Part I
I finished writing this on my way to debrief which will happen every few mo. throughout the year. Before we leave South Africa, I want to tell you about the culture here. South Africa still suffers from racial discrimination. As disturbing as it is, they categorize people as black, colored, and white. In the past these groups were forced to live in separate communities that largely remain today.
The white people usually live in pretty nicely functioning homes while the colored communities often have higher rates of violence and crime. These areas are often also under the bondage of alcohol and drug addiction which prevent academic achievement, jobs, and provision for families. Physical abuse and sexual abuse are prevalent. We first lived in a white community in Pinelands and then in a colored community in Oceanview. The black communities are even more impoverished and dangerous, with shack-like buildings and frequent violence.
These ridiculous divisions make it difficult to share the gospel. In black communities, white “missionaries” have come in and tried to preach without living with the people. Local people aren’t receptive to hearing about trusting God from someone who lives a completely different lifestyle. Living with them helps, but please pray for people from each of these towns to come to know Jesus, and go back to minister to their own communities.
Two of our teams were stationed in the rougher communities. Lavender Hill and Masiphumelele. The locals were shocked when they heard we were living in these areas. In one location there was a murder or rape every night they were there. Some of my squadmates were legitimately fearful and wanted to leave, but God gave them peace to stay. By the end of the month some of my friends were sobbing as they said good-bye to the people they once feared to live with; God had lovingly bonded them together. Isn’t that awesome?!
Part II
The kids in these communities need constancy and commitment because people haven’t been there for them. Since we were only in the country several weeks, we had to be careful to not: go in, form close relationships, and leave, hurting more than helping. It was counter intuitive, but we had to make an effort to not form close ties to individual kids since we couldn’t remain to live up to that implied commitment. With all the kids (at New Dawn, the Sports Ministry, the Marine Primary School, and on the street), we played with them, hugged them, held them, listened to them, praised them, and showed them as much love as we could. There is no doubt that God used us to encourage them, though we had to let them know we were only there briefly and move around the kids. Still, there’s no getting around it, there are some that touch your heart more keenly than the rest.
I even considered staying or coming back to be there for even a few of them. It was a huge privilege to serve alongside the godly men and women who do consistently pour into these kid’s lives. But please pray for more people to show up with a desire to commit to these kids and for them to break free of the chains that bind their parents.
Part III
The culture around the “white people” is similar to American culture. Very generally they are individualistic and ruled by time, while the colored and black people are most concerned about people. We had the privilege of attending a couple of braais (barbecue) with folks from Christ Church Sybrand Park and there was no rush, or move to leave, or thought of what had to be done that day. We talked and enjoyed each other’s presence for hours; they take the time to make you feel valuable.
The Oceanview neighborhood is a walking community, so everyone hangs out in their yards and porches and knows each other. The kids run around barefoot, taking care of each other, in need of something productive to do. It is dirty and broken glass is everywhere, but it doesn’t smell bad (which, I’m told, is rare on this trip), and people are calm and warm. You can see rocky hills all around the town and many vibrant and succulent plants. In the evenings it cools off, the call to prayer sounds, scruffy dogs bark loudly, dance music fills the stuffy air, old cars vroom past, and voices laugh and yell in Afrikaans as the adults drink and children play together in the street.
This community made us feel safe. During our time in Oceanview, my team was split between two houses, so at the finish of each day, Anthea, Audra, and I walked home (often in the dark). This was one of my favorite parts of the day as we enjoyed God’s sense of humor. Here we were, walking freely in this “dangerous” location, feeling safer than we had in the “safety” of Pinelands. Isn’t God cool?!
I’m so thankful for the ways I was able to experience South African culture. I want to emulate the community here and show people how much I care about them as I communicate.
I wrote this sitting in the Cape Town bus station after an 18hr ride there. We arrived at ~12pm and left at 10pm for a 5hr ride to Nelspruit. Yay for time to write a few blogs!
I’m currently sitting in a peaceful oasis at our hostel in Nelspruit. It’s like a jungle of greenery and there is space for all of us (the entire squad and mentors) to spread out and spend time processing the past month. God has been working a lot in me and my squad the past few days. I will have to write another blog when I get a chance. This is our last day of debrief and tomorrow we (as a squad) head to Swaziland to work together at El Shaadi Orphanage.
Thank you for praying! May God bless you with grace and peace.
Love,
Meredith
