Leaving Refilwe.

Our time in South Africa and, more importantly, Refilwe is coming to an end. Tomorrow we will say our goodbyes and head to the airport to begin our journey home. It is certainly a bittersweet time for us; we are so excited to be heading home after almost 20 months away, but we are sad to be leaving the place and people of Refilwe.

Working for Refilwe this year has been at once challenging and rewarding. We have both learned a lot this year about many different things:

We’ve learned that South Africa is a beautiful country that is well worth spending time in. We realised quickly not to listen too carefully to the horror stories people felt it necessary to share with us about its evils and discover for ourselves that its many beauties and wonderful people outweighed any potential risks.

We’ve learned that human beings, in their desire for power, are capable of horrendous acts. We have seen first-hand many of the effects of designing a social structure that systematically excluded and oppressed entire people groups in the name of power. We saw poverty, families in disrepair; we heard stories of abuse, neglect and crime. We felt what it was like to be judged by the colour of our skin and saw what decades of it could do to a person’s soul.

We’ve learned that rebuilding and reconciliation takes time. We have seen that people do not easily change unless they are personally motivated to do so. We have learned that there are no tricks or easy answers to the question of how to help people become personally motivated.

We’ve learned that people can accomplish extraordinary things when they take charge of their lives. We have seen people grow, businesses flourish, students improve and friends take on challenges that have changed their lives. We have been amazed at what individuals are able to overcome when they free themselves from the restrictions and labels of their past.

We’ve learned that community development is a complex endeavour that requires self-reflection, patience and flexibility. We have seen ideas come and go, some that have been incredibly successful and some that have not. We have learned that development is far less about our ideas and goals as it is about listening to and understanding the goals of others.

We’ve learned that relationships are important above all else. We’ve seen that, regardless of the situation, listening to others and valuing what they say is one of the most meaningful things you can do. Theories and programs and structures are useless without it. We have been blessed to see relationships grow and change in the community around us.

We're ready to be home and see what the things we've learned mean for the next part of our life together.