HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-05-13, Page 15Photo sub-
mitted
Lindsay Hay
spent half of
the last two
years doing
aid work in
South Africa.
She is shown
here with
Poko, one of
the children
she worked
with.
Hay finds her calling in mission work
Denny Scott
signal -star publishing
Africa, though a world away, shares .one of the major
problems facing major Canadian cities; youth homeless-
ness.
African youth are faced with their own difficult condi-
tions that Canadian youth may not be able to fathom, but
they are also experiencing some of the same problems,
and individuals like Lindsay Hay, of Clinton, are trying
to address those.
Hay is a member of Youth With A Mission (YWAM),
an international Christian organization. The group's
mission, according to their website, is to "[serve] Jesus
throughout the world.... to know God and make [God]
known."
With ministries in over 130 countries, YWAM lends
aid to the less fortunate the world over.
Hay worked out of South Africa while with YWAM,
and eventually struck out on her own to assist a church in
Durban, on the country's east coast.
Prior to her trip, Hay participated in Discipleship Train-
ing School, but she explained that its hard to prepare for
something as drastically different as her trip.
Hay explained that she has always been interested in
missionary work, but with nearly two years behind her
since she started (three months in training and 12 in the
field), she's surprised how deep it has become.
"I've always wanted to do something like this," she
said. "I just didn't know it was going to be full time."
Hay's work started in September of 2007 when she
went to Orlando to take part in the training school there.
She learned about the missions and their goal. After three
months of training, her group went to South Africa to
perform some outreach activities.
This is where Hay's trip took a turn for the interest-
ing; Through some unforeseen circumstances including
falling in love with the country itself and losing her visa,
Hay's two-month trip turned in to a three -month -term.
In correspondence to The Signal -Star, Hay explained
what her time was all about while she *as underYWAM's
schedule.
"During [my three months in South Africa] I worked
alongside churches by helping run youth programs, meet-
ing and praying for patients with HIV/AIDS, holding
church services and running school retreats," she said.
"During my independent month (March) I volunteered
at the YWAM base - I did a lot of cooking, cleaning and
learning. A lot of learning."
After a ,quick two-month return home to take care of
social'engagetnents and renew international papers, Hay
found herself back in South Africa as a staff member at
a Discipleship Training School at YWAM Jefferys Bay. •
Her work included leading groups, tutoring and mentor-
ing students, and teaching guitar lessons.
It wasn't easy, but Hay explains that, in the end, it all
worked out. •
"It was also during this time that I planned the outreach
portion of the school. This meant organizing an outreach
location, accommodation, budgets, transport, food, ev-
erything. It was insane," she wrote. "There were days I
thought I wasn't cut out for that sort of work, but in the
end it turned out remarkably well."
The next leg of Hay's trip was to Durban, South Af-
rica.
Working completely of her own accord, Hay contacted
a church she had found through a friend that needed as-
sistance with some tasks similar to those Hay had already
done.
Christ Church Addington, on
the east coast of South Africa,
needed help with their youth pro-
gram. Hay said what started there
was a experience in just how pow-
erful word of mouth can be.
"It started with youth groups
and reading clubs, helping to or-
ganize them;" Hay said. "But then
we'd go to school, choirs, gyms,
working with a lot of different
people that we met through the
youth groups."
Sometime during her trip, Hay
realized this is something she
wanted to do for the rest of her
life.
"I want to go back to an area
that really needs help." She said.
"I want to work with kids living
on the street. It's a huge problerii
in South Africa, and there isn't
enough attention paid to it.... ft's
such a different world and people
need to be aware of it."
Hay said outreach work is a
lifelong commitement, and that
only through time can significant
and postive change be made. Any
assistance that is going to be giv-
en needs to be of a permanent or
semi-permanent nature.
"Short visits can lead to more
feelings of abandonment," she
said. "People come, they get
involved in someone's life for
awhile, and then they leive, and
[the youth] can feel exactly the
same as the first time they found
out they were alone."
Anyone interested in becoming
involved in YWAM, or interested
in knowing more about Hay's
time in South Africa can contact
her at lindsayhay@gmail.com.
YWAM's website is www.ywam.
T
Godench Signal -Star, Wednesday, May 13, 2009 - Page A15
McCANN ELECTRIC MOTOR & GENERATOR
The
CTOR
Electric
Motors
Sales and
Service to
All Makes
519-482-8604
14 -5th Ave., Vanastra
Located between Hydro One & Clinton Roof Truss
(White buildings with blue trim)
Monday - Friday 8:OOam - Noon & 1:OOpm - 5:OOpm, Saturday by appt.
For after hours emergency service call 519-440-6472
Ba field
Victoria Day
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Buffet
May 17, 8 -10:30 am N1ay 17, 10:30 am - 2 pm
Reservations Preferred
Asparagus & Rhubarb Now Ready
Open 7days aweek, 8am-spm
77697 Orchard Line
519-482-1666
MCGEE MOTORS 80TH ANNIVERSARY NOSTALGIA PICTURE
DO YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE?
Identify the McGee G.M. Parts Hockey Team and WINI
•
aggy'' ,y /l
lly/�/;�
�pFHn
�as%sry,
/
0410.
This photograph of the McGee G.M. Parts Hockey Team
of 1973. How many people can you identify? We have all
the names! Lets have a fun contest, send us a list (email
preferred) of all the ones you can identify before next
weeks Signal Stan
Whoever correctly identifies the moat
people first will receive a FREE. LUBE, OIL,
FILTER & WASH JOB! The next 6 are welcome to .drop in
and pick up a large jug of GM Windshield washer solvent!
Look for another photo contest nett week!
Email ns at:
mcgeemotors@gmcanada.com
Mail ns at:
McGee Motors Ltd.
180 Suncoast Drive,
Goderich, N74 4N4
www.mcgeemotors.ca ■ 519-524-8391 or 1-800-265-5507
358265