Living by Faith

By Ben

I’m sorry that we haven’t updated this in a while. We were hiking on Table Mountain during National Women’s Day, and I was bitten by a cobra. Just kidding! (Mom, you can start breathing again. [Speaking of my Mom, her # is 303-530-9311, Mom in Law])

We both have had a touch of the flu this week, but are both feeling fine now. I jokingly called the flu bug “Mandela’s Revenge.” Again my sense of humor was not understood as no one here has ever tasted the bitter reality of Montezuma’s Revenge as I have. Fortunately, Mandela is a much more kind a peaceful leader than Montezuma, and he let us slide with only two days of fever and sore stomachs. On the humor front, I am being laughed at more. My plan to email home with a cobra bite story was a big winner. People laugh freely and often here, and my face still hurts from smiling.

Lesson # 24 Living by Faith

The idea of “full time, vocational ministry” that we have in the states translates here to “living by faith.” Ministry is a sacrifice here in many ways. Ministers do fundraise, but not nearly to the scale that American ministers do. Most of the money that they receive supports the programs that they have started. They trust God to provide for their living expenditures. This often means living in sub-economic areas, sometimes without electricity or running water. The men and women in ministry that we have met are at the mercy of God’s will, and they consider this normal. I don’t want to idealize the way that ministries are organized here; there are still budgets, and financial stress, and there is still greed among ministers (none that we have spent time with, though.) However, the emphasis is on trust in God’s provision; whereas I have seen many American ministries who rely primarily on management and human strategies.

Lesson # 26 Tik

Somehow, I have the reputation here as “the Drug person.” I think that this stems from the articulation of my ministry at home. In reality, I have learned so much about drug rehab and prevention while being here- I feel very unqualified to be a “Drug Person.” (Quotation marks are called inverted commas here. Still, I find them “obnoxious.”)
I taught a seminar about drug prevention and rehab for parents on Tuesday. It was a learning experience for all. Here are a few things that I have learned about the matter in my preparations for the seminar (starting years ago, even), and from listening to the parents share during it:
1. Tik is South African for Crystal Meth and is far and away the most prevalent drug here.
2. Drugs are such a pervasive and troubling problem here that fulfilling the Great Commission and making disciples in South Africa must include the hard work of offering hope to those in the grips of Tik.
3. The war on drug abuse must be a war that is fought on three fronts: the family, the community, and the country.
4. Family problems (here as in the US) are the primary breeding grounds for teenage drug abuse. Therefore the best way to fight drug abuse is in the home. A family that will prevent drug abuse among the children will most like be a family where the values of vulnerability, communication, love, discipline and others.
5. The reality facing South African Christian is that there are many families that are broken in the communities. It is not enough to ensure the safety of our own, but we are called by Jesus to reach out. The communities are suffering from Tik pushers and gangs waiting to prey on the many youths who are disenfranchised. Christian leaders who are slowly developing (transforming) their communities one teenager at a time are in the fight for the long haul, they are kind and not judgmental; but they still hold strong to the truth and to the hope of Christ.
6. Around the world, national remedies for the drug problems are relying too much on enforcement, and not enough on development. The drug business is just that- a business, and the rules of supply and demand apply. The problem with Tik is that it can be manufactured locally, so that trying to limit the supply is a huge problem. Therefore, the South African Government is beginning to try to slow the drug’s demand by supporting innovative rehab and prevention programs that are changing lives. Still, there is much to be done. Like in America, there is great injustice when it comes to schools. Schools in poorer areas lack funding, and teachers are scarce and overworked. We must support education in both the local and national stages.
7. Tik addicts need a long time to rehab as they experience relapse. Relapse is a chemical imbalance that for a short while will intensify cravings after the user has been clean. South African programs have dealt with this well by instituting an aggressive follow up program for addicts who have finished rehab.

There’s a lot more, but I’ll end there for time’s sake.

