What an experience that God has invited us to! For about 3 weeks, our team has now been living in Masiphumelele, a township of about 30000 to 40000 inhabitants (the number changes constantly because of people moving away from or to Masi - legally or illegally - and because of the high number of people who die for different reasons). Estimates are that there is about 80% unemployment and about 30-40% of the community is infected with HIV/AIDS and/or TB. The house we are living in is in the heart of Masi and belongs to the infamous drug lord Small, one of the two richest and influential people in the township. How did we get to live in his house? The long-term missionary team (Community Transformations) we are working with, who live just up the hill from Masi, have been praying over this house for years, hoping for Small to stop his shady business as well as to open the door for the team to be able to live in a safe house within the community. And God answered their prayers: a few months ago, one of the ComTrans team members took heart and asked Small for the house. He answered that he had actually been thinking of renting or even selling his house - to a Christian organization! So here we are, our PhotogenX team came just at the right time and are now the first Western team that has ever lived in Masi.Take a look at this
LINK so you can see our big green house (left hand side).
And we enjoy it! It feels like we are already making a difference by simply living our normal lives within the community. Many times when we have talked to people on the street in the beginning, they were absolutely stunned when they heard we were actually LIVING among them. We have heard things like "There must be some truth in your words about love, if you actually come LIVE with us." The people in Masi are used to missionaries who come and work with them during the day - but never stay after sunset. And it gets pretty crazy around here - there is ONE legal tavern in the township... and about 100 illegal ones. However, God has sent many angels to protect us and most people know us by now as the "Mulungus" (White People) who are not too proud or scared to live with them and actually watch out over us. Today, I heard a lady tell me that she has asked the police to drive around our house at least once or twice a day just to make sure everything is ok.
Yes, I absolutely love Masi. Our team has seen so many healings (physical and spiritual), people coming to the Lord and turning away from drugs and alcohol, as well as developed close friendships with one another. On a daily basis, our team first walks the streets of Masi, in order to meet old friends and make new ones :). Then we often have some kind of program, especially on the weekends, such as a "Women's Beauty Day," "Kids Ministry" or simply a time of worship. At around 5pm, we host a growing number of people from the community for a Bible Study - which blows my mind because of the honesty and hunger that lies within the people's questions. After the Bible Study (which often lasts for about 3-4 hours), our team has family time. I have to admit, these are some of my favorite moments of the day - our team really has become like a family over the past couple of month that we have spent together :)
And with all the wonders that God has revealed to us during our time here, there are - once again - also hard times. Even though it is such a blessing to be living within Masi, it is sometimes hard to minister to people 24/7. Since we are quite an attraction within the community, we have especially a lot of kids visit our house at all times. Most of them are so needy for love that they want to never leave; which is flattering, challenging, and most of all very sad. Since the first couple of days, our team has been struggling with fleas (and potentially scabies, we are still not quite sure). We have washed all of our clothes and sprayed our rooms - but some things just have to be accepted as they are. When I tried counting my bites at some point reached the number 278...
Please continue to pray for our team as we are entering our last weeks of ministry. One of the greatest things is that ComTrans, the long-term team, will be able to nurture the relationships and the seeds we have just sowed even after we have left!
What an experience that God has invited us to! For about 3 weeks, our team has now been living in Masiphumelele, a township of about 30000 to 40000 inhabitants (the number changes constantly because of people moving away from or to Masi - legally or illegally - and because of the high number of people who die for different reasons). Estimates are that there is about 80% unemployment and about 30-40% of the community is infected with HIV/AIDS and/or TB. The house we are living in is in the heart of Masi and belongs to the infamous drug lord Small, one of the two richest and influential people in the township. How did we get to live in his house? The long-term missionary team (Community Transformations) we are working with, who live just up the hill from Masi, have been praying over this house for years, hoping for Small to stop his shady business as well as to open the door for the team to be able to live in a safe house within the community. And God answered their prayers: a few months ago, one of the ComTrans team members took heart and asked Small for the house. He answered that he had actually been thinking of renting or even selling his house - to a Christian organization! So here we are, our PhotogenX team came just at the right time and are now the first Western team that has ever lived in Masi.Take a look at this LINK so you can see our big green house (left hand side).
And we enjoy it! It feels like we are already making a difference by simply living our normal lives within the community. Many times when we have talked to people on the street in the beginning, they were absolutely stunned when they heard we were actually LIVING among them. We have heard things like "There must be some truth in your words about love, if you actually come LIVE with us." The people in Masi are used to missionaries who come and work with them during the day - but never stay after sunset. And it gets pretty crazy around here - there is ONE legal tavern in the township... and about 100 illegal ones. However, God has sent many angels to protect us and most people know us by now as the "Mulungus" (White People) who are not too proud or scared to live with them and actually watch out over us. Today, I heard a lady tell me that she has asked the police to drive around our house at least once or twice a day just to make sure everything is ok.
Yes, I absolutely love Masi. Our team has seen so many healings (physical and spiritual), people coming to the Lord and turning away from drugs and alcohol, as well as developed close friendships with one another. On a daily basis, our team first walks the streets of Masi, in order to meet old friends and make new ones :). Then we often have some kind of program, especially on the weekends, such as a "Women's Beauty Day," "Kids Ministry" or simply a time of worship. At around 5pm, we host a growing number of people from the community for a Bible Study - which blows my mind because of the honesty and hunger that lies within the people's questions. After the Bible Study (which often lasts for about 3-4 hours), our team has family time. I have to admit, these are some of my favorite moments of the day - our team really has become like a family over the past couple of month that we have spent together :)
And with all the wonders that God has revealed to us during our time here, there are - once again - also hard times. Even though it is such a blessing to be living within Masi, it is sometimes hard to minister to people 24/7. Since we are quite an attraction within the community, we have especially a lot of kids visit our house at all times. Most of them are so needy for love that they want to never leave; which is flattering, challenging, and most of all very sad. Since the first couple of days, our team has been struggling with fleas (and potentially scabies, we are still not quite sure). We have washed all of our clothes and sprayed our rooms - but some things just have to be accepted as they are. When I tried counting my bites at some point reached the number 278...
Dear Kat
ReplyDeleteI would be interested where you have been staying in Masi. Did you stay in home stays or any other form of accommodation? I am looking to place a few students that will be working in Masi. Would love to hear your feedback.
All the best