Yesterday, we went to a township called Mamilodi, others might refer to it as the slum, but I prefer township. Poverty is at an extreme high here, there’s trash all of the grounds, goats wandering free, and children that are exploring the land on their own. Needless to say, it was shocking. But I didn’t feel anything towards it…not even sadness. I started questioning my sanity…if I couldn’t be empathetic towards these people, what was I there for?
Last night during our team time, we prayed and asked God to show us Mamilodi through his eyes. I expected to feel some extreme grief and come home bawling and wanting to change their lives. But instead, I came home happy, carefree and with a full tummy. But I did learn something. I’m not broken.
As we walked the streets, I loved looking at everyone’s homes, the shops, restaurants, and everything else. After we did our home visits, our “tour guide”, Chubby, told us he called in an order of chips (fries) at his favorite place and asked if we would mind going by there. Seeing as we’re always up for an adventure, we agreed. The cook made us fresh fries and everyone was so kind. The fries were seriously the best I’ve had in my life. After we left there, we walked back to the main building that we were working from. There were kids there and the second they saw us, they ran and jumped in our arms. The loved on us and climbed all over us. My heart swelled with happiness.
As we were leaving, I realized that again, I didn’t feel any grief towards this township. But then God taught me a lesson. God showed me the township in the most unexpected way; he showed me the love he has for it, not the grief.
I prayed to see Mamilodi through his eyes.
God doesn’t feel sadness towards the way these people live, he doesn’t want to sweep them up and change their way of living. NO.
God loves them. Today, he showed me HIS love and let me fall in love with Mamilodi the way he loved it. He used the small things, like a girl named Peace, fresh French fries, and some adorable kids that kept referring to us as “white people”. In the strangest way, God reformed my heart and granted me a day with his vision.
