Why I love my job

Every Friday morning all TLF staff (are supposed to) meet for devotions. I was surprised at the relatively good turn out a few weeks ago considering it was following a public holiday celebrating Heritage Day. To honor our heritage Pastor Joel asked the fifty or so of us who were in the room to list the languages we spoke. The list came to about twenty as follows:

Afrikaans
Swati
Tswana
Zulu
English
German
Venda
Tsonga
Pedi
Shona
Rwandis
French
Ndebele
Dutch
Serbian
Spanish
Rastafarian (language?)
Thai
Tsotsi (street vernacular)
Swahili
Xhosa

We then proceeded to speak TLF’s vision in all the languages. I got to do Thai, which solictied quite a few laughs and some high fives. In English the vision is:
We see healthy and vibrant communities flourishing in God’s presence.

Have I mentioned that I love it here?

At our volunteer orientation last month, the founder and director, Stefan, spoke about what TLF’s doing and their methods. He talked about not saving people, but rather creating spaces (for people to be reconciled, trained, empowered, etc...). I love the theology behind what they do and am excited to grow in it. The next day his wife, Wilna spoke about TLF’s vision and values. I have never been a part of something that had such a solid set of values that range from valuing the resurrection (including the potential for the resurrection for this city) to valuing simple living and embracing an alternative lifestyle. Other values include risk, Biblical teachings, justice, truth, brokenness and confession. And the way they carry these values out in each of their projects is nothing less than inspiring.


My role at TLF has changed over these past few weeks. I was starting to get stretched really thin with all the projects I was getting involved with. We decided that I would become a full time volunteer with the School of Creative Arts, but continue to participate in two of the outreaches with the Potters House as a SoCA representative. So on Wednesdays we visit women in the prison, which is always a highlight for my week. And on Thursday evenings we visit with women living on the streets in an area called Marabastad. I’ll write more about the outreaches another time.

My job now is primarily to develop the visual arts program, which has not existed up until this point at SoCA. I’ve already begun teaching sculpture classes at two different shelters as part of SoCA’s outreach program. This in itself is amazing to me because I am getting to use art to encourage people through healing and hopefully, reconciliation. I also have two great mentors who are helping me think through what it looks like to truly empower people.

I’m also overseeing some of the transitions SoCA will go through leading up to next term as we strive to turn it into a more structured school where students and facilitators are committed to the classes and students have the opportunity to earn college credit. This is exciting because I see now that God is using my experience at FLC and Bates Technical High School, where I sat through meetings discussing many similar issues regarding turning a home school or independent program into a real school.

I’m also involved with the planning of Art Factory, which is a performance platform for SoCA students who demonstrate outstanding skills and for established community artists as well. These events are free to the community, creating a place for anyone, regardless of race, income or status, to enjoy the arts.

My other responsibilities at SoCA include coordinating visual art workshops, helping with registration for classes and other office duties and I will also be SoCA’s representative to the Re-branding Homelessness initiative. This is a city wide attempt to be proactive in advocating for the homeless as the 2010 games pressure authorities to find ways to “clean up the streets” by pushing homeless people out. Hopefully I will be helping organize a web-based contest inviting submissions from artists, architects and designers of projects that will help to shift the public perception of homeless people and bring the issue to the foreground.

The last couple weeks I have spent a lot of time meeting people and making connections that will help us develop the arts in the community. Probably the most important connection so far is that with Ama Job Job. Please check them out! They are an organization that empowers people through job creation with the arts. Working with them is expanding my vision. I actually feel growing pains when I’m with them because I have so much to learn there! I’ve also been meeting with local artists and hanging out at the art museum.

God is opening so many doors for me, I feel like I can’t go through them all at once, but I want to!