I came across this article recently and my impression is that while the author has some valuable observations about South Africa, he probably didn’t spend most of his time in any of those “shanty towns,” like Sosh, where my perspective has been shaped. I agree that it is miraculous that apartheid is legally ended and in many ways people of different races do interact on seemingly “normal” levels. But, at the same time, I wonder how deep those interactions really go. Most white families and white-owned businesses still employ a black person to cook/clean/garden. Many of those domestic workers are the same ones who worked in those homes before apartheid ended. I visited the office of an accountant in Pretoria North several months ago and most of the women who worked there were Afrikaans. When I told them I lived and worked in Soshanguve, they looked at me as if I were an alien. They responded by marveling at how amazing it was that I would come all the way from America to live there while they had lived not 40 miles away and had never even visited. It got me to wondering if there really even was anything obvious that would bring them to Sosh, that would help them see beyond the stereotypes they held of a scary place inhabited by criminals and desperate people.
Another thing that has become clear from my four months of living in Sosh is the distinction that we often place on quality of life vs. value of life. “As with many squatter camps around Johannesburg, Zandspruit residents live in squalid conditions, sharing toilets and communal taps, with little or no electricity. Neighboring suburbs have some of Africa's most expensive real estate.” This quote from this article reflects a common sight in South Africa.
The terms "quality" and "value" are often used together when we think about a purchase we want to make, but when it comes to describing life often they are total opposites. We, whether in America or South Africa or other places I assume, have internalized this message that the outer quality of our lives implies the inner and eternal value of the same. I have realized that often the luxury that we desire is just the comfort and ease of convenience. We think the good life is having what we want, when we want it, without having to work hard to get it. I have had the odd and ironic experience of sitting with my neighbors, in their corrugated tin shack, watching an episode of MTV Cribs. The whole point of the show is to elicit the covetousness of our hearts towards the excesses of celebrity. But for those who have to walk outside to use the toilet, without a distinction between kitchen/living room/dining room/bedroom/home office, the allure of it all is obvious and natural. My instinctive disdain for that show and the lifestyle it promotes riles up naturally, but I have to catch myself when I realize the privilege that informs my attitudes juxtaposed with the realities of my neighbors’ lives. This situation even brought up that quality vs value of life internal debate when I tried to convince my friend Sherz that that was not the “good life.” But Emily, she asked, what is?? Following God! I told her, excited at the chance to answer such a question. But again, the realities of life can obscure that truth. When we cling to physical things of comfort, as I have been tempted to do here, we forget not only about eternal comfort but also about the God who provides our daily bread.
...and here is another eye-opening article about the state of the South African family
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Reflections on Holy Week
…hey, better late than never, right?
I observed Holy Week this year by reading through each day’s Scriptures that corresponded to the last week of Jesus’ life on earth. I’m not sure if I had ever done that before, but I found it to be very powerful this year.
Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem, triumphantly, on… a donkey. He knows exactly what he’s entering into, and he knows that this scene begins the end of his time on Earth. Lord, let us reflect your humility. Let us not insist on our own privilege or position or power. Let us live in light of the victorious king who came in on a donkey. Let your light speak for itself through our lives. “Rescue us! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!” Let our praise be genuine, surely rooted even when our troubles appear more real than your presence. Lord, let us reflect your mercy; that of a God who loves a fickle people, who was faithful to the ones that he knew would desert him. Let us not work for the praises of people, but for the fruit which lasts forever.
Rough day for Jesus—first the curse on the fig tree, then turning over tables in the temple. What Jesus really wants to see from our lives is fruit – and not just the appearance of fruit. Here we have a tree with leaves, seemingly a sign of produce. But, it bears no figs. And then Jesus goes to the temple and sees pilgrims being exploited and priests acting authoritatively while God’s house is disrespected. Jesus can see past our appearances to our heart. He warns against being white-washed tombs and in this case against being a fruitless tree. He is the one who grows fruit in our hearts, but we must submit to his pruning and cultivation.
The other thing is the irony of our plans vs. God’s—the priests started to plot Jesus’ destruction after the table-turning but Jesus already knows it is coming. Their fear of him and his influence over the crowds, their fear of losing power and influence for their own sake, push them to want to destroy him. Do I fully allow Jesus to influence all my life or do I still try to hold on to some of my own influence and control? Lord, I want to give you free reign over my life.
Jesus reminds his disciples to trust God, and pray without doubting. I’d say most of my prayers are not doubtful, but I think I have a hard time praying for REALLY big and miraculous things, believing they will happen. My instinctive cynicism creeps in when I read “Whatever you pray for or ask from God, believe that you’ll receive it and you will.” That statement doesn’t seem confusing or difficult to understand, but my faith in this regard is unfortunately limited to what I can see. But, it’s a good thing that the One who answers prayers sees beyond my sight.
