Daily Bread

“Tragedy, no matter how sad, becomes boring to those not caught in its addictive caress.” – Maya Angelou, All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes

These past few weeks have been somewhat sobering as the once abundant flood of donations have slowed to a trickle. Every time I call a church to assess their needs the response remains the same. “We need bread,” they answer.

Yesterday ten loafs were delivered to the office for distribution and we were elated. Something as simple as a loaf of bread, six rand, less than a dollar - this is a basic of life that is mixed, kneaded, and baked into sun light and the smell of grandma’s kitchen. This is what we find coming up short within a few weeks following this terrible tragedy that has torn apart dreams and left thousands homeless.

Why are we – who are not caught in the addictive caress of tragedy – so quick to tired? Why are we so ready to return to the hum drum of weak morning coffee, traffic, cubicles, computers, more traffic, and TV dinners? Amazingly, I see this tendency not only in volunteers and donors, but in the SHADE administration as well.

Monday’s meeting – three weeks following the xenophobic violence in Cape Town – Mama Tembo looks around the room at the staff perched on the edge of their seats, waiting for a word from the General. “It is time to return to normal SHADE programming,” she said. Normal SHADE programming? I was disturbed by the idea of returning to programming that had been planned months earlier, before the attacks - to the youth camp, women’s conferences, and worksheets on how to stop a bully - when hundreds of Zimbabweans were still sleeping on the floor of a church hall. It seemed so offensive that we could or believed that we should move on with life as normal. But since I am only an intern, little more than a volunteer, I kept my mouth shut.

Since that meeting I’ve tried to both finish so-called normal programming tasks as well as spend several nights a week with the refugees. Fifty-one people remain at the shelter and, while the numbers are steadily diminishing, the donations seem to be doing the same – but at a far higher rate.

I once heard this phenomenon termed ‘volunteer burnout.’ I was told that people simply can’t sustain such a high level of emotional intensity for long. Understandable? Certainly. But even if it is understandable, we cannot forget those who do not have the luxury of returning to life as usual. We cannot forget those who find their dreams have been dashed upon the rocks of life and they are left to gather up what pieces remain.

We mustn’t put a time limit upon healing. Some refugees were ready to move back into their communities within a weeks’ time. Others are still afraid to step outside the church hall. Healing is not uniform and it mustn’t be coerced. So, for now, we wait, not until the food runs out, but until people are ready. For now, we pray: Lord, let us not become bored with the tragedy of our sisters and brothers. Instead, as the body of Christ, let us remember that when one member of the body weeps, we all weep. When one member rejoices, our laughter must resound throughout the nations, for we are a witness to the unity found in Christ.

Time To Talk

I wanted to post a few pictures in an attempt to show you the beauty and pain of South Africa that I've had the incredible opportunity to experience. Hope that these photos give you a glimpse into what's happened / is happening over here.

Last night we had a representative of government come and speak with the refugees at the center. It was a hopeful as well as frustrating experience. On the one hand, I'm thankful that the government is at least attempting some form of communication with the victims of these xenophobic attacks. But, on the other hand, I get the sense that these so called 'talks' are an attempt to placate the people. Furthermore, the conversation that REALLY needs to happen is between the perpetrators of this violence and the victims. Yet, for those two groups to truly engage in dialogue God must first enter into the equation and transform hearts.

My friend, Godfreed got it right when he made the comment that the real question is how someone can have so much hatred within them that they are able to kill another human as if they were an animal. "Until that hatred can be addressed," he said, "we aren't safe to reintegrate."

I personally believe that the problem of this sort of violence lies in a misconstrued understanding of identity, of not knowing who we are in Christ and, yet, attempting to establish ourselves by stating, by means of violence, who we are not. Consequently, violence such as this can only cease to be a threat when we rightly understand / accept the identity we are given in Christ, when we rightly accept our divinely gifted identity.

Anyhow, enough of my reflection. Hope you enjoy the photos.

Much love,
jess



Anti-Xenophobia March


Obz Fair with Melody and Rietta


Cooking Crew at Obz Methodist Church (Refugee Center)