June 10, 2005 - Split Shifts
Today was our second day at work and three of us went to the Lambano home. The rest went to the site. For ten people suffering from jet lag we do a pretty good job of slaving away. Traci took some really good pictures of those cute kids at the orphanage and we are mingling with some of the locals at the job site. We are being kept really busy.
When we arrived in South Africa, Pastor Brian met us at the airport and warned us about being careful with our money and belongings because there are many people wanting what you have. It was kind of creepy for a while since everyone was staring at us, but I guess we did look a little weird to them. Americans!
We loaded up the van that the church rents to us for a small charge and drove to our temporary home - it is lovely! Very nicely situated with four bedrooms and a kitchen. The only thing is - none of South Africa's homes have central heat and its winter here! It gets really cold in the evenings before we go to bed and really cold in the mornings when we get up.
The first day here Pastor Brian showed us the "informal housing" which is the "politically correct" term for the slums. He said there are more than 50,000 people and we saw the great expanses of junk houses! They are built with just about anything they can find - cardboard or plywood and metal corrugated roofing materials. They are crammed in so tight around each other and these little houses continue for miles and miles and more miles!
The church that Grace Christian is planning on building is smack-dab in the middle of this area and these people are so unchurched and lost!
So many people and so few ways of reaching them! I see now why God wanted us here. There is so much to do and Pastor Brian and his church have done and are continually doing their utmost.
We also visited the homes for the orphans. Three homes have been purchased by this same church and are just like regular family homes. Many women volunteer to stay at these homes as their "moms" and these kids - most of them with AIDS - are living a very normal life, thanks to them.
About seventy of these kids have been adopted out, as this program continues to save the lives of so many orphans.
I am overwhelmed by the great need here. These people in the slums have very hard lives and we must be careful to keep an eye out for those that would walk up to your car at a red light, see a camera, smash the window, grab and run!
Even so, we all are feeling very richly blessed and we know that your prayers are continuous and faithful for our safety.
We, also, are seeing that this missions trip is not about us! Maybe, just in the context that God is using us as servants - but this trip is only about them and we thank Him for this opportunity.
Two weeks is only a drop in the bucket but pray that God will use us mightily for His will.
I know I speak for all of the team when I say: Thank you for making this trip possible! We all consider this a great honor to serve our Lord and Savior and it wouldn't have happened if not for His grace and all of you at Grace Bible Church!
Also view Traci's June 10 Letter