The rest of the day is filled with priests and teachers trying to stump Jesus with various questions about the law and His interpretation of them. Of course, they don’t succeed.
Holy Week Wednesday: Mark 14.1-11
Wherever the good news is told, this story of the woman anointing Jesus with her perfume will be told. I must be careful to not just take a short-sighted practical view, like the dinner guests in the story. She lavishly “wasted” her resource, all to adore Christ. Lord, help me to be so lavish, to adore you so freely and fully, without being discouraged at what others might think. Allow me to use my resources to worship you, beyond mere practicality. Help me to see the long-view and seek your Kingdom first. Transform my perspective to be more like Yours.
Maundy Thursday: Mark 14.12-72
Jesus and his disciples celebrate the Passover feast, remembering God’s historical deliverance, but Jesus also knows it is about to have new meaning. Communion is instituted at this meal while Jesus knew he was eating with his betrayer. He also knew all his disciples, his closest friends, would desert him in his time of most need and he felt the angst and distress of the task that lay before him. But he was fully surrendered to God’s will—it is for this reason He has come. Armed guards lead him to the priests—the irony of their attempts at “judgment”; no witnesses against Him because all his claims are true. He offers no self-defense. He is who He says He is! But in efforts of their own self-justification, the leaders must destroy Him since he reveals their hypocrisy. Lord, help me to be so surrendered to your will. I don’t generally know what’s coming next but even in this situation, in the worst of events when Jesus knew exactly what lay before him, he surrendered. Please help me to rely on You as my defense—not defending my rightness, but Your authority, as it brings repentance, forgiveness, mercy, justice, power, love, and Jesus’ righteousness.
Good Friday: Mark 15.1-47
The curtain was torn in the moment of Jesus’ death. To those still confused, not seeing the deeper meaning, this might seem terrible. And even in Jesus’ pain, this tearing which was accomplished was beautiful! Yes, it disturbed temple tradition but that’s because it meant a new way forward—open access to God for everyone. Jesus’ blood replaced the earthly veil. Lord help me remember it is this blood-veil which purifies me to enter your presence—not my own self. Now God is free to abide with us beyond the earthly veil! Jesus experienced great pain, feelings of neglect, even in this moment of obedience and glory. Following God often brings suffering; pain is not a sign of God’s absence. He did this for me—and everyone! Moments of great suffering can be moments of great victory.
Holy Week Saturday
A sense of stillness, silence, wondering as our Lord lay DEAD in the tomb. The immortal, eternal one, gone for a moment. I think about all those who followed and loved Jesus while he was on Earth and what they must have been going through between Friday and Sunday. “Was it all a lie? I thought he was the Messiah, but now he is dead?” Even with the Old Testament scriptures to testify that this had to happen, it must have been so painful and confusing to live through. But, he was the perfect one, dead in our place, to conquer all that could kill us.
Easter Sunday: Mark 16.1-8
Lord, you have risen! Hallelujah! Death cannot hold you. And you say that same resurrection power is at work in us (Ephesians 1.19-20)—so death cannot hold us! You are victorious over death and you carry us with you into new life!
The resurrection is the Best News! All the “deaths” in our lives, literal and figurative, have been overcome. They are not the final word. Jesus has the power to conquer all death, everything that says “no” and causes destruction. Jesus brings LIFE, more powerful than death. He works that power within us.
And what does it mean on an everyday level for the poor? For one, while it does not promise a specific moment when things will get better or needs will be met, it does guarantee that the One who has All the power to bring new life is with us, loves us, cares about our situation, and acts on our behalf. He is the authority above all authorities. He is the promise that, despite appearances, we are not forgotten. I don’t know why some situations don’t change and some continue to suffer and some needs go seemingly unmet. But I know that God is TRUE, He is alive, He is above all and He is with us. His presence strengthens us.
