We have visited the township of Mamelodi three times so far. It still strikes me with the contrast from Pretoria. Pretoria is both western and quite urban. Our first church service we attended was at a modern, predominately white church that felt like it could belong in the states. All of this exists within miles of a township. I didn’t know what to expect when we went to a township. I was shocked. Sprawling on the side of a hill and covering many square miles were shacks. And that was it. Maybe a handful of nicer small houses. But mostly shacks made from scrap metal and wood. As we drove around, we asked our contacts more about life in Mamelodi. Very few of the people have jobs. A few have stands on the side of the road, but that’s really it. There are signs everywhere for abortions. Many people will go to the local witch doctors for help, that will in turn more than likely kill them rather than help them. The children, whether they are orphans or not, will probably go hungry. Women will need to prove they are fertile before a man will marry them. And by the time they have kids, the man will probably leave and go to the next woman.
That is the life for those in the townships. As we drove, it became apparent that white people don’t go to the townships. All we would have to do is wave, and the faces would light up with a huge smile. Even though apartheid has ended, the racial tensions have not. On our first visit, our team has gone in to pray for a few of the Grannies. This past Sunday, we got to attend church. The church is bricks, metal, and a red dirt floor. We danced and then coughed from all the dirt that was stirred up from the dancing. Our feet were a peculiar shade of orange by the time we were done. Pastor Ezekiel brought an awesome word, in both English and the local language.
Finally, we worked with kids at the local school. It is a Saturday program that brings former addicts from Pretoria to play and spend time with kids who have also struggled with addiction, some as young as seven. We didn’t really believe or comprehend that any of these kids could be addicts. Later we found out that they would sniff glue so they wouldn’t feel hungry. So for two hours we played soccer, hula hoops, jump rope, more soccer, and we had our hair pulled out as the little African kids wanted to play with our “soft” hair. One young woman, Priscilla declared that she was coming to America with us to meet our families and live there, serious! These kids are so starved for affection that we couldn’t go longer than a minute without them clinging to us, hugging us, and begging to be picked up. To end, we sat and ate lunch with them. Their plates were piled high with cheese sandwiches, clearly the only meal they might get that day.
Louis and Erika told us we’ll be going back to play with the kids. I’m excited to see what else we can do to make an impact in Mamelodi. In their meantime, we continue to work around the ministry compound moving bricks, mixing cement, and washing doggies. No job is too small to say yes to for this incredible ministry.
Please pray for our team as we continue to make trips to Mamelodi. It is such a place of darkness and oppression and by showing up there with the light of Jesus, we kind of picked a fight with the devil. As a team, we’ve have to step up the spiritual warfare, so please join with us as we give the devil a much needed thumpin’.
