Home on Mission

Home on Mission

It is wonderful to be home! I miss Cape Town and the class but love the time with my family. While the sun seems extra hot because I left cold weather, I love the green that surrounds me everywhere I go, so used am I to seeing the ocean with its many shades of blue, but seldom green. I also realize that few homes around me in Cape Town have the luxury of much land for trees and wide lawns and so on, and I enjoy seeing this again. With all that said, much of my home leave will focus on Evangeline Ministries. With no time wasted, it was wonderful to be reunited with Barbara Hoge(to the extreme left of the photo) and other ladies Alice, Velma, and Barbara who were part of a Virginia quilters team that came to Cape Town in February this year and Robin and Donna who were part of a dental hygiene mission team who had just returned from South Africa . Alberta also joined because of her special love for mission work. What made it all the more special was we met at the home of Joanne Hendricks, one of my former colleagues at the Baptist World Alliance, my last job before Cape Town. It is good to speak about mission work with anyone who is interested, but even better to do so with those who have visited. While it was great to talk about the work I do in Cape Town, it was even better to hear of their mission experiences in South Africa, in Port Elizabeth and Barcelona and see how much love they poured out to the women, children and young men whose lives they touched on their mission visits. I left, encouraged at the many way that God is at work in our world today and thank God for these beautiful women.

A New Start and Homeward Bound!

I so love new beginnings so here we are with one class safely graduated and another just begun. This is our second class for 2009 and they will finish, we trust all eleven by December. We have so many who want to come and am grateful for those we can help. Now I am on my way home for a break, to see family, friends and donors. I leave here with a heart of love for this work and so excited about the opportunities God is sending our way. Just this past week I spoke to another ministry that wants to use the women to sew tee shirts. Another wants women who used to live on the street to be able to take computer classes with us. What I am most thankful for is the networking that is possible here among great men and women whose hearts are to help those in need. Once home I will blog about perhaps, each of you that I meet and I also look forward to a trip to Trinidad, my birthplace. Perhaps you are now asking the question, how can she leave? this is the strength of our work here. Our teachers will continue and other volunteers, especially Mike and Pam Talley will help carry on. For all of these and for all of you, I praise God!

A few updates on HIV in South Africa

News About HIV and AIDS
Today there was some exciting news about HIV and AIDS here, unveiled at a global AIDS conference in Cape Town. The first African developed HIV vaccine, with work done at the University of Cape Town, began its clinical trials and with it, has come the hope that this vaccine could be the breakthrough needed to halt the rapid spread of this virus. When we remember that the world's first heart transplant took place here in a hospital, close to where I live, we should not be surprised that the continent that has been most affected by this disease, may indeed have the answer. Professor Anthony Mbewu of the South Africa research Council says "while safe sexual behavior is the key in the fight against HIV and AIDS, a vaccine was urgently needed to stop the spread of the disease." Recent statistics show there are an estimated 5.2 million people infected and hundreds more infected every day despite condom distribution and behavioral programs that educate people ," we know that a vaccine is what we need," Mbew said. In another focus, the Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe said South Africa has a goal to end mother-to-child Aids transmission. Soon , the Minister of Health is expected to announce an aggressive new program in this area. Ambitious goals have been set by the government which aims to halve the HIV incidence by 2011 " as well as provide, care, treatment and support to 80 percent of people living with HIV." At the same time, there is a justifiable uproar over in one of the states that , for the last four months have stopped giving out the antiretroviral drugs. There are reported shortages in other states, most of this due in part to the high costs of these drugs. The leading advocacy organization, Treatment Action Campaign says "this results in thousands of aids-related deaths each month." An even bigger concern, something I have seen , is getting HIV positive people to take their medication over the long haul. The irony of this is that, the younger the patient, the more likely she or he is to quit taking their medicines. I first learned this at the hospital as I visited one of our first students who was so ill. thankfully she recovered. When you add the hopelessness many feel at lack of jobs and a promising future and the stigma that still accompanies this virus, it all adds up to a potent mixture for despair. Why bother, is what we hear so often. I am grateful to be part of a program that says, there is hope and life for all in Jesus Christ. As we teach skills to the women, we work to push hard against the stigma and lack of information that is still so widespread in the communities most affected. Above all we seek to bring self esteem and joy into the lives of these women. It takes government, international and local agencies, non-profit organizations and religious groups all working together to make a difference.

