“Come hear de word of God!” – How Church Comes to You

A SLICE OF HUMBLE PIE was served to me hot and fresh starting our ministry this week. In my previous two trips with the world race, autonomy and ownership were two main components in our everyday activities. The goal was to learn to partner with God in every moment, not to always just wake up and follow a set ministry. Everything and everyONE was ministry, or, as Bob Goff puts it:

“We don’t need to call everything we do ‘ministry’. Just call it Tuesday.”

(from Everybody Always)

Now, we have a gate and an electric fence to keep us herded in like little sheep. South Africa, though to my naked eye doesn’t FEEL this way, is not safe for us to be on our own or even to take most public transportation. To my naked eye, the squatter camps we have been visiting didn’t FEEL all that unsafe either, but a woman we talked to a couple days ago so sweetly reminded me that there was a chance of getting stabbed coming home from church in the evenings. I clearly don’t know anything. 

Through the initial frustration that was mirrored during our quarantine in Georgia, I realized there’s always something good to be found amidst the internal chaos.

(Phil. 4:11-13: I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength)

Sure, I have to run around a compound to get my runs in, sure we have to schedule a driver with the ministry every time we leave, sure we have set things to do every single day, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t freedom and creativity with God. Structure doesn’t mean the death of good things, in case you also didn’t know that. I forget at least every 30 minutes. 

Besides more opportunities to get to know the staff driving us all the time, one of the beautiful things about not forging our own paths every moment means we have beautiful local translators which helps make the process of meeting people smooth as butter. Mostly. Let’s be honest, most people don’t take the door to door approach OPEN-HANDEDLY. My own parents have a lengthy “No Soliciting” sign posted on their front door. 

So, as you can guess by the information I’ve given so far, our first week in South Africa was doing door to door conversations in what is known as squatter camps. These camps are a giant conglomeration of culture, people and hope to be found moving from villages to the “city” in order to get a better job. More on this later, but the most important information to know is that people will invite you into their homes, no matter the size, to sit with you. My favorite seat so far has been giant water jugs, but they get creative when there are 6 girls staring you down at your front porch. And, no, that isn’t sarcasm. 

We start in the morning, break for a lunch and to share stories from the morning and then we go back out into the communities refreshed. Jordynne, my teammate, KB, our translator and I set out after a slower paced morning, and found ourselves in a quieter part of the encampments. It was blazing hot, so most people were finding rest in the shade in between their little shacks. We pass by an enclosed area with a piece of cloth offering shade and some people sitting on the ground looking parched. 

KB asks if we can join and they allow us to come in. We smile and we exchange greetings. “Sanibonani”I see you all/hello all “Yebo” Yes “Unjani” How are you! “Ngiapila I am well. 

Rosa, the matriarch of the collection of this set of shacks takes the lead in conversing with us. She inquires about our concerns with corona and shares that she hasn’t been to church since the outbreak started for fear of getting sick. A couple visiting for just the day is sitting nearby and, at first reluctantly, join in in the conversation. She sits with us for a little, encourages us to share whatever message God has placed on her heart then begins to gather people.

“Come, let us sit together! Come hear de word of God, please sister, come sit. What do you mean you are busy? They have come here to share with us!”

She jests with the women and men nearby, the only people that stay were the couple visiting. We begin to exchange stories of hardships and how God has been faithful to deliver us. Our hearts are softened for one another, the quiet couple sneaked some rand (South African currency) to a passing ice cream dealer and allowed us to grab a guava flavored icee to enjoy as we share. I look over in tears of gratitude, and the woman swats away my emotions saying “NO! No need for that” and we laugh. There was peace and calm and we sat there with nothing to give one another except for time.

An hour into our time together,women from the community wearing babies on their backs, bibles in hand and beautifully draped skirts pass by and Rosa stands up once more and beckons them.

“Sisters, come hear de word of God! Please, only if you want to. Please join us. They have come to tell us the word of God!”

The women smile and join, they look at where our bibles are open to and quickly flip their own to the same page.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

(Psalm 91:1-2)

There we sat, near these little shelters, specifically under the shelter of a rippling piece of dark cloth to shade us from the sun. Small fortresses offering rest, encouraging one another to trust in God. Living out the words we had prepared before we knew what was in store. It would have been easy to compare circumstances, but we met as a church for those few hours together, free of judgement. That day was not just for the people in the squatter camps, but for us as well. It felt like safe passage was granted to us in this community and it encouraged me to know that if you remain faithful, God will move mountains to bring His word to you no matter how small the corners of the world may be that you find yourself dwelling in. 

What boldness it shows of Rosa to call everyone in to hear the things she knows people need to make it through another grueling day on this Earth. I want that boldness. I want the faithfulness and strong will to believe that God will never leave me without bread or living water. 

Some other teams saw salvations while we sat with the local body. It was nothing short of another beautiful day in the Kingdom of God. 

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

(John 10:14-15)

Not a bad deal to be a sheep this month, or ever, I would argue. Gates and all! 😉

Here was the same event from Jordynne’s perspective and eyes. The Lord will always highlight different things about His heart to us! Give it a read 🙂 

She has some AMAZING photos in there too.

Thank you for reading along this time, I can’t wait to share more as the month unfolds here with Impact Africa. Please be praying for my team to learn best to appropriate the gifts that God has given them and use it in FULL! Please be praying for these people in South Africa to find better job opportunities and for more peace and equality to come as this country continues to strive for unity post-apartheid. 

Love you all!