Sue in Africa

Posts from 08-January tell about the village of Vivati in Togo where just two years ago, a new church was being established in a community where the spiritual orientation was mainly vodoo. Today, it’s 90% Christian. The pictures attached tell more of the story. This is their new church and a small worship time beneath the trees.

 

Did you ever wonder what different currencies I used during this trip? Every country I visited required a variety of adjustments. Usually, one of the first things I did when entering a new country was to exchange money or find a cash machine. The increasing presence of cash machines, often located in airports or outside banks, really eased up handling finances. And, I didn’t have to be so dependent on my local host to deal with this facet of travel and visiting new places.

 

(Currency Rates as of 20 April, 2008)

 

France, The Netherlands

 

Togo, Senegal

 

Ghana

 

Uganda

 

South Africa

 

Botswana

 

Namibia

 

My friend Nita wrote, … you are right where you want to be doing what your heart dreams of so much. And my heart responds, “Yes, it is so!”

 

       From the beginning of this trip, it was my desire to tithe on the financial gifts that friends gave to help me travel in Africa. I asked God to show me where I might do that. It seemed that this time, deciding when and where was going to mainly be in response to my passion and where there seemed to be an opportunity or means to give. It was simple.

       Actually, the harder part was not giving it all away! I found places where my compassion rose, where I wanted to see something more happen, where the circumstances fit clearly into my mission philosophy… so that’s where I stepped into the pleasure of giving.

       So, my supportive friends, this is where some of your money went:

• To support the work of Family Life Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ in Benin, West Africa, led by Edouard and Solange Ametou.
• To support CHE (Community Health Evangelism) training led by Daniel Kpowbie in West Africa .
• To buy vegetable seed for a famine-affected village near Kaffrine, Senegal.
• To support ministry to a Muslim village near K., under the ministry of Jeff and Iris.
• To assist with buying a generator to show the Jesus film in Senegal.
• To support food and health care needs of Talibe street children in Dakar, Senegal.
• To buy mosquito nets for an orphanage in Kampala, Uganda, under the leadership of Michael Lutalo with Appointed Harvesters Ministries.
• To replace an accident-destroyed cell phone used for ministry by Phillip in Kampala, Uganda .
• To buy lunch for the entire team of MAP International who took us to IDP camps near Gulu, Uganda .
• To buy food for orphans and widows infected by AIDS in crisis circumstances led by Janice of Mercy Medicine, White River, South Africa .

I’m still looking and listening for more places…

You hold my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will receive me with honor.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire

other than you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Ps 73:23-26

(From “Pocket Prayers.” The Upper Room. Prayers for Encouragement, Hope for Persons Living with HIV and AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and Other Serious Diseases. South Africa : Upper Room Ministries. 2007.)

 

 

      

3.06.08
One of the more interesting things today was going to the orphanage that Esther runs. She has become a squatter in buildings abandoned by the military. She’s in a tug of war with them, but the government and social services doesn’t get around to removing the children either, so she stays. She has somehow acquired funding from various sources in the US and Europe to care for 150 children. Much has been given to create a working facility. Yet, what I see makes me wonder whether they really know what goes on here… I don’t think her compassionate funders have checked things out well enough to know what’s behind the scenes. She talks of microenterprise, but there are none; talks of health care but she doesn’t have time to take a chronically sick boy to the clinic to be tested for HIV. Esther seems more embroiled in the battle to hold on to the ground, which limits her attention to the kids. No one holds the children, they just wander around. Strangers are on the campus, teens hang out in each others sleeping quarters…

 

This is hard to see, my host comments that I will see better.

 

3.07.08

Today, we go visit Bakewie, a tenacious ordained pastor who keeps Good Hope Feeding Station running. We fill the back seat with fresh vegetables and pray that God will show us where to find this little ministry tucked away in the village of Clau Clau . Arriving in the neighborhood, Bakewie is finally reached by cell phone for directions. In spite of her many abilities to guide others spiritually and her compassionate care for children, her world view clashes with ours when it comes to providing adequate directions. We laugh together. Left and right are vague concepts. Turn right after the big tree, go past the vegetable stand, up the hill, then down and around the dry corn patch. Eventually we found her!

 

Arriving early afternoon, we find several school age children who aren’t in school and a handful of toddlers. Some days there are 50, at the moment we see about 20. They are hungry and come to Bakewie. Some live with family members but come to eat since there is so little at home, some just come out of nowhere, but Bakewie comes to know them somehow. We suspect others have no family and have come out of the bush for food and a bath. This is her ministry: food, a bath, bible stories, and love. Day to day, she doesn’t know where the food will come from or what it will be. A local ministry does it’s best to give what they can. Janice and I carry in vegetables and fruit today. We talk with the children, hold the little ones. The kitchen is clean but very small. She cooks on a small home style stove and washes up in a small plastic tub. Janice offers to search out other equipment; Bakewie expresses her gratitude.

