Rose, the leader of Campus Crusade's community ministry here in the Western Cape, took us on tour of three places. The first was a ministry that seeks to plant Bible based churches in the Township of Khayelitsha. They are called, "African Leadership Nework," and have been so effective in bring the youth and children of Khayelitsha into Children Churches. This ministry is doing a great work to end the physical and sexual abuse of the children through a t-shirt campaign. The shirt reads,"I am precious to Jesus," in Xhosa and serves as a warning to the adults and a source of hope for the children. I never would have thought that something like this would work, but it is! Many of the things that this ministry is doing blows my "western-mindset."
The next place that we visited was a church/preschool in a poorer area of Khayelitsha. (there areas that are less developed) This is the church of Pastor Peter, a man who's heart for God was such an encouragement. In his journey to do good for those around him, he has seen persecution from the authorities, but he has walked with God. His vision for the church is to help those that are suffering from HIV, abuse, and extreme hunger. He said, "It is better for for people to experience physical suffering now, but to know Jesus, so they can live in comfort for eternity, than to live in comfort now and experience an eternity of suffering." Wow, his words hit me hard and brought such clarity to the reality of what we are called to in this life. We do not live for the temporal, but eternal! We do not store up treasure on this earth, but in Heaven. Pastor Peter, has really helped give vision to this area of how they can grow their own vegetables. He lead an initiative to build a green house at the church, of which our students from last years Summer Project helped to build. It was working well, they were growing their own food, and were giving it to the poor who needed food so that they could take their HIV medication. BUT...last month the greenhouse was destroyed, people broke in at took the support structures that held the greenhouse together. They also took all of the food that the church had stored for distribution. Please pray for them in how they should proceed with meeting the needs of this community.
We had one more stop on our "visit." It was to an area called Gugulethu, where for years it had been an area dominated by gangs, but 13 years ago God called a man to plant a church. His name is Pastor J, and his journey has looked different than what he expected, but it is a story that is changing lives. J and his wife moved to this area and began a church. During that first year the police brought to him a 2 month old baby girl whose mother had died. They knew him to be a pastor and thought that they might care for the baby. They took the girl in and that was the beginning of their orphanage. They now have 21 children. It was my first visit, and my heart broke for them. They live day to day on what God supplies, and they truly love these children as their own. J and his wife are in their 60's but they are putting skin around God's love to these children daily. They do have 2-3 volunteers that help with the kids. The children were so happy and by our standards had very little. My heart broke when I saw two little girls playing together, and could not help but think of Lily and Anya. Rose explained to us that they are in need of help, and have experienced other organizations raising money for them and yet it never made it to them. There are times when Pastor J will call Rose and share that they have no food. She has brought them food and other supplies. We were all moved, and want to be used by the Lord to help this little "orphanage," in Gugulethu.
Pray with us for God to protect the innocent and heal those that are hurting in this city. Thanks for all of your prayers we really do feel loved, and protected by God.
In His care and love,
Christian, Mia, Lily & Anya
Pray with us for God to protect the innocent and heal those that are hurting in this city. Thanks for all of your prayers we really do feel loved, and protected by God.
In His care and love,
Christian, Mia, Lily & Anya
1 comment:
Wow Christian. Thanks for sharing. What an incredible, eye opening time it sounds like you are having. And what an awesome thing to pass along, that it is better to suffer now and have eternal comfort/glory. May God use your hands and ours and call others to help the orphanage and bring rest and relief to Pastor J and his wife. What a mighty couple for the Lord! We are praying for your family and are encouraged by your obedience and faithfulness!!
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