Lesson #23 An Adoption Story

While Alicia was out sick, I got to go have dinner all by my onesey with Sheryl and Ashley. Ashley told me the story of his adopted brother. When Ashley was a boy, his mother adopted a seven year old AIDS orphan. (Due to my accent problems, I didn’t catch Ashley’s brother’s name. Hence he will be referred to “Ashley’s brother.”) The boy was hard from the start, constantly running away and stealing from the family. A few years after his adoption, Ashley’s brother ran away for good. Twenty years later, one of Ashley’s cousins was approached by a man claiming to be Ashley’s brother. The man slept on the streets of Cape Town’s city center, and was addicted to tik. Ashley went to the streets and found him. He gave his brother some food, but did not identify himself, and his brother did not recognize him. Ashley repeated this daily for a week, and then after giving the man some food; Ashley told him who he was. His brother walked away for a moment, and then came back with tears in his eyes. Brothers were reunited. The man told Ashley that he had been so grateful to Ashley’s mother for opening her home to him and for teaching him about Jesus. The man said he was so sorry. Ashley continued to visit and bring food daily for about a month, visiting his long lost brother, and speaking to him about Jesus. Ashley thinks that his brother did decide to put his trust in Christ. One day his brother did not show up. Ashley asked around, and found out that his brother had been taken to the hospital. Ashley arrived at the hospital to learn that his brother had already died of AIDS.
Ashley looks back at this story with joy and gratitude that he got to see and speak with his brother before he died. It reminds me that even though things seem fruitless and hopeless in the moment, God is big and we never know the effect that our actions (both selfless and selfish) have.

Person #6 Crazy Pastor Cheti

Picture my mentor Cris Crisfield with black skin and hair and an Indian heritage. Then make him crazy. This is Pastor Cheti. He and his wife joy have been in ministry for 25 years together, and really want to move to India to be missionaries once their children are in university. How’s that for retirement?! Pastor Cheti was born in Durban and is a converted Hindu. He and his family have lived by faith for their entire Christian lives, and God is faithful. I got to be with them when they put their deposit down on their first home. After 25 years of faithful service planting churches, serving missionaries, being missionaries and being crazy for Jesus; the door has opened for them to buy a small (72 square meters) house. Pastor Cheti said over and over that this was such a remarkable blessing. Their house is in Pelikan Park, yet another sub-economic area. It recently was a squatter camp that has been developed into low income housing. While we were doing the paper work for the house, a dump truck pulled up. It is a serious problem for poor people in the area that people and businesses use their land as a free place to dump trash. Pastor Cheti ran out to confront the driver of the dump truck. While the manager of the project argued with the driver, Crazy Pastor Cheti jumped into the truck and stole the keys. We ran into the house and called the authorities. It was CRAZY!!

What We Did This Week

By Alicia

So, Monday and Tuesday, I was sick, so we had to cancel some plans that had been made for us, but on Tuesday I sent Ben to hang out with people wihtout me- there was no use in him sticking around ot watch me sleep all day. Pat, the housekeeper at the church came in and checked on me a couple of times, so I wasn't all by myself.

Wednesday morning I spoke on "The Suffering of Women Worldwide" at the Women's Day breakfast. "Women's Day" is a Public holiday here, started in honor of the women who were the first to protest the "Pass Laws"(racist laws prohibiting colored or black people to be out in certain areas at certain times, very much like Nazi policies of the past). The year escapes me that the protest happened- I'll let you know though.

After the breakfast, one of the families from the congregation took Ben and I on a beautiful hike that ende in Kirstenbosch Garden, the botanic gardens in Cape Town. We were supposed to go to dinner at their home, but I was still feeling sick, so they took Ben and I back to the church so I could rest.

Thursday we spent the morning at the church (their offices are always busy and there are always tons of people around to talk to). And then Ben and I went to Robben Island. Robben Island is where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners, who were then referred to as 'treasonists' and 'terrorists', were held during apartheid. Mendela was there for 18 years, and then in other prisons for 6 more years, totaling 24 years in prison. Our tour guide had been an inmate- he was actually one of the original seven ANC members who was captured with Mandela and tried & convicted of 'treason.' As a history major, I can appreciate the fact that this man was the one who gave us our tour and not some 17 year old who needed a summer job and doesn't even remember what apartheid was. The attitude that this man has, and the people who established Robben Island as a museum, is incredible. They do not want to highlight the abuses and point fingers at the perpetrator's, but they truly do see it as an opportunity to educate future generations and dispell the rumor that "history alwasy repeats itself." There forgiveness is exemplary and apparent.

