By Amy Cheng

The US team visited a church in the black township of Kayamandi and had an incredible, unforgettable experience. The pictures below are telling of the township’s poverty.

We were each warmly welcomed by the congregation with a wave and greeting. The songs and sermon were spoken in both Xhosa (pronounced Klauser while doing a click in the mouth) and English! It is amazing to hear people speak with the clicks and nearly impossible to repeat what they’ve said.

Interesting comparisons: The vibrant singing worship is uplifting, encouraging, and alive; it makes you want to clap and dance. Although the church building was small, the people filled the space with loud singing. The men sit separately from the women in different sections. Everyone wears his Sunday best. Women typically wear skirts and some wear specific uniforms for service, like these white and blue outfits with hats. The congregation really cares for their community, conducting after-church visits to families who could not attend due to illness or bereavement. If only we could take time to visit people in need in our communities…

In the afternoon, the US team met and mingled with the South African (SA) team at a picnic at Spier winery, where our leaders Kim and Kevin got engaged. A consulting team will consist of a mixture of US and SA people with complementary skills. Although from two very different countries, we all share the common purpose of serving the Lord and our clients. Our leaders prayed over matching us with our 10 clients that range from micro entrepreneurs to middle-market companies. We prepared analyses for our first client session. We begin tomorrow.