Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Part 12 b - The Story of my Life

Mayibuye IAfrika


I want to say something about my beloved country.
We returned several times from the UK to South Africa, while living there. Because of our great interest in politics and in freedom for the majority of our people, we kept up with the political growth of this fledgeling democracy. 
We left with great hope in the ability of those who were now free to lead . 
In the year of our first democratic election, Doug was still very active in the ANC. We were tasked with helping people on that very first election day, to reach their voting destination. The branches had hired busses to help people too and fro. 

This was not neccessary!
 People came on their own.
Such was their desire to vote.
Old men and women; woman with small children, the tired, sick and broken stood for hours in those ques so that they too could choose , for the very first time, whom they wished to lead this beautiful country.
South Africa.

When we returned to live in Cape Town, we did so entering a very different country to the one we had left behind 5 years earlier.
It was as if a rebirth had occurred.
For the past 10 years we have walked the political journey. Some of what has transpired in this land has been deeply frustrating. I am reminded time and time again that those who lead us, lead us without the hope and wisdom that God gives. They try and try again; some oblivious to their state before him and some with selfish, evil intent.

Every day, we are faced with raw poverty as homeless people sleep under bridges and the unemployed sit waiting on the road side.
HIV- and Aids are real problems. Teen pregnancy and safety are real issues.
And yet if I think back to those days of racist rule and fear.
That is gone.
People are beginning to fight for dignity not based on the colour of their skin but simply because they are human.
South Africa is a very hard country to live in although it is not the most difficult by far. 
The gospel is alive and well here and freedom of expression allows for God's people to proclaim his name and rule without persecution.
And so we pray for people throughout this beloved country to be saved and truly liberated.
and so I cry
Mayibuye Iafrika.
INkosi Sikele iAfrika!

God reigns
All praise to Him.

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