The past few days have been pretty eventful and thought-provoking. Thursday was an especially good/confusing day.
We had Thursday completely free because our field trips to some museums got cancelled. A group of 10 of us, however, decided that we still wanted to go to those museums, which are in downtown Cape Town, and we would get reimbursed for the costs for them. We took the train there (we always take 3rd class, which NO white people take... so we get really weird looks, but we have good conversations with people! It's a great experience) and we visited the Slave Lodge which is where slaves were kept while slavery was legal in S. Africa. We also went to the District 6 museum. District 6 was a very populated, vibrant coloured community that was uprooted by the government during Apartheid. This was unthinkable at the time because SO many people lived there. But eventually, they were ALL forced out of their homes as their community became a "Whites only" area. It never succeeded as a white community and basically just came to nothing. It is a real tragedy and is mourned to this day, so this museum was dedicated to those people who were affected by that event.
My friend Kat and I were done looking in the District 6 museum and were getting hot inside so we decided to sit outside the museum on some steps in the shade and wait for the rest of our group to get out. As we sat down, Kat looked around and asked if the area looked too sketchy for us to wait there, and as she asked that a homeless woman came up to us and asked if she could sit by us.
The past year of my life has been filled with so many opportunities and chances to be comfortable with talking with all types of people, especially those that are homeless. From San Francisco, to Mexico, to Azusa, to South Africa, I feel quite comfortable talking with anyone now that I have realized that we are all in this life together, experiencing the same things in different ways, and we are all children of the same God. So as this woman, whose name is Evelyn, sat down by us, I was not startled. Kat, however, felt pretty uncomfortable.
Evelyn was covered in bruises, scars, scabs, you name it. She showed me her arm, which looked like it had a broken bone and was so swollen. She had an open wound on her nose. I couldn't tell how old she was, but I would guess that she was around 40. She was dirty and smelled of alcohol. I also noticed her small scabs on her arms that very well could be from drugs. She began talking to us and eventually asked us for money. I am not a big believer in giving people on the streets money, especially after what I have seen on this trip, and because Evelyn smelled like alcohol, I really was not about to give her money. I knew that this could end up just hurting her more than helping her. I normally would have gone and bought her a sandwich or something to eat, but Kat and I were alone and couldn't stray away from the group.
She eventually got frustrated and starting crying in a way that made me feel like they were fake tears that were trying to make us pity her. I felt bad for her and told her that though I would not give her money, I would love to sit and talk to her. At first she just gave me a bad look, but then she opened up a bit. She cried real tears and told us about how she was raped by her uncle and other men beginning when she was younger. She said that she has kids and has a hard time supporting them. ((This whole conversation was extremely hard to understand because 1. She had been drinking, and 2. She has an accent.)) I tried to give her advice and tell her how God won't give up on her, but why does she have any reason to believe me?! I haven't been through half of that stuff. She said that she often wishes God would just end her life, but I reminded her of her children, especially her daughter who is a teenager who needs a mother. I also told her that rape and those awful things that have happened to her are NOT of God. He does not inflict that on anyone. That is the sin of the world. But I did tell her to think about if there may be a little girl out there right now who has just been raped who needs someone to talk to her and help her who Evelyn could be a light to. Evelyn seemed interested to hear these thoughts and this perspective.
As I sat there with this woman, I felt so much compassion for her and all I could think of to do was pray. By this time, our other friend Andie had wandered over as well. We held her hands and laid hands on her as I prayed for strength for her and for God's provision and just that this woman who had lost all hope would be able to find hope in Christ. As we were praying for her, I felt a hand be laid on my shoulder and looked up and saw that a random man off of the street had come and joined us in praying. He later introduced himself as Larry. Larry prayed for Evelyn as well. Evelyn was crying this whole time and I could just feel God's healing power in that situation.
This is Evelyn. She asked me to take a picture with her.
Larry ended up inviting Evelyn to his church. I explained to Evelyn that she needs to find a church that will help her get her feet on the ground. She said that she goes to church, but they are not helping her. I believe this is church's job, so it made me discouraged to hear that. After we prayed, though, Evelyn went back to being negative and stressed and worried about everything in her life. (Again, the alcohol made things difficult.) I told her to pray for peace. I told her that I have to pray for peace everyday.
By this time, our group had been waiting for us for about ten minutes and we needed to go catch our train home. The last things Evelyn told me were to never trust men and that she will see me in Heaven. I hugged her goodbye and walked away feeling confused.
On the train ride home, I was talking to my good friend Alle (it was her birthday that day!) about the situation and this is what I came to be so confused and bitter with God about. Here is Matthew 6:25-33.
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? ‘These things dominate the thoughts of nonbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”
If this is all true, that God will provide food and clothing for those who believe in Him, then why are there people out there, like Evelyn, who are not getting their needs met? I don’t know Evelyn’s heart and don’t know how much she does trust in God, but I know for a fact that there are God-loving people out there who die of starvation every day. They trust in Him and they go hungry. Their lives are cut short. How does this make sense when lined up with this Scripture?? Alle said that she talked to Reg, our headmaster who is probably the wisest person I’ve ever met, and he said that he just does not know. He battles with that everyday. I have seen so many people in South Africa who are not having their needs met.
Please please PLEASE leave me a comment on this about your thoughts if you have any because I’d love to discuss it and get some outside perspective.
That night, some friends and I went to fish & chips. As we were leaving, we heard some Christmas carols being sung, so my friends Megan, Caitlin, and I went to go sing with them. It turned out to be some members of a nearby Baptist church along with some local homeless people that were there singing together. It was beautiful. Four people gave their lives over to Christ that night and it was awesome. We were only there for about 40 minutes but it was still so great!
We met a woman named Sherna that night who has got to be one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met! She is in her 30’s and was so excited to meet us because her husband, Tony, is from Redlands, CA! He came to S. Africa on a mission trip, they met, fell in love, and he left everything to come live in Africa with her.
I gave Sherna my email address and that night she emailed me asking if we would like to go to their home for Mexican food and pumpkin pie the next night- obviously we accepted. Caitlin couldn’t go, but Megan and I went and had such a great time! They are seriously amazing people who are such brilliant examples of what true faith in God looks like. They have made decisions that have made them seem crazy, like leaving America to move to South Africa to marry a coloured woman, but they are so on fire for Christ.
They were so welcoming and loving and invited us to church with them today, which we did! Again, it was great and we were sad that we are leaving Tuesday. We got their contact info and are going to keep in touch. I have been seriously, seriously blessed with meeting some of the greatest local people while on this trip.
Tomorrow is my last full day in South Africa. I just cannot believe that this day has come. This experience has been something that I will never be able to put into words. I have been blessed FAR beyond what I deserve. I am learning that to those whom much is given, much is expected. I am currently seeking out what this means for me individually.
As I go back to America, things are going to be difficult and different. I think going back to APU is going to be the hardest. I am excited to be home and be with my family and friends and be somewhere familiar. But I know that I am going to miss South Africa so very much.
This place is always going to hold a very special and dear place in my heart. A man that I met prophesied over me that my journey is not over and I will be back. I sure hope he is right!
This is probably my last blog on this continent.
Over and out from South Africa!
Brittany
“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Sprit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.” - Ephesians 4:2-6
Oh ya, and I went shark cage diving. :)