It is inconsequential, His compassion, if we don’t know or care who He is. But when the eyes of our heat are opened, we see that as the Richest of Riches anyone could have. We see that it means our reality now is impacted, in the hands of a Good God. If we trust our circumstances, it is no wonder we doubt. But on a Good Friday or Saturday, we must hold onto His promise. And when Easter comes, we have not only His promises but Him SELF alive and victorious over death. If God gave us His son, will he not also give us everything with Him? He doesn’t say when, but he desires our hearts, our lives, not just our wanting and needs. He is Risen! That changes everything! (1 Corinthians 15)
And that reality of the Risen Jesus is ours every day, not just during Holy Week. Amen!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
News from South Africa
The Coming "Egyptian Moment" in South Africa
"As a South African, I wonder how South Africa's leadership might respond if it were to reach a similar tipping point with its disenfranchised youth -- where conservative estimates tell us that more than half of South Africans under the age of 25 are unemployed. I do believe it would be foolish for South African leaders to think that these unemployed and disconnected youth may not one day ignite a revolution...Because like Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and most of their neighboring countries that are weathering the revolutions of today, South Africa also has a massive army of disenchanted youth. South Africa is a young country considering that more than half of its population is under the age of 25, and with more than half of them unemployed -- the numbers are equivalent in size to the entire population of Zambia. And the chilling truth is that unemployment doesn't end at the age of 25. Based on current trends, it will go on to become a way of life, not only for their generation but also for following generations."
"Former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela is the last person you’d expect to be dabbling in fashion, but then again, he’s never been known for sticking to convention. Named after his inmate number at Robben Island Prison, 46664 Apparel is a new clothing venture focused on raising funds for the Nelson Mandela Foundation."
South Africa's test of nerves begins now--Update from the Cricket World Cup!
"The South Africans have the mettle but can they endure the pressure that awaits them in the knockout stages of this tournament? History shows that this team has a tendency to crumble in high-intensity situations."
More than 15,000 march for education in S. Africa
"South Africa, a country with one of the greatest disparities of wealth, still struggles to close the gap apartheid created between white and black schools. Only a third of third-graders in South Africa meet the minimum literacy and numeracy standards, according to national test results. Last year, a third of those taking final-year exams failed."
Why South Africa is so violent (not trying to make you nervous, Mom, just found this interesting!)
"Violent crime is deeply ingrained in the social fabric of the country and cannot simply be solved through the criminal justice system. This is according to a report on the violent nature of crime in South Africa which was made public in November."
South Africa Faces Growing H.I.V. Crisis
"South Africa, already home to 5.7 million H.I.V.-positive people, more than any other nation, can expect an additional five million to become infected during the next two decades even if the nation more than doubles its already considerable financing for treatment and prevention and gives prevention a higher priority, according to a report presented to the country’s leading advisory body on AIDS policy."
South Africa's test of nerves begins now--Update from the Cricket World Cup!
"The South Africans have the mettle but can they endure the pressure that awaits them in the knockout stages of this tournament? History shows that this team has a tendency to crumble in high-intensity situations."
More than 15,000 march for education in S. Africa
"South Africa, a country with one of the greatest disparities of wealth, still struggles to close the gap apartheid created between white and black schools. Only a third of third-graders in South Africa meet the minimum literacy and numeracy standards, according to national test results. Last year, a third of those taking final-year exams failed."
Why South Africa is so violent (not trying to make you nervous, Mom, just found this interesting!)
"Violent crime is deeply ingrained in the social fabric of the country and cannot simply be solved through the criminal justice system. This is according to a report on the violent nature of crime in South Africa which was made public in November."
South Africa Faces Growing H.I.V. Crisis
"South Africa, already home to 5.7 million H.I.V.-positive people, more than any other nation, can expect an additional five million to become infected during the next two decades even if the nation more than doubles its already considerable financing for treatment and prevention and gives prevention a higher priority, according to a report presented to the country’s leading advisory body on AIDS policy."
Thursday, February 17, 2011
what it's like
On Sunday I went with petunia to a child’s birthday party after church. Petunia’s neighbor Ellen had invited her, so petunia offered me the chance to come along. It didn’t matter that I didn’t know the birthday boy. We pull up to the party and, even though the music is still blaring, it’s almost as if everything freezes. I know it’s because a white person (me) just got out of the car because everyone is staring at me, especially the little kids. I try not to mind too much, and hug Ellen as she offers me a seat. Then comes time for birthday cake. At this party, the purpose of the cake was just as much to serve as a centerpiece for pictures as it was for eating. I was hanging back while the kids gathered around but suddenly Ellen, petunia’s neighbor, pulls me in and says “Emily, they want you in the picture!” talk about jumping in the game without knowing the rules! I had arrived not 10 minutes earlier and I hadn’t even met the two hostesses of the party. Yet, they wanted me in the picture with them, the cake, and the birthday kids. So I obliged. When a random guy came up and said he wanted a picture with me, that’s where I drew the line. After this, I asked petunia “so, am I like a party clown? Some kind of entertainment?” she said “no, it’s just an honor to them for you to be at their party.” Imagine that, all because of the color of my skin. About an hour later, before we left the party, I made sure to actually introduce myself to these ladies, so that when they got the pictures and showed their friends, I wouldn’t just be a nameless “lekoa.”
