The next two Sundays we will be on the road traveling (to and from the safari) so this Sunday (Father's Day here in South Africa as well as back in the U.S.) we decided to head to worship at the JL Zwane Presbyterian Church and Centre in the township of Gugulethu in Cape Town. We drove for about an hour and got there about half an hour before worship started. We knew we were in a township. Shacks everywhere -- a dusty grime over everything. Yet this was not the picture we got at worship. We were some of the first in worship in Pastor Sliwo came and introduced myself. He said he had some work for me to do if I had the time -- we agreed to talk afterwards. I noticed as the congregation began gathering the words on the wall (see attached picture) behind us. And then I noticed the words above the only exit door. The words are "never give up." As the congregation gathered it struck me how these would be words of encouragement and challenge to people struggling with AIDS and poverty (this congregation has a very extensive ministry with those who are HIV positive and with AIDS). For the next two hours we worshipped. We understood some of what was said. They would go back and forth between Xhosa and English. The Lord's Prayer was sung in English. And after the gospel was read the whole congregation stood and sang, over and over again, "never give up, never give up, never, never, never, never, never give up!" -- wow! The singing itself was an experience -- all but one time, accapella. The preacher would pause in his sermon and people would stand and begin singing...and it was so infectious that even though I didn't know the words or the tune you could find your way to raising your voice along with those gathered there - and being in tune. The music was so full and rich. And we were all moving with the music. There was laughter and real and genuine joy in the room. Beautiful.
After worship was over we headed back back to Kleinmond, we stopped and had lunch at a mall in Somerset. In the evening we had been invited by Priscilla (one of the community development trainers here) and her son, Eddie, for dinner. What a dinner! We had butternut soup (it was truly the best I've ever tasted), we had cous-cous, and chicken on the bone and potatoes. We had fruit salad and pears and juices and vegetables. It was a feast. Priscilla regaled us with stories of community development and Eddie talked to us about his upcoming graduation from high school (this November). He will be headed to University this fall to become a social worker. Priscilla will continue her work with women's cooperatives -- making objects to sell for the 2010 Football (Soccer) Championship in South Africa. She is amazing. And we were blessed. In their lives, as on the wall in Gugulethu, "never give up" is the theme.
|  | 
|
