Dear Friends and Co-laborers,
Although I have been back in Romania for more than a month, it has taken me some time to process my visit to Africa. In fact, I'm still working through all that I saw and experienced.
In February I set off from Romania to Africa where I would spend a month in 3 different countries. It was the longest time Lenutsa and I had ever spent apart since being married, which in itself was its own challenge. Africa can also be a challenge. It was my second time in Sierra Leone, but my first time in Zambia and South Africa.
In Freetown, Sierra Leone, I was happy to meet up with our community there: Cami, Faye, Noah and four other Sierra Leonean servant team members. Upon arrival we did a 3 day retreat together where we reflected on the kingdom of God. In a war-torn, impoverished country, it was challenging for us to consider Jesus' words "Blessed are the poor for theirs is the kingdom of God." For many Christians God's "blessing" is conferred by wealth and prosperity. In much of the majority world, the extensive scope of the so-called "prosperity gospel" has perpetuated this presupposition. But when we look at the most blessed person in the history of the world, Jesus, we find that His life is the standard and model of blessing. We are called to walk in the faith that God brings blessed life when we walk the way of the cross with the confidence of the resurrection.
After the retreat I spent some time with the Lighthouse group of youth that are being discipled and helped in school or vocational training. I also spent an afternoon at a Good News Club directed by Noah and the Lighthouse youth for hundreds of children that live in a slum called Kroo Bay. The question in the forefront of my mind was what does God's promise of blessing look like for them?
After S.L., Noah and I traveled to Johannesburg. We spent a few days trying unsuccessfully to get a Zambian visa for Noah. But we made some friends and saw a wild life reserve. I have to admit that I was struck by the amount of barbed wire and electrical fences that I saw in the city. I was only beginning to see the violence and fear embedded in this society.
I traveled alone to Lusaka, Zambia where I hooked up with Macnicious. Macnicious is working with an NGO that helps offer alternative jobs to women caught in prostitution. He took me to a town called Kapiri Mposhi that is a major crossroads in the Copper Belt. I visited the train station where car after car was stacked with copper that was being exported. Unfortunately, the transnational companies that own the mines can extract and export with hardly any investment or profit remaining in the country. Because little money stays in Zambia and because of all the traffic, there is a large population forced into the sex industry.
Macnicious introduced me to about 30 people, mostly women, who were raising the children of their spouse or siblings who have passed away. Although no one mentioned the cause of their deaths, it was AIDS. The disease has wiped out families and is devastating the entire country. Thankfully, we met with Christians, churches, and organizations that are seeking to respond. In fact, the church, and especially the missionary movement of the last 100 years, has left a pronounced mark on Zambia. Many radio stations were playing Christian songs. Almost every television program that I saw was a Christian program. Preachers gave sermons before each bus departed. Passengers had arguments that involved the whole bus discussing the woman caught in adultery and brought to Jesus. The women were asking, "Where was the man?" That, of course, drew healthy reaction from the men.
Before leaving Zambia, Macnicious took me to the cultural center of Lusaka. There I saw the thatch covered structures that housed the original settlement in Lusaka. In the middle of the village was the round structure where the men met each day to eat and discuss. It is called the "insaka," and Macnicious explained how this traditional structure solved social issues. There were no doors as all were welcome. Macnicious said that each child was everyone's child. Therefore, there were no street children. Macnicious then taught me the core philosophy of the village that was used and implemented by Bishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa: ubuntu. It means that if I dehumanize someone else, I inexorably dehumanize myself. Caring for one another means caring for myself.
I traveled from Zambia back to South Africa. I met up with Dave Bayne and Noah in Cape Town. Dave had been exploring the city for a few weeks. He introduced us to the Cape Town by taking us to some historical museums that told of the long history of slavery and the recent effects of apartheid. We then went to a play that retold the story of Truth and Reconciliation Commission. There we were fortunate to meet Bishop Desmond Tutu. We also visited Nelson Mandela's prison cell on Robben Island. These experiences helped give us some insights into the mentality and reality of the apartheid oppression. After learning some of the history, Dave took us to a township where we met a young man who grew up and was living there. He told us his story of getting into crime, going to prison, and then meeting God and wanting to work so that others don't repeat his story. He volunteers his time to talk to youth, help them through their violent emotions, and is developing job and educational options. We also met with an organization called "Warehouse" that has been working in the townships for years. One of their members, Joy, took us to a township to visit a job creation project. There we saw many children that we learned had been orphaned because of AIDS. We also met with a social worker, Eunice, who was very ill. She used to help others get medication and education, but suddenly she lost weight and battled TB. Later we found that she is dying of AIDS. Eunice told her that one of her three young daughters pleaded with her to pray for herself. She said, "Mom, you are always praying for others, but now you need to pray for yourself?" Eunice replied, "I will pray for others. God has others praying for me." So, you can join me in praying for Eunice's healing and for the provision of her family and ongoing care in her township. Joy told me that in some places the rate of HIV infection is as high as 60%.
After seeing a violent and frightened society and learning of its oppressive heritage, I was overwhelmed by the gathering of Christians. A group of blacks and whites decided that they don't want to be the church without one another. So, those that can afford cars and transportation (mainly the whites) drive to the township on Sundays for church. Together, in one another's language, they sing of the great and loving God.
We are now praying that God would show us to how to respond in Cape Town and in Zambia. We know that these are places where God is moving and wants His kingdom to come. Please pray with us towards the development of communities that are signs of life and hope in these places. Pray for Noah, Cami, and Faye in Freetown. Pray for Macnicious and his friends in Zambia. Pray for Dave, Joy, Eunice and the others in Cape Town.
Yours in Christ,
David and Lenutsa