Ben and I then went straight to St. Micheal's Academy- a home for girls just around the corner from the church. There are 9 girls living there, all of which have been badly abused in some form. You can sense their hurt and their fear, but their desire to be loved and sought after. One of the cell groups from the church (cell group= City Pres community group) goes there once a month together, so we got to go with them. Some of the people from the group have kind of adopted some of the girls and meet with them outside of Thursday nights as well. While we were there, Jeremy, Ben and I prayed for Simone, a girl who has been on meth (they call it 'tic' here) for 6 months and has been cutting herself. Ben and I made an appointment to come back and meet with her the next morning.

Firday morning we went bcak to St. Michael's and met with Claudia, who is in charge of the facility. She made it perfectly clear to us that Simone already had a counselor (as well as 5 other professionals of some sort) treating her, so that we were not allowed to provide her any 'counseling' per say. But then she said that she was glad that we were there and that the girls need spiritual direction and encouragement, so please talk to her as much as you can about that. It was a weird experience for us considering we've neve had an authority figure in America ask us to please give the kids they were in charge of spiritual guidance. Our time with Simone was short, and Ben and I found it difficult b/c we're used to such long term relationships with kids, but I think that we were able to give her some hope and encouragement. You could see the battle within her of wanting to know more, but the walls of protection and fear being hard to overcome. I shared with her from Jeremiah 29:11- "'I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. She gave us her address so we can write her once we are home. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, adn I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you', declares the Lord, 'and will bring you back from captivity.'" Her eye lit up when she heard this- my heart hurts and crys for her as she has a long road of recovery before her.

Ben and I then went to the head quarters for Ambassadors in Sport, a ministry that is sharing the gospel through soccer internationally. Our friend jeremy used to play professional soccer here, and he volunteers for them every few years, going on international tours. He actually stayed and coached at Boulder Valley Christian Church the last time he was there, four years ago. Small world.

We finished the afternoon by have coffee and lunch a Anthony's house, one of the member of the church. Pastor Theo and jeremy were there with us. We sat around and talked for hours, Ben and I just picking their brains and asking a million questions about the church, outreach, politics, history, education. It was a great discussion.

Finally, last night, Ben and I led the youth group. ( I just can't get away from kids!) We taught them some American games and then we broke up into guys & girls for teaching. We are both struck by the large amount of respect that the kids have for adults. Ben taught the boys how to read the Bible (using some great notes from Mary Jean Powers, of course!) and I taught the girls about our identities in God. There were a few points where I asked for answers to a question, or feedback, or some sort of dialogue, but they were hesitant to the point of silence. Our friend Terry warned us that they are used to being lectured to, and man, was she right. It was really neat though how at the end of our time together when the girls prayed, they prayed for almost everything I had taught on. They were really listening, even though they weren't interacting. we had a wonderful time with them, and know almost all of them by name.

In response to a few questions:

My friend Lauren asked to share a little bit about how they view Americans. Everyone we've met has been incredibly friendly, asks lot of questions about Colorado (especially about the cold and the snow). They don't often share their opinions about America unless we ask, or make them feel like they can be honest about what they think. Almost everybody that we've had longer interactions with has been to at least a few years university, most people have degrees and many people have travelled internationally.

South Africa is trying very ardently right now to establish a National identity that is not molded by the West for them. They want to make sure that they are making decisions b/c it is right and good, not b/c it is what the countries of the West have done. They question everything, and it seems that they are finding some good solutions. Although America, for a long time, has stood for them as a model of everything that a country "should" be, they're not buying that as the answer anymore. They can sense that the bigger/better, keeping up with the Jonses', everybody is in a lot of debt, way of life isn't making Americans happy. They don't want the same materialism, with dis-regard for it's effects on the earth, the world-market and little kids in sweat shops, that we have created.

