Is it OK to Eavesdrop?

from Katherine

Is it OK to eavesdrop? Well sometimes I think it is. Recently, on a Saturday, a friend called to say that the person who owns the sewing that she was using took it back. The sewing machine is VERY important to her because she takes in mending as a way to help support her family. We were sad for her and told her we would see what we could do to help.

The following day our youth group was hosting a breakfast for our church family. Hazel, a friend
who runs a thrift shop was there. Elliott went to greet her and asked if she ever had second hand sewing machines for sale. She said “yes, but I do not have any right now.” Another friend, Irene, was sitting right behind Hazel and overheard Elliott’s question. She turned to Elliott and said “I have an extra sewing machine; what do you want it for?” Elliott told her about our industrious friend Grace and Irene was thrilled for our friend to have it!

YEAH! God is so faithful!! I pray that He continues to help us be bold and ask the right questions and have people eavesdrop!

Disenfranchised

from Elliott
Tomorrow is a national election here in South Africa. A lot is at stake in this 20 year old democracy. Challenges of poor service delivery, rampant corruption and continued staggering inequality create a great deal of discussion among the population and the media. Having lived here for almost four years we are deeply focused on the needs of the people, are engaging in the complexities of this society and have a significant interest in the future of this land.

It is a strange feeling - you know there is an election and yet, despite our high degree of interest, since we are not citizens we are not allowed to vote. Perhaps that feeling of being an outsider and disenfranchised gives us a slightly better understanding of the perspective of those that for many years were without the right to vote here in South Africa, their own country. 

Born Free

from Elliott
No, I am not talking about the movie about lions in Kenya.

Instead, I am talking about those young people who were born in South Africa after 1994. Why 1994? The first democratic elections in South Africa and the end of Apartheid which end racial segregation and punitive race based laws. That event 20 years ago was celebrated this Monday on Freedom Day and there has been a great deal of conversation about the state of the formerly oppressed people twenty years later. Of course this year is a national election year so the majority party (ANC) is quick to put its spin on its accomplishments over the last 20 years. And the opposition can point out the disappointments.

The ‘born free’ generation shares a unique perspective. They did not live through the injustices of apartheid so seem to be able to focus fully on the future without the baggage of the past. Some that I speak to seem to be at odds with older family members saying , ‘Just move on, get beyond your anger, resentment, etc.’ They tend to be very open to relationships across old lines and many have moved to the cities creating a vibrant and inclusive culture.

At the same time, unemployment is huge among that age group and frustration is running high. Education in many areas has not improved to the degree necessary. Many in this ‘Born Free’ generation have received substandard educations which have not prepared them to fully take advantage of the reforms. At some point that realization and the sting of unemployment may very well create significant conflict and pit one generation against another.

As with all democratic cultures, it seems that change simply takes time. Perhaps patience and perseverance are the some of the most important characteristics of successful democracies!   

That is Just Not Right!

from Elliott

We have a market nearby that oftentimes has fruit and veg that traditional places don’t have. We were glad one day to find orange sweet potatoes - quite an oddity here! Recently, I was surprised to see the sign for ‘Grapefruit’ but something was very wrong. They were green and I learned the meat was white and a bit bitter. OK, something is not right about that.  Imposters!

I have to admit, I am a Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit snob. I don't even like Florida grapefruit. So much so, that even at $2.50 per kilogram, I was not even willing to try what looked like some kind of scam.

Just something wrong with that…somethings are just better left to our memories!

Qualifies as Ridiculous!

from Elliott
We often see things that don’t seem to make sense or a bit ridiculous to say the least. At least from our outsider perspective, that is. Most of the time we don’t say anything; we just say, ‘hmmm’, try to understand and then just move on. 

But this one just has left us a bit perplexed. It is not some deep cultural belief, it is probably just

tradition and in some environments tradition is VERY important. We visited our son a couple of weeks ago at boarding school and after watching his rugby match, the ‘varsity’ team was playing and all the students were expected to attend. While the parents and visitors were allowed to sit in the shade of the trees, the students were all is bleachers on the other side of the field. In the full sun on a day that was 95 degrees.

Take a look at the picture. There they all were in full dress uniform (coat and tie) cheering on the team. Their cheering (war cries) was impressive. I think I would have been close to passing out! 

Perhaps, I am too practical having grown up on the Gulf Coast where survival in the summer was rule #1. Or maybe if I had attended a boarding school I would understand.

The good news is since it was rugby there were ambulances and medics standing by! Even the under 14’s had a medic!

What Can I Do?

from Katherine
I was driving home from my school day Tuesday in a blinding rain. Water was running across the road in sheets.  As I crossed the river and started up the hill I spotted the car in the middle of the road, debris and glass covering the pavement.

The accident must have just happened but I was surprised that no one had stopped. I pulled off the road and grabbed my phone and ran toward the car when I saw the young man on the edge of the pavement. Having been thrown from his vehicle, he was in a terrible state. I kneeled at his side, touched his shoulder and told him that I would stay with him until help came. I prayed simply, “God Help”. My calls to the emergency number on my cell just rang busy or did not even connect. I wondered if the storm had knocked out power to the cell tower nearby. 

“I am here with you. Can you feel God’s presence with us? I can. I know he is here with us. I am here, God is here. We will stay with you.”

It seemed like that was all I could do. I don’t have medical training. I am not a trained first responder. I couldn’t even get my cell phone to work. What could I do? Could I make a difference?

Others began stopping. Amazingly a young doctor just passing through stopped and immediately began rendering aid. Somehow some of the phone calls got through because police and ambulances starting arriving.

I stepped back to let those trained do what they do best but I continued to pray.  He was taken to a nearby hospital but the young man died later that day. I found out later that he was recently married and had a mom and dad and sister. It turns out that I knew many friends of his which helped me feel just a bit closer.

I learned something that day. Even when you don’t feel that there is anything you can do in a desperate situation, you can offer the blessing of presence and the comfort of prayer to someone in need.

Matthew 5:4      Blessed are those that mourn, for they will be comforted

Cultural Metaphors and Spiritual Experience

from Elliott
Having lived in the Northern Hemisphere, Lent always began toward the end of winter and culminated typically in the Spring. Subconsciously, I have always linked the concept of resurrection with life beginning anew and the transition from Winter to Spring is evidence of exactly that.

Many symbols have found their way into our practices surrounding Easter – certain flowers, bare limbs giving way to new leaf growth, new offspring in the animal kingdom or a new brightly colored dress. The natural world, as Winter turns to Spring, is witness in a metaphorical sense to what we understand spiritually.

In the Southern Hemisphere, Lent arrives in summer and culminates in Fall. It has made me wonder what cultural symbolism from the natural world or otherwise supports the spiritual truths around the Lenten experience here? Since we are in a tropical area there is not even a significant change in weather or flora and fauna during this time period. 

I have not found any cultural symbols so far but I am not as concerned as I once was about that. It may very well be that it may allow for, or even require, that we assure that we do not substitute cultural symbols for spiritual truth or at the very least allow them to become a greater focus.