Ministry Update: We arrived Johannesburg, South Africa the 10th of January with the intention of partnering with BEAM Africa in the city of Pretoria and playing with kids all month that had been orphaned.
When we met Louis and Erika (founders of BEAM Africa and our host family) they explained to us that because of some corruption in the government overseeing the township of Mamelodi, they recently had to close down their facility. OUR previous plans of working at the orphanage would be slightly changed.
Erika and Louis
First question I had was why would the government care about an orphanage? Isn’t taking care of kids and bringing them off the streets a great thing? We then found out that BEAM Africa was so much more!! They assist in basic life skills training, specialized training to provide more specific job skills, and then helped get jobs for the adults once all their training was complete. And for the children, they held after school programs and helped with homework and food for those that had none. (but all this is just a glimpse of what they do) Just like in any country where the government wants to have total control, they wanted to keep people ignorant and in poverty. People are easier to control when they feel helpless, live in fear, and having to sniff glue just to keep their stomachs from hurting because they haven’t eaten in 2 days.
Little did the corrupt government know that we serve the God that has purchased with blood the keys to all the chains that are keeping these people in bondage and that He had already set them free!! We weren’t going to let not having a building stop us from going into the township to pray, help, feed, and speak truth over the people that live there!
Now to answer the question, “So what have you been doing Katie?”
Thank you so much for asking!! We have been pulling weeds, mixing cement, shoveling rocks and dirt, moving and stacking bricks, and then moving and stacking more bricks J Praying over amazingly strong elderly women in the township, playing and talking with children that have been addicted and have overcome drug addictions!!
My 2 new South African sisters
Attending a church that is beautifully constructed with theater seating and a week later attending church that meets in a makeshift building made of tin and brick with dirt floors with people that aren’t even sure that they will be able to meet the following Sunday because the government is trying to kick them off their land. Making new sisters and falling in love with a boy named Given. Going on a Safari on our day off and getting charged by a white rhino!! Finally meeting some of the most wonderful God fearing Holy Spirit led people in my life!! Love you Erika, Louis, Melissa and Spencer!!
South Africa may not have turned out like we all thought it would but it has been an amazing start to the World Race!!
When was the last time you had a plan that did not go as planned but God used it for His glory and devised a new plan to further His Kingdom?
BEAM = Biblical Education and Ministry http://www.beamafrica.org/home
