South Africa Update... Day 3

Some thoughts from day 3 of my experience in South Africa

• The local church must be relevant to the community, and love is always relevant. Thami talked about that, and more importantly, he is showing it. Thami was orphaned as a little boy, and was disappointed that the church did not step up to help him in a tangible way. He is working hard to make sure that doesn't happen in his South African community. He operates a clinic that receives assistance from the US government that tests people for AIDS, and whatever the result is he also offers counseling and help for those individuals. He is also in the process of developing an orphanage and housing for these children. Thami is being very relevant to his community because of his great love for people and for Jesus.
• It's one thing to say Jesus loves you, but it is another to show it. It can be easy to say Jesus loves you, but it takes on a whole new meaning when a real need is met. Yesterday afternoon people on the team handed out backpacks to little kids in a village. These children have no toys at all. They play with rocks or whatever else they can find, and when they were given gifts their eyes lit up with joy.
• People here are extremely talented and make beautiful things. We purchased a couple of pillows from some of the locals. They are beautiful. Les, the owner of the radio station, also purchased a pillow, and he gave the people 100 rand for his pillow, which is roughly $15. The had only asked for 20 rand, which is close to $3. When they were given 100 rand, they leaped for joy. The woman who was with her husband selling these pillows quickly reached for the money -- I guess some things never change, regardless of what culture you are in.
• Lunch today was at a place called "Wimpy" - South Africa's version of McDonalds. The food wasn't too bad.
• The kids here are the hope for the future. It is a joy to seed people invest in them, educate them, pray over them, and support them. In return, there are many kids who are growing up with a love for Jesus. Pray for that love to grow, and that these young people would grow up to be strong leaders in their community.
• Finally, I know I mentioned this before, but God used a man by the name of Thami to change my heart. How can we say Jesus loves you if we are not willing to show it to others? What does it look like for the church, people who love Jesus, to be relevant in their community? I don't think it's about music, or cool things. I'm starting to believe and see that it is love that will change a community. We need to be people who are constantly reaching out in love. Yes, there will be times when we become selfish and say what about me? I did that this week. But, we must push through those times and realize life isn't about me. It's about living in such a way so that others see Jesus, and loving people in such a way so that they see Jesus. My heart broke when I listened to Thami.