A little boy collapsed at a rugby game a few Saturdays back. He has been diagnosed with leukemia and aside from praying for a miracle the people around him are praying for enough medical personnel at the hospital where he is at – Tygerberg – to assist in his ward.
As some of you may know, we have numerous strikes going on. It is technically one strike that is affecting numerous areas. The war is with the Unions and getting fare wages. Our schools, hospitals and even gas stations are being effected. There have been days that the kids just sit there or get sent home because there are no teachers. People are not getting medical treatment, even in emergencies due to not having Drs or nurses. Much more minor is the fact that it takes longer to get help at the station, because there are few tendants working.
I have a feeling there is a lot more that is going on with this, as well. This is just all that I have heard about and seen.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
A Safe House Once Again?
God has turned things around to make it so that I am now more of an apprentice to Marge. We work hand-in-hand on most things and we are looking to let a friend’s daughter come stay here for about a month. I am still making the decision of whether I can commit to this, because it will be mostly my responsibility. This means that I create and implement the program with the guidance of Marge. I know this will be the best experience I could get and the day before this opportunity came I had been telling God I wish that I could have a place where I could just have 1 or 2 ladies come stay and do it a little more casually than Marge is training me to do.
The lady is an ex-prostitute and drug addict. She has been off the streets for 6 months, but ran a couple of weeks ago. We told her mom that if she came back and was willing we would let her stay at our place, but she would have to go through a program. It will be a huge sacrifice and commitment from me, because she will be locked in the house except if she goes out with me, which means I need to often take her with me. This is my biggest worry, because I so desperately need my own space. I did find out that it is okay to build in a quiet time each day where we each get our own space, so maybe this is doable. I am also trying to figure out how to work out some of my schedule (which I believe I need to continue with); there are days that I am doing ministry all day and a couple of nights where I am gone till early morning doing street ministry. These few things are things that would not be good for her to be at.
The great thing is that I will get to build a relationship with her and walk hand-in-hand. I will teach her daily living skills such as: hygiene, sleeping patterns, boundaries, house keeping, cooking, etc. I will also do spiritual teachings/ studies such as: salvation, forgiveness, daily devotions, how to study and whatever comes up and based on where she is at. We will have mentoring sessions and she will get counseling from a qualified counselor. She will go to church with me and possibly cell group. She will be my first jewelry pupil. This will be a great chance for us to do something fun together and for her to make some money. We will do fun things too – some with the intention of learning from and other things just for the fun of it. These are just some of the things that we will be working on; it will really be learning as we go and listening to God and His guidance.
I'm pretty sure I already know my answer. How can I not help? This is after all why I am here, is it not? I just need a chance to adjust to the fact that life looks different than I expected and that I am not just here to train. Of course, who was I kidding? I was never good at being a spectater. I prefer to see things happen and a catalyst for change.
The lady is an ex-prostitute and drug addict. She has been off the streets for 6 months, but ran a couple of weeks ago. We told her mom that if she came back and was willing we would let her stay at our place, but she would have to go through a program. It will be a huge sacrifice and commitment from me, because she will be locked in the house except if she goes out with me, which means I need to often take her with me. This is my biggest worry, because I so desperately need my own space. I did find out that it is okay to build in a quiet time each day where we each get our own space, so maybe this is doable. I am also trying to figure out how to work out some of my schedule (which I believe I need to continue with); there are days that I am doing ministry all day and a couple of nights where I am gone till early morning doing street ministry. These few things are things that would not be good for her to be at.
The great thing is that I will get to build a relationship with her and walk hand-in-hand. I will teach her daily living skills such as: hygiene, sleeping patterns, boundaries, house keeping, cooking, etc. I will also do spiritual teachings/ studies such as: salvation, forgiveness, daily devotions, how to study and whatever comes up and based on where she is at. We will have mentoring sessions and she will get counseling from a qualified counselor. She will go to church with me and possibly cell group. She will be my first jewelry pupil. This will be a great chance for us to do something fun together and for her to make some money. We will do fun things too – some with the intention of learning from and other things just for the fun of it. These are just some of the things that we will be working on; it will really be learning as we go and listening to God and His guidance.
