Township

We'd only been here a couple of days, and things were harder than I'd anticipated.

We were often without electricity, we were without wifi, our phones didn't work at all, and it was hot. We had no way of contacting people/authorities locally or our friends and family at home, we'd been warned that we weren't safe, and we felt isolated. When you add those things to jet lag and pregnancy, things felt off.

Then, on day three, the Bergeys drove us through a nearby township. When I say that there were miles and miles and miles and miles and miles of houses and shops just like these, I'm not exaggerating.

These pieced-together homes, in largely unauthorized settlements, house the majority of the Afrikaans in South Africa. As we drove through their homes and businesses, I wondered to myself about what could be changed. I'm a logical person and a problem fixer, but as I thought about the need for change, the Spirit in me kept reminding me that these humans, more than anything, need the Love of Christ.

As Christ reminded us of the purpose of our trip and the need of these local people, my selfish, first-world problems were glaring.

There was no a/c in the van we were in, and sitting in the backseat, sixteen weeks pregnant, I was uncomfortable.

In contrast to the homes pictured above, we're essentially renting a little beach house on the Indian Ocean. Our home is beautiful.

It was a surprise to us to experience "Load Shedding." Load Shedding is essentially rolling blackouts here in South Africa. For two-four hour time blocks three times a day, we don't have power. Everyone takes turns. It's inconvenient. You wake up, and you can't make coffee. You go to sleep without air conditioning (summer over here, 97 degrees today). When you're driving, the street lights are out. Inconvenient and unexpected, but small, compared to the normal life problems of the people around us.

And this first drive through a township, was God's reminder to me that I'm selfish, and that all of us have big, deep Spiritual needs that God wants to meet with grace and forgiveness and unconditional love.