OH!!!!!!! WHAT AN AMAZING WEEK

The last week was undoubtly one of those that will stand out for me for the rest of my life. If I ever doubted the existence of God in my life, the week has truly affirmed His Being and the role that He plays in my life. I don't have the right words to thank Him, nor can I fully express in words the joy that warms my heart.

On Wednesday we had a ceremony at school for signing our oath as future social workers. This is an annual function in which all second year students in Social Work sign an Oath to adhere to the values and principles of the social work profession and to always ensure that they handle with care the lives that are entrusted to them. It was truly a beautiful experience, that must have been a reminder to all of us of not just the journey ahead but also how far we had come. We all deserve a pat in the back and we deserve to be proud of the choice we have made, to dedicate our lives to the betterment of our communities and the people around us. Personally, I have no other place or profession that I imagine myself in and even though for the longest time, all I could think and dream of was being a Psychologist, I believe that things happen for a reason and that God led me this way for a purpose that is bigger than my imagination.



For that reason alone, I know that I cannot afford to give anything but my absolute best to the process and to my studies to ensure that I prepare as best as I can to be one of the best Social Workers in the field one day. I am truly humbled and ever grateful that out of the many applications received each year, I was chosen to be part of the program. And to get a bursary on top of everything else, this affirms the lesson in the book The Alchemist, when you want something badly enough, the Universe truly conspires in your favour to make it happen. Lord, I thank You for the grace You continue to show over my life.

Weekend came and it was ready to party up a storm with my new family. I had my traditional welcoming over the weekend. For those who don’t know what it means, your in-laws slaughter a sheep for you and give you a new name to welcome you as a part of their family. Well I am not big on culture and tradition but must say that this weekend I learned so much and was truly humbled to see all that goes into preparing for such a day.
Yes I was nervous, I didn’t know what to expect and the fact that I knew my family would not be part of the festivities scared me the most. I thought I would be alone and lost but honestly, I felt none of those emotions. I felt every bit as part of my new family and could see just how happy everyone was to have me there. Even though I wished my family could have been there to witness everything that went on, I understood that tradition did not allow for it to be that way.


Our culture as Sotho people is so diverse and extremely beautiful and being a part of the proceedings surely gives one a sense of pride well at least that is how it was with me. My gran told me before I left, to humble myself and do as I was told and to respect how my new family did things. And I realised over the weekend, how incredibly beautiful it can be not to fight culture but to instead embrace it. It is such an honour to sit back at the end of the day and realise all that hard work and sacrifices made by the family was just for you and no one else. Even the Makoti duties wasn’t half as bad as I expected, I learned how easily things can flow when everyone pulls together and works together towards a common purpose.


As we waved the family goodbye on Sunday, I felt such intense joy in my heart at the thought of having found myself a new family, one that has accepted me and embraced me as their own. As my hubby and I drove away, it symbolized new beginnings for us. The start of a new chapter, a new page in the book that we are busy writing. It didn’t feel scary; it still doesn’t feel scary because as much as the journey is about me and him, I know that we are not alone in it. There are so many people behind us, loving us and encouraging us and wishing us nothing but the best. More than that, I know that this union is written in the stars, it was written long before our paths even crossed. We have God in our corner and really, that is the only ammunition we will ever need.

Here’s to the beginning of forever…………………………………