Cape Town
Hello again friends and family! Our time in Cape Town, South Africa has come to an end, and tomorrow we leave for India. We fly into Delhi and as of right now have no definitive plans, although some things are coming together for other cities such as Kolkota. Another big step of faith is in front of us as we leave the continent of Africa and step into a whole new realm and season. We don’t know what’s in front of us, but rest in the fact that our Heavenly Father does. Please, keep us in your prayers as we continue on to our next destination!
I must start off by saying that Cape Town was a perfect blend of relaxation, sight seeing, ministry, relationship building and regrouping. Our hosts, Merle and Cheree Shenk, were awesome enough to let us stay at their home outside the city. We had a fantastic time with them and their three beautiful daughters, as well as Jeff Burkholder, who visited for about a week during our time here; it was great to see a familiar face from home.
So, what did we do? I’ll share a few highlights. Our first Monday, Merle was kind enough to accompany us for the day to see some of area along the coast. We took a boat ride to what is called “Seal Island” (the name is very self explanatory – it was loaded with stinky seals) and to see the rusting remains of a ship wreck. A quick note about this area, it’s supposedly one of the only areas where Great White Sharks are known to jump out of the water, usually to catch seals (rarely witnessed by tourists like us). After our beautiful boat ride through the choppy water we went for “the best fish and chips in Cape Town” according to Merle. From there we took a beautiful drive to what is called Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. It was simply breathtaking! The wind howling off the coast, lovely blue water, waves, cliffs and beaches, breathtaking view… (the Atlantic is much nicer here than back at home, sorry Rehoboth). It was a fun yet exhausting day with all the driving, stopping and starting, and wind. If you want some more information on these areas and their history, look them up online. It’s fascinating.
We were also able to visit some other great places such as V&A Waterfront (a lovely area along the water with lots of shops and sights), as well as Table Mountain. Devon and I hiked to the top, and I got my butt kicked in the process. It was a very rewarding yet exhausting hike which we definitely paid for it the next few days. Table Mountain is supposed to be one of the seven natural wonders of the world, or at least it was nominated from what I’ve heard. The view is absolutely incredible. You can see 360 degrees for miles and miles on a clear day. It was definitely worth the physical effort, soreness, and shortness of breath. Check out some more information on Table Mountain if you’re interested in it’s history and geography.
As for ministry, we did some strategic prayer and helped out at the church. Jeff had a heart to pray over some of the “gates” of the city. One night, a few of us went to the V&A waterfront I mentioned earlier to pray against the human trafficking industry. They’re attempting to traffic in hundreds if not thousands of girls and women for prostitution by the 2010 World Cup. There’s also an attempt to legalize prostitution. We prayed over these issues and that the gate would be closed to this atrocity, and that there would be freedom and liberation for those being trafficked. On another day we also spent time in prayer at the parliament building and then at the airport. We prayed for righteous government and laws, good decision making, justice, etc. And at the airport we prayed for the gate to be shut on witchcraft and anything ungodly that would attempt to come in from the outside, and that the presence of God would be experienced by those coming in, especially for the World Cup.
During our time here, the Shenks hosted their first youth and young adult conference at their church, House of Kings. It was wonderful to be a part of that. I was able to play keyboard and Devon and Jeff were able minister and pray. The presence of God was very evident, and they discussed issues such as moral relativism and sex. As of right now there is no official youth program, and we saw this event as an encouraging foundation of sorts.
On the side, we had tons of time to just relax and hang out and regroup. Went out lots for food and coffee, shopping, Settlers (I finally gave in and learned how to play), played pirates with the girls, went to the beach (far too cold to swim), built new relationships, had lots of laughs and good conversations… It also helps that Cape Town is most like home compared to anywhere I’ve been in a little while now.
It’s also sad that in a place so beautiful and decently advanced there is so much murder, organized crime, theft, violence and class separation. I don’t have all of the facts, so you can check them out yourselves, but I know the murder rate here is one of the highest in the world. Here is another extremely sobering fact: women and/or girls in South Africa are more likely to get raped than learn how to read. This, along a few other chilling things I heard that I won’t even mention, really made me feel helpless. It’s so messed up. All I can say is this: oh how we need Jesus! This world and all it contains… God must bring Heaven to Earth, or surely all we will see is Hell. This Hell, where for some girls, being raped is a part of life, where all over the world children starve to death every day, and in America, where babies are aborted on a constant basis, and where nations are all at war with one another. We, no I, say “let Your Kingdom, let Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven”. Yet I tolerate in my heart and mind all these things that are of Hell. We must go from “this is just the way it is” to “this is not the way it’s supposed to be”. Do we believe in the Kingdom of God? If we tolerate and accept this Hell on Earth, I must ask myself, do we really? I’m not saying that you or I have to change the world or go everywhere or fix everything. I’m saying that together, through prayer, awareness, action, giving, travel, and so on we can at least attempt to make a difference wherever and however we can, together. I’m still in this learning process, and have a long ways to go. But at least let’s let ourselves, as the body of Christ, begin it.
So, there’s a brief recap of our time, with lots left out for you the reader’s sake. We’ve been in Africa for so long it will be somewhat strange to leave and dive into a completely new continent of cultures, but with something new there is excitement and anticipation (and maybe a hint of apprehension). With every step I gain more confidence, because in every city and country I’ve witnessed God’s faithfulness, and that, my friends, is exciting!
Thanks for reading and caring, your prayers and support keep us going. God bless!
With love, Nielsen and Devon
P.S. I put up some new pictures on facebook, Around the World Pt. 2. Check them out at facebook.com/negreiner.