 

We leave in the late afternoon, waving to the little ones. This is not a place to find yourself after dark…

3.02.08

FATINA - Amazed that I am wrestling with frustrations over imperfect and immature church function and form and at the same time recognizing Jesus is boldly at work. I was introduced in church, mentioned that I’m interested in HIV/AIDS issues. After service, I was approached this morning  by a young woman outside under the shade of an acacia tree. Waiting for others to finish greeting me, she calmly approached and asked about my “project.” She’d only heard that I was here about AIDS. I stumbled with telling her there was no project, trying to listen further with my heart. She simply respond that she’d been diagnosed HIV positive two weeks ago. She said it so simply. A bombshell had just hit her life and she’s calmly approaching me, a stranger, to tell about it.

     She said she had a baby boy last year, she has no husband. After testing positive, she had the baby tested – the outcome was negative she was glad to say. I shared her gladness over this news. I pondered as she spoke that I had just been at a training only yesterday to counsel HIV/AIDS patients in the church and community. Here I was fully engaged in compassionate counseling under the shade tree, amazed at God’s timing.

     She commented, “I think God arranged this… for us to talk. You’re the first person I’ve told this to.” She seemed so thankful just to have someone to talk with. Eventually I said that I would connect her with Janice if it was OK, Janice could help because she was a nurse and goes to her church and would be available. She offered her name, Fatina, and cell number.

     She allowed me to give her a long hug while I prayed loud enough for only her (and God) to hear. Parting, I said I would be praying for her and her baby and then reminded her to have him tested again in six months. He’s in that window of time when antibodies are developing and may not show up yet in testing. Just then, her younger sister arrived with the baby and a neighbor friend. I wondered who would eventually raise this handsome baby boy or if he would be buried early. They pulled out a large colorful umbrella against the sun, and the four moved out beneath it, walking away from me, down the dirt path toward the high grasses. Just like that, it was over; I stood staring after her. People were still milling around as though nothing different had occurred. But I felt a small earthquake – will my heart always be shook? Father God, help me remember to pray often!

(Note: Janice contacted her by phone and will meet with her on Sunday privately. Action reminder: leave funds for food for a month.)

3.02.08.

ROBERT. Leaving the church grounds, I had Fatina on my mind. We wound down the dirt road toward the paved highway. At a sharp bend, we passed a young man, probably around 16, whose face I recognized from the service. He was one of many his age. In the service, I wondered at so many teens. They represented the majority of the congregation. Where were their parents? These youth will be the future church; no, they are the church now. They seemed kind of stoic. I wondered again, where are their parents? What are their stories?

     We waved to Robert in the shadows of a tree and he returned the greeting. Bumping along the red dirt road a bit further, I was looking the red rocks jutting out of the grassy hills when Janice stopped abruptly. She paused a moment, then backed up carefully. “I need to speak with him,” she explained. “His mother just died five days ago.”

     Janice engaged Robert a bit with light greetings. Then she asked the big questions, “I’m sorry that your mother died… do you have anyone to take care of you?” Robert’s face changed, a tensing in his face, his eyes looked intensely at her and moistened. “No one.” Janice pressed further, “Don’t you have a little brother?” “Yes, he lives with me. We’re together.”

      Compassion rises again in Janice as she suggests, “Lets meet together next week with Pastor.” I can help you get appointed head of the household, then you will have a little money and food for your brother and you can finish your last year of school.” Robert’s sad eyes said thank you as he nodded. Arrangements were made and we continued on, each deep in thought.

(Note: Janice and Pastor were scheduled to meet with Robert the next week after I left.

Mental note: leave funds for a month of food for Robert.)

As I entered Uganda and then South Africa , my focus shifted more specifically to ministries related to HIV/AIDS prevention and compassion responses. The notations that follow will reflect this.

…………………

Collecting billboard statements along the way…
·         “Why are you sleeping with your daughter? This is wrong!”  ( Togo )
·         “Cross-generational sex stops here. Say NO to Sugar Daddies.”  ( Uganda )
·         “Get children in your care tested for HIV. Be a tower of strength to them.”  ( Uganda )
·         “Let your desire be your pleasure!” (condom ad, South Africa )
·         “Education is the most powerful weapon to change your world… Nelson Mandela.”  ( South Africa )

Collecting T-shirt statements along the way…
·         “Your mistakes should not ruin my life.”  ( South Africa )
·         “Gender equality in education… my right to hope for the future.”  ( South Africa )