I'm pretty sure I already know my answer. How can I not help? This is after all why I am here, is it not? I just need a chance to adjust to the fact that life looks different than I expected and that I am not just here to train. Of course, who was I kidding? I was never good at being a spectater. I prefer to see things happen and a catalyst for change.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Public Transportation
I rode a taxi for the first time last Friday. This is a 15 passenger van and cost the same as the train. I was going to meet a friend at his coffee shop in Green Point. The train took me to Cape Town, but I needed to take a way to get from there to Green Point. My friend offered to pick me up at the station, but I figured this was a good day to figure out how to take a taxi.
I ended up taking 3 different taxis in order to go about 10 mins. The first one was extremely nice. He told me that it is only 5 Rand, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. No one was going to Green Point, so he found me a different taxi. This guy had said he was going to GP. The taxi was full, as soon as I was getting in the entire taxi unloaded. It was now just me and the driver and his assistant. Now everything I have read and heard says do not get into a taxi that doesn't have anyone else in it. I was already in it. There also wasn't any other taxi around. The driver immediately started hitting on me and offered to "show me around". I was pretty abrubt with him and stopping his advances. In my head I was thinking "Dear God, help". After a couple of minutes he told me that he can't take just me to GP and he can't pick anyone else up - I needed to get out.
As I was trying to get into the next taxi a guy pushed me out of the way. The worker kept yelling at him, pushing him out of the way and then opening the door for me and the man kept yelling (not sure if at me or the worker), pushing me out of the way and slamming the door. I finally pushed past him and got in. The driver got out and cursed him out, making him leave. I have no idea what all this was about, since they were speaking a language I don't know.
I got dropped off past my stop - they failed to let me know when we were at the BP. Luckily it was only down the street a little bit when I asked if we were almost there.
What an experience - Welcome to Africa.
I ended up taking 3 different taxis in order to go about 10 mins. The first one was extremely nice. He told me that it is only 5 Rand, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. No one was going to Green Point, so he found me a different taxi. This guy had said he was going to GP. The taxi was full, as soon as I was getting in the entire taxi unloaded. It was now just me and the driver and his assistant. Now everything I have read and heard says do not get into a taxi that doesn't have anyone else in it. I was already in it. There also wasn't any other taxi around. The driver immediately started hitting on me and offered to "show me around". I was pretty abrubt with him and stopping his advances. In my head I was thinking "Dear God, help". After a couple of minutes he told me that he can't take just me to GP and he can't pick anyone else up - I needed to get out.
As I was trying to get into the next taxi a guy pushed me out of the way. The worker kept yelling at him, pushing him out of the way and then opening the door for me and the man kept yelling (not sure if at me or the worker), pushing me out of the way and slamming the door. I finally pushed past him and got in. The driver got out and cursed him out, making him leave. I have no idea what all this was about, since they were speaking a language I don't know.
I got dropped off past my stop - they failed to let me know when we were at the BP. Luckily it was only down the street a little bit when I asked if we were almost there.
What an experience - Welcome to Africa.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Love on the Streets
The street ministry is really picking up. Last night was the best night yet. People are really getting to know us on Long Street and look forward to seeing us. We are pretty intentional at stopping to see all the people we know. We all are building relationships; sometimes we all know the person and other times the relationships are strictly between one or two people. Last night was really anointed, we had to of had almost 30 meaningful conversations and some conversions.
I had a great talk with a lady from Connecticut. She was at one of the clubs and had a bit of a grudge against God and church, but we had a lot in common and I got to share a little of my testimony.
