Sharon's excitement is evident

Sharon with her new friends

I had the most amazing Tuesday night ever. I attended a Hillsong United Concert with the new friends I met at church. It was held at a huge church called His People’s Church located in Somerset West. Hillsong United is an Australian gospel praise band that I have been listening to ever since high school and I never got a chance to see them live in the United States. I grew up in the church singing praise music that the band composed so I was OVERJOYED when I found out that they were having a concert in South Africa. It was awesome to praise God with fellow brothers and sister in Christ—I saw how God’s family extends to so many people, and I was very blessed from that night. I was so excited the whole day leading up to the concerting so I downloaded their new CD “ZION” and listened to it throughout the day before the concert.

On Saturday, I attended the Cape Town Holi One Color Festival held at the Grand Parade. It was awesome rocking out to music with my co-educators. This week has definitely been exciting going to different venues.

 On other note, I am very excited for this weekend because one of my good friends and mentor, Jungeun Cho is coming to visit Cape Town. I cannot wait to spend time with her and share part of my adventure with her.

As for my internship placement, I am now interviewing new clients full time on Mondays and Tuesday, and it is emotionally exhausting. I cannot believe how mentally draining the job is, and every time I leave work, my heart is burdened—I literally feel like there is a 30lb weight in my chest. I am still trying to process how to cope with this burden- Fwamba keeps telling me that my heart is too soft and that I need to disconnect myself from the clients- I cannot be emotionally attached to the single mothers, families, and infants walking through our doors. But even when I feel burdened, I still I love what I do. I love getting a chance to help refugees and asylum-seekers have a new life in South Africa, assisting them to become self-reliant. Today, I met a client from Burundi and they just glowed. He brought his wife and two-year-old daughter with him and right when they came into my office, they lite up the room. The client worked for the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Burundi before he fled to South Africa and his wife worked as a successful seamstress. However, life in South Africa is much different for them. They were in such good spirits even when they are facing eviction and living with the bare minimum and they were so grateful and appreciative for the assistance they received at the center. After meeting with them, I felt a connection with this hopeful family and it made me even more passionate about going to work every week. This is why I love what I do—to keep giving hope to the most courageous people I have the opportunity and blessing to meet. I disagree with Fwamba. Personally, I want to feel for my clients, I do not want to shut off my emotions; I think its part of being human.