She is almost 16 years old. She will soon be leaving the Goeie Hoop house. She lived there for years. Although she is taken into foster care by acquaintances of her mother, she dreads it. She is silent. We pray for her during our meeting and when I walk to the office afterwards she is leaning against the front door. She looks attentively at something on the window. She calls me and asks what kind of insect it is. I see a beautiful praying mantis. I've never seen such a beautiful specimen. It touches me because I know the African story behind the Praying Mantis; The praying mantis is seen in the world of the Khoikhoi as the "herald of prosperity." In Africa, when a Praying Mantis sits on you, they believe God is saying that; "Everything sal reg come!". I tell her the story and say; "Right now God pats you on the shoulder and says; "Everything sal reg come". She starts to shine. A moment later I see her busy with a jar. She has caught the creature, shows it to everyone, pats everyone's shoulder and says; "Everything sal regkom!".
06/07/2015
