Africa - Day Seven

Suppose a man comes into your meeting

wearing a gold ring and fine clothes,

and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

If you show special attention

to the man wearing fine clothes

and say, 'Here's a good seat for you,'

but say to the poor man, 'You stand there'

or 'Sit on the floor by my feet,'

Have you not discriminated among yourselves

and becomes judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers:

Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world

to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom

He promised those who love Him?

But you have insulted the poor. - James 2:2-6

Today was the most difficult day of all for me. We went to the Extension 23 church for the last time. We picked up the local team and went to one last school.

Joey, Thabo, Madi and I were all in a classroom together. They were little kids - Grade 1 and 2 - so we spent most of our time playing games and singing. What a heavenly experience to stand next to someone of a different culture in a room full of children who don't even speak English, and praise our God in both their language and mine . . . to be privileged to serve next to a child of God who couldn't be more different than us but loves the same Jesus and puts our commitment, passion and zeal to shame.

Afterwards we were waiting for a rid to Joburg and we spent time playing with the kids. I think that might be Joey's favorite part of this trip. After all, most of the time he's just an overgrown kid himself.

Thsi was the part of the day that was so difficult for me. Our plans changed multiple times, our ride was WAY late, the rest of the team's plane was delayed, so somehow lunch got pushed off until 3:30 in the afternoon. Chaos is a real struggle for me, so sitting quietly and waiting was definitely a challenge. Finally we met up with the group that had been in Capetown at the Apartheid Museum. We snacked in the parking lot instead of eating a full "lunch" because were due for a special dinner in town before 6 p.m.

Joey and I asked Thabo to walk through the museum with us so that he could help full in the gaps in our understanding. When you get ready to enter the Apartheid Museum they hand you a card that labels you "Black" or "Non-Black" and depending on your classification you must enter through the designated door only. Much like the days of slavery in America, this is how South Africa was segregated until the 1990s.

I can't put into words how this made me feel. As it worked out, Joey and I were "Non-Black" and Thabo was "Black" which obviously mirrors reality. Even though we had decided to go through the museum together, we were separated and sent two different directions.

My heart was crushed. He is our friend. The color of his skin means no more than the color of his eys or his hair. Why would he not be allowed to go anywhere we went? If anything, in my opinion, he is more deserving than we are. He has sacrificed more. He is more content. He is more dedicated.

I know the cards were simply a tool to illustrated the realities of Apartheid, but it angers me that I know the sentiment still exists with some people, both in Africa and America. Clearly they must not believe in the same God I do or read the same Bible because nothing could be further from God's heart than this kind of prejudice and racism.

The museum was fascinating and incredibly disturbing. It's crazy to realize that all of those things happened in my parent's lifetime - some of the worst during my lifetime. Honestly it was too much to absorb in one visit, and we were rushed for time any way. But I want to learn more. I know all about the Holocaust, but really nothing about Apartheid.

After we left the museum, we went to a restaurant called The Boma. It was an all-you-can-eat buffet of African foods. The guys with us totally impressed me. They tried ostrich, cow tonuge, ox tripe (intestines and stomach), and more. I had some basic chicken curry rice, etc. But most of all, we had a wonderful time of fellowship.

It would be our goodbye with the local team. It was a sad goodbye. We have grown to love them dearly in the last week together, and yet we know we will see them again one day.

In the meantime, thank God for Facebook.