Journal entry: My week on the farm. From the very first day they told us we would be going to the farm, I couldn’t wait for my week to come. I knew going to help would mean a lot of work, but I knew how much I enjoy farm work, and just being on the farm in general. I really enjoy getting dirty, especially when I’m in clothes I don’t mind getting dirty. So I knew this was the perfect opportunity to get lekker dirty without having to worry. I was also very excited knowing that Mia and I would be going together. We had some fun conversations about all the snacks we would be taking with us – and we did!!!

The first two days were great! I had so much fun working with the nastergal and sorting through it. I even enjoyed getting all messy and sticky from the nastergal juice. I had some fun moments driving on the back of the bakkie with Dunchan, one of Oom Loutjie’s ‘voormanne’, and we had some very funny moments of him trying to teach me, Zulu. The evenings with the girls were great fun. We had many awesome conversations and had great laughs about working with the ladies who were picking the natsergal. Almost every night, we made tea and sat around the kitchen table just chatting- this was definitely a highlight for me.

On the third day, Wednesday, I felt so sick. I had a fever, my chest ached, and my nose was running a lot. It was hard for me not to feel well and be away from my parents. However, I was so blessed to have been around Oom Loutjie and Tannie Zelda, who are my family; they really helped me a lot that day. I still went to work in the nastergal field that day, but even though I didn’t feel great, I still felt God’s grace being there for me to finish the job well. The next day, I already felt a lot better! I was able to work without feeling sick. I did have a few confrontations with people – what a growth point for me. I was challenged with emotions, and I definitely had moments where I had to eat an extra spoonful of cement to grow a stomach. But every morning when I opened my Bible, the Lord took me to a scripture that helped me get over whatever I was feeling.  I truly experienced the Word working because it is not about my feelings but about me being sifted to be lifted, shifted and to show that I grow!

When Friday came, I was almost sad. I really didn’t want to leave! I enjoy the farm so much that I wanted to stay another week. This week actually just made me realise again how big a responsibility farmers have when it’s harvest time. It’s extremely busy! But even though it’s a lot of work, I could see how God’s grace is there for Oom Loutjie in harvest time. One day, he told us how much we actually help him and how much easier it is for him that we are there. I was so blessed when he said that. What a privilege to be a labourer in someone else’s field while they harvest their blessing!  I’m glad we could serve him, even though it actually felt like he was serving us for making this opportunity possible.