I met a teen who is working on the streets. Oh you guys, how I wish you could see him. This is the second time I have seen him and each time the Spirit washed over me and showed me visions of his life – this grief and burden for him just floods over me and then I feel this great love from Jesus to him. Last night I went up to him and said how much Jesus loves him. I told him that God showed me his life and I told him how sorry I am that things are the way that they are. With tears in my eyes, I told him I love him and wish I could take all this away. As tears came to his eyes, I asked him if I could pray for him and he said yes. I gave him a big hug and just held him as he cried. I asked him if he had Jesus in his heart and he said no. I asked him if he would like Him in his heart. He said yes… when he is ready. I said okay. I told him I will be praying for him and then I left.
I don’t know that I will ever get to the point where this doesn’t wound my heart and honestly I’m not sure I want to. It’s times like this that I feel so helpless. There is no law here for human trafficking, there are no Safe Houses running at the moment (though we are training a few groups on how to get one started) and foster care is not for kids like that. This is not America, things are not the same. There is no where to go to get food and very few shelters. The shelters cost for people to stay at them. Thousands of people here are homeless. Teens on the streets is common. There is little that we can do, but offer them Jesus, relationship and at times, food. Where possible, we do try to get them off the streets.
I also met a couple of women working on the streets. The man that was with them stopped to talk with a couple of guys on our team. I went over to talk with the ladies, but they were quite closed and told me they didn’t want to talk to me. I stood there with the men and just prayed. I met them at the beginning of the night and was a little discouraged that I didn’t know how to start up a conversation.
When we were leaving one of the ladies came up to me; she grabbed my hands and said I believe in you. She told me that she heard me talking to someone and that she believes in me. She told me this over and over and said that I don’t judge her. I don’t know what conversation she overheard, if it was one that I had with someone on the street, or one of the couple times that I was asked about why it is that I am here. I got the impression that she knew I was here to help her. I told her how much Jesus loves her and that I believe in her, too. She gave me a hug and wanted to know when she would see me again. I told her we try to come every Sunday night. She said that she would come back and find me. Her friend was less keen on my being there. She was quite intoxicated and would go back in forth from pushing me, cursing at me and telling me to leave to holding my hands, giving me a hug and saying she would like to see me again, too.
This, this is what I came for.
I had a great talk with a lady from Connecticut. She was at one of the clubs and had a bit of a grudge against God and church, but we had a lot in common and I got to share a little of my testimony.
I met a teen who is working on the streets. Oh you guys, how I wish you could see him. This is the second time I have seen him and each time the Spirit washed over me and showed me visions of his life – this grief and burden for him just floods over me and then I feel this great love from Jesus to him. Last night I went up to him and said how much Jesus loves him. I told him that God showed me his life and I told him how sorry I am that things are the way that they are. With tears in my eyes, I told him I love him and wish I could take all this away. As tears came to his eyes, I asked him if I could pray for him and he said yes. I gave him a big hug and just held him as he cried. I asked him if he had Jesus in his heart and he said no. I asked him if he would like Him in his heart. He said yes… when he is ready. I said okay. I told him I will be praying for him and then I left.
I don’t know that I will ever get to the point where this doesn’t wound my heart and honestly I’m not sure I want to. It’s times like this that I feel so helpless. There is no law here for human trafficking, there are no Safe Houses running at the moment (though we are training a few groups on how to get one started) and foster care is not for kids like that. This is not America, things are not the same. There is no where to go to get food and very few shelters. The shelters cost for people to stay at them. Thousands of people here are homeless. Teens on the streets is common. There is little that we can do, but offer them Jesus, relationship and at times, food. Where possible, we do try to get them off the streets.
I also met a couple of women working on the streets. The man that was with them stopped to talk with a couple of guys on our team. I went over to talk with the ladies, but they were quite closed and told me they didn’t want to talk to me. I stood there with the men and just prayed. I met them at the beginning of the night and was a little discouraged that I didn’t know how to start up a conversation.
