. We don’t even have visa to go to Zambia yet even more that that we don’t have enough money for outreach. It seems like everything shuts down. I ask God why? God has his better plan for us. I believe that we will move on for our outreach soon.

 

Sunday tomorrow but today was Saturday. I had an appointment with my Thai family at 10 o’clock. I was so excited to see them. Finally when the time came I got to see them. Wow it’s so amazing to see them here in South Africa. They took me to the mall meanwhile we had conversation about what it’s going on back in Thailand. They bought me some lunch and also the souvenirs from Thailand. After that we walked around the mall, bought a shirt for my gift. Also support me some money for may outreach.

 

Monday 5th January 2013 we all moved by faith to another place called Mategereng, we hoped that we could do our outreach there as a primary health care. We travelled from noon and arrived at night very late because we did not know exactly where the place was. Just we got here at the moment we entered ourselves to the church while there were many people look at us. Especially me who is the one different than their skin color. I was attracted. For the next day we’ve been running our program with the church which that all of our team could get to know the people here as possible I can. I was the one who took charged of the kids. Playing, telling the story, doing role play and etc. The kids are nice, even I didn’t know their language but we were quite closed to each other. They like to be around with me. Wherever I go, whatever I did they want to do the same as me. One thing that I like about them, they are more confidence and be ready to do any things and they do a very good job. Also they like to dance “even when they heard the music, they stared to dance. Shoa… that’s the way they role. Hahahaha. Some time I lead them to present some dramas and songs in front of the people. There was one night I had a chance to give them message. I was so glad because of the things I shared it’s from God and even more than that it’s inspire to these people here how they should walk. I was so thankful by the Lord who gives me up high by his grace. Amazing! Anyway through that night I heard my heart to go to do bible school. So I said Oh nooooo I couldn’t do this, God because I still have to do many things after this school and also I have some responsibility to my mother… However I’ve been thinking of this “If it’s really from God, may Him prepare and provide for me and make the very fine way to do this. So I need the confirmation. I still keep praying for it. Actually I like the place here where it reminded me when I was a kid who used to the place like this. I didn’t find myself having a hard time here. During the day we went to the clinic to help our nurse working on people. So I was so much glad to be a part of those peoples life. And learn some stuff from real experience. During the night, we most of us attended with the church until the last Sunday 13th, 2013. I was so sad when I saw the temporary church was taken down. I missed the church how we impacted the people from day by day. More people came to the Lord and the villagers can have some moral things from the church… Some time we went to school, too, to teach them about love and how to have good life in their future because most of these students in South Africa like to have fun by having no concern what it gonna happen as effective to their future… Definitely, when I will be leaving here in two days, I will miss this place a lot, especially the children here. Somehow I miss my home too in Thailand. I’ve been thinking what I am doing in the future.

 

23rd January 2013, we have left Mategereng with a very good time with some nurses who we invited to come to have supper with us and also the family we stayed with. I hope that I could have a chance to come back here again in the future as visiting because people here still need help, especially kids and teenagers. I don’t know what I should help them. Just only pray to God who can do all things in possible. On 17 January we left there. Finally we came back to the same place Joseph Project as accommodation while we were running our visa to Mozambique instead of Zambia. Thanks God we got the visa in 5 days but the time in Johannesburg was nice. We met new people, we helped to paint the building, and we even had a time to hang out at the mall. We let South Africa to Mazambique around 6’oclock pm on 23rd January. It took us 8 hours before entering to the land of Mozambique. This country is quite different than South Africa, we stayed in the capital called “Maputo”. It’s quite old a little bit as Cambodia. The place we stayed is full of trash because in 2000 it flooded here. It’s very terrible. The road was cut deep deep down. I couldn’t image for that if I don’t see from eyes. First day we rest a little bit and we went to pray for people and to see the church and went back to the pastor’s house joining the service at the night. I really like the culture here so much because of the people they are warm welcome and serve the guests very well.

 

January 28th 2013 This Sunday I got a chance to preach in the church at Agape Church. God has been teaching me a lot how I can be a confidence speaking in front of people. Today I keep running the program step by step. I felt happier as it flowing through very well. I was glad that I could share something about God’s Kingdom.

 

February 6th 2013 we move to Mashawa after that. It seemed YWAM here offered may opportunities for us to work but unfortunately we don’t have things much to do. Some days we were free and someday we’ve been working all day long till the night. However I had a very good time here. I gave some people teaching about health teaching, examine patients, and gave some medicine. For me working like this I couldn’t do much because my knowledge was not enough to handle this all situations. It’s a great experience.

 

We’ve been walking in the sun for a whole day while we announced to them to come for the next day… Next day we came by train. It’s very funny the train fulled of the passengers. If we don’t hurry/fight to get in the train, it means we will miss the trip. Some of them have to hang themselves outside of the train. It’s dangerous but they have no choice. We went there for checking up their health. Give them some medicines, wound care, and health teaching. It took for a whole day. Tired but fun. Most of sickness here is skin infection, joint paining, HIV positive and etc. Sometime it’s hard to analyze what wrong with their body but we tried to do our best to help them. After this place we move to another place working with church’s community 4 days in a roll. We did as the same stuff as the first place in medical and health checking. There were many patients came to us. So in each day we went back home late in the night through experiencing with local transportation with full people in one taxi. I really enjoyed this outreach here so much as I could see the different life.

 

So finally our outreach supposed to end up about 21st February but unfortunately our school financial is limited. We have to go back early in 10 days. So we could continue our outreach there at Worcester base.

 

February 20th 2013 Got back from outreach earlier that expecting. Everything should be done by then. Continue our outreach the works of God here in Worcester with school and poor people. It’s great time to come back but better to come back on the right time. Everything here at the base was different. Not the same as in the past any more. However God is still the same He never changes. So this reminds me back to know that He is always with us. So… I was so excited I will go back home Thailand soon.