Masi

I've been doing a lot of reflecting, some internal but mostly out loud, about what I've been allowed to see here. God is opening my eyes a lot the last couple of days. I've been asking to get more hands on at Living Way and also within the townships. I feel that it's difficult to be in an office when the community surrounding LW is in such need for help.
Masi (pronounced Moss-E) is a growing township of shacks and home to over 25000 people. Shacks are being built on top of existing shacks. No joke, two story shacks. No running water, no electricity and consisting of one room. And forget indoor plumbing/toilets. The Xhosa's who live in Masiphumele (which means "We will succeed") are in the southern peninsula because they were pushed south by other tribes. I found out that they are considered the 'dogs' of Africa (by other Africans) because they couldn't defend their land. Forget apartheid, to be considered the least of these by your own continent, how do you rise up and succeed? This is what LW faces by working alongside this community. On top of that, there is the mentality that "I don't need to work for something when somebody will give it to me."
As Christians, we come with good intentions to help our neighbor or 'the poor' rise out of poverty. The problem is that we give them fish without teaching them to fish. And they are capable of fishing. They don't believe they are nor will they ever if we keep handing it to them. I'm not saying you should stop giving. It's good to give, but we need to be mindful that we are helping to empower someone through sustainable means.

I got smacked in the face when I started thinking about the women in the bakery and their living situations as they all live in Masi with children struggling to make ends meat.
I don't come from where they do. I don't know what it's like to live in a shack and to be truly cold/hot, hungry and uncomfortable. I've never had to face those kinds of circumstances and find joy there. Then again, they think I'm weird for going to school, getting a job and still being single. I'm even more of a freak because I don't have children, and I'm getting old. One of the women asked me why I dress like a boy in baggy jeans. I told her I was cold and wasn't going to wear skirts everyday. She replied with "Me, I don't like jeans. They make you look fat." I thought it was funny. Maybe that's the reason I'm still single.
So I'm trying to meet them where they are without a true understanding of where that is. Jesus meets us where we are, but he's already walked the path for us. I'm just not that cool. I can't walk the path for these women. All I can do is love them.
So I'm starting a devotional with my friends in the bakery as a part of my ministry plan here. There will be more opportunities to lead workshops and teach jewelry/knitting/fabric printing, but my main purpose is to show them Christ's love. I'm praying that God will provide the topic of the devotional/Bible study. I know that he will break down barriers of communication and upbringing, so that we can all come to a place together. I know without a doubt that God will already meet each of them where they are, so I don't need to worry about doing that. I just need to be their sister in Christ and love them completely. It's beyond words how amazing it is getting to know each of them. I don't even mind when they call me fat in my baggy boy jeans.