Journal - April 2010

 
 

April 1, 2010 - You're the Answer to Someone's Prayer (Julie's entry)

When we pulled up to our friend’s house in Ocean View today, she was crying on her front stoop. With two little boys the same age as Jensen and Emme, she was trying to figure out how she was going to make it through the weekend without bread and potatoes for her family.

She was trusting God.

Often times we are the answers to other people’s prayers. For just a few dollars, we had the privilege to be someone’s answer.

It's strange that God uses us - the church, His Body - as His tool to serve. If I was Him, I think I'd have come up with a better plan than to use us.

But sometimes He decides we're "it". We're His answer to someone's prayer.

It's quite humbling.

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April 7, 2010 - Black and White in the Rainbow Nation

Culture at CPx

Here at CPx we have students of all color living, working and learning together.

This includes students from South Africa – white Afrikaners, along with black and *colored people from the local townships.

CPx student class 2010

This is CRAZY!

White Afrikaners – the people group responsible for apartheid – living and working in community, side by side black South Africans.

*Note: “Colored” is the proper term here in South Africa for those with both a black and white descent (it seems very strange for us Americans)

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Culture in South Africa

In South Africa, this "multi-racial mix of friends" is very unusual.

As we walk around Cape Town, it’s rare to see a group of different races socializing together. I stand up and take notice if I see a “white guy” talking to his “black guy” friend on the street.

Sure – it’s the “rainbow nation” – there is diversity everywhere – but that diversity exists in segregated pockets.

According to a Institute for Justice and Reconciliation in a BBC article...

  • 24% of South Africans do not speak to people of other races on a typical day
  • 46% "never socialize" with people of other races in their own homes or friends' homes
  • 39% find people of other races "untrustworthy"
  • 59% said they found it "difficult to understand the customs and ways" of people of other races

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In the News

The big news here in South Africa is that a farmer, Eugene Terreblanche, leader of a white supremacist party, was beaten and hacked to death while taking a nap on his farm by his black workers.

He had a large following among whites who still believe in an all-white state.

Some blame his murder on a song that has been sung at political rallies by Julius Malema, the leader of the youth league of the ruling ANC political party. From the struggle days against apartheid, the song is called “kill the boer”, which translates to “kill the farmer”. A court has recently banned the song.

It’s worth noting, some 3,000 white farmers have been killed since apartheid ended in 1994.

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The Fear

Floyd says...

"These happenings have touched a raw nerve in both the white and black communities. There is great concern and fear that the racial divide in South Africa will be deepened. The old wounds of apartheid have been reopened. The pain of the Afrikaner people has been touched deeply. Everyone is aware that if the nation goes the direction of Zimbabwe, immediately to the north, South Africa will be plunged into economic ruin and racial conflict. There is a fear that a civil war could take place."

Zimbabwean Farming Problem

Zimbabwe was the bread basket of Africa – until the president forced white farmers to turn over their farms to the black Zimbabweans. The farms are now in ruins and the people are starving.

Formerly white-owned farms were given to "people without the faintest idea of farming", said Mr Nguni (Zimbabwean deputy agriculture minister). He conceded that this was the main cause of the current massive crop failure, which has left more than 30% of Zimbabwe's people dependent on food aid.

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Tears This Week in Class

With the emotion of this event heavy on our hearts, Floyd asked the 4 white Afrikaans students in the class to come forward.

We gathered around them and prayed. They asked for forgiveness for the sins of apartheid and many black students prayed blessing and hope for them. People thanked them for the good things they had done for this country. There were many tears.

A white Afrikaner said afterward this is the first time anyone has ever spoke blessing and thanksgiving on them as a people group.


April 9, 2010 -Are You Colored or White?


Dave, a white team member from Florida (who I must say is really not all that tan), had this conversation with a 6 year old girl in Ocean View today:

Little Girl: Whitey! Whitey!

Dave: Yes?

Little Girl (upon closer inspection of Dave): Are you white or colored?

Dave: What do you think?

Little Girl (with some hesitancy): Ummmm...white?

Dave: Good job!

Little Girl: Can I have a Rand?

Dave: I’m sorry - I don’t have a Rand for you.

Little Girl: You must be Colored then (and walked away).

Note: a rand is about 13 cents

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April 10, 2010 - Discipleship and Discovery Bible Studies (Julie's entry)

I am thrilled to be disciplining two women in Ocean View!

Several weeks ago I met Claudine and Colleen and am now doing "Discovery Bible Studies” several times a week with them.

Essentially a “Discovery Bible Study” is a format that let’s each person in the group “discover” what the Bible is saying to them specifically.

Read more about the unique “Discovery Bible Study” approach…

Today I took Colleen and Claudine to Noordhoek Farm Village (a delightful little place with restaurants and shops) to chat and do our Bible Study.

It was great! They said it was so wonderful just to get out of Ocean View (Ocean View is a depressing place that exudes the results of poverty and addiction).

Claudine said, "Julie, you are giving us the treat of our lives!" I love these women more than they'll ever know!

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April 12, 2010 - Business Opportunities for Women (Julie's entry)

I am passionate about using micro-loans to help women in Ocean View!

I love this approach because it offers hope for those who want to be creative and work hard - without perpetuating the cycle of poverty with a hand-out.

For starters, we would like to teach women in Ocean View computer skills, along with introducing them to “Steps to Excellence” – a program offered through All Nations that helps learners take a fresh look at their lives, discover what they are truly capable of achieving, and tools to make it happen.

Some business ideas I am mulling over...

1. All Nations offers a training program for preschool teachers - to help women start their own in-home preschool.

2. There are many "out of the living room" shops in Ocean View (called "tuck" shops) - selling chips, soda pop, candy bars, etc. One idea is to help women start their own "cakes" business - since many of the shops don't sell baked goods.

