Ubuntu.co.za

Ubuntu: I am the way I am because of who we all are- humanity.

Emily and I arrived in South Africa on June 28th. Over the course of the following three weeks we would experience something we'll never forget. We prepared for and led a mission trip in Johannesburg, laid some ground work for future mission efforts, and enjoyed a week of vacationing in Knysna and Cape Town. Below are some thoughts that summarize our experience, particularly in relation to South Africa and missions....

"It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

- Nelson Mandela on the fight for the freedom of all South Africans

Apartheid was perfected by Hendrik Verwoerd in the 1940's and demolished by Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and the likes of the ANC in the early 1990's. The sad truth is that remnants of apartheid are evident today, and the concept of township is a clear indication that decades of poor leadership, racism, and oppression have created a country which is still struggling to become color blind. The term township takes on an entire new meaning upon spending time in South Africa. While a quite boring and small term used to refer to various small towns or villages in the United States, the implications of the word in South Africa reveal it's ugly history of racial segregation. Townships are nearly always inhabited by blacks or coloured people in South Africa. Towns and cities are much more mixed in regards to race, but you'll never find very many, if any, white South Africans living in townships or informal settlements. This of course isn't simply justified by pointing to the National Party's mandate that all black's and coloured move to settlements. This points to a cycle of struggle that black South African's now face as a result of their socioeconomic environment which was exacberated by nearly 50 years of racial oppression and torture.

During our time in South Africa, we could see remnants of apartheid everywhere. We often found ourselves discussing it in our American context, though. Is this much different than what we experience in different cities and towns in the United States? In the deep south? Maybe not. It felt different though, and the way townships are organized and populated by black South Africans reminded us of the history that the country is still trying to shed. The fight goes on for many South Africans. Not one of race and racial equality, but of the fight to survive. Meanwhile, in many parts of the world, a fight for justice and human rights is still alive and well.

"Be nice to the whites, they need you to rediscover their humanity"

- Bishop Desmond Tutu 

Despite the residual affects of segregation and racism still lingering, there were truths in the hope of future unity we found to be beautiful. Like being fully accepted as part of Christian Revival Ministries, a fully black South African church in the township of Evaton North, south of Johannesburg. Our entire white team was seen as the church, not as whites. We were seen as humanity, not as someone of a different race or even country. I witnessed our host pastor, Josiah Motloung, have a loving conversation with two white South Africans in our hotel, at the end of which he genuinely invited them to come visit his church, to which they accepted and made a promise to do. Ubuntu- we are humanity, we have kindness, we are one in the same.

Pastor Josiah and Mary Motloung

The beauty of South Africa runs deep, and the scars of history paint a picture which is profound and meaningful, and ever shaping it's personality. The city of Johannesburg is impressive. It's massive and the infatructure is built like what you'd expect from a modern American city. The driver's aren't nuts, and the people are on a mission to acheive and succeed. The Mall of Africa, springing up in Midrand's bustling new development, is an impressive place to spend time and feels surreal. It's high end shopping, waterfall ponds, heated outside dining areas, and newly constructed condominiums proclaim the area's wealth. Yet, ten minutes down the road in the slum townships of Thembakhosa , Tswalopele, and Kaalfontien, there are hundreds of thousands of black South Africans who live without running water or electricity. Their homes constructed of scrap metal sheets. They know where they live, they know about the Mall of Africa down the road, and they themselves call their homes, and churches, "shacks." Many of them trekked to the city in hopes for new life and opportunity and the possibility to find work. South Africa, it seems, is the America of Africa.

The fight for freedom must go on until it is won; until our country is free and happy and peacful as part of the community of man, we cannot rest!  

- Olver Tambo on the fight for freedom

Pastor Asaph Jeka is among the many who flocked to Johannesburg hoping for a better life. He and his family came from Malawi in 2005 and he's the pastor of Life Changing Ministries in Kaalfontein. The church is simply a lean-to shack on a corner lot in the midst of the huge slum community. From a perspective of development and economic change, it's hard to know where to start. From a perspective of ministry- it's easy: do what the church is doing. Love people, share God's love. Specifically for pastor Asaph and his church, that means feeding orphans instead of building church walls.

Pastor Asaph (second from right) and his church leaders in Kaalfontein. Standing in front of their church.

We met many people, like Roland Rink, who runs Upper Room Ministries in Africa, which prints Biblical daily devotional booklets and coordinates with local churches and ministries to get it into the hands of Christians. Lucky, Alfred, Naghti, Grace, Faith, Promise and a slew of young people in Evaton North who have big dreams for their lives ranging from Human Resources to Engineering to Pastoral ministry.

“And everyone wants to know: Who? Why? The victims ask the hardest of all the questions: How is it possible that the person I loved so much lit no spark of humanity in you?”

- Antjie Krog in Country of My Skull, speaking of her reporting of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

I will always remember my conversation with Monte, a member of the military in South Africa. Over lunch with Pastor Josiah and Jerry, we began discussing lingustics and the uniqueness of the english language. When comparing the words "begger" to "burger" I lovingly teased them that they're saying the same word as they pronounce both "Begga"! Our conversation brought us to Soweto, of which we just finished a half day tour, seeing Nelson Mandela's home, the Hector Peterson Memorial, Regina Mundi Catholic Church, and the Soweto Towers. Monte reflects on his time in the heart of Apartheid when he was enforcing law and order as an officer during the day and joining the rebel students fighting for justice at night, clearly reminiscing that he was forced to play both sides as he so desperately wanted justice and freedom, but felt a responsibility to respect authority, keep his job, and provide for his family. "They throw rocks very hard," he emphasized, when I asked about the riots he both controlled and fuelled.

The trip was a trip of a lifetime, for sure. It's my hope to spend more time in South Africa. There are many churches and pastors who want teams. Great opportunities for ministry. Evan enjoyed his first birthday there; we saw four people dedicate their lives to God at a street ministry; we went on a Safari game drive; we bonded with a wonderful team from South Carolina; we saw humility and Godliness in pastor Josiah; we experienced God in a new way. We saw God's beauty in people, places, his creation, and history.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Therefore, I am sharing a few more thousand words below which will better describe our experience, as it's really hard to put into words. We were truly blessed over the course of our trip.

Evan falling in line during VBS games

Evan's first Braii, his birthday celebration!

The view of Hillbrow in the distance from the Apartheid museum. Ironically, the caretakers and cleaners at the museum were largely black South Africans, like the man shown in this photo who was working the field.

Pastor Josiah preaching and standing on the promises of God

Me and Sam from Christian Revival Ministries. Hopefully a future PPM staff member!

Jerry and his family. And Jerry under-dressed, as usual

Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto, which still has bullet holes in the cieling, broken marble on the altar, and various markings showing the history of violence and riots in Soweto, of which this church (the largest in Soweto) was a safe haven.

The stories and memories of the Soweto riots and fight for freedom

The beautiful streets of Evaton North

Regina Mundi Catholic church seats 2,000+ people. The stain glass here shows the events of the riots from beginning through the end of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was held here for their hearings in Soweto (filling the church with nearly 5,000 people).

Curtiss, an integral member of our team, explaining his braii skills prior to us dining with the church leaders on Saturday. Our team prepared dinner for our cooks and the pastors of the church!

Pastor Joiah and Anna, who is the caretaker of the orphanage home in Lakeside