It's not that I have nothing to write about, I have TONS I could write about...it just isn't on my heart... I don't know maybe it's laziness, maybe it is something else. I could tell you all about the men and women selling pieces of their houses to feed their bellies (i.e. windows, doors, etc). What does that do though? I could tell you how horrendous the effects of HIV/AIDS are in this country....but that doesn't really do anything either. We all know the world has problems...the key in all of this is getting us to do something about it. And though the numbers are startling, I don't want to startle people. My heart is for people to just help others. For you to help your community and there in effect change. Shock and Awe didn't work in the war against Iraq and I sure don't think it's gonna work in the war against human trafficking and HIV/AIDS...
That being said, South Africa has been a shift in my world view...and that is exactly what I have been asking for God to do. I have never seen such need, such fear, such racism, such blatant segregation and covering up of HUGE social and economic issues as in the last month. Jeanette and I are doing really well here. We love working in Capricorn and in addition to the Bible studies we are working in, we are also mentoring teenagers on Mondays and Wednesdays in Capricorn. On Monday nights after we do that we have started up a prayer vigil in Capricorn, and our aim is to get other communities to come in and start to get involved in Capricorn. These people have so much love and they are so giving...there is such a real possibility and hope for the kingdom of God to begin in Capricorn...
From the moment we stepped into the area known as Capricorn, we knew God had us here for a reason. These people are so oppressed, forgotten, and lost...and Jesus loves them so much! We see Jesus footprints everywhere we walk in the place! Apartheid had forced them into this sandy plot of land over fifty years ago, and even though apartheid has been stopped....they still are living in the results of it. Because of their color, their race, their language, they were removed from their homes and placed into government funded township areas. They were denied fair education, housing, and government assistance, and now, even though the government has tried to correct this, it is hard for them to get out of this rut....especially when you live in a township. Racism and fear has destroyed their lives....they live crowded into a area no one else wanted to live...surrounded by hurt and pain. Poverty is of course, the norm...the very central idea of a township is a poverty stricken society of people. They are searching for a way out, for something to ease their pain, for something to change their situation. When I hear of all of the oppression and problems they deal with (drug abuse, alcohol abuse, prostitution, trafficking, rape, violence, crime, physical abuse, broken homes, HIV/AIDS, poverty, malnutrition...etc) I see in most of these problems, people screaming for help. They are doing drugs, drinking, stealing, abusing, etc because they are searching for a solution to their problems....they want out of their everyday life....because their lives are hard, unfair, and full of brokenness....unfortunately these things they rely on only add to their brokenness...but I now understand why they do the things they do...
I am also excited about all of these things though! Where some may see complete debauchery and immorality, I see people, searching for something....something to save them, something to trust, something to take their pain and loneliness away....something like Jesus. They want something better, they don't wake up wanting to live the same way, the reason they are addicted to drugs, sex, and alcohol is because they are trying to get over their brokenness. We have seen so many awesome things happen already in Capricorn. We can see the revolutionary kingdom of God taking hold in this township...I dream and smile when I think about a township full of 20,000+ people, following Jesus and bringing the kingdom forward! What glory would that bring to God if a place of complete brokenness acknowledged their brokenness and gave it to Jesus! We are delighted with the foolishness of our joy....the foolishness of the cross of Jesus Christ....it doesn't make sense sometimes, but it is what drives us and gives us hope!
I am also excited about all of these things though! Where some may see complete debauchery and immorality, I see people, searching for something....something to save them, something to trust, something to take their pain and loneliness away....something like Jesus. They want something better, they don't wake up wanting to live the same way, the reason they are addicted to drugs, sex, and alcohol is because they are trying to get over their brokenness. We have seen so many awesome things happen already in Capricorn. We can see the revolutionary kingdom of God taking hold in this township...I dream and smile when I think about a township full of 20,000+ people, following Jesus and bringing the kingdom forward! What glory would that bring to God if a place of complete brokenness acknowledged their brokenness and gave it to Jesus! We are delighted with the foolishness of our joy....the foolishness of the cross of Jesus Christ....it doesn't make sense sometimes, but it is what drives us and gives us hope!
We love you all so much and thank you for your continuing support. We received about 1500 dollars of support in since our last update which is huge!! Thank you all so much! We have about 4500 dollars we need to raise for our time here in South Africa, so please keep us in your prayers with finances. Pray for revival in Capricorn. In the meantime, stay safe, stay true.
Blessings,
Ryan and Jeanette
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