Do not freak out at this entry. Please. If at any point you feel any kind of uneasiness, I would just ask that you pray. Worrying does absolutely nothing. As Followers of Jesus, we know that the battle has already been won, yes?
I will also say that I am fine. All of us here are fine.
Alright, now that I have your full attention, let me explain the word and definition mentioned above.
All of South Africa is experiencing what can be called a Xenophobic crisis. There are many South Africans, most of them Xhosa (pronounced Kosah), who are extremely frustrated, angry, and bitter toward all of the foreigners from Zimbabwe, Somalia, Malawi, and other places who are 'taking their jobs.' From what I have heard, the Xhosa people were most affected by apartheid and feel a large since of entitlement since its banishment in 1994. I'm not saying this in an ugly way, this just seems to be a fact. All of this boils down to employment or their lack of it. Let me try to explain; if two men, one Xhosa and one from ZIM, are standing on the road waiting for someone to come by and offer them a job (this happens, by the way) and an outdoor job is offered for R100 (100 rand), the Xhosa wants more money for his hard labor but the man from ZIM wants any money he can get, therefore the man from ZIM says he'll take the job. The Xhosa then says "Well, he took my job." This is how it has been explained to me, so I hope you are able to follow. Either way, animosity is growing, and we are all afraid that action is about to be carried out...probably through violence. Apparently, the last time this happened, many women were raped and shoved out of their homes....it's stuff like this that we fear.
Many threats have been made and some attacks have actually been carried out. You should know that since before the World Cup came, many Xhosa's within the townships were threatening and telling the foreigners within the townships that as soon as the World Cup was over, they were going to kick them out, etc, etc. We do know that people in the communities are all armed and ready, on both sides.
Well, the World Cup is over. SO, Living Hope is gearing up for what MIGHT happen. Masiphumelele and Capricorn are where attacks are most expected to take place. Both have a large portion of both Xhosa's and foreigners. Capricorn, in case you haven't been keeping up with previous blogs, is the community in which I have been working for the past 5 weeks. I have grown to love the people there, especially the children, obviously. With that said, will you join me in praying for Capricorn? That the Peace of God would reign; that no attacks would actually be carried out; and that if should anything happen, the children would be safe. Living Hope has offered its building there as a safe haven for people to come and calm down before finding a more permanent place to seek safety. I cannot bare the thought of anything happening to my sweet precious babies. I know that they are in God's hands, and He loves them so much more than I ever could. But still, it would be fantastic if these threats would become a thing of the past.
Masiphumelele- located almost directly across the street from the Living Hope Community Center which is right down the road from our house. I just got back from the LHCC where some of the other volunteers and I worked to prepare the chapel and other rooms for what MIGHT happen in the near future. If anything takes places, people in Masi can seek safety there for a few hours until they move out to find a more permanent place. If it gets real bad, some of us may be called in to help. We have a freshly graduated nurse here who will help with trauma counseling and others who will be a great help to anyone who might come in. We will have other people in healthcare who will help bandage wounds and what-not. Me? If I am asked to help, I have no idea what I will do. Serve food? Distribute blankets. Who knows. I just want to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Let's pray that none of this happens. Let's pray that the Peace of God would reign across South Africa tonight and the following weeks. But that if He chooses to allow it to happen, that His Gospel would be spread and that He would use this time to show people His Love, His Healing, His Comfort, His Forgiveness.
No fear here. All of us will be perfectly safe, and we have been instructed on what to do if we ever do face danger, but this probably won't happen.
Last night, many of you prayed, and I am grateful for that. At 3am here this morning (8pm your time), when attacks were supposedly going to be carried out, some of us in the house got up to pray. It was a good time of clinging to God, and interceding on behalf of our friends in Masi and Capricorn. Please join us again tonight in praying for them.
This is real life, folks. I went to bed last night thinking of the mothers and fathers in Masi and Capricorn, tucking in their children then going to sit by the door, waiting...watching...wondering if they would get to tuck their children into bed again.
And this happens all over the world everyday....
what if this was you?
What if it was your wife in danger of being raped?
what if it was your children in danger of losing their parents in violent and unforgettable ways?
Would you want someone to do something about it if they could?
Would you want someone who could actually do something about it to ignore it?
Would you want someone to pray for you?
What do YOU want to do right now?
Do it.
Grace and Peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ,
AC
Thank you for your heart and I will definitely join you in praying.
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thanks for this update! joining you in prayer.
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