3. Another option would be to find someone with embroidery experience, willing to teach interested women how to advance their own skills – with the goal to sell customized, embroidered baby clothes online.

It's my hope to set this up using the micro-loan format, so women could be trained to own and run their own business.

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April 13, 2010 - Candy Bars to Ocean View High School Teachers

This week we will deliver candy bars to the Ocean View High School teachers with the note below of encouragement.

Over the next few months our team will be implementing dynamic programs in the high school. Check these journal entries for frequent updates!

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April 14, 2010 - Soccer Outreaches (Karl's entry)

The World Cup excitement is definitely here in South Africa!

Building on that, I am able to use soccer as a means to reach the youth of Ocean View in relevant ways.

In the next two months I will coach, assist with a soccer festival, and set up "World Cup Viewing Outreaches" (showing World Cup games on a big screen in the townships).

I have an incredible opportunity to help coach the Ocean View High School soccer team, as well as partner with a local sports ministry called Ubuntu Sports.

Using soccer, we hope to connect with the community and build relationships, with the end goal of mentorship and discipleship.

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April 16, 2010 - Community Center in Ocean View (Karl's entry)

I am passionate about being part of a launch team for building a Community Center in Ocean View.

My dream is that the community center would be a safe place for kids - providing a beautiful field on which to play soccer (instead of the street or bare dirt fields they are used to).

We would also offer computer classes, job training, tutoring, art lessons, Bible studies, and much more.

I know that ultimately the answer for those in Ocean View, as it is for all of us, is a change of heart in how we live, think and view life.

That change of heart will only come from knowing Jesus and His amazing love for each one of us.

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April 22, 2010 - Program Approval from High School

We met with the principal of Ocean View High School today, and he confirmed he would like all of us to begin our programs right away in the high school.


Ocean View High Courtyard

  • Julie has an opportunity to be a guest speaker for the "life orientation" 10th grade class on the topic of "self esteem." She hopes to invite them to a voluntary after-school club that will inspire the girls of Ocean View - they don't need to get pregnant, drop out of school, skip college, and wait around for nothing amazing to happen. There are amazing African women everywhere and these girls can be one of them. Now I just need to find one from Ocean View...
  • Karl met wtih the high school coach and received the soccer schedule. He will run weekly soccer training sessions and attend games - with the goal to mentor boys into men. He has also been asked to join Julie for the "life orientation" class and speak to the boys.

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April 25, 2010 - Met an Amazing African Women (Julie's entry)

Coincidence?

I've been wondering if Ocean View has turned out any successful women!

Today I met a married, *colored woman who has a career as hair stylist - a husband and child - a normal, healthy life...FROM OCEAN VIEW...still living IN OCEAN VIEW.

This doesn't happen!

In the 2 months I've been involved in Ocean View - I have not met ONE woman like this.

An actual marriage is rare and a job (let alone a career) is few and VERY FAR between. Most adult women are living with their mom (along with their 3 or 4 children).

She explained that Carlton Hair has 3 year training program that allows students to pay their fees with part of the salary they earn while working in a Carlton salon.

Brilliant...since most students could never come up with the $8,000 tuition in advance! You only need a 10th grade education and the 50 cents it takes to get a taxi to the salon.

I may need to talk her into chatting with my Ocean View girls?

*Note: For those new to this show - "colored" is the appropriate term to use for the ethnic group of mixed-race people who possess some sub-Saharan African ancestry, but not enough to be considered Black under the law of South Africa.

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April 26, 2010 - Ocean View Guided Tour

We met a gentleman named Donovan, involved in local political party called the DA (Democratic Alliance) as a volunteer.

He has a lot of insight into Ocean View - the people, culture, and history.

As an influential connector in this community of 30,000 people, he gave us a guided tour and explained the history of each area...

  1. Ghost Town - near the graveyard
  2. Atlantic Heights - also called Lap Land
  3. Hungry Hills - near by Rastafarian community
  4. Beverly Hills - newest, richest area
  5. Navy Community - free housing for navy personnel
  6. Mountain View - informal settlement (shacks) that has been waiting for permanent residence for 10 years now (a huge problem is sanitation and fresh water supply)
  7. Flats - low income apartment housing:7 Sisters (a grouping of 7 buildings) and the 5 Stars (a grouping of 5 buildings)
  8. Rykmansdorp

See the photos of our "guided tour of Ocean View" with Donovan...

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April 28, 2010 - Visit to Khayelitsha's Football for Hope

Ocean View needs a community center actually for the community!

It’s difficult for Ocean View residents to use their current facilities - bogged down by red tape, high fees for use, and favoritism fed by corruption.

For research, we visited the new Football for Hope community center built by FIFA and run by Grassroot Soccer in Khayelitsha.

For you Survivor fans, you may remember Survivor Africa when Ethan Zohn won. He used his million dollars to co-found Grassroot Soccer – a non-profit organization that uses soccer to teach kids about the dangers of HIV.

Khayelitsha, an endless maze of ramshackle huts, is South Africa’s second-largest township and home to about 2 million people...40 per cent of them under the age of 20.

Upon arrival, we were impressed by the enthusiastic local coaches, compelling HIV education program and beautiful facility.

Our big question – how do you prevent a new Astroturf soccer field in a township from being destroyed by vandalism? Barbed wire? High Fences? Guards?

The answer from Grassroots soccer? Community buy-in.

We were surprised their brand new field had no formal “protection” – only a short wall that children could sit on.

Football for Hope had turned a marshy no-man’s-land area, known for its drug trafficking and violence, into a top-notchl soccer field and community center.

When we asked how they protect the field we were told “Well, the community is really proud of this field and they look out for it. If people start trouble they get chased away.”

Huh...

See photos of our trip to Football for Hope community center...

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