Final Thoughts

Transformation, courage, prophetic, resilancy, empowerment, grace, life, incarnation, diversity, unity, dreams, possibilities...these are the words i would use to describe the things I experienced during my time in South Africa. I saw transformation in myself and my team as we shared our expereinces. I saw courage at every turn- in teenagers of M-Power coming together to form a no weapons campagin in their schools bc they have gotten too dangerous for them, some of them losing friends to violence. I saw courage in Jack, Peter, Alan, Roger and others we met along the way in the ways they have taken this Jesus stuff seriously in responding to our call to be in solidarity to the poor, oppressed, and marginalized, and also in believing that because of Jesus great things can and should and will happen.

We witnessed dreams coming true. We saw how one person really can make a big difference- in a women who cared enough about children in their community to take them in then to start a preschool in her backyard with two shipping containers, now getting ready to move into a beautiful two-story building. 

To build up, the rise up, to do for oneself- these are the meanings of so many of the names of the ministries we visited. South Africa is a people resilancy and courage and strength to do for themselves, to rise up and make a life for themselves. We visited empowerment ministry after empowerment minisry. Hillcrest, a ministry committed to helping people gain new skills or learn a trade to make a living for themselves, and respite to help vicitms of HIV/AIDS is one such ministry. Out of the awful nature of apartheid rose a people deeply commited to unity and diversity and seeking ways to thrive in this life. In apartheid rose a church siding with the oppressed. South Africa still has a way to go, but never have I experienced like this what God is capable of doing in the midst of such ugly, terrible, situations; how God is able to take something so wretched as the apartheid times and breathe new life into a country committed to making a better life for themselves and for each other. 

God is so much more than I think. Every time I go to a new place I see a new portion of this amazing tapastry God has made, and I am convined all the more that that is why we need each other because with each person we met these past 10 days I saw the incarnation in a new way. 

I am inspired by the young people and children we met so filled with joy and dreams in spite of the strugles they face. To be able to dream in the midst of adversity, is a sign of real faith- to be able to dream of running a foster home, living in a community wracked with drugs and crime and lack of solid education, electricty, or running water is AWE-some. 

So much of what we saw were grass-roots, organic ministry that rose up from the needs of the community. I feel like so much of the time I try to force things to happen. Perhaps if things are not organically rising up to meet needs of the people, it is because we don't know the needs of our community and are not spending enough time getting to know it. 

We all have a new understanding of "partnership" now and are not moving away from that word. As Alan helped us see, partnerships are extremely difficult because of the power dynamics. Relationships is the word. It's all about building relationships. So I think, in that sense, things are not what we expected. The path forward isn't exactly clear becuase we went looking for partnerships and we're uncertain what that looks like now, but we do know we need each other and can learn a lot from each other, sharing in the jouney called faith, working towards the same thing, which is the Kingdom. And there are also some things we just can't turn our backs on- things like the child abuse taking place throughout the country. 

God, give me courage, the kind of courage I witnessed in Alan and Peter and Jack, and the kind of courage the young people of M-Power are displaying through their move to stop violence in their schools. Continue to surround me with people like those on this team to help me know how to be prophetic and be on the side of the poor in fighting for them and seeking the root cause of certain injustices and the wisdom to know the right next steps. 

Cape Town-Day 1

It's been a few days since my last post. Some late nights and early mornings is the reason. We've been in Cape Town since Friday evening and what a full two days it has been! When we got here on Friday Peter Story met us at the gate and one of the first things he told us what that Cape Town was a city with two cities, really. What he was alluding to was the extremes of wealth and poverty and the unjust inequality. We met with the leadership of this district of the to hear about all the ministries taking place here and I got to talk at length with just the second female clergy we have met on our journey.

Yesterday we woke early to make our way to the harbor for a trip out to Robben Island. We rode on the ferry that Peter took on his first trip out there, as a chaplain to the prisoners. The most touching thing about it was that our guide was an ex-prisoner. This country, while they haven't perfected it, have done a beautiful job of seeking to bring about reconciliation, by holding tight to forgiveness and let the past shape them for the better. We went to the lime quarry where Mandela worked while on he island and I imagined the conversations that took place between him and the other ANC leaders as they sought to continue to fight for their cause, seeking to allow the expereince of their imprisonment not shape them negatively. 

From there we drove to Simonstown, where Peter and his wife Elizabeth live, got to walk among South African penguins on the beach, only feet away, close enough to touch, and stick our feet in the Indian Ocean. It was one of the coolest things I have ever done!

We had a lovely, traditional South African dinner Peter and Elizabeth in their home where we practically sat at Peter's feet to gleam from him as much as we could, as he encouraged us in our journey and challenged us in our way of thinking. Just a wise, gentle man and a modern-day prophet. 

