Well, the roadblocks continue, but we can feel the prayers from home and confusion is lessening somewhat.
Our school shoe drive idea, was a good one, but unfortunately, our timing is terrible. We met with the principal of a large white school today, and found out that because of the xenophobia, everybody is collecting for the refugees. As we walked in, there were bags and bags of clothes, blankets, and shoes, already collected. He was very sorry, but didn't think he could possibly ask the parents to give again so soon.
In case you didn't read Mike's blog about xenophobia, it's the hatred for, or fear of, foreigners.
About 2 weeks ago (coincidentally, right as we arrived, the township people rose up against the foreigners and began killing and beating them, and destroying their homes. They were fleeing by the thousands, but here's the worst part......they have no where to go. Most of them are refugees, who have come here to escape some worse place! I went to one of the non-denominational churches that had taken in about 900 of them. It was amazing to see the volunteers and the wonderful organization all in the name of Jesus! I couldn't believe the amount of food that had been donated....it looked more like a grocery store than a church! The newspaper actually did an article on this church saying that the refugees that found themselves there were the luckiest of all because not only did they have an abundance of food, clothes, and blankets.......they also had 24 hour medical assistance. This is really important because many of the people are HIV positive and on top of that, TB and meningitis are breaking out!
So now.........what to do? Again, the needs are everywhere, but we are determined to do what we're called to do.
Our hearts are still fully toward our little school and tomorrow we will go out there and once again try to get a CLEAR vision for what God wants. Right now we think the most pressing needs are warm clothes and shoes for the kids and/or some sort of structure that will help keep them warm and dry. It's been raining now for a couple of days so tomorrow we'll get a better idea of what the kids deal with on a regular basis.
Thank you for your prayers and for bearing with us as we move from one idea to the next trying to find God's heart.
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2 comments:
we keep praying for vision, eyes to see, and whatever that might be. As you know, mercy, grace, mission, often looks different than what we imagined. Perhaps just loving on all you see, gathering intel, continuing to pray, touching one life....being Demusville in Africa....carrying the scent of Christ. It is enough. We can't complete in the flesh what HE has begun by the Spirit dear friends!!
Kim
Mike and Nance, I have so appreciated your blog updates, and love hearing of all your doing. I continue to pray for discernment and health and protection over you. I agree with Kim. Your willingness to be there and the Christ in you is accomplishing kingdom work, as it does here. Who you are in Him demonstrates Christ to me everytime I'm around you, so rest in the assurance that things are being accomlished in the spirit because of you. The list of accomplishments you come home with won't look like what you had planned before you went. Rest in knowing we are continually bringing you to the throne room for provision, security, joy, peace, and favor. I love ya--Sissy
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