Khayaliso

Today I wanted to do a home visit with a boy on one of our soccer teams - his name is Khayaliso. The area where he lives is out in "the bush", so I picked him up after school, along with a few other children whose home situations I wanted to check in with.

As we drove through the rolling hills of sugar cane fields, I could tell he was a little uncomfortable giving me directions to his house. When we arrived at the place he showed us, he seemed even more embarrassed that we wanted to meet his mother. As we waited at the front door, I commented to one of our volunteers who was with me how relatively nice his cinder block home was, compared with those of the other kids in our program.

Khayaliso returned and introduced us to his mother - or at least that's what we thought. After some confusion, it became clear that the woman was not his mother, but an aunt. As Khayaliso stared at the floor, she explained to us that his house was actually down the road a ways.

Somewhat puzzled, we made our way to where he actually lived, and when I saw his "house", I realized why he had been ashamed to take us there - especially with friends from school waiting in the back of the truck.

The makeshift one room shack seemed ready to fall in on us as we sat with Khayaliso and his grandmother, who cares for him. Dirt floor, a single bed, a cupboard, and some pots and clothes scattered around the edges. Everything was covered in a greasy, sooty grime from the cooking fires.

As we talked comfortably and respectfully to his grandmother, Khayaliso relaxed. We gave them some food, and prayed with them before we left.

Khayaliso's name means "beautiful home" in Zulu. I thought that was so sad and paradoxical at first; then I remembered that this is not Khayaliso's home. Because of Key of Hope and your help, Khayaliso does have a "beautiful home," waiting for him in heaven.

Khayaliso. His name fits him perfectly.