This is the first leg of the trip where we have been trying to get ourselves around town, but Clark has done a fabulous job driving us around in a huge, straight-drive van, on the left side of the road.

Cape Town-Day 2

This is something i write on Sunday and just now able to post:

What a fabulous day! Let me start by saying that we could't have asked for better weather! It's Sunday, so naturally we went to worship, and we had the privilage of worshipping at Alan Story's church, Central Methodist Mission, which is steps from our hotel, in the heart of Cape Town. I was so deeply moved by Alan's sermon, by the clarity and boldness of its message, wishing I had the courage to speak so honestly about the Gospel. In his opening prayer he mentioned with "world wide web of our interconnectedness" which struck something in me I think  becuase that's what experiences like this remind me of- that as much as we try we are not isolated and it is impossible to act completely independant of those around and our actions at home most defintely affect those not just in our communities but on th other side of the world. I was also convicted of our cowardness in the American church by santizing the Gospel and aiding in all that is wrong in world by remaining silent. We have a crisis of courage in the church. Pastors here take this Jesus stuff seriously and are putting it all on the line to live it and speak out on behalf of the poor. Peter said on the first night that he thinks the Methodist church is on its way to non-existance if it doesn't start engaging the poor- and this is more than charity. The problems in South Africa are not all that different from ours, and while true partnerships are extremely difficult because of the issue of power, the connection with have to South Africa is a theological one. I think Brett is the one that said that. But a true partnership can't begin with money, which we are so quick to do. I think our intentions are good, but our means are destructive. We just had this enlightenin, honest, powerful conversations, and some of it made be hard for us to hear, but I think we're all here with a desire to be faithful in our discernment so the words are crucial. I think ideas and dreams are starting to take shape, but we also still have a little less than a week left. My hope and greatest desire at this point, for myself, is a balance of courage and wisdom in order to be faithful to really living this stuff Jesus talks about, havin a definite preference towards the poor- econmically and spiritually. I feel like I'm starting to see myself and the Church more honestly and I have my South African brothers and sisters to thank for that.

After a couple slower-paced, relaxing days, tomorrow we're heading out to some of the townships to seem more ministries. Can't wait to see what God has in store for us!

Johannesburg

On Thursday we drove to downtown Johannesburg to visit Constitution Hill, which is the site of the Consitution Court which once was the site of the prison in which Mandela and Ghandi were imprionsed, and 600 children from the Soweto uprising. Bricks from the old prison make up much of the buildings which now protect people's rights. The people want to be very intentional to not try to forget the oppressicve past, but remember the things learned and carry that into the future. We got to experience 24 seconds of being in a cell that was used for solitary confinement, our guide wanting us just to get a taste of what the prisoners experienced 24-hours a day.

From Constitution Hill we went to Central Methodist Mission (which is a church) to meet with their pastor Rev. Dr. Paul Veryn. He told us about the minstry of CMM which is a home for thousands of refugees from Zimbabwe. He said that every night there are about 1000 homeless sleep on all surfaces of the church. The church offers training and skills classes, language classes with over 500 learners. Paul is a true prophet of his time as he shared with us all the ways he's been involved in social justice, speaking out against the injustices taking place in the government right now. He shared with us stories of people in the government wanting him dead during the apartheid struggle for his role in non-violent resistence. He shared with us that he thought hope for the future was in the religious community, because it's the one place where, when at its greatest is an exploration into honesty and accountability, which is desperately needed right now in the politics of the country right now. He thinks that the answer to the problems of the county right now is "prophetic distance" in the religious community becuase too many religious leaders are giving in to the powers that be and aligning themselves too close with them, unable to speak honestly and critically. So Paul thinks there needs to be some distance so they can speak freely and prophetically because he noted that prophetic distance is not silence. It was an incredible conversation, the best part of our trip thus far! 

To end of the day we went to Parktown North Methodist Church which is a smaller congregation in J-burg to meet with the pastor. He too talked about the need for being prophetic and stressed discipleship in the church, which are two of the themes I keep seeing being repeated. After meeting with Pastor Vunsi we attended a conversation on the state of national health care. It was interesting to hear more about some of the issues facing the health of people in South Africa. 

I draw inspiration from the leaders of churches we have met with who are being bold and speaking out on behalf of the vulnerable. We are also starting to hear more about ministry to young adults, and continue to hear more about the emphasis on discipleship. I look forward to being in touch with some of the people we have met and walking together, learning from one another as we each seek to accomplish similar things in different contexts. 

