June 18, 2005 - Building Hope, Working Hard, and Making Friends
Greeting and salutations to friends, family, and brothers and sisters in Christ.
Here we are, approaching the physical end of our mission to South Africa. Today was our final day of work on the building project for the Zulu church complex. I am very excited to say that despite all of the setbacks we have experienced since arriving here, we managed to complete the back and part of the side walls on Pastor Vuyo and his family's home. It is looking very nice and starting to actually look like a house. We all also got the rear entry door set and completed as well as several window wells. All of this was accomplished through much hard work, commitment, and diligence, and prayer.
Today, Curtis and I had the opportunity to spend the morning and early afternoon at one of the Lambano homes. There were six adorable children there, three girls and three boys. We had the distinct honor and pleasure of delivering two suit cases full of dolls, blankets, toy cars, frisbees, jump ropes, and other toys and candies to the home. We distributed some of the dolls, frisbees, and cars to the children and the caretakers at the home will distribute the other items. We were also able to donate a suitcase full of medical items and first aid supplies. Despite the unknown plight of these innocent orphaned children, at least I can take solace in knowing that I was able to be a small part of bringing a little joy to their very difficult lives and to share the love of God with them for a few hours. I now have a very special place in my heart for these little children of God and will never forget the experience.
I did get to work a couple of hours on the building project this afternoon and to help clean the tools and see the site one final time. Driving away form the complex, I couldn't help but reflect on this past ten or so days and what it has meant to me. I can honestly say that my life has been touched and changed in a very special way. It has been a true blessing to see the Lord work and all the effort put into this wonderful project by the team members and the locals. I am greatly encouraged to have been a part of working side by side with black South Africans and to have observed blacks and whites working together, eating together, and playing together. I took a brief walk during the children's naptime and saw a black boy and a white boy riding their bicycles down the street together. I also observed middle class homes occupied by both blacks and whites on the same street. In some places, it is almost as though Apartheid and the horrors, atrocities, and injustices that come with racism, segregation, and hatred never existed here in this peaceful nation barely more than a decade ago.
But at the same time, I am also quite discouraged. For as we drove away from the building complex for perhaps the last time ever, the distinct and pungent odor of smoke from many small fires, perhaps thousands, wafted through the darkening sky. As we drove the route back to our temporary home and the Grace Christian Church complex, I watched intently as we passed miles of what is known as the 'squatter camps.' These are camps set up by the local Zulu people who are unemployed with little hope and virtually no future. The little shanty's that occupy miles of land serve as 'home' to over 50,000 Zulu people. These homes are put up one after another, row after row, using whatever material the people can manage to scrounge up. Somewhere in the midst of these 'camps' lives a young man I befriended who helped work on the building complex for several days. His name is Thulani and he is one of the kindest, sweetest, and most gentle people I have ever met or had the pleasure to get to know. Thulani has a family of 14 brothers and sisters in a town of about 300-350 kilometers away and he is a Christian, a follower of Jesus who truly does love the Lord. My heart is both greatly encouraged and broken for Thulani, knowing where he must return every day. To his little shanty 'home' in the midst of the squatter camps.
Please do whatever you can to help people like my friend, Thulani. Whether you give to the ministry of Grace Christian Church to help continue with the Zulu church building project or help support someone like Thulani, a disciple of Jesus Christ and a probable future leader with the Zulu Christian community. We do not have to be in South Africa to help make this happen. Let's pray for this work of God, give financially, and help make it a reality. This will make it possible for more people like my friend Thulani to be reached with the message of the love of Christ and to become future disciples and leaders with the Zulu community. Thank you all for your faithful support, love, and prayers.
In Jesus Service,
Also view Jeff's June 18 Pastor's Journal
