The internet is working, and I finally managed to grab someone else's laptop for a few minutes. So here you go...
It's really interesting to me, to be in the townships in Cape Town. So much poverty, loads of people out of work, violence, anger. I continue to do work at Living Grace Shelter in Muizenberg- teaching guitar to people who want to learn, preparing meals, and leading music at devotion time. In the afternoons all the volunteers do assorted 'community projects.' Today a few of us varnished a new fence around the Living Hope campus in Overcome Heights. Last week it was a festival in Overcome and Oceanview.
There has been a lot in the news here about xenophobia. Basically, now that the World Cup is over, native African people in the townships are planning on making foreigners leave. They intend on using violent means to do it. They had planned Monday morning at 3am as the time when they would force them to leave. They claim the foreigners are taking their jobs (this is working foreigners, not Americans, like me. We were not/are not in any danger.) Anyhow, the time came and went with little occurrence. We were afraid for some of our friends in Masiphumelele (Masi). Our chef, groundsman, and housekeeper all live there. Our housekeeper, Pricilla, is from Zimbabwe; Phillit, our groundskeeper is from Malawi. There is a strong police presence in all the communities and all is fine as of now. We are praying nothing will happen. Living Hope IS prepared to handle foreigners kicked out of their community.
With a nationwide unemployment rate of %25 (60% in some communities), children having babies, the AIDS crisis, race relations, there is just a lot of junk going on here. A lot of problems; but a lot of people are working on solutions. I really think a lot of the problems stem from low self esteem. Imagine a young person who lives in a country where jobs are hard to find, and there are a few number of universities, so if she doesn't get the very best grades, has little chance of getting in. Many homes are broken. In a community like Masi, Capricorn, or Overcome, she has no dad but lives with her grandmother, mom, and siblings. The general attitude of these people is "I may know there's another option for my life, but I don't deserve it." The people really need to hear the truth of the gospel in that, God loves them and treasures them. I find it hard to tell the homeless men at Living Grace, "Become a Christian and your life will get better." That's not what the gospel is. The truth is, being a Christian is having a relationship with your Heavenly Father. People need to be shown God's love. We, as missionaries, need to express that love, and the truth of how God sees them. Just a lot to think about...
On another note, I am really enjoying the friendship of our guide, Alicia. Alicia works for ACTS and seeks to take care of our needs while we're here. She has driven me to work most days, and on Friday nights, I work with the praise band at her church. I am attending her church while I'm here, as well. So, we've had some time alone to have some great conversations about life and ministry here in South Africa. Alicia grew up here, and lives with her parents. She has some really great thoughts about events and occurrences here. Last week I met her parents, who were so kind, yesterday I met her grandmother, as Alicia had to give her a ride and the two of us were on the way to get me some new glasses. It's been really great getting to know her and hear her perspective on the communities and ministry. So thankful to have a like-minded person to think about and discuss there things with.
See facebook for photos.
