Back home
I am back from a ten day trip to Johannesburg, South Africa. As I stated in a previous blog post I went to partner with Vox United.
I don't have the energy or wisdom to lay out the many different experiences and corresponding threads of meaning at the moment, but I wanted to share one thing that God reminded me of. Every person is valuable and is to be loved.
Some of the experiences we had:
> Visits to multiple townships (shanty towns).
> Museums (Soweto and Apartied).
> Trip to a Hospice to visit those dying of HIV/AIDS and dealing with other issues.
> Sharing with local pastors and hearing their vision and challenges.
> Preaching with an interpreter at Soweto Vineyard Church.
> Learning about the injustice, oppression, poverty and disease from people.
Through the visits, the discussions, the sharing, and the walks through townships I began to see people more and more as God saw them... as His children - His beloved - the apple of His eye - those made in His image - each having value and cherished.
On my return I don't feel more guilty for eating what I eat or living where I live, but I find myself looking more people in the eye. Taking a little more time with the drive through woman at Arby's to smile and see the spark of the divine in her. All people are valuable and should be loved.
This supreme ethic of loving others as we love ourselves was embedded in me more on this trip and I hope it overcomes all of me.
Anyways - I may share more in the future, but for now I say hello again - you are beloved.
Blogging aint easy fo sheezie,
sd
I don't have the energy or wisdom to lay out the many different experiences and corresponding threads of meaning at the moment, but I wanted to share one thing that God reminded me of. Every person is valuable and is to be loved.
Some of the experiences we had:
> Visits to multiple townships (shanty towns).
> Museums (Soweto and Apartied).
> Trip to a Hospice to visit those dying of HIV/AIDS and dealing with other issues.
> Sharing with local pastors and hearing their vision and challenges.
> Preaching with an interpreter at Soweto Vineyard Church.
> Learning about the injustice, oppression, poverty and disease from people.
Through the visits, the discussions, the sharing, and the walks through townships I began to see people more and more as God saw them... as His children - His beloved - the apple of His eye - those made in His image - each having value and cherished.
On my return I don't feel more guilty for eating what I eat or living where I live, but I find myself looking more people in the eye. Taking a little more time with the drive through woman at Arby's to smile and see the spark of the divine in her. All people are valuable and should be loved.
This supreme ethic of loving others as we love ourselves was embedded in me more on this trip and I hope it overcomes all of me.
Anyways - I may share more in the future, but for now I say hello again - you are beloved.
Blogging aint easy fo sheezie,
sd
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