Love your Neighbor as Yourself

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 14:31

Amber and I have a heart for the poor and needy. In Joburg, you can't drive 1km down the road without seeing many men, women and children begging at robots (stop lights). Some have signs asking for jobs, money or food while others just sit. We can't hide our eyes from these people.

We decided that we wanted to be a blessing to them and share God's love. We did not want to give money, not knowing what they would spend it on. Therefore, we have thought to give them food and a Bible verse written on a notecard.

This particular card is John 3:16 written in Zulu on one side and English on the other.

We give food and Bible verses to beggars, people handing out flyers or selling newspapers, car guards (those who watch your car while you go into a store), gas attendants (it is full service here, they fill up your gas for you) and anyone selling something on the side of the road. Really anyone we see that we feel God is leading us to speak with.

It has been such a blessing to my heart to see the excitement and shock on people's faces when we give them something. We have had people so excited that they have yelled to their friends working on the other corner to brag about what they have received. Every time we have noticed that the people are quick to first read the card and don't even look at the food. At garages (gas stations), they call the other workers over and we usually count around 4 to 5 gas attendants gathering around to read the card. Many reply with "thanks so much for the message."

There are many women with children that sit at robots.

I have shared with you a little about taxi drivers... they have a culture of their own. A taxi will not drive away until all the seats are full therefore they drive down the road hooting every 5 seconds to try to get people's attention. The front seat passenger has many jobs and one of them is "husseling" for passengers, which is what these men are doing in the picture below. Once the taxi is full, they will drive off and the front seat passenger is now in charge of counting the money to make sure everyone pays. You will be kicked out of the taxi if you don't pay up.

Well, we wanted to reach them with the Gospel but didn't know how until our Bossman (my nickname for our awesome and cool boss) told us of an idea to pass out Christian CDs. Thanks to Brett (you're the man!) he found me some Christian rap, Sho Baraka that I have been able to burn onto CDs and pass out to taxi drivers.  They are all surprised and excited to receive a free gift.

Side note: In order to get the full South African experience... Zach and I are going to ride in a taxi with our national friend Given. Amber has willingly volunteered to drive behind us to take pictures, as she does not feel it necessary to experience this part of the culture. Haha.

Please pray for these people who receive the message of salvation. Pray that they would seek to understand and know God. Pray that they would look to God to provide for all their needs both physically and spiritually.

Pray that the taxi drivers would listen to the music and share it with their passengers. Pray that they would believe and accept Jesus as Lord and be a witness to those they drive around every day.

Overloaded

We had our 3rd week of Sunday School and had around 30 children attend. We taught about Jesus calling his disciples and how they were ordinary people. Jesus uses those who are willing to follow him, you don't have to be perfect or know it all. Praise God because I wouldn't be here otherwise!

We are currently training Lihle for 2 months and then she will take over teaching Sunday School.

After Sunday School, we become a taxi service... which I have been told I could be a taxi driver. This is not intended as a compliment but I take it as one. One thing you have to know about taxi drivers are that you stay out of their way. They pretty much do whatever they want... stopping without any warning, running red lights, cutting you off and anything else you can think of. Rules do not apply to them. I don't think I'm that bad... but I have learned to maneuver my way around Soweto pretty well.

Here is just a small example of a taxi driver breaking rules... there was an accident ahead but he decided he wouldn't wait and drove down the shoulder. Why not?

Today, in our 5 passenger car we were able to pack in 14! This included 11 children and 3 adults. We were joking with Lihle, the 3rd adult besides Amber and I that we would be considered "overloaded" by police if stopped. 

We dropped off 2 children, leaving 12 in the car... only 7 over. Well, as I continued driving I noticed a man in a blue uniform standing in the road. My heart dropped as I saw police cars on the side. As we pulled up, the police officer motioned us to pull over. We were all scared as I fumbled for my licenses (NC & International) and handed them over. The officer spoke to Lihle saying that we were overloaded and she explained that we were headed "just there." I added in that we were coming from Sunday School hoping that would help. He looked at my licenses, handed them back and we drove off. Lihle explained that many times officers are hungry or want something so they set up road blocks in order to get money from people. Praise the Lord for no fines or bribes!

Please pray for our safety as we drive the streets of Soweto. We will not pay bribes so pray that the officers do not insist on being paid off but allow us to go without any problems.

Here are a few kiddies that come on Sundays.