It seems like they are looking at our politics and our way of life and truly weighing what is good, and using it, and what is bad, and discarding it.

In action, however, there are some funny hipocrisies. It seems that much of S.A. is falling into the materialism merry-go-round. All the teenagers think Hummers are the coolest cars you can own. Purchasing name brands is the cool thing to do (think the early 90's when everybody had the Nike swoosh or POLO plastered across their chest). Also, every store, restaurant and establishment we've been in has been playing American music (mostly Britney and Shakira) and we went to the video store the other day and rented to American new releases (Ben wanted to rent some local SA stuff, but I was too tired to dig through the million copies of american movies to try and find a lcally produced one).

Politically, it seems that most people disagree with the war and think that the US is beginning to step over it's boundaries in the world. It seems like we're starting to be viewed as bullies here, who are unwilling to be taught by others.

Spiritually, it's very similar. People subscribe ot the teachings of good American teachers- some of the names we've heard mentioned in a positive light are Billy Grahm, Rick Warren, John MacArthur?, Tony Campolo. But there are others who they think are a bit ridiculous (Benny Hinn) and even other's that have left more damage than good in thier interactions with them-the recent discovery of the gold mines that Pat Robertson owns furhter North and Bruce Wilkinson's campaign to save Swaziland and SA, when he spoke to the SA's with what they saw as a very condescending tone and in public speeches in both Swaziland and SA told politicians, pastors, media and the public that he believed the AIDS epidemic was God's curse on a sinful nation.

All in all, it seems that they are doing a good job of weeding out the bacd from the good, are teachable, discerning and wise, and have been gracious hosts to us. We've learned a lot about living by faith from them.

Mom Nixon, we can be reached at cell-072-697-0578 or at the church 021-761-8511. From the states you'll have to dial '0' first to conntect internationally.

Kevin- thanks for the story. You made us laugh. A lot. Good luck with the job!

Our love to you all. Please keep sending comments, as they make us feel connected! Also, Lauren thanks for the questions! I hope that the rest of you can keep asking as well so we can share more of what we are seeing here.

The Revenge & Further Thoughts on the Future

by Alicia

So, if you've never had the South African flu, trust me- you don't want it.

I've never had the flu before (in my memory anyways- Mom, you might have to correct me on this one), until two days ago. Word on the street has it that the version of the flu here is pretty hostile compared to most others. Some people we've talked to said they had it fro 11 days and then it came back again a few weeks later. Ben and I were amazed that even the flu seems to hit at an almost epidemic proportion, and it hits much harder than any other American head-cold bug that we're all used to getting.

So, I spent Monday and Tuesday in bed, passing the time by alternating between wishing that I could have some sort of stomach transplant and trying to make deals with God like "I'll trade you two days of flu for 15 days of a sore throat and runny nose." Neither seems to have worked out. I finally started to feel 100% better yesterday (Friday). Please pray for my continued health. By the way, Ben is calling this flu strain "Mandela's Revenge" (get it, like Montezuma's Revenge?) I'm not sure what Mandela would be vengeful over, as he seems like a peace loving and justice seekings person, but man, the flu was a killer.

Here's an excerpt from my journal from Wednesday night:

I probably wouldn't have left bed this morning if I hadn't had to speak at the Women's Day Breakfast the Church hosted. I thought I was feeling well enough, but I just felt awful once I got there. It was fun to see so many women that I had already met- they are so friendly- it felt like I already had many friends at church. I spoke- I don't have confridence in my talks unless I've spent a week preparing them and they are totally scripted. (which this one wasn't- God had led me to some scripture to share and some ideas- I trusted Him with the delivery- I don't want to tturn it into a producation or a show about me- I want it to be genuine from my heart and the heart of God when people hear me)It was neat to see how God knit together my talk with the other 2 women's... He has His plans and I should trust them.

