Saturday June 30th, 2018
Ephesians 2:10: (For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.)
My body is gradually adjusting to the seven-hour time change. As I sit here and write this, my thoughts go to my family and church family back home, which their day is over while mine is just starting which is crazy to think of.
Morning began with Ryan & I waking up to our neighbors who are care takers of the campsite, playing Michael W. Smith and she was jamming out with the volume cranked all the way up to eleven. I spend a few hours after breakfast walking around the Maranatha Camp Compound snapping a few pictures of the beautiful architecture and plants found around the camp. During my walk, I went to the edge of the cliff on the north side of the compound and unlike the view the previous morning through our bedroom window; I was treated of a view of the city all throughout the valley it rested in and it is staggering. On my way back, I noticed a guard station on the opposite side of the street and a sign was mounted on the building with big bold letters saying, “armed quick response team” and the seriousness of security became even more real. In America we feel so safe and secure, which is not the case here.
As we made our way through Johannesburg, the neighborhoods drastically changed from well to do gated communities to more unestablished settlements. Lean-to’s with plywood walls and corrugated tin roofs. On one intersection on a main highway we saw a black man kneeling on the median. Ruth pulled up next to him, rolled down her window and asked,
“How are you doing?
“Are you feeling better?”
“How is your leg?”
He faintly replied, “Yes, much better, thank you!”
And he followed answering with bowing his chest to the pavement. After hearing this exchange I was going to ask Ruth what this man had gone through, but before I could, Ruth turned back to us and said,
“Someone ran him over with their car and just left him on the road.”
I looked at this man and his gaze met mine and my heart ached for him. What possesses a human to do that to another human? It baffles me.
We continued on our way out of Johannesburg and on the freeway towards Soweto. As drove deeper into Soweto we passed by a football stadium on the outskirts of the township, and just down the street from it unestablished settlements populated the horizon. It’s unreal to see such great wealth and huge buildings then a bit farther down the road see poverty and unrest. But, such is Africa.
When we got into the suburbs of Soweto, we caught the eyes of many of the residents of the neighborhood. We were told that white people rarely if ever go to Soweto, and in reality it was unheard of for white people to go ther. I can only imagine what was going through their minds when they saw us,
"What are a van full of white people doing here?”
The constant looks began to tense me up and filled me with traces of fear. Fear for the women on our team, fear for our group in general. It became even more real the moment we arrived at Moletsane and no one was inside the gated enclosure to meet us, as we stepped out of the van and into the church yard. Soweto residents began walking in front of the church gate staring intently at us as they walked by. My head was on a swivel watching all around us, keeping my eyes on all points of entry to the church yard.
After a few minutes of waiting, other vehicles started flowing into the church yard. It’s as if the cavalry had arrived! Pastor Sammy and his wife Itu then exited their vehicle and walked over to us and began introductions. Then the rest of the congregation began to arrive and followed suit by being very warm and welcoming towards us. We then ascended the red brick steps that led into the church. The church is a very old building and showed its age. The walls were painted with an older bluish and brownish paint that was beginning to be more visible as the newer white paint was beginning to crack, but it still looked like a very nice church with a wonderful history.
The “adults” then went into the church building to hear Pastor Mike guest speak on the topic of marriage. While Taylor, Shannon, Callie, and myself went next door to Pastor Sammy and Itu’s with their children. When we first walked into their home the kids were a bit cautious when we first made introductions, but still were very interested in these strangers they’ve never met before, with strange American accents. Ruth then introduced each of us to the kids and then they started warming up to us, they started asking us questions, and playing with us. One little girl became my little shadow. Her name is Reitumetse. She wanted me to talk with her, sit on my lap, tell me secrets, give me biscuits (cookies), and I made a new friend!
A bit later, a little boy and his father walked in; this little boy had the biggest brown eyes dressed like a little dapper gentlemen; he walked into the room all proper with a book tucked into his right arm. This little boy just looked at us. His dad asked him,
“Boy, are you going to teach them?”
This little boy looked at us more inquisitively, shook his head and then said, “nah.” He proceeded to throw his books and backpack on the couch and joined the other children playing. That is when I met Caillou, a three-year old who LOVED the story of David and Goliath, and would tell you all about it in words, actions, and sound effects.
After our time with the children had ended, we piled into the van and made our way to aWoolworths to get some food for a dinner party Ruth had planned for us to go to at her friends, Precious and Lebo’s house. Which happen to be Caillou’s parents. We went into the store and I can only imagine the funny sight that the locals saw, Ruth leading us through the store and our group following closely behind her, like a lost group of sheep.
We then arrived at Precious and Lebo’s house. As we arrived, the gate to their neighborhood opened and as we entered, I noticed how cramped the brown cobblestone path was on the inside. Very difficult for a van to make its way around corners, luckily we had an expert driver on our hands and were are to find a snug parking spot behind their home. As we entered, we saw Caillou sitting at the table drawing his favorite story, David and Goliath with crayons. He then began to act out the dramatic scene of the young hero David slaying his mighty opponent Goliath! With sling and stone only! He hurled a rock at the giant’s head and BAM! Goliath was, D-E-D-dead. Sound effects were of course also included, which totally added to the story.
Precious and Lebo then had told us that supper was ready and that it was a traditional African meal. Which began with us washing out hands in a basin (bowl) that Lebo brought out for us. She then proceeded to bow, bowl in hand as we washed our hands in the basin which made me crack up a bit. You see, we had to eat the meal with our hands only, in the traditional African way. Then the great surprise, chicken feet. Yes, you heard me, I ate the boiled foot of a chicken. But as I ate the cartilage and tried my best to power through it, that is until Mike whom was sitting to the right of me said,
“Why are there still nails on it!?”
He then began to shake the chicken foot vigorously near my face. I lost my sauce. I started choking on the cartilage half way down my throat, until I was in tears and forced it the rest of the way down.
The night ended with a friendly game of Code Names. Ladies vs Gents. I was the clue giver for both games and the guys won both times. I don’t want to say it was my awesome clue giving but I did have a great team backing me up!
Now as I’m writing this we are back at camp. A few of us are hanging out, eating junk food, and debriefing the day. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, to what God has planned for us at Moletsane and at Antioch. So far, this trip has had its up and downs. Both scary moments and encouraging moments. As I contemplate the mission trip so far, I’m still so happy that God allowed me to come here. My view on the world has changed not only growing me, but also I feel its growing the team around me.