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)

Learning to Breathe

After the Xenophobic attacks began last week, many of the non-profits have been working around the clock to house and meet the needs of over 20 thousand newly displaced people, forced to flee their homes after having lost everything.

I suppose God planned my trip here perfectly, seeing as I arrived the day of the attacks in Joburg. Whenever I tell people that I’ve only be in South Africa for eight days, they laugh and say something along the lines of, “perfect timing, eh?” And I think they’re right. God’s timing is perfect.

Since arriving, everything has happened in a whirlwind fashion. The second day in town, I received a phone call from someone at SHADE, the organization I’m currently working with, asking the other intern and I to head up to a Methodist Church in Observatory in order to receive a flood of refugees. Since that time, I’ve been had the incredible opportunity to get to know a hundred something people from Zimbabwe who currently live at the refugee center. Amazingly, the center is – more or less – run by the people who live there, with limited aid from volunteers.

Over the past week, I’ve seen and learned so much. In one moment I’ve witnessed the desperation and discouragement of volunteers who are heart-broken at the situation of so many people facing utter starvation and joblessness and, the next, a donation of 200 ready meals come in. I’ve held children from Zimbabwe who call me Auntie and ask to come home with me. I’ve preached to a room full of displaced people about the truth of God’s presence, of how God is with us still, and how it is God who wipes every tear from their eyes. I’ve sat at rallies, listening to South Africans cry out, “Never again.” And I’ve seen people who have been beaten down, rise up again with incredible dignity and grace.

Honestly, I’m not really sure what to do with all of this, nor do I know how God wants to transform me by this experience. But what I do know is that God is faithful and that I am here in South Africa and, more specifically, here in Cape Town for a reason. I know that, by the grace of God, I will be used for God’s glory. And I know that I must hold on to the hope that even in the face of chaos, brokenness, and violence, the peace and power of our God is present, drawing us up out of the dirt, binding up our wounds, and carrying us into a place of safety.

Pray with me, friends, for the wisdom of all leaders in South Africa, for my own health and sanity, and for my willingness to let God use and teach me through this process.

I love all of you, dearly. And look forward to seeing you again.

- jess

Xenophobia

The last few days have been a bit crazy: learning how to withdraw money, attempting to get my phone working, learning which way to look when I cross the street, the norm. I'd love to give you a more in-depth entry, but I'm a bit pressed for time. So, for the moment, I need your prayers.

As many of you may already know, there has been an outbreak of xenophobia over the past few days. It began in Joburg where fifteen people were killed, one man burned to death, while the police watched. Today, a church full of refugees was attacked, several died. The violence now hangs in the air here, in cape town. Pray. Please. There will be a rally today at five. We need God to move, to change hearts, to bring a miracle of peace and reconciliation.

Also, I'll be preaching on Sunday at a church I've never attended. A bit strange, I know. Anyhow, pray that God will move through me and will give me the words which are not my own to speak.

I love you all. Hope to write soon.
- jess

in the beginning

I'd like to preface all of these entries with this disclaimer: I don't plan on writing anything profound. Any brilliance will be absolutely accidental and divinely provided. So here goes...

First off, thank you, all of you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be boarding a plane for Johannesburg, South Africa in nine days. Wow. Nine days. It seems strange to imagine myself living in a different country in such a short period of time.

I know that God is going to move. And I continue to pray that God will prepare the work of my hands, because without God's movement, my work will be in vain. Please pray for God's divine preparation, both in my heart and in S. Africa.

I love you all and am more thankful for you than you know!

- jess