Blessed Relationships

Wonderful Relationships

One of the benefits of my work here in Cape Town is meeting other like-minded people and ministries from whom I learn so much and am so encouraged in what God has called me to do here. I have written about the partnership with the Warehouse, an Anglican ministry that whose work I admire a lot. There are others. Soon after I arrived , I was introduced to Floyd McClung Jr. He heard about me, what I did, and that I was a journalist and was interested in it all. I had no idea who he was or what he had done. Just as well because it meant I came to the meeting with no preconceptions. It was all about first impressions. I am not sure what he thought then, but I was captivated by his love for God, his passion for African leaders and the way in which he immediately made me feel at ease. Later I found out about his work and that he is known all over the world for his incredible ministry with prostitutes in the streets of Amsterdam and runaways in Afghanistan. He graciously gave me his classic book "The Father Heart of God" Now he is in Cape Town as the international director of All Nations working to build up African servant leaders who will plant churches and disciple people and work to alleviate poverty through various enterprises. I resonate with that. I love it when I walk into the All Nations offices and see pictures of and quotes by Martin Luther King Jr. Nelson Mandela and others who are among our best role models of justice Most of all, I am moved and encouraged to see young people and adults from around the world, but mostly from Africa learn, pray, study, evangelize and have fun together , models of what a new Africa might be, and certainly the Biblical model of Galatians 3: 28. "neither Jew, nor Greek,slave or free, male or female." I add to that, black or white or red or yellow, shack dweller or palace queen, "all are on in Christ Jesus" This model is sorely needed in post-apartheid South Africa where the racial and economic divisions are still so wide. It is needed on a continent where power and position are prized above all else. Well that sounds to me like the rest of the world. It is my opinion that Africans and especially African males need to be encouraged in their skills and built up in their desire to serve their people with a new example. They need a Biblical model of Jesus who though he was rich became poor for our sakes. So often they see leaders who become rich and do little to ease the burdens of their people. African women need to be encouraged in their unique skills and gifts, not an easy goal as they face huge hurdles from some of their traditions. Those of us who come from outside the continent, especially Western missionaries need to model the same passionof early missionaries to the continent but with humility as we acknowledge that well meaning but some damaging mission policies precede our work in Africa.I find much to cheer my heart in all of these areas about the mission of All Nations here. No one group, and there are more than you can imagine, has all the answers to any of the problems in the church, in mission or otherwise here. While each has its own focus and strength, I think we all need to work with each other. That is my prayer for Evangeline Ministries. I thank God for the work of All Nations in South Africa.I have had the joy of interviewing some of the men and women who come for their leadership training and who are ready to risk all for Christ and help others in need. I have seen them rebuild burned out shacks in the squatter area of Red Hill and the informal township of Masiphumelele. I have sat in small groups they lead in these and other needy areas as they personally work with young men to teach them the Bible and have watched our Evangeline sewing leader Namgamso grow in her spiritual life because of one of the women's Bible studies and prayer groups they lead. So it was with great joy that I accepted Floyd's invitation to speak to the current Discipleship and Leadership students on Thursday morning. The best parts for me were the worship, oh the joy of African singing and dancing, and the chance to answer questions and discuss some of the wonderful ideas there are that could involve our sewing graduates. I hope I encouraged them as I shared my journey to Cape Town, one that was such a surprise, but one that has brought such fulfillment in the ministry here. Currently Evangeline works as part of Living Way, the economic arm of the Living Hope ministries. We will also join hands and hearts with other ministries, national and international, and work together for the changes we all want to see happen. An African proverb says, 'a bundle cannot be fastened with one hand. We need each other. That is true in every area of life, none more so than in Christian work in South Africa.

A glorious celebration

A Glorious Celebration
I am still basking in the afterglow of what was one of our happiest sewing celebrations ever. As I write today, it is pouring the rain that we expected yesterday when we held our first of two graduations for this year in lovely sunshine. This matched the mood of our class as more than 60 of us enjoyed barbecue, my July 4Th. Then we danced to songs sung by the class and especially our guests from Sweet Home Farms, another township whose three women finished their course work, thanks to a scholarship from Evangeline and in cooperation with The Warehouse ministry. The best moment for me was when Rev. Joy Klimbashe, pastor to the women in Sweet Home Farms explained how much the community would benefit from the three girls who completed their program and received new sewing machines. "It is not three women you have helped, but all of us," he said. Already Christina, one of the ladies had begun to teach others what she had learned and wants to invite teacher Namgamso to come over and help them even more. This is our goal, for each one to teach one or more and multiply the benefits, just like Jesus did with the loaves and fishes.
As we ended with hugs and tears we sang one final song, Siabongya, or thank you Lord.

