Home away from home!

Hello! Thank you for taking the time to read about our journey!

We departed Tuesday from MSP airport for Africa, packed with packets of info about our YMCA association, gifts for our newfound friends, and full of excitement for the conversations and inspiring people to meet!  Two planes and 36 hours later we arrived in lovely Cape Town to the sight of a big YMCA sign.  It truly felt like a bit of home!  Being awake for virtually 36 hours straight, there was nothing like seeing fellow movement members to welcome us and a "Y" everywhere we looked.

We were fortunate to be here for the annual National Council meetings of the South African YMCAs. Twelve of the eighteen YMCAs were represented at the meetings and we were pleasantly surprised to see familiar faces including Ian Booth, CEO of our partner Y in Durban, along with Quinton Mitchell, YMCA board volunteer, who visited with us in Minneapolis earlier this year to learnmore about our Y work. It was also wonderful to meet many influential leaders of the South African YMCA movement whom we had heard many wonderful things about from our Senior Leaders, including Siepho, the National General Secretary, Llowelyn, CEO from the Capetown YMCA and other dedicated and passionate staff and volunteers such as Ricky From the Cape Flats Y.

The first morning began with devotions relating the YMCA as a "family" and "where we are from" . We were invited to share with the group, and so we shared our concept of a "mission moment". We talked about the sense of welcomeness we felt from the moment we arrived.  Through this brief sharing we were able to articulate with the group how impactful this experience had already been on us.  Over the next couple of days we witnessed further conversations and discussion regarding the future of the South African YMCA Movement. We also were blessed with the opportunity to hear from some of the youth that were involved with YMCA in leadership or in the University setting.

A special highlight for us entailed a visit to the Constantia prison that took place today.  Our YMCA van with the mission "Empowering youth for life, leadership and service" was waived passed the armed guards and through the tall barbed wire fence gates.  Our fellow YMCA staff, Rufus, led us in programming with inmates inside cell block "C" at the prison.  For two plus hours the group huddled in a circle sharing from their heart.  The discussion started with all of the inmates reading from a piece that they prepared, "What I am thankful for". This piece was insightful for us both as it not only related to some of our work back home with the Y, but also gave us a peek into the daily livings of the men present.  We no longer felt inside a prison but rather part of a group that believed in each other and the power to make our lives, the lives of others, and our communities better.  It is amazing how the Y brings people together and transcends all barriers, including the bars of prison.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read, until next time!