I was born in Joburg.
The city that never sleeps. The place of Gold.
But we, as part of the middle class in South Africa, would always avoid the CBD. The inner city was a dark, and dangerous place. A lunar landscape but 10km from where I lived and learned.
That all changed in the year 2014 when, in search of new friends and adventure, I suddenly found myself in the heart of this city that I've been trying all along to form no part of. I was suddenly in too deep.
Surounded by ugly, by dark, by filth.
Surounded by Grace.
If you have ever found yourself walking the streets of Johannesburg CBD, you will know that it smells even worse than it looks.
Children play amongst broken bottles, piles of trash, and suspiscious smelling streams flowing down the streets. Young men sit in the sun and drink, or smoke... Boys grown up to look tired.
Gogo's* working hard to feed themselves and their grand-children. Young women selling themselves...
Its easy to only see the sadness and darkness in this place.
But then an older man wishes to share the bread you have just handed him, a car guard asks about Jesus, and a little girl runs into your arms, giving you the tightest, bestest hug you've ever had.
It is in moments like these that a person falls in-love.
And man, did I fall hard!
Forming part of the ministry of MES in the inner city, even for such a short time has opened my eyes to the reality of this world (it is definately not pretty), but in the proscess of working to spread hope to these people, I have found hope myself.
God is working in this city, He is working in the hearts of people.
There is still good left in this world. And it is worth fighting for.
I left my heart in Hillbrow. Lost my heart to the people of Jozi and now I cannot seem to stop my eyes from searching for the skyline every time I'm driving on the highway, I cannot stop Praying for your people Johannesburg! Cannot stop loving on you.
You are the city of my heart.
You can keep an eye on this page for links and updates on the ongoing ministry in the inner city of Johannesburg :)
*Gogo: one of the many South African terms for a Grandmother :) generally refering to any older lady.
No comments:
Post a Comment