South Africa, days 2-4
Dear family and friends,
Grace to you and peace!!!
I arrived safely, and have had an incredibly blessed and busy time ever since.
I can’t share everything with you, but I would like to share two things with you briefly.
The day after we arrived we went to visit in Soweto. It was a totally amazing day, learning a bit about the story about Apartheid, and what it meant for so many. One of the places which we visited was the Hector Pieterson museum. It tells the story of the children against apartheid within Soweto. Specifically, it tells about when the children began a peaceful march objecting to the government mandating that all school instruction be done in Afrikaans, the language of Apartheid. (Formerly it had been done in their local languages and in English). Hector was the first boy killed, and the picture was spread around the world. Then there were many more children who were killed. As I walked through the museum an anthem that I had learned while I was at Trinity in Truman kept coming to me? First time I had thought about it in years? What have we done, what have we done? We’ve crucified God’s own son. I thought the connection strange until I realized that we continue to crucify God’s own son when the powerless in our midst are wounded and killed? What do we continue to do in our world?
That was on Thursday. On Friday we spent the day moving out to Newcastle (Becky and Juanita) and Rorke’s Drift (Gary, Lois, David, and Don). There were no major problems, just a bunch of glitches that made that day many hours longer than it was intended to be!!!
On Saturday we attended the most amazing gathering that I believe that I have ever attended? a celebration of healing for a young adult who had been tormented by demons? Many pastors had gathered and had laid hands on her, and now she is whole. We (Juanita and I) traveled 8 hours round trip with 10 people in our vehicle to be present for the celebration. They told us that there was going to be a short worship service? Well, short was 3 hours. Filled with Zulu praise song, thanking God? Talking about God’s presence and the hope of eternal life we have in God. After prayer we would sing. After everything we would sing. And when the father broke down and started to cry we broke into song while he composed himself. A very long day, but one unlike any other. When we were done thanking God then we were entertained with Zulu dancers and a feast. Oh, if we would so publicly stop to give praise in our country!!!
God’s peace and joy.
Revkah (Hebrew for Rebecca)
PS… today we had 3 hours of festive worship followed by a potluck and then a 2 hour gathering of conversation. God is indeed good! even keeping me awake and helping with jet lag… amazing.