When we were leaving one of the ladies came up to me; she grabbed my hands and said I believe in you. She told me that she heard me talking to someone and that she believes in me. She told me this over and over and said that I don’t judge her. I don’t know what conversation she overheard, if it was one that I had with someone on the street, or one of the couple times that I was asked about why it is that I am here. I got the impression that she knew I was here to help her. I told her how much Jesus loves her and that I believe in her, too. She gave me a hug and wanted to know when she would see me again. I told her we try to come every Sunday night. She said that she would come back and find me. Her friend was less keen on my being there. She was quite intoxicated and would go back in forth from pushing me, cursing at me and telling me to leave to holding my hands, giving me a hug and saying she would like to see me again, too.
This, this is what I came for.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Becoming Vulnerable
I have gone through a lot this past week and God has worked on some HUGE issues and character refining. Some of the guys have been calling me on pulling back and not letting people in. They told me, in numerous different ways, that I don’t let myself be vulnerable. At first, I wondered what on earth they were talking about, then, through the death of a friend, changes in ministry and my living situation, as well as an issue with a friend, God showed me this was true. I spent a lot of time this past week with God, working on my anger towards Him and the issue of intimacy.
He showed me how scared I get when I feel vulnerable and that I isolate myself or run. He is teaching me how to let people close. Part of this is by admitting to people that I have a problem with this and giving them permission to hold me accountable, telling me when I am starting to do this or devaluing something, because I am scared. I have asked my cell group and my mentor here to do this.
I have also agreed with God to step out and do things with people, participate in the groups that I attend and to fully let go and let people in whenever I am around them. It has been exhausting! There has been HUGE breakthrough, though and I am already closer to people because of it. After cell 3 different people invited me to events. I went ballroom dancing Friday night, to a drum circle Saturday night, a braai (bbq) Sunday and am invited to another braai this Friday. Everyone at cell now has my # and 3 people on Sunday asked for it, as well. I even met a lady who wants to take me to tour. I’m not so sure how I am going to have time for this kind of a social life.
The best breakthrough was that I am no longer angry at Jesus and believe that he loves me romantically, cares about my emotions and feelings and is romancing me. I now feel His love instead of just knowing it. I can’t help but smile and feel so much joy. God did so many amazing things with street ministry yesterday because of it. It was the first time I ever felt comfortable enough to go up to people. I couldn’t help it last night; I just felt so much love for them and wanted to share it with them. Women even came up to me. I sure hope things remain like this. I just have to push through and give it to Christ when I feel vulnerable and afraid and remember when I have down times that it is okay, but not to give up.
He showed me how scared I get when I feel vulnerable and that I isolate myself or run. He is teaching me how to let people close. Part of this is by admitting to people that I have a problem with this and giving them permission to hold me accountable, telling me when I am starting to do this or devaluing something, because I am scared. I have asked my cell group and my mentor here to do this.
I have also agreed with God to step out and do things with people, participate in the groups that I attend and to fully let go and let people in whenever I am around them. It has been exhausting! There has been HUGE breakthrough, though and I am already closer to people because of it. After cell 3 different people invited me to events. I went ballroom dancing Friday night, to a drum circle Saturday night, a braai (bbq) Sunday and am invited to another braai this Friday. Everyone at cell now has my # and 3 people on Sunday asked for it, as well. I even met a lady who wants to take me to tour. I’m not so sure how I am going to have time for this kind of a social life.
The best breakthrough was that I am no longer angry at Jesus and believe that he loves me romantically, cares about my emotions and feelings and is romancing me. I now feel His love instead of just knowing it. I can’t help but smile and feel so much joy. God did so many amazing things with street ministry yesterday because of it. It was the first time I ever felt comfortable enough to go up to people. I couldn’t help it last night; I just felt so much love for them and wanted to share it with them. Women even came up to me. I sure hope things remain like this. I just have to push through and give it to Christ when I feel vulnerable and afraid and remember when I have down times that it is okay, but not to give up.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Modern Day Slavery
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
A Definition
Human trafficking is the dislocation of someone by deception or coercion for exploitation, through forced prostitution, forced labour, or other forms of slavery.
The slave trade is prohibited under Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet the modern-day slave trade that is human trafficking is the fastest-growing form of organized crime.
