We had no idea how significant it would be to get away with the SOH staff for a time of rest and reflection. When we conceptualized the idea of a staff retreat we had considered all the usual retreat type meetings and activities. A lot of thought went into topics of discussion and Dan played a key role in the agenda planning and implementation. When the time came, it felt as if we were being blessed with more than just productive discussions. We were given significant moments of community building, heart connection and personal restoration.
The theme was “Thinking as Leaders.” All activities and learning centered around team building, personal leadership, and understanding different personalities on the team. All of our ministry staff, our two “summer” student interns (summer where they’re from), and Canadian partners Gerry and Donna Provencal spent a wonderful three days near Howick at a beautiful retreat centre. (photos)
We were surprised and excited to see how enthusiastically the Zulu staff took in everything we had for them. They voraciously participated in discussions and spent personal time processing new learnings. A particular highlight was a session led by our intern Susan from Tennessee. As a Masters Student in Social Work, she was able to lead us through some vulnerable discussions about burnout. Many of our staff revealed how difficult it was to process the daily trauma they witness through their work. To see people ravaged by HIV or children in abusive situations is a heavy load. Susan was able to give them the tools to take time for their own healing and renewal. She encouraged all of us not to feel guilty when we take time to care for ourselves. We are filled with tremendous gratitude for the staff at SOH who are on the front line every day.
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Another well received focus for the retreat was in the areas of nutrition and exercise! While these topics are covered extensively in health education in the school system back home, that’s not the case here at all. We have a real opportunity to influence our staff and teach them to live by making healthy choices – and release them to influence others in the community. Where we work there are high rates of high blood pressure and diabetes due to high intake of simple carbohydrates and excessive use of oils in cooking. We’re being asked to help the staff “relearn” how to cook with less oil, and to prepare delicious, but much healthier, meals. We’re encouraged, and inspired to keep on with my own journey of healthier eating!
Most strategically, we spent time considering how we must function as leaders – namely, to “be the change.” In South Africa, there are many examples of people in leadership positions that are sending out messages very different than what their lives and actions speak. We learned that, to be effective leaders, there must be no gap between the message and the messenger. This challenges all of us to be lifelong learners. The staff are considering what they would like to learn about next, and we’ll be organizing trips to the library in town to find books about those topics. How exciting it is to see them learning and growing. We didn’t have any expectations of thanks, but the staff have expressed deep appreciation for the time we spent learning, growing, laughing and having fun – together. We feel all the richer for having spent such quality time with them.