Singing I love!

Wednesday July 8, 2009
I love to sing, but I think the South Africans love to even more. Better yet, I think music, singing and dancing are at the heart of this magnificent continen. I remember my first visit to Africa was to then Zaire. When our tiny Missionary Aviation plane landed in the first village we visited, the people sang and danced their welcome. I had never experienced that before. Tiredness rom the long journey was washed away in this warm African embrace. One of my sweetest memories was the market in Harare. As I shopped I was singing a new Shona song I learned. The woman from whom I was buying some family gifts recognized it. A huge smile filled her face and she sang it with me. That was a taste of heaven which brings me to my class.
Sometimes I arrive at class to hear the women singing as they sew. In spite of all they face, a song is never far away. Like the slaves in the United States, some of the greatest music comes from the struggle. Music helps to lift the load and fill the heart with hope. I know firsthand because nothing moves my spirit, lifts me from despair and infuses me with hope like music. At the end of class, we pray and sometimes we sing. On Tuesday I felt moved to sing one of the songs I have learned here and as I did, the women began to laugh. Oh I think my voice is ok, but it does not have the depth, passion and strength of theirs, and especially to sing their songs. I happily gave way and let them lead. They have a pattern, a call and response which you can still hear in some churches at home. And then, perhaps because it is the end of long session of class, they began to dance. Well I started to dance too and once they got over their surprise we danced together. The Psalms invite us to praise God with dancing. There is an African proverb that says "The person who has a cheerful heart will discover that joy is always on the increase." I wish my students and you my reader great joy in your life. Music and dancing is a great way to start.

Taxi! Taxi!

Tuesday July 7, 2009
Take a Taxi!
In the last year, my car has changed batteries four times but that is another story. A week ago Sunday my car stalled again and I for the rest of the week I had to get by without it. After my initial fury, I decided this could be the start of an adventure. For the most part I would walk but that plan fell through because of a series of muggings nearby. My friends all urged me to call them but I could not bring myself to do that at all hours of the day so I decided it would be a taxi week. I actually enjoy taxis. Wherever I have travelled around the world I have taken taxis in the sure knowledge that they would not kill me, even when death seemed too close! Where I live in Fish Hoek, it a taxi paradise. Taxis run all day from Ocean View and Masiphumelele to Fish Hoek and back. They are called "bakkies" or what we would call in the United States a van. Generally they are barely maintained and some remind me of the old cars I saw in Cuba, held together by tape and more tape. With the 2010 World Football games approaching, the police now check them more than I have ever seen since I lived here. But what I like the best, and this is a feature I have seen in other places, is their color and individuality, each with its own slogan that describes the owner. Make no mistake, the taxi business here is serious. They are the most popular form of public transport and taxi turf wars often lead to taxi deaths. The thing that surprised me most however this week was the way I was greeted or to be more accurate, ignored in the taxi. Once I approached a taxi to get in, immediately people looked at me like a curio in a shop. Seeing I was a well dressed foreigner, I expected them to welcome me into the taxi but for the most part I was greeted with stony silence that made me uncomfortable and angry. "If they only knew the good I was doing here" I fumed inwardly. And yet, why should they welcome me more than any one else. Immediately I step into their world the differences are huge and these days with tensions high in Masiphumelele because of the terrible housing conditions, one sees the anger and weariness in the faces of the informal dwellers more than ever before. It got better though. When it was time for me to step down from the last taxi I took to get my car, one of the men held out his hand and helped me down and with a smile That made all the difference in the world. That probably too will not be the last time I take a taxi here!

A Program of Hope

Classes of Hope

On Saturday July 11 we will have the first of two graduation celebrations for our Evangeline Ministries Sewing Class. We will award eleven new sewing machines to women who have completed all of the sewing course work and also learned some of the basics of the computer. If there is any doubt that we are making a difference here, it is erased when I read about the lives of the women and what these courses mean to them. Two of the women sell wood at this side of the street. This wood is used either for braai or barbecue and for heating and cooking. One of them says, "I am selling wood which is so difficult for me because I am getting older. My family is uneducated and so we are facing poverty. I heard about this program from Paul, (one of our teachers) He told me if I learned to make clothes and sell them it can help me feed my children and send my child back to school who dropped out earlier." Another woman came to the after she saw a lady wearing a shirt and the lady told her she made it all by herself after she learned from this place "so I came to join. I can make my dress and can use the computer and I can make my business," she said."It will help me to get a job and have a better future," said another. I am so moved and humbled and grateful to be here.