There is no law against Human Trafficking here in South Africa. This prevents authorities from being able to do anything when they do find Traffick victims or Traffickers.
A Definition
Human trafficking is the dislocation of someone by deception or coercion for exploitation, through forced prostitution, forced labour, or other forms of slavery.
The slave trade is prohibited under Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet the modern-day slave trade that is human trafficking is the fastest-growing form of organized crime.
There is no law against Human Trafficking here in South Africa. This prevents authorities from being able to do anything when they do find Traffick victims or Traffickers.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Vera’s Story
(taken from STOP the Traffick, by Steve Chalke, pg 13)
At the age of 27, an Albanian young woman, Vera, was mugged and raped in her house in Albania and then kidnapped. She was then locked up in a house in Albania for two days and transported by bus to Greece, from where she was taken to Italy by boat. In Italy she was first pushed into a truck and then transported by train via France to Belgium. Upon arrival in Belgium she was forced into prostitution in the red light district of Antwerp. She believed she was sending all her earnings to her father in Albania. But her father never received any money. Somebody else intercepted the money in Albania and kept it.
There are many more like Vera. They are beaten, raped, kidnapped, taken on journey after journey, forced into prostitution, suffering abuse after abuse.
And may are sold not once, but countless times, passed from man to man like a shared cigarette. Used, and then, all too often, stubbed out. It is not only women who are affected by trafficking. Men, boys and girls – anyone can be trafficked. Children as young as 8 yrs old are trafficked every day.
From a tender age, these children grow up thinking they are worthless. They believe all they are here for is to be used as sex objects – and nothing more. Their childhood is ruined by physical, emotional and psychological violence. Far from home, used again and again, never paid; they can hardly remember anything else.
At the age of 27, an Albanian young woman, Vera, was mugged and raped in her house in Albania and then kidnapped. She was then locked up in a house in Albania for two days and transported by bus to Greece, from where she was taken to Italy by boat. In Italy she was first pushed into a truck and then transported by train via France to Belgium. Upon arrival in Belgium she was forced into prostitution in the red light district of Antwerp. She believed she was sending all her earnings to her father in Albania. But her father never received any money. Somebody else intercepted the money in Albania and kept it.
There are many more like Vera. They are beaten, raped, kidnapped, taken on journey after journey, forced into prostitution, suffering abuse after abuse.
And may are sold not once, but countless times, passed from man to man like a shared cigarette. Used, and then, all too often, stubbed out. It is not only women who are affected by trafficking. Men, boys and girls – anyone can be trafficked. Children as young as 8 yrs old are trafficked every day.
From a tender age, these children grow up thinking they are worthless. They believe all they are here for is to be used as sex objects – and nothing more. Their childhood is ruined by physical, emotional and psychological violence. Far from home, used again and again, never paid; they can hardly remember anything else.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
The Facts
800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year.
US State Department
It is estimated that two children per minute are trafficked for sexual exploitation.
UNICEF believes that this amounts to an estimated 1.2 million children trafficked every year.
In 2004, between 14,500 and 17,500 people were trafficked into the United States.
US State Department
Human trafficking generates between 10 and 12 billion dollars.
UNICEF
Total profit from human trafficking is second only to the trafficking of drugs.
The European Police Office; Europol
800,000 people are trafficked across borders each year.
US State Department
It is estimated that two children per minute are trafficked for sexual exploitation.
UNICEF believes that this amounts to an estimated 1.2 million children trafficked every year.
In 2004, between 14,500 and 17,500 people were trafficked into the United States.
US State Department
Human trafficking generates between 10 and 12 billion dollars.
UNICEF
Total profit from human trafficking is second only to the trafficking of drugs.
The European Police Office; Europol
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Riding the Train
I rode the train yesterday. This was my second time on the train, but the first time by myself. I have been terrified to give this a go, but finally decided it was time to face my fear. I realize this sounds really lame to be afraid of riding the train. Had you heard the stories I was told the first week I was here and been given the same warnings, you too would have been afraid. I am also aware that South Africa is number one in muggings and rape. For the first few weeks I wouldn’t even open my mouth when walking anywhere; my roommate had told me that my accent made me more of a target than I already was. I wouldn’t even walk to the market for a couple of weeks. (I eventually needed to buy food.) I was told never to walk around my neighborhood and definitely don’t go in the subway by myself.
