Mental Health Program-SA (2)

THE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM SOUTH AFRICA-Sept-Oct 2010

Church Leader play therapy
The Mental Health Program was limited in South Africa, not only in numbers but also in scope since we only had two months to offer training. However, during that time we provided training in five regions and to over 120 church leaders, primarily men since they are being trained as caregivers, from a variety of denominations. In addition, we traveled to Swaziland and Mozambique to connect with church leaders for future training. With only a few exceptions, the program participants were of Zulu heritage, affording us an opportunity to gain better understanding of
not only life as it is in contemporary South Africa, but also a taste of the history of the Zulu nation. Our hearts were touched as we heard stories of the pain of apartheid and the separation that still exists on some levels. Yet, the participants were people of tremendous forgiveness and hope.

Thuli’s family
THULI: Of the many amazing experiences of the South African field service there are two that I will never forget. The first is of a woman named Thuli who asked if she could work for me. She told me her husband died one year previously, and she had 6 children. It struck me that this woman in tattered clothes and swollen feet did not ask for money; she asked for work. My desire was to connect her with the church leaders, but she was hesitant. “God doesn’t answer my prayers”, she said softly. I asked for her phone number, and gave her 10 Rand, which is about $1.50. Her face lit up, and she said, “Oh thank you, thank you. Now I can buy bread for my family!” This, too touched me, and I asked if I could hug her. When I did, she sobbed in my arms. At that point I gave her more money for groceries, and asked if I could pray for her. She said, “Please pray for me, and pray for me tonight . . .by name, please pray for me tonight. I just wanted to die. And please have the pastors pray for me. Will you come to my house to bless us?” I told this story to the church leaders, and we followed Thuli’s story for the next two weeks of training. My team and I went to Thuli’s house, and prayed for each family member. What moved us the most was that the love demonstrated among these two sisters and the 3 children at home had more value than much food and many possessions. They truly understood love, but didn’t realize the treasure they have. Thuli asked that I share her story and family picture so that others would also pray for them.

Fire of God and the Cross
The second story occurred on our last day of training in Newcastle. There had been a storm that morning, and part of my closing ceremony was to have the participants take their sin, their unforgiveness, or their pain to the cross. Commenting that I needed to find a dry spot to put the box since I am not Elijah, I set the box where I thought it had the best chance of not getting wet. I lit the first match, and a slip of paper caught on fire, but died out immediately. The flame on the second match blew out before it reached the papers. This was not unusual for me. But what followed was unusual. I said, “Breath of Heaven, we need you.” Immediately the papers burst into flame, and the entire box burned to the ground. The participants did not realize what had happened. This fire was not lit by human hands! And as you see in the picture, the cross, where Jesus took all our pain,
appeared in the fire. Glory be to God!
(by Lyn Westman –Mental Health Program Administrator)