Soweto

What a day it has been! Today we drove to Sowto which was a settlement made as a result of apartheid, when black Africans we forced out of the city to make way for white domination, and forced to live in small "matchbox" houses and community a very far distance into the city for work. Soweto is known for the attacks that took place at a peaceful protest in June 1976. Schoolchildren were protest the Bantu education which mandated that all schools be taught in Africaans, which was the langue of the white people, and other horrible, oppressive laws in terms of education. The children formed themselves and decided to protest the law. Their peaceful demonstration turned bloody when police opened fire on the children. Young lives were lost and this launched the extreme violence of the national government. It was powerful and moving to read witness accounts of the day of the attacks and the courage of these children, so young. Our hosts, Jack and Joan, didn't live far from the location of the attacks and yet they remember that because of the way the national government controlled things it took days for them to know anything about it. We visited the Hecor Petereson Museum, named after the first young boy killed in the shooting and saw the beautiful monument built in his honor and of all those who died that day and following days as the senseless killings continued.

From there we visited the home of Nelson and Winnie Mandela, which is on the same street as Desmond Tutu. It was just a little matchbox house, still retaining the marks of bullets aimed at the house when Winnie was living there while Nelson was inprisoned. We heard a different story of Winnie today, so often portrayed in America as a tyrant. We heard of her courage and compassion for her people. Their house was littered with honors Winnie received throughout her life. She was or is the mother of the nation. 

After lunch we visited an AIDS ministry and heard the story of a true saint and "mother of Soweto". She has sacrificed being with her family for the sake of children without family as a result of AIDS. It's amazing the work Carol is doing!! I would love to be involved in the work she is doing, in helping kids and really being a central location for her community to come and receive help of all kinds, to be empowered and resourced to thrive.

At dinner, Jack, our host, told us a story of when he visited Mandela in prison and shared Holy Communion with him, as Nelson invited his captors to share in the holy meal. A man of such magnimity, as Clark described him, who had the heart, compassion, courage, grace to be at the Table with his jailers, who reached across cultures and bridged gaps that seem impossible to forge. Such poewerful, powerful stuff.

There is much more to write, but if you've even made it this far, I'm sure you're tired of reading. There is more to come. For now, sleep. 

We're not so different...

So last night we had dinner with the presiding bishop, general secretary, director of missions for the conference, and another leader in the conference. What a gift it was to spend that time with them! They shared how their church communities are so diverse with 11 different languages spoken in this area and that being one of the main challenges facing the church. They shared how the transition to democracy hasn't gone as smoothly as they had hoped. The bishop described it as their people having crossed the Red Sea, but not yet in the promised land. He described them as wondering through the wilderness, not yet to the promised land trying to find the way to a just democracy. They shared with us how the church is growing out, but not deep. The prosperity gospel has made its way in and pentecostal churches with an attractional model are popping up all over the place and how people are forgetting what it means to really follow Jesus. They said the were "over-churched and under -discipled." So discipleship is the focus of the conference right now and they are seeking holistic approach with 5 emphasis (I can't remember what they are right now). It was here that I sensed a deepe sense of connection and was reminded that thought our cultures are different and way of life is different, in the church we share some of the same struggles and can most definitely learn from one another. After dinner, I think we all felt encouraged by the possibility of future partnerships- partnerships, the emphasized that are to be a mutal sharing, a give and take, which is real partnership and the type of relationship we hope to establish as a result of this trip. Great things are ahead indeed.

We've Arrived

So we made it to South Africa! The flight over wasn't as miserable as to be expected bc the flight wasn't full and i was able to spread out some and sleep. We landed ahead of schedule a bit, breezed through cutstoms, got our luggage and met our hosts for this leg of the trip- a wonderfully delightful couple, Jack and Joan. Jack is retired clergy and he was serving the churches during the apartheid struggle. Talking to Joan at the airport she shared some of the struggle the country has had shifting to a democracy, but described the country as being eternally hopeful- the people here, despite all the struggles and transitions to democracy not happening as smoothly as hoped, still hold on to hope that it will all work out, that under the racism that exists as in does in many countries, there's a hope and respect for all. So anyway, I can already tell we're going to learn a lot from Jack and Joan. 

So we left the airport, on our way to Liliesfiled Farm, where Nelson Mandela and other leaders of the armed struggle were arrested and later sentenced to life in prison on Robben Island, when our transportation broke down. So stuck on the side of a busy highway, people from the conference office rescued us and brought us to our lodging. So with a frazzeled Jack and Joan and lack of transportation, the trip out to the farm just isn't going to happen. So while that's a big bummer, on the bright side, we now have the rest of the day to rest up after our long journey. Tonight we're having dinner with the bishop and other leaders in the conference. Tomorrow we're going to Soweto to see Nelson and Winnie's home, and the moment erected to remember the blood shed that took place there. So much to learn and experience!