I keep having to remind myself not to confuse my excitement about this place, these people & projects with being tired of traveling and being sick. I am not good at BEING- I must always be DOING or I start to feel worthless. I get restless easily- especially after the long season of waiting I feel like this past year has been for me.

Today I also started thinking about all of the people that I would miss if we moved back here. I feel like there is so much that I have already missed- especially in the lives of the girls- that I would hate to continur missing. I also fear friendships changing and losing the amazing commnity that we already have in Denver in order to come here and for a new one.

I want to hear the call of God louder than anyone else's wants, desire or needs (including my own). There is need everywhere. Let me only respond to you, Lord.

There is a battle happening within me.

It seems there is blessing everywhere too.

Youth Ministry in South Africa

By Ben

Lesson #3 Stripping Down My Resume

Hopefully by the year 2009 I will have updated this completely.
All the assets that I thought I had are gone.
(Day 1)
>My experience and context for expertise are not in South Africa. There is no Young Life here yet, and there are no GOAT kids.
>I have only met one person here before today. No one knows anything of my story, and I know nothing of theirs.
>Being from America is not respected as I thought it would be. Our government’s arrogant world policy and seemingly unnecessary war in Iraq; and our disproportionate consumption of valuable resources have deeply tarnished our reputation at the leaders of the free world. No longer are the poor and suffering in South Africa (or the rest of the continent) looking to the West to come and rescue them. They are looking within, to the African Renaissance; and to God for deliverance. In many circumstances, my nationality may be more of a liability than an asset. (Day9) I have seen that this is true for the most part. Several popular American Christian leaders have marched into Africa arrogantly saying they aim to “save” the continent, but have ended up not listening to (Bruce Wilkinson’s grandiose visions in Swaziland) or even outright exploiting (Pat Robertson’s gold mine- google it) the people they claim be serving. However, there is hope. The United States may not have the reputation that we once had, but many Western ideas and values are beginning to be valued here- both good and ill. We still have a responsibility to be the leaders of the world that we are supposed to be. Africa is still watching.
>My sense of humor is not understood here. (Day9) This has proven to be untrue. South Africans laugh freely and often. My face hurts from smiling!
>I understand about 50% of what people are saying. I’ve never been good with accents (Sorry Texans!) Alicia teases me extensively about this. I am glad to have her as an interpreter. (Day9) I’m up to about 85% now, and it is getting better -except for this one older lady who approached me after church last night and talked and talked in her thick accent. All I could do was smile nod and say “uh-huh” and “thank you” where I felt appropriate. I whispered “15%” to Alicia after she left.
>Any cultural experience, or cultural savvy that I possess in America, matters not here. (I wanted to say it that way because I want to sound smart.)
>Back home I am used to serving people and thus winning them over. Here I am the one who is being served.

Despite lacking so much that I am used to having or expected to have; I am blessed and am prepared. I have a compassionate heart and an open mind for my Father, a beautiful and brilliant wife, and a God who is strong when I am weak – and I am weak indeed!

Lesson # 14 The South African Youth Group.

(Day6) Ashley is the tough looking construction worker/ youth pastor for Calvary Sanctuary. Although intimidating, he is kind and wise. However, after meeting him I still said to myself “I’m so glad he’s on our side!” Alicia and I observed youth group tonight, and will lead it in two weeks. The boys love to play soccer. I thought I might ask if I could join in on their indoor, pre-church game. I walked into the fellowship hall just in tome to see a boy dance around on (yes on!) the ball, spin around, and kick the ball behind his back, and bounce it off the goal post. It would have been a sure goal if the goal had been any larger than a single metal chair. I decided that I wouldn’t show them up, and I took a rain check. After soccer, we got organized and played a couple of games. Including a version of indoor soccer with a smaller ball, sticks and the same chair goals- it was brutal. Then we parted ways along gender lines, and went to our lesson time. The lesson usually has a 10 minute devotion led by one of the kids, and then a lesson by one of the leaders. The Anton led us in a discussion about wisdom. The confidence with which he spoke and the boldness he had to speak hard things into the boys’ lives was impressive. It was an interesting contrast to how I have grown accustomed to doing things. I tend to let kids know they are loved, and not say anything that could cause them to leave the group. Anton told them the straight up truth, and has been for a long time. Anton is a volunteer, so is Ashley and Tanya and Lynn. And (wait for it….) they all have been volunteers for 5-7years!! The boldness, commitment and dedication of these leaders challenge me and inspire me to be a better leader of teenagers.

