What would you buy with $1.30? It couldn’t buy much, maybe a burger at McDonald’s or a can of soda. What would you do if that was your wage per hour, while you tried to raise your children, clothe them, feed them and send them to school. But the money you worked for you had to hide, because else your husband would take it and use it for his liquor addiction.
This is the life of my dear friend Lusanda that I have talked about in my previous blogs. She works at Ithemba every day and brings her 5 year old son Aya. I’ve spent al ot of time getting to know her and hearing her story has broken my heart. Her husband Shaun has been out of of work for 5 months, because the fisherman here in Jeffreys Bay are on strike. The money she works for, a lot of times is taken for his addiction. She strives to put food on the table, she said she prays daily for God to put food in her cupboards. The other weekend I spent a saturday with her and Aya helping and learning to hand wash her laundry. Her house is the size of my parents bedroom. They have one bed for her, Shaun and Aya, and now her sister and two cousins are moving in. They will be a houseful of six people in that little home. Lusanda doesn’t know how she will pay for Aya’s school fees and also now the two cousisn that are moving in, and more mouths to feed. Yet she is so strong-she carries the HIV sickness in her body daily, but yet she carries the joy of the Lord.
I’ve been struggling with why this is the life she lives and why this is the life I live. Why is America “so blessed” like they say? I beg to differ! I see Africa now compared to America, and I can’t truly say America is blessed. Yes, we have everything we could ever want- starbucks, food at our fingertips, ipods, camera’s, big screen tv’s and brand name clothing. But is this what blessed means? In Matthew 5, God says- Blessed is the meek, Blessed are the poor in spirit, and Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.
I see in the faces and eyes of the people here in Africa their true pure love for God, their sincerity and vunerability. They have little, hurt much, but yet they still praise Him. If America is so blessed and we say ‘God Bless America’, do we say it because we want more stuff? Or do we truly want God to bless us- by breaking our hearts, shaking our world upside down and living in radical obedience to Him. We in America talk about how corrupt the other countries are, but what about us? We allow abortion, homesexuality, our idenitity is in our stuff, the divorce rate is recklessly hight and 1 in every 4 girls has been raped. We claim to love and know God, but our lives are far from it. How can we be the first to open our mouths and point a finger when we don’t live it ourselves?
God has completely changed my view of the world. When I came to Africa, I honestly thought that America was the best country in the world, but now I see all countries equal. I see the corruption here no doubt, but I see it in America and everywhere else as well.
I wish I could take everyone of you here with me to experience what life is like. To meet Lusanda, Aya and the kids at Ithemba. To experience the worship at Ithemba on Sunday mornings, and hear the simple, straight to the heart message given by Pastor George. To see the homes, the segeration and to weep for the brokeness of Jeffreys Bay. But I know that is not possible. But oh, how I pray God would burden your hearts, the hearts of the American people, not just for Africa, but for your country. America.
Get down on your knees and weep for the state of brokeness America is in. Then dust yourselve off, stand up and do something about it!
Running After Him,
-Ellie
Girl, this is SO GOOD. I’m glad that you just posted this and told me about it. It has me thinking now. Thanks for the reality check.
I love you so very much!
Ellen
I am so proud of you! and am so thankful that you are my sister, love ya tons!!!
Ethan
Ellen,
You are an amazing girl and I am so blessed to have you as part of our team. Thanks for your beautiful heart.