Port Elizabeth, South Africa from the start has been information overload. From the history about apartheid (1948 – 1994) and how truly a terrible time it was to the stories about the children we have been meeting.
A brief history lesson for those that don’t know much about South Africa (I didn’t know before coming here either). Apartheid laws were passed in 1948 and racial discrimination was institutionalized. In 1950, all South Africans were classified into 3 categories: white, black, or colored. From the stories we have been hearing, it was really bad for black and colored people all the way to 1994. Blacks and colored people were stripped of their rights as citizens of South Africa (they had to carry around passes just to go from place to place) and treated as animals instead of humans. Countless people, Fathers of the people we have met were placed in jail or killed for no just cause and people were beaten up in front of crowds with no one stopping it. There were many people who objected and fought for freedom, but the government refused to change.
Apartheid ended in 1994, but 19 years later we can still see the distinct separation of blacks and whites. It isn’t as bad today, but during apartheid certain townships were established far from the city center because the “white” people didn’t want to wake up in the morning and see any “black” or “colored” people and be reminded of their existence. These days not a lot of people would choose to travel there because it is further away and when we went to visit one of these townships the other day the joy felt at having visitors by the Pastor there was evident.
It’s crazy to me how just spending time listening to someone’s story can touch a person so much. It also saddens me to know that a Pastor and his family could go two weeks without food sometimes, too. I am just reminded about the importance of the whole body of Christ coming together and helping each other. Yet the disparity between rich and poor is super obvious
The children and teenagers we have met and will meet all come from such broken backgrounds and poverty, but they are still smiling and have a joy that is rare to find. I am moved every time a child comes up next to me and wants to hold my hand or get picked up and held. All anyone ever really needs is love and or just be shown that they do matter.
All of the information that I have absorbed so far is a bit overwhelming, but education is important. It is good to know the backgrounds of the people we are encountering and know how to pray for them. South Africa is in desperate need of prayer. Prayer for the Churches in all parts of South Africa to be united and helping each other. Prayer for the men in the lives of children to step up and be present in their families. Prayer for wisdom and discernment for those in leadership in the midst of all the changes South Africa is still going through. Prayer that hearts will be moved to compassion.
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
– 1 Corinthians 12:12-13
