A world apart

I'm now back from my trip to Cape Town. Although I was only away a week, it seemed a lot longer, I guess because I was pretty busy while I was there. Didn't manage to sleep much on the plane (in either direction) so I'm very grateful to have two more weeks of sabbatical in which to catch up!

I spent much of my time in Elsies River (a coloured area of around 150,000 people, in the suburbs to the west of Cape Town). I was hosted by Jerome Hartley and the rest of the Pinnacle Youth Outreach team (pic 1), seeing what they do and meeting some of the people they work with. I saw the soup kitchen in action (pic 2) and even managed to get a game of football (pic 3). For the first half of my visit, I stayed with Andre Visagie, one of the PYO team. The remainder of my time was spent with Tommy Solomons and his family (pic 4). Tommy is the pastor of the Rhenish Church in Elsies River (founded in 1829 by German missionaries from the Rhineland - hence the name). We shared a lot in common as pastors, but it was also fascinating to see a different kind of church in action.

As you might imagine, I could write at some length here about my stay in Cape Town. I saw some amazing things and met many remarkable people. No doubt I will say more over the coming weeks! But the title of this post probably sums up my experience - I felt that I'd stepped into a different world.

Of course, many things were familiar - Cape Town is a modern, prosperous city. But this very fact simply highlighted the levels of deprivation and poverty in Elsies River itself. If you head north and cross the railway line, you enter what was formerly a whites-only area. The contrast is very stark. The roots of apartheid go deep, and the system is perpetuated, not now by legislation but by economics. Travelling further east or south of Elsies River takes you past vast settlements and squatter camps, thousands of people squashed together in even greater poverty and trying somehow to scratch a living. It's not surprising that gang culture, drug addiction, violence and fear flourish in these suburbs. And not just below the surface, but obviously and overtly.

Of course, areas like Elsies River exist in the UK - but not on this scale. And there is far greater poverty experienced by billions throughout the world. I'm simply reflecting on my experience. I have come back very much aware of how much I have and how easy my life is, even by comparison with Tommy and his family.

I have also come back feeling challenged and inspired by those I have met who are not allowing despair or lack of resources to prevent them from serving their community, seeking to bring hope and new life. There are many signs of the kingdom of God in Elsies River and it was a privilege to see some of this for myself. And to feel that our church can make its own contribution to this too.

As one of my favourite poets once said: 'Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight / Got to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight'