African Endeavor: July 2012

This past Sunday we had the honor of attending church at Siyathemba Nokeng, a ministry we have been working with. Although we have been serving there multiple days a week for a few months now, we had never attended a church service. We now admit that we have missed out. The service was abounding with worship music (vocals only because there were no instruments) with full participation of the entire congregation. Songs broke into dance then into praise and prayer. Although the words were in Zulu and Sesotho, we still knew what was being sung. It was an amazing experience to witness the energy and authenticity of the culture.

The construction of our flat in the back of the property is complete! We moved out of BEAM House last week and have settled into our little home. It is a comfortable place with lots of windows and high ceilings. The one space heater does not quite warm the whole house during these cold winter months so hoodies and jackets have become our permanent attire.

Here are some comments from our individual perspectives:

Mike:

The last few weeks have been crazy with preparation to move and preparation for multiple teams that have come from the US. The last two weeks BEAM has hosted 21 Campus Crusade students. The day after they leave a World Race team comes in. We have been helping with the preparations for their accommodations. Meanwhile, Jeanine and I have been busy working on various projects. She is still teaching the little ones at Siyathemba Nokeng. My responsibilities there have included the removal of some humungous pigs from the property. The swines have become a major nuisance that feed on anything they can find. I am afraid they might start eating the vehicles or jungle gym equipment. They reproduce more than rabbits and faster than white blood cells. They are beginning to be the majority of the population. I was tasked with their removal, but I am sad to say I have failed at my job. My strategy, although well though out and promising, proved to be inadequate. My efforts of pig extraction resulted in an escapade now famously known as "The Pig Incident". I sustained injuries including a fractured collarbone and a broken ego. I was documenting the removal process and therefore have "The Pig Incident" on video. You can see it on YouTube.

I remember some things from our short-term trip here in 2010 that were still true when we got here in November of 2011. The spiritual realm in this country is physically noticeable. I don’t know if it is because of all the different cultures and beliefs. There are witch doctors in the townships, parents cover their children with bead strings to inherit ancestral attributes, and bonfires are lit to worship false gods. Our spiritual battles here feel like physical battles. Many times we feel exhausted from the warfare, as do our allies. We know the war is already won, but the battles are still fought. It was not until recent weeks that we have felt as though we are winning our battles. We feel more and more encouraged and the power of the Holy Spirit is evident. We also know that your prayers for us are another weapon in our crusades. We want to thank you and ask that you keep fighting the fight with us.

Jeanine:

As the sun begins to set, creating a soft glow over the entire sky that will eventually turn to one of the magnificent South African sunsets that are the norm here; I sit in front of our little flat with Mike. Our own little flat…our home. After 3 previous residences, after all of our illnesses; one spider bite and a broken collar bone; after spiritual attacks and bouts of homesickness… we are at peace and we have a home. And it is amazing!

Three days ago I was driving down the dirt road that takes me to the crèche that I teach at twice a week and I was filled with an amazing sense of joy. As the dust billowed out behind the Landy I watched my surroundings in awe. I thought…”Lord, I am in Africa… I LIVE in Africa….YOU have brought me to Africa.” My thoughts were suddenly filled with all of the people I have come to know and adore these past 8 months. Images coming and going and the feeling of love and excitement filling my heart in ways I had not felt in a long time. It was like God was saying….”you done good, you passed the entrance exam, NOW let us begin”. And I am ready.

8 months… YIKES! Can you believe we have been here that long? Time has flown by, friendships created and nurtured, children loved on and blessed by, lessons learned (some repeatedly) and through it all an attachment to a new country that amazes me. A love for a place and a people that I never thought would be this intense, a sense of comfort in the lifestyle....you know? This feels right. One thing I have really learned was to let go of my pre-conceived notions of what serving in another country would look like. Yes, we have had plenty of opportunity to serve: in Rayton; teaching the kids, building fences, painting & fixing up the centre….in Nellmapius; feeding the kids & playing with them, admin & computer help at the centre, things we would expect. BUT South Africa is a place where you CANNOT live WITH the people you serve they say,

……………………or can’t you? We have had multiple teams come and go within BEAM House (the large lodge on the plot we live on). Young people coming to serve who sometimes just want someone from their home country to talk to; OR our plot mates who need transportation or help when ill; OR our new found friends who are waiting to hear if they can adopt a child or dealing with the anniversary of the death of a parent. God has shown us in this place we serve EVERYONE. It may look different than the “typical” mission field, but in a place where darkness is a presence that is actually felt every day? It is still a mission field. And a glorious one at that!!! One that we cannot wait to share with all of you. Hopefully this is something we will be able to do this spring (ok so YOUR fall *grins*).

We ask for your continued support and prayers. But most of all, we ask for your prayers for those who live in the townships and squatter’s camps. Winter is upon us now and homes do NOT come with furnaces or fireplaces for the most part. In the townships and camps, most people live in metal shacks and get their warmth from a hot plate of by lighting a cookfire outside of their shack. When you are talking lows of 25-30 at night…that is pretty danged cold L. A lot of the children spend this time of year (and it has already begun) with colds, flu and ear infections. So, please pray for these people. For warmth, for work, for understanding that Jesus loves them where they are.

Much love!!!

MmeJ