The LIght and the dark

Hello all, and greetings from Jeffreys Bay, South Africa! 
 
We’ve been here for about a week now.  Things are certainly…interesting.  There is much that is very similar to America, and there is very much that I have never seen nor even thought of before.  The first two days, we spent at the UCSA campground (UCSA is another missionary organization), learning of the culture and history and languages in the area.  The campground is in the more urbanized part of Jeffreys Bay, so that was all that we saw for those two days.  Then, on Wednesday evening, Becca and I got a tour from George, one of the guys at UCSA, of the townships and surrounding areas.  Very different. 
 
There is a huge dichotomy within the townships themselves, with some people living in what American’s would actually consider to be houses, and then, right next door, a family of 6 living in an old shipping crate, or a shack of roofing tin laid together in a rectangular shape.  Walking through the township, as a white America, you are instantly greeted with beautiful little children running up and hugging on you and asking you as best they can (most speak either Xhosa or Afrikaans) to pick them up.  If you keep going, you notice how many are barefooted, and then are very disturbed by the abundance of broken glass shards everywhere.  You walk past smiling faces and shake their hands, and at first you think nothing of it, but after a few days, it starts to tear you apart inside, because you hear stories and have heard Auntie Matilda telling you stories and pointing people out about the evil that goes on in the same place at night, by the same people.  It really makes you think about good and evil, and light and darkness in more than just physical terms.  Then you walk by the graffiti, promoting “thugs 4 life,” and “gud gals gone bad,” and it really breaks your heart to think about the beautiful little children you’ve been working with and playing with and dancing with and singing with, growing up and doing horrible things.  But you can’t focus on this, because you’re not here to judge, you’re here to love.  And you walk by and try to keep a smile on your face, fighting off a grimace when you walk past a steaming pile of rubbish on the side of the street that is taller than you are and wider than most of the shacks in the township.  So, these are some of the things we are fighting against here.
 
God is good though.  There is wonder-working power in the blood.  And to see the smile light up and glow on even one of these children is well worth it all.  To hear of a 45 year old woman who is dying of AIDS, who has been blind and healed by the power of prayer, lighting up and sparking new life with Sarah McKeown’s touch is well worth it all.  To see the students here with me changing and growing in unexplainable ways other than the movements of the Holy Spirit is well worth it all. 
 
We are building relationships.  We are spreading love.  We are opening ourselves up.  We are being vulnerable.  Our hearts are going to be hurt when we leave this place.   
 
And it’s only been the first week.
 
I mentioned a lady named Auntie Matilda above.  She is a beautiful little old lady who is basically like the Mama T of Jeffreys Bay.  A group of four of our students–Ben, Kyle, Shea, and Sarah McKeown–have been going on house visits with her to the poor, the dying, and the destitute.  She is the most selfless person I have ever met.  And she continues to say yes to God every day.  There are thirteen people living in her house, the entirety of which is probably no bigger than your kitchen right now.  She wakes up so filled with the Spirit every day, it is utterly amazing.  The Lord has put something new on Auntie Matilda’s heart.  She is trying to get a shack erected in the township and a couple of sewing machines for people with HIV/AIDS who may not be able to walk around very much, but who can still use their hands; that they may be able to continue to be a part of the community, and retain a sense of dignity and self worth.  She only needs two sewing machines to start with, but has no funds to get them.  From there, the funds that they receive from the dresses they will be making will buy more sewing machines.  If you or someone you know would be willing to sponsor this mission, and gift a few dollars for a sewing machine, it would be an amazing God-send to this place. 
 
Our postal address here, in Jeffreys Bay is
 
PO Box 921,
Jeffreys Bay 6330
South Africa
 
Thank you so much for your love and support.  Please keep our team, the people we are living and serving amongst, and this entire area in your prayers.