Girls Club

This was our 2nd meeting with the girls in Grade 7 at Obed Primary School.

1.  We made name tags using the Gospel presentation:

Gold: Streets of gold in Heaven where God lives

Gray: Our problem of sin, we can't get to God on our own

Red: Jesus' blood shed on the cross for us

White: Believing in Jesus we can have a clean heart

Green: Grow by reading the Bible, praying and going to church

Pray that the girls would understand and accept Jesus as Lord of their lives.

2. We had girls come up and share John 3:16 that we challenged them last week to memorize. We surprised the 3 girls that were able to say it with sweeties (candy). Pray that the girls would hide the Word in their hearts so that when they are troubled they can remember that God loves them.

3. Amber shared the story of Esther. We encouraged the girls to be courageous just as Esther stood up and saved her people. We talked straight forward about issues dealing with alcohol, drugs and sex and how they need to stand up and do what is right. Pray that the girls would be strong and resist peer pressure and these temptations. And please pray for their safety.

4. We took the girls outside to play soccer, netball and paint nails. One of the girls is the captain of the soccer team so she was very organized. Amber and I attempted to play netball with the girls. I enjoyed standing around talking with the girls... playing with hair, learning to dance and trying to speak Zulu. Pray that as we love on these girls, that we would be good examples of women who love the Lord and live for Him.

Below are a few pictures for your enjoyment:

Housing in Soweto

This is a picture of the main highway that leads into Soweto which is home to 1.3 million people. Soweto is composed of both informal and formal housing structures.

Informal Housing

Informal settlements are communities of impoverished people who live in self constructed shelters usually made from corrugated metal, plywood and sheets of plastic. They often do not have proper sanitation, electricity, water, or telephone services. They usually lack basic services including policing, medical services, and fire fighting.

They were first set up on the outskirts of major towns and cities during white minority rule. Thousands from rural areas in South Africa as well as other countries have moved into the city in hopes of employment but can only afford to live in these make-shift homes.

1 in 10 South Africans live in informal settlements.

Formal or RDP Houses

Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) is a South African socio-economic policy framework implemented by the African National Congress (ANC) government of Nelson Mandela in 1994 to provide "housing for all." People earning less than R1,500 ($187.50) month qualify for a RDP house. 

In the last election manifesto the ANC declared that 2.6 million houses had been built for the poor from 1994 to date.

My friend put her name on the list in 1994 to receive a RDP house and is still waiting...

Meet Tisetsho

She is a sweet girl who lives near Gogo's house, which is where we meet for church in Snake Park. We had Sunday School on 9 Aug for the first time. We taught John 3:16 and gave them cards to take home to learn the verse in hopes that they would be able to say it the following Sunday.

When we came the next day on Monday, 10 Aug for Women's Day I got to hang out with her. I asked if she remembered the verse...

Here is her response:

National Women's Day

On 9 Aug 1956, women participated in a national march petitioned against 'pass laws.' Pass laws were legislation that required African persons to carry a document on them to 'prove' that they were allowed to enter a 'white area' during the Apartheid regime. Over 20,000 women of all races and ages from every corner of South Africa marching in protest against the pass laws that proposed even further restrictions on the movements of women.

Faith Baptist Church in Snake Park celebrated with a women's conference, which included praise and worship, testimonies, prayer and lecturers (from the Bible, adult education & social development).

But these are a few pictures of how I spent my Women's Day with the children & youth:

Getting my hair did or as they say plaited. It hurt as you can imagine with 5 girls pulling at your hair!

"Can you borrow me your camera?" This is what happens when you give a child your camera. This car belonged to one of the speakers... you don't see many Mercedes around Soweto, so of course Karabo wanted to pose in front of it.

I was taught how to use a towel to create a sling for a precious baby. 

You swing the baby onto your back as you lean over forward, you then put the blanket around you and the baby. Tie it at the front at the top and then tuck it under the baby's bottom. The baby's legs are open with feet facing towards your waist and then tuck the towel to secure. This is how all the women carry their babies around. 

It is pretty amazing!

Summit Team pt. 3

We had a busy but amazing week. 

Here are a few adventures that were had:

We went shopping at the Bruma Market (for Amber and I’s third time). Shopping is always fun but the best part was lunch. Matt, Jackie and I fell in love with Turkish shwarmas, which was basically a chicken, lamb or beef wrap. It was delicious! Matt loved it so much that he got a second one. This is a picture of Jackie and I with the owner, Yuksel. 

