My Sunday

I worked with children again today, a larger group this time and it was hectic! I enjoyed the challenge but I have learnt that being older does not qualify you to work with children. No, it takes a lot more than that! You have to first of all want to have an impact in their lives. That will be the driving force behind you when the children get difficult, because they will. You also have to be firm yet patient, and you have to understand how children think.

I am working with children from various backgrounds. Some of them grew up in Christian homes and some of them call the orphanage they come from their home. I have to bring them all to one level of having a personal relationship with God. Ok well, that's not what I have been asked to do but that's what I desire to achieve. I am actually assigned sort of as their drama teacher. I am supposed to identify the talented ones and help bring out their gift and prepare them to perform before the church.

I love art and it's an exciting opportunity for me because I get to work with a few other people who are passionate about art as well as saving souls! Together we will pray for these precious children and allow God to use us to reach them and introduce Jesus to them! Pray with me friends and let's all contribute our bit towards the ultimate assignment.

Love Tumisang

It's a new day. Make the most of it; love, believe, learn and explore! God has given you the gift of life, it is now up to you to live it!

Exploring Cultures

My grandmother told me she was Mozambican, my grandfather was Mokalaka from Botswana. That's on my mothers side. My other grandmother was Molete from Botswana, and I recently learnt that my grandfather was Ndebele from Zimbabwe. What does that make me? Well, I'm just a girl who grew up in Gaborone and came to study in South Africa where I met my Swati Husband who apparently looks just like me.

Aside from reading, one thing I absolutely love is exploring different cultures. I love to learn how different we all are and how very alike we are still. I like to observe a people from a distance and come up with my own assumptions only for me to get closer and realise that there is more, much more than my little ideas of who Nigerians are, who Zambians are, or Canadians. Those are titles of pieces of land surrounded by a fence.

There is more to a culture than national names. Within that large group there are smaller communities, they identify with one another some because of language, some because of religion and some culture. It is all so varied and dynamic that no book can explain a people to you. If you want to explore people, live with them, interact with them and learn from them. How pleasurable human studies are. I am talking about those one takes upon himself to broaden his mind. After you have begun you will realise that you have taken a climb out of the box and out there there are people roaming the world, not boxed in to a name or set identity.

People

It's just too amazing how God places people in our lives at every phase. They all make some impression in our hearts and then a time comes to let go, but even then you are assured that you will never be left all alone.

21st Century Friendships

In this age we need to be careful not to let our valued relationships be as shallow as society has become. We need to consciously decide to give attention to the people in our lives rather than just "hanging out" while each person is busy on their phones or scratching the surface with baseless questions about current politics returned with polite and vague answers which are careful not to offend.

I know from experience that opening yourself up to people can be a painful experience because any day those people can walk out of your life or even worse betray you. I know the pain of opening yourself up and being hurt. But still, deep inside me I know that I cannot ever give up on relationships because of the bad experiences I have had. I know that my opening up to one person can be deliverance to them. Someone out there just needs to know that they are not the only ones experiencing some pains and disappointments in this world where social media paints a perfect picture of all lives. They are almost giving up because they are isolated; they have friends who seem so wonderfully perfect in all ways and never let out a hint of their challenges.

It is good for one to be positive at all times and to be discreet, but be discerning and learn to read people. Know when your friends are in pain and address it, know when they are just tired and be considerate, also know when they are deliberatelly shutting you out and back off.

A Little Headturn

Growing Up

When I was a child I longed for the days when I would be an independent woman; not answering to my parents and having money to buy myself clothes of my choice and live my life as I choose. Then at eighteen I moved to Cape Town from Botswana to bridge my way into university. I was the boss of my own life, and it was great. I remember every time I received my allowance together with the other children from Botswana who were on the same scholarship, we would go shopping, get drunk and spoil ourselves a little with fancy take-aways and snacks. We were not as responsible as we thought we were, but who cares at that age. All that mattered to us then was that Mummy and Daddy are not around to tell us not to go clubbing.

Somewhere at the back of my mind I longed for the days where I would be grown, independent this time of social pressures, and more self assured and of course with more money. I saw myself married and at peace, never having to worry about if a boy likes me back or not. What a beautiful life it seemed to be from that young mind's perspective. And indeed it is.

Here I am now, married and free and fully independent. I make decicions not based on what my parents or friends expect, but based on what I believe to be right. No more spending money on alcohol because it's the cool thing to do. I live my quiet life as I like it and occasionaly invite society, friends of course, into my space for some sweet adult enjoyment. How much more peaceful a life of independence is when one has grasped independence's true meaning.

And do I consider myself now completely independent? No. I do not even want to anymore. I love to be dependent on God, and to answer to him and be corrected by him. And I love to know that my husband can instruct me and I must listen, not as to a parent but as to one dependent on God and his word for full guidance. And God being the Sweetheart he is, gave me the sweetest man on the planet for me to submit to. And we submit to one another.

And now, I do not long for any other days, but I look forward to the future while enjoying the present and making the most of it. Being a mother, a businesswoman, a community care giver, a grandmother someday... it will all come at its ready time and I will someday testify that dreams do come true. Never cease to dream because of little failures. If you ever look back, do it only to gather strength as you see how much improvement you have made on your life, from childhood to now. Then keep looking forward while still being careful to enjoy the present moment. Remember that your life is now.

If you were to die now, your future plans will not go on record, but you will be remembered for what you did at present. So maximize this very moment and give life your best.