Lesson # 17 Hope

(Day9)My beloved wife already gave you a good description of Chrysalis Academy. Please pray for me on the 27th of August as I will be speaking there to the whole academy about Jesus. Pray that I would offer hope and that Jesus’ love for them would be apparent. When Lorbee told me that she didn’t believe in God because she had suffered so much I was tempted to say “I wouldn’t believe in Him either, if I had seen what you have seen.”
As I have seen squatter camps, and sat with people from them, I must cling to the hope that Jesus is bigger that the suffering that I am seeing.
Despite the pain and loss that is so common here, much of it has given birth to hope. Thought many have never seen a better world that the camps, they believe that they will see one someday. I’ve heard that there is not a word for hope in some African dialects, but I am overjoyed to see the English word used and exhibited frequently here.
Jesus is on the move here in South Africa, even in Airport City and the Kensington squatter camps. I am honored to see Him at work through the likes of Jeremy, Chris, Nadine, and Raymond – bold, courageous, creative followers of Jesus who cling to the hope that these unjust remnants of apartheid will come to an end.

Person #7 Chris

(Day 6) Chris is Jeremy’s brash, passionate friend who helps Jeremy with his work in Kensington. I met Chris today as we were setting up for the launch of Jeremy’s under seven soccer league. (The power of soccer to break down religious, racial, and socio-economic walls is amazing.) Though Chris’ professional soccer career was stifled because he is colored (as was Jeremy’s) he got involved with Ambassador’s in Sport, an organization that uses soccer to minister around the world. With Ambassadors in Sport, Chris traveled to some of the poorer nations in Africa. There he felt God’s call to service and sacrifice. He came home and quit his job at the family business. This decision caused him to leave his company car, his handsome salary, his nice house, and his family’s blessings behind. He has lived by faith for seven years, and is passionate about what I call “Youth Development” ministry. He sees the value in offering poor kids life skills classes that teach kids how to live and work and function in the world, but he wonder’s about kids’ spiritual development. He wants to teach the youth classes in Kingdom life skills to prepare kids for a life of ministry and service to the poor. He believes that the purpose of youth ministry is not to entertain or convert, but to develop and to train.
It is evident that Chris loves his wife. He talks often about a minister’s responsibility to his family. He built his house so that he could “pamper” his wife. Is passion and sense of humor is a joy.

Responses to Comments & Observations

By Ben and Alicia
Thank you so much for you responses- Keep them coming! It makes us feel encouraged and loved...

Michael- You asked what else they would drink at a restsaurant besides water. This is what I mean when I say they are crazy about coffee. That's literally all anyone drinks here. Coffee, coffee, coffee. Thank you so much for adding us to the prayer list back home. You are a blessing and a joy.

Kevin- Have you thought about getting drunk on campus? Might not be quite the same as cigarettes, but it would probably be a funny story to tell us when we get home.

Mom Nixon- No, it won't cost us anything if you call us here. The best time is late at night, so sometime between 2pm and 3pm Colorado time. We love you! Thanks for faithfully reading!

Dad- They do have headlights on the cars here. We've only seen a car drive on the wrong side of the road once (although, if you measure it by American standards, they all drive on the wrong side of the road and we've only seen one car on the right side of the road.) We lov you and miss you.

Mom Eakins- We love you! Send lots of love to baby Ellie and wich D&G Good luck for us! We love you, and thank you for your faithful reading as well!

Jenny Lloyd- Here's your shout-out!

Kellie- I'll probably come home with that new hairdo we talked about. You know me too well!

