Nancy’s Kitchen

Living in Community

Living in community is a new experience for me.  I got my first taste of it when Richard and I traveled to South Africa to volunteer for two weeks in Mamelodi, located near Pretoria.

My second experience in community living came when I arrived at the school to learn T.E.S.O.L., Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.  We are five students, sharing a house.  Five students, never having met before, are now learning to live together and share responsibilities. We are learning to be considerate of each other but also knowing that we must individually focus on our studies.  Some have lived in community before and are very gracious and adept at this style of living.  As for me, I am learning new skills, new graces.

These graces include taking a very short shower to share the hot water, leaving others alone while they are studying instead of striking up a conversation and playing my music quietly instead of filling the house with it!  These graces become joys along with the family supper provided by one of the students, but contributed to by the others.  Other joy graces are going shopping together, and sharing internet signals!

After only two weeks, we are becoming “family”.  Oh, yes, “family”.  I must remember the joy graces I am learning and practicing so that when I return to my home and my husband I will not forget to be gracious and giving; I will not “take him for granted”.