This month in South Africa, my team's ministry is a bit outside of what has become our norm.
We do not have a host or set contact. Instead, we are traveling around Port Elizabeth and Jeffreys Bay looking for new contacts to connect with in the future. It has been a crazy month of complete dependency on God and seeing Him come through in amazing ways. One of those ways was introducing us to Peter and Daphnie Morkel.
Port Elizabeth is a beautiful, very westernized city with beautiful beaches, restaurants, shopping malls, beautiful people… rugby players…
It was not at all what we expected. One of the first things Peter said to me when I met him was, "this is not it. If you serve with me, I will take you within a meter of hell, not church bells." So naturally, we went with him. We stayed two days with the Morkels. The first turned into a forced off day which we happily spent at the national rugby stadium for the sevens tournament and at their church which again was a crazy reminder of home. It was held in a huge industrial building, undeniably home to many talented graphic designers, housing a great worship band, its own crossfit box, restaurant, and a huge indoor playground for kids. (I love that church by the way). But all this only increased our shock when we were taken only about fifteen minutes away to a township called Motherwell.
History Lesson:
When the apartheid happened in South Africa from 1948-1994 thousands of blacks were forced out of their homes and jobs to allow those areas to be designated "white only". They were relocated to these townships consisting of tiny shacks stacked on top of each other.
Although the apartheid is said to be over, these areas are still suffering without easy access to water, they are heaped together, many in one room shacks pushed out of sight into the hill. But a city on a hill cannot be hidden. An entire, thriving city has ignored the ones most in need, the ones most affected by the inhumane treatment over the the years. And it cant be ignored any longer. Over 80% of people in these townships are unemployed and considered unemployable because of their hygiene and living conditions. minutes away from where a city and church body are thriving, an entire people group is starving and hopeless.
It hits too close to home. I cant sit by with my beautiful ocean view and a cup of coffee just "loving on the Lord" in America after what I've seen and experienced. Much like Zola. But you'll read about him in my next blog!
until then, please be praying for the teams that will come serve with the Morkels, pray for the hearts of the local church to be motivated and called to action. Pray for my heart as I pray about what's next. And please remember, my last fundraising deadline is December 31st! Share, tell, pray, donate!
