06.14“Is it safe there?”
Given recent violence that has occurred in South Africa (if you haven’t heard much about this – this article gives a quick intro), many have asked us if we’re still going, if we feel like it’s safe, etc. While we were concerned at first and not sure why the violence was happening or how widespread it was, I think we quickly came to the conclusion that we are called and safety issues or not, we are going. We are trusting God to guide our steps and help us deal with the situations in which He places us. We’ll act with prudence and caution but continue forward as He leads us. If anything, these recent events give us a feeling that what we’re doing is a serious endeavor and makes us all the more eager to get going (in 51 days). If you love Jesus, we covet your prayers—not that we’d be spared from hardship, but that we’d maintain faith no matter what the circumstance we find ourselves in and be of use to the people there. I’d also ask for prayer that we would be able to take in and digest all the ins and outs of the various political and social issues in South Africa, and know how to be wise without taking sides.
Based on reading a few blogs from Americans living in Pretoria, there may be opportunities to serve the refugees of Zimbabwe and other neighboring countries that were the targets of the xenophobic attacks. Many of them have fled to their home countries, but many remain in refugee camps, afraid to leave. We’ll of course follow the lead of the Powerhouse Church, and I look forward to seeing how God uses the church in this situation.
If you’ve something to share on this, an interesting article or what, please share your comments.