Always hope with God

We fitted back into life here in Fish Hoek, South Africa as if we had never been away.  We picked up life again seamlessly yet much has changed.

Many people are really struggling financially and we don’t mean poor black people but white middle class.  We noticed quite a rise in food prices since we left in April.  For us with our strong British pound that is not a problem but with a devaluing rand, life can be tough for South Africans.  Taxes go up and many people don’t pay them, electricity prices soar and water prices are rising.

Hope is also beginning to seep away.  Chronic cronyism, runaway corruption, appalling mismanagement of state industries, the price drop of mineral resources worldwide and a government leadership that does anything except lead has caused discouragement.  Students are rioting and the government gives way.  The optimism of the rainbow nation under Nelson Mandela is a faint memory and the reality of yet another corrupt African government is all too evident.

In our area we have had road works for over 5 years now causing shocking congestion and many local businesses suffer.  The work will not be completed for two more years. Our local township has had terrible rioting following the rape and murder of a child. Mob justice prevailed and even when the wrong people were caught and killed, it didn’t stop.  Local people were prevented from getting to work and school by rioters.  It looks as if the situation is coming under control but it basically started because the police were unable or unwilling to enter the township and it was run by the drug lords from outside the area.

Now there are fires – an arsonist at loose on the mountains and a terrible shack fire again in our local township where 4000 people were made homeless and two died.  Our local charity, Living Hope, run by the baptist Church King of Kings is right at the forefront of the relief effort.

http://ewn.co.za/2015/11/30/Over-4000-left-homeless-following-Masiphumelele-shack-fire 

http://ewn.co.za/2015/12/02/Donations-pour-in-as-Masiphumelele-residents-rebuild-ruins  

This all appears rather hopeless but nothing can be hopeless with our God – there is always hope. The local people and businesses have given generously to those made homeless despite their lack. And prayer. People are praying like never before.  We have three new prayer meetings at our church – all started spontaneously. Following the unrest in the township most churches were praying and an all church prayer meeting attracted over 100 people from many churches to pray.

We have to believe God has a better plan and purpose for our lives and South Africa. Pray-ers are taking up the challenge to confront the problems and not just moan about them. It’s a challenging time to be in South Africa but God didn’t call us here to sit in the sun and play golf. We are called to stand with our fellow believers, to pray, to encourage and strengthen as best we can. Till God says otherwise – that is what we will do.