Alex- Tell Matthew that I was borderline dehydrated last night (don't worry moms- I've had lots of water and now I'm fine) but I didn't drink my own pee. Then tell him that I love him. Then tell him to tell you that I love you.

G&G Hathaway- We find ourselves thankful for Ben's Bretheren upbringing that firmly founded him in the Word. The PB is well-known here and the first thing everybody says is "They know the word." What an amazing legacy. Thank you.

Observations:

It's steadily been around high 40's to mid 50's since we've been here. Nobody has central heating. They just wear warmer clothes. We're such American sissies.

When we were chatting with Lorbi (see "Smell of life..." blog), the first thing she asked, when she found out we were from America, was "Do they have shacks there?" (i.e. Squatter camps). For the life of me, I (Alicia) couldn't understand what she was saying, and thought that she kept asking if we had 'Sex' in America. I repeated it back- we had a good laugh and then I told here that we definitely had Sex in America- and probably way too much of it. Hah!

Ben does a lot of smiling and nodding since he can't understand what most people are saying. Alicia translates for him once they leave.

Sunday night

by Alicia

Sunday night after we finished our time at Chrysalis Academy we went straight to church for the evening service where Ben and I would each be speaking.

The government of South Africa has produced a series of programs called 'Heartlines.' Each week it is a one hour movie based on teaching morals and values to the people of SA. The topics covered are: acceptance, forgiveness, perserverance, compassion, self-control, second chances, responsibility (there's one more, it's an 8 week series. I can't remmebr the last, but I'll let you know in my next blog). It's an amazing program that it seems the whole country is participating in. There are discussion groups being held everywhere. Bosses are making their employees watch and hosting discussions at work, churches are having the small groups focus on the program. It's really amazing.

This weeks program is going to be about perseverance, so they asked Ben and I each to speak about perserverance to get everyone thinking about it as they got ready to watch the program later that night. (It's also re-played several times throughout the week.)

I spoke about persevering through being comfortable. I have spent so much of my life thinking that God wanted me to be happy, healthy and wealthy- not having to make sacrifices. If I was all of these things, then I must be doing God's will, right? But think about Jesus- he was homeless, outcast, a trouble-maker. Was he ever rich, comfortable, without sacrifice? If Jesus had chosen to live a life of prosperity, would he have chosen to give Himself on the cross? I had chosen to remain comfortable and content in a world that I should not be comfortable and content in.

I urged the congregation to persevere through comfort and to seek what God would have us do with our health, wealth and joy. Keep it? Never. Give it away? Always.

I ask you today- what is God asking you to sacrifice and share today? He poured all of Himself out- should we, as His followers not do the same? Trust your heavenly Father, who loves you, to provide for you as you pour yourself out. He will.

Jesus was a steward of God's grace, asked to take care of what belonged to the Father and deliver it to us. This meant total denial of himself. Listen to Jesus' very own words, as He teaches us to do the same: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done."

I notice that Jesus' emphasis is not on believing what he says, but in doing what he teaches.

The smell of life...

by Alicia

More South African English:
let=rent (only used in reference to flats (apartments))
hire=rent (used in reference to cars, or anything else you could rent)
hectic= crazy (as in, 'I've had a hectic day' or 'The life of a youth pastor is hectic' or 'Life in the ghetto is hectic') Everybody uses this term all the time. Pronounced without the "h" (eck-tick)
shame= 'That's too bad' This is also used en masse. Ex: Ben and Alicia:"Our luggage hasn't come yet." South African: "Shame! How long has it been missing?"
biscuit= cookie
porridge= cereal
sub-economic area= lower socio-economic area= American ghetto x's 5

Yesterday was a hectic (see definition) day for us. We started off the morning at Calvary Sanctuary for church (the church that is hosting us) and then to on the the parishonerts houses for lunch. It seems that everybody has large family dinners after church on Sundays. They all go to the same church as well. Usually they will spend the afternoon reading the paper and napping. We were a little bit too busy to do that though. :) (See my next blog to hear about the end of the day)