It’s amazing how fear can blind, cripple and lie to us. I let fear keep me immobilized for weeks. I only would leave the house when necessary or with other people. This made it so that I was bored, lonely, had cabin fever and was completely ineffective for the Lord. One day I realized that I need my mouth to share the gospel and despite how dangerous it may be, I only have one accent and by golly I was gonna use it for the Lord. Shoot, who can harm me anyways when I am speaking for the Lord? I’m more protected when I am speaking than when I am not, for it shoots through the warfare.
Since the guys came to Observatory to do street ministry and claimed my neighborhood for the Lord, I have been much braver to try all these different ‘scary’ things. I learned that night that my neighborhood is not that scary, it belongs to the Lord and there is sooo much more here than I realized. It opened a window for me. I have now walked and jogged all over my neighborhood and feel so much more refreshed because of it.
Getting up the nerve to ride the train yesterday opened the door – wide, too. I don’t have a phone and I don’t have a clue where I am going or even what I am doing much of the time. I was afraid less of the people & more of getting lost while not being able to call for help. I decided to bring some phone numbers with me and money to buy a calling card, if necessary. I printed out a map of the trains that I hadn’t realized I had saved on my computer and asked lots of directions.
By the time I headed out I was so peaceful that when a guy sat next to me and asked what time the next train was coming I told him that I don’t know, I just hope it’s taking me where I need to go. I didn’t even know what time it was. The guy told me he wished that he could be as relaxed as me. Funny, he should have seen me just hours before.
It was so much fun and freeing! God even provided me with a tour guide. I am no longer scared to go anywhere by myself. It feels great to be more self-sufficient, not having to depend on everyone else even for transportation. I feel as if I have the whole world, or at least Cape Town, at my finger tips. It’s great!
Lord, help me to remember these things each time I am afraid to step out of my comfort zone and try something new.
It’s amazing how fear can blind, cripple and lie to us. I let fear keep me immobilized for weeks. I only would leave the house when necessary or with other people. This made it so that I was bored, lonely, had cabin fever and was completely ineffective for the Lord. One day I realized that I need my mouth to share the gospel and despite how dangerous it may be, I only have one accent and by golly I was gonna use it for the Lord. Shoot, who can harm me anyways when I am speaking for the Lord? I’m more protected when I am speaking than when I am not, for it shoots through the warfare.
Since the guys came to Observatory to do street ministry and claimed my neighborhood for the Lord, I have been much braver to try all these different ‘scary’ things. I learned that night that my neighborhood is not that scary, it belongs to the Lord and there is sooo much more here than I realized. It opened a window for me. I have now walked and jogged all over my neighborhood and feel so much more refreshed because of it.
Getting up the nerve to ride the train yesterday opened the door – wide, too. I don’t have a phone and I don’t have a clue where I am going or even what I am doing much of the time. I was afraid less of the people & more of getting lost while not being able to call for help. I decided to bring some phone numbers with me and money to buy a calling card, if necessary. I printed out a map of the trains that I hadn’t realized I had saved on my computer and asked lots of directions.
By the time I headed out I was so peaceful that when a guy sat next to me and asked what time the next train was coming I told him that I don’t know, I just hope it’s taking me where I need to go. I didn’t even know what time it was. The guy told me he wished that he could be as relaxed as me. Funny, he should have seen me just hours before.
It was so much fun and freeing! God even provided me with a tour guide. I am no longer scared to go anywhere by myself. It feels great to be more self-sufficient, not having to depend on everyone else even for transportation. I feel as if I have the whole world, or at least Cape Town, at my finger tips. It’s great!
Lord, help me to remember these things each time I am afraid to step out of my comfort zone and try something new.
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