A Publication of Gospel Commission
A Publication of Gospel Commission Issue 1 August 2013 Page 21
A journey of faith in a hopeless town
By Justine Sibomana
There he sat, opposite me. Ntate (father) Peter, a grey-haired old man with a serious, troubled look on his face. It was uncomfortable to watch him, as he struggled to find words and form sentences. A result of the stroke he had suffered years ago, so I had been told. But Peter did not need a lot of words to tell me that he had lost hope. With a simple gesture he showed me I should rather cut his right arm off. It had become totally useless to him. Since his stroke he could no longer move it. This was going to be a big challenge. What was I, only a young girl in his eyes, going to tell this old man? How could I possibly help him? road, the peace and quiet of a rural area. What a delight, after coming from the busy city of Cape Town where I live. People here were friendly and welcoming, and greeted us abundantly as they passed. This was going to be my home for the coming weeks. I was excited. But I was soon reminded this was no paradise, when I noticed the dilapidated shacks people had to call their home here. Upon closer inspection the small fields, which had seemed so fertile from afar, merely produced a little maize. I hardly saw any of the vegetables or fruits that would be needed for a healthy diet. From my fellow missionaries I learned this was an area where poverty was rife. People lacked the most basic resources, the equipment or the water to irrigate their lands. They lacked the knowledge and the means to take good care of themselves and their families. The results were tangible in many of these homes, in most of which we found at least one person sick, suffering from lifestyle diseases.
In February of this year I spent three weeks in Majakaneg, a small, rural town in Northwest province. With a small group of volunteers I worked as a medical missionary. What seemed like an impossible challenge at first, became a faithinspiring journey. I invite you to read on, and join me on it.
Here I was, working as a medical missionary. A long-cherished dream had finally come true. After following a six month course, my friend and coursemate Lebogang had asked me to come help her in Majakaneg, a rural town in South Africa’s Northwest province. A small group of volunteer missionaries had visited this town before, and they had been touched by the great need of its people. Now we were back, hoping to contin- Later I would notice piles of animal bones ue their work. ?BfVF?W'2??F?R6?FR?b??V?F??F?v?v?F?????RF???VgB&V???BgFW"&?GV?67&?f?6W2???F??2?6R?v?W&R??V?W76?W72&?V?FVB?v?V??v?B?fbF?R'W2??fV???r?2?V??R?BWBF?V?"G'W7B??G&F?F????6???&?W2vW&R?&VG?v?F??r'?F?R&V?Vg2?Bv?F6?7&gB?'WB?6????V&?VB&?G6?FR?2?f????vVBF?V?F?v?F?BWfV?F?R6?v?? ( ?2?G&F?F?????V?6???6?G?F???F?????F?R&VWF?gV?W'2?F?V?6V?fW2?B7F'FVB??6??rf?F???66V?W'??F?R??V?F????F?R??&?????F?V?"?v?v?G2?F?Rw&VV?fVvWFF?????V?F?W"6?FR?bF?P???