Torn

Every evening during our debriefing session, our team starts things off with a round of High-Low. If you've never played, the gist is this: you go around in a circle and each person describes their personal "highs" and "lows" from the day. 

Tonight, as we gathered outside to list our high-lows under a sky full of stars, it became clear that for most of us, the day was intensely full of both. As we experienced firsthand some of the suffering of our South African brothers and sisters, we were at the same time able to find hope in the ways that God is working every single day. 

Here's a basic picture of day two.

Low: waking up wayyy too early (thanks, jet-lag), covered in mosquito bites.

High: getting to behold a breathtaking sunrise, and just be in awe of God's beautiful Creation.

Low: dealing with grogginess, headaches, bug bites, panic attacks, anxiety, and general weariness.

High: bonding with each other during long car rides, surrounding our fellow teammates with prayer and encouragement, and realizing we're in this together.

Low: going into the townships and experiencing the blatant and horrifying poverty there. Seeing the heaps of trash, rabid dogs, and barefooted children around every turn, and nursing heavy hearts as the full reality of spiritual warfare washed over us. At one point, a few of us crammed into the dirty, one-room shack of a family who had just days before had their 24-year-old son brutally murdered. We stood in one corner of the tiny room; in the other, two women rested on a dusty mattress, swatting flies away from a sleeping toddler. These women were in the midst of a process of mourning that will involve sitting like that for two weeks, while visitors come to give their condolences. After praying with the family and offering what little comfort we could, we learned that having foreigners come into their home like that would be considered a great blessing.

High: singing and dancing with the township children, and seeing their great joy despite such poor living conditions. These children didn't care that we were tired or sweaty, or that their surroundings weren't nice to look at. They just wanted to play, and be hugged, and experience the smiles on our faces as they charmed their way into our hearts.

Low: wondering what will become of these children, growing up in such poor conditions.

High: hearing firsthand about the incredible work God is doing through the Bridges of Hope staff, and realizing that these children are not - and will never be - alone or forgotten.

Today we were hit hard by the weight of this torn country, and now, more than ever, we are ready and determined for what's to come. For we have faith that we are learning these things for a reason, and that God will work for lasting change in ways more powerful than our earthly hearts can fathom. Though there is terrible pain here, we know it will not last forever; for God loves us, and he is greater than all.

Humbly,

The Rock Harbor team