A Lesson on Worrying

by Lisa Cameron

Port Elizabeth has just been beautiful! Our days here have been full, chaotic, and life changing. The conversations we've had with old friends and new are inspiring and hard, loving and complicated, and ones that I will cherish for quite some time. 

I was talking to Estelle, the director at Mosaic's Port Elizabeth center, about ways in which visitors like us can go deeper in our support and love for the women at Mosaic, the women who have stepped in to mothering roles for orphaned and vulnerable children. 

Estelle's answer came in the form of Pumeza. She introduced me to Pumeza, who freely shared her story of how she became involved with Mosaic.  Pumeza has three children of her own; she lost her brother last year in June and his spouse was addicted to drugs. So Pumeza asked if she could care for his three children. If you're counting, the total number of children is now six. Her younger sister's children were in the care of Pumeza's mother, but they asked Pumeza, on their own, if they could come and live with her. She said yes. 

As if nine children weren't enough, another child in the neighborhood ended up in her home as well, making the total number of children to 10. And to end this part of the blog, Pumeza shared that she was recently made aware that the 18-year-old living with her is pregnant.

For those of you who know our son, James, you know that he is more than enough for us on any given day (and we wouldn't change a thing)! I am in awe of this woman who continues to say 'yes' over and over again to children who need her. I am left speechless that she is caring for multiple children on her own. And I have the utmost respect for Pumeza's faith and belief in God, where she shared that she never feels alone. 'I know there will be one day when God will raise me up and make my life better. I have no worries about my life.'

No worries about life? What? I could think of at least 10 things that Pumeza should be worried about!

And that, friends, is one of the many differences between me and Pumeza that I needed to come 7,000 miles to learn. She believes that her situation is temporary and she believes that she will be rewarded. She knows that she has not been forgotten and she knows how loved she is. She has enough strength and love for all of her children. These are all things that I have questioned and worried over, spending many nights trying to figure them all out. But then I meet Pumeza, a blip on my life screen, and I will remember her face and her impact for quite some time. 

May it be, Pumeza. May it be.