Now, I realize of course, that my presence is not automatically seen as an honor to everyone. Race is a topic here loaded with generations of painful baggage. So part of my experience has been similar to that in Oakland or New Orleans, where I am aware of my difference because everyone else points it out. But it’s also very different just because of the racial history of this place. This place is sprawling, with about 1 million people living within Soshanguve township. Still not sure of the physical size of the place, but definitely smaller in area than New Orleans. And all of the people are black African. This is just not a place that you would be passing through to get somewhere else, so to see a white person not only walking around but living in a township is quite radical. As much as I’d like to assimilate and be “normal” that may never be possible because of the context I’m entering into. In fact, last week when I went into town, I was taken aback that people weren’t looking at me funny in the mall. Like, it didn’t surprise me to see other white people as much as it surprised me that I was suddenly right in the mix again.
Let me try to describe this place in a way you can picture…. In many ways, the neighborhoods of Sosh look and feel like a typical inner-city…..but we’re located 30 miles outside of the nearest city. The main roads, either two lanes or four, are paved, but the side residential roads are dirt. Lots of people walk, though there are not always sidewalks. Most of the women walking have a child wrapped by a towel on their backs. (Side note: I am amazed by this….it seems no matter the size of the woman or the child the towel still fits & wraps around perfectly! Must be a secret trick I have yet to learn) Occasionally the women are carrying things on their heads—piles of sticks, a shopping bag of groceries, etc. Another secret talent! Lots of people also take mini-bus taxis, which operate on a hand-sign system to indicate what direction you are going in. the taxi ride may take 5 minutes or 45 minutes, depending on how full it is, how many other passengers are picked up, if the taxi needs gas, if the driver feels like driving fast or slow, etc. Occasionally I have seen goats sharing the road with people. Today there was a herd of cows crossing. most people live in brick & cement houses of varying shape & size. There are still plenty of tin shacks, but the government is doing its darndest to build four-room brick houses to replace the remaining sheds. I heard someone say that that building process is moving particularly speedy right now because elections are coming up! A lot of those tin shacks have really nice wrought-iron gates in front of them. One of my challenges is not to judge how people spend their money. There are several shopping centers, gas stations, and plenty of informal business along the roads. It seems like each shopping center has at least 5 furniture stores—this I can’t quite understand. This is one of the paradoxes of South Africa—it is certainly seen as a modern, developed country by the rest of the world, but the disparirty between rich and poor is growing each day. There are people in Sosh without electricity and running water, so you can imagine what it’s like in the really rural areas. Oh yeah, KFC is super popular here, though the only McDonald’s I’ve seen are in Pretoria.
I have been told, and I’ve seen, that people here operate on a system of “abundant time.” Many times I have heard “In south Africa, there is no rush.” If someone says they will do something for you or pick you up, that could mean anytime between right now and 5 hours from now. Or maybe tomorrow. Or maybe next month. The mindset is that we have all the time in the world, so eventually it will happen. This is a particular challenge for me, especially remembering not to expect things to happen right away, even when the person says they will do it “now.” Perhaps this is one of the reasons God had me living in New Orleans, before South Africa?? J
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
ready or not!
today is the day...i board a plane for london, and in three days i board a plane for south africa! it's crazy to think about, especially knowing how long i've been wanting to get back there. i can't believe how quickly the time has flown by. i have mixed emotions because as excited as i am about this next step, i'm equally sad about leaving behind all my dear friends and family. but God has shown Himself faithful, so i have no doubt He will continue to do so!
one of the questions i've heard lately is "are you ready?" and.....hhhmmm.....i don't know! i mean, at this point, plans are in motion, things are happening, so i guess that means i'm "ready" right? pondering this question and all its implications reminds me of this quote i read recently in A Chance To Die , the biography of Amy Carmichael, missionary in India in the late 19th century.
“Looking back after fifty years Amy declared that she was ‘no more fit to be a Keswick missionary than a Skye terrier puppy.’ That estimate never caused her to question the validity of the call—or, we may assume, the judgment of the One who issued it.”
i feel like that often—i certainly don’t try to fool myself with thinking that i am actually qualified for the calling of God. yes, i can see how He has made me for certain tasks and environments, perhaps, and i do not doubt that He will continue to equip me for that which he calls me, but i like the image Amy conjures up here. we don’t go because we are qualified—we go because we are called. what’s more, our feeling of being qualified may not ever catch up with all that God has done in and through us.
* * * *
next time you hear from me, Lord willing, i'll be checking in from the other side of the atlantic!
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