After lunch we went to the Chrysalis Academy (fitting name, I think). This is a drug & alcohol rehab institution where teens voluntarily enroll themselves for three-month programs. They try to maintain all girls or all boys for each session (surprisingly there are many more girls at risk, so usually they will have all girls one session and then half/half the next). It's run kind of like a boot camp with a very strict schedule. Girls will start the program with an Outward Bound trip, including two days and nights of total solitude. Then during the day they will take classes in Computers, Electrical, Hairdressing, Firefighting or Business. They will receive a certification, but will still most likely will not be able to compete with students graduating from University. Once they are done most of the graduates will return back to the very same squatter camp or sub-economic area they came from.

One of the men in the congregation at Calvary Sacntuary runs a ministry there. He does a church service every Sunday morning, comes during visitation hours on Sunday afternoons (so that girls who do not have visitors will have someone to hang out with)/ He brings several volunteers from the church with him during this time. On Wednesdays he leads a Bible Study and then on Fridays he does "Youth," which is South African for 'club' or 'youth group.'

Ben and I were able to go with him during visitation hours. The girls (about 100 or so of them) started our time together with singing. They had beautiful voices and it was the kind of singing that gives you goosebumps and make you cry. One song was particularly touching, but also haunting in a way I haven't figured out yet- the words were "Never, ever, never, never, never, never give up." It brought tears to my eyes and chills ran up and down my spine. Maybe it's b/c these girls are trying so hard to succeed, but they will be facing such a long uphill battle. They have so much more to contend with than just addiction recovery.

Ben and I spent time talking with three girls especially- Lorbi, Wendi and Fesco. Lorbi was by far the most vocal. We asked them what we should know about the squatter camps, why kids are dropping out of school, how we can encourage them to finish, how we can help the squatter camps. Lorbi was very open. In the course of conversation she said that she didn't really believe in God. She said it like she was asking rather than affirming. 'There were so many times' she said, 'I asked for God to help. And He didn't. Why would he let these things happen to me and my family?' This girl grew up in the squatter camps- looks and acts far older than her years and I can see in her eyes that she's seen more and been through more than I will hopefully ever have to. Yet she is not hardened.

Ben shared with her about his conversion experience at Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany- 'If there is this much evil in the world there has to be a God. There's no way I can do this on my own.'

How do you give hope to a girl who has been so beaten, yet desperately seeks to know if there is something worth hoping for. When she has struggled so hard to make good choices, yet she'll be thrown right back into the same squatter camp she cam from. How do you tell her she'll find a job when she's minimally educated and lives amongst another several hundred thousand people who are seeking work as well? Airport City, one of the nearby squatter camps, lines both sides of one of the National Highways. It reaches about a mile out on both sides, and follows the highway easily for over 5 miles. Keep in mind that whole families live in small, one room shacks that are built practically on top of one another. That's a lot of people. That's where Lorbi is from.

This girl is desperately crying out for guidance and hope- a sense of purpose and comfort that she will find some happiness in life. I don't know if I can give it to her.

If the church continues to come to the squatter camps, drop off food and say a few words about Jesus, then turn around and leave- how will that help this girl?

Perhaps, if the church started day cares to stimulate young children and keep them safe (it's normal for 3 year olds to be raped and murdered here)... If the church could start schools across the street from camps to help people receive job training... If the church could help form a job placement network- even open businesses financed by the church- to help people get jobs with the training they've received... Now that smells of hope to me. "For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life." (2 Cor. 2:16-17)

I was praying a few weeks before we came to South Africa and God made clear to me what it means to be the body of Christ. So often I've read verses about the body in the context of merely how we are each gifted. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that there is much more meaning in this- we are the very body of Christ. I looked into Jesus' eyes and saw how badly he wanted to hug the poor, cry with the suffering and aid the hurt and seek justice for the marginalized. His eyes pleaded with me "please do what I no longer can." He left His Spirit, complete with His power, so that we could be His very body. I ask myself- and you- would Jesus merely give them food and leave- or would he seek justice for these people, healing the economic and social barriers that create death among them?