A Proposal. Amber and I with the help of the team wrote a list of reasons why we needed the Condor. We fell in love with the car even with all its quirks (like not being able to unlock the door with the clicker). We had a good time racing on the “dancing roads,” which are dirt back roads named by the locals because you are forced to dance up and down in the car as you go over the many bumps. Lets just say the Condor can handle it a little better than our Corolla. Please ask the team about the awesome ride I gave them one day.. I found a new love for off road mudding!!

Amber and I enjoyed giving the team cultural experiences and what better way than by trying new foods… “little gems of the citrus family” are eaten with the skin and all. When Amber and I purchased the fruit, the man said to eat quickly because the skin was sweet and the inside sour – as you can see from our lovely faces. Kumquat anyone?

We went on a safari in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. We were able to see warthogs, mongoose, elephants, hippos, rhinos, zebra, giraffe, baboons, wildebeest, and many antelope type animals (including springbok the national animal). The animals and landscape of Africa are just beautiful.

Darin entertained us all with the sign game... he would interpret what the different signs on the side of the road meant. This was quite hilarious as we drove around the city. 

“Do not put your bed on the highway."

Summit Team pt. 2

Thank you Summit for sending an awesome team over to support us and to help with ministry. It has been such a blessing! There is never a dull moment for sure.

The team has been brainstorming a name for Amber and I... which name do you like the best:  (1) Ramber (2) Amchel (3) Raber

The team treated us to a really nice dinner at Moyo restaurant. I had Senegalese Chicken Yassa... delicious! We got our faces painted African style. Love you girls.

Talk about doing ministry as a family... Here is a picture of father, son and daughter sharing the love of Christ with these children. I have enjoyed working alongside them!

And... to show their love for us they played Amber & I's favorite game. Nerts! Of course we dominated but it was a lot of fun.

Summit Team pt. 1

Cruisin' in style! We are going to be the chauffeurs for the Route 56 team this week. One perk is that we got to upgrade our small Toyota Corolla to a Condor. Too bad the trade isn't permanent.

Shopping at the Bruma Market. I love it! It is quite an experience as you get to talk with the store owners and play the barter game. We have become friends with quite a few people because we went 2 times last week, once with crazy Johnson from the team who is headed back to the States early. We will be going back with the others this week for our 3rd time. Good thing I love to shop :)  In this picture I am trying pineapple with chili powder. It was actually really good, I'm a fan.

Making friends already…. All the kids love him! On Sunday, the team led a Holiday Bible Club. They sang songs, taught a Bible verse, made a craft, played games and shared a Bible story. They will be having Holiday Bible Clubs and Soccer clinics all week.

Christmas in July! The team brought over extra suitcases filled with goodies for us. Thank you to them and to my awesome family and friends for thinking of me.

Dinner by candlelight.… but not by choice. The electricity went out on Sunday night and because I had not yet eaten dinner I had to find something to eat that didn’t require cooking. I’m not complaining because I’m thankful we can get peanut butter here!

Say A Little Prayer

Mayibuye Primary School

Please pray for our ministry within the schools. We hope to meet with the principals of 4 primary (elementary) schools in a week, including Mayibuye pictured above.  We are going to offer a “girls club” where we will teach life skills based on the Bible and mentor the girls. Pray that the principals would be excited about this and would allow us to be a part of the school in whatever way is needed.

Gogo (Grandma) Mumsi’s House 

South Africa is a melting pot of religions. Please pray that God would open the eyes and hearts of the people in Soweto and break the strongholds of ancestral worship. We are currently a part of two churches – Faith Baptist in Snake Park (meeting in Gogo's house, pictured above) and Lehae Baptist, also in Soweto.

Route 56 Trip 2008

Please pray for the team coming from my home church that will be working in Soweto (July 25 - Aug 2) They will be hosting many Holiday Bible Clubs that we will use to meet children and their parents. This will also be a way for Amber and I to kick off training members in Snake Park & Lehae to teach Sunday School. We are so excited to see them and to get a goody bag from home J Thanks mom and dad!

Sanele, Nmbobelo, Linda

These are the grandchildren of Gogo Mumsi whom I love! Please pray for the children of Soweto that God would protect them. Many bad things happen here daily. Pray that they would grow up to know and love the Lord.