I have now been able to have about a week of perspective on
the very beginning of my YASC year, and I am happy to say that it has been very
busy, while I am trying just to take everything in and smooth the transition as
much as possible.
First off, I have to say I was very wrong about feeling
adjusted to the time. This weekend I think I was still feeling the effects of
the jet lag, which made it very easy to sleep through the rowdiness at camp!
The camp was the first ever event like it put on by the Green Anglicans, which
is the team that I am working with at the Church in Southern Africa. The
campers (I feel like I was a camper even though I was staff) represented three
different Dioceses in the Western Cape; Cape Town - which has become my adopted
diocese, Saldanha Bay, and False Bay. Everyone was exposed to and learned about
what challenges and problems the climate is facing and some of the ecosystems
that are close to where we live. The team was also able to clean up the beach
and surrounding areas to join in the Climate March held in NYC this past weekend, and then plan
strategies that can be implemented in their own churches and dioceses to raise
awareness and action for climate and environmentalism. By far the biggest take
away I had from the weekend was being able to get more comfortable in the South
African culture and have a ton of laughs and a good time. I showed the campers
a simple card game I remember playing with my cousins and grandma as a kid
called golf, which was quite the hit! Guys stayed up practically all night just
to play it. I was also given a Xhosa clan name, Madiba; you may recognize it
because Nelson Mandela was referred by it on a regular basis, a huge compliment
in my book! The Rotary camp, where our camp was held, now boasts the largest
labyrinth in South Africa, and our group was the first to break it in. At 3km
it was by far the longest I've ever done and the best workout I think I will
ever get from walking prayer!
I hope many of you are familiar with the UN Climate Summit,
if not, please look it up and familiarize yourself with it. This is the chance
for the most influential leaders in the world to make a difference in the way
we are acting on the changing climate and to take a stand for our planet. In a
parallel effort, the Green Anglicans were able to be a presence for support
while a letter and petition were presented to the South African Government to
change the practices in regards to the climate. We were one of many groups
there to talk about the demands to the people with direct decision making
power, and were presented with many talks about how we are affected, what is
happening, and what needs to be done in order to green our planet.
And I got to see the penguins and seals in Simon's Town, I am beyond excited about that!
As I have had a little time to get situated, I am excited to
fully join my Green Anglican team now for our regular work!
WJL
