Mamelodi is a township about 20 minutes from Pretoria. Erika and Louie’s ministry BEAM Africa (Biblical Education And Ministry) serves this community with many outreach programs. We kept hearing about the town Mamelodi (named after an old granny who used to sing melodies to children in this area), but could not prepare for what we were about to see.
In a way, living on Erika and Louie’s property shields us from the reality and brokenness of Mamelodi. It is not a bad thing, they have prepared their home for many missionaries that come from all over the world to serve in Pretoria. But as we left the gates of their land and turned onto the first intersection of Mamelodi, our eyes were opened to a whole new world.
Immediately, Erika pointed out the drug lord’s house in the community. It was awkwardly placed among tiny houses and shacks; and it was clearly the largest home in the town.
The streets were aligned with vendor booths. Some poorly made of large branches and covered with a flimsy sheet. As we drove along the streets, many children would be walking alone or standing close to the road without a parent by their side.
I learned this week that we prayed for protection over Grandma Maureen because she was nearly beat to death by locals because they consider her a witch. That is why she will be moving closer to her family. Hearing this broke my heart.
There is poverty, corruption, and a deep heaviness in this township.
Yet, there is a light in Mamelodi. Our team experienced it in a tiny church (some would call it shack) that was full of people craving our God of hope. And no church is too small to hold the light of the world.
But like I said, there is corruption in the town. This church is in an ongoing battle for the title of the land. Pastor Ezekiel of this church has gone through many council and committee meetings only to find the arrangement postponed or that the land deed was signed over to another man.
Pastor Ezekiel remains positive and trustful in the Lord’s path for the church. Please pray for Mamelodi, Pastor Ezekiel, and the people in Mamelodi who continue to bring light into the darkness.
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:4-5
Here are a few pictures from our Saturday morning ministry with children in Mamelodi. Erika and Louie help provide supervised activity and food for children who have struggled with drug addiction in the past. In this community children are so starved they turn to drug use so they do not feel their hunger. We played with these kids the past few weekends and it is so sweet to see their innocence restored.
