Saturday, September 21, 2013

Shanty Towns

Botswana has some poor people, but not anything like South Africa.

We first noted the slums on the outskirts of Vryburg on our way to the Cape.  we had seen a little on our first trip over towards Johannesburg, but nothing as impressive as this.

The shacks were about 10x12 feet, made of corrugated galvanized steel.  The flat roofs were covered with stones, presumably to hold them on the houses.  Some of them had small outhouses, some did not.  The houses were packed together, they all seem replete with trash.  Fortunately, despite our efforts, we have no pictures of this.

Seeing these elicited a profound sadness.  These neighborhoods, if you can call them that, are huge.  Thousand of people live in these slums.  They are full of kids, who had nothing to do with where they were born, or under what circumstances.

It's hard to keep in mind what really matters.  A child can be born into such dire circumstances, endure the poverty, endure the ill conditions, and still be a CHILD of THE KING!  What matters in the end is not our physical circumstances, be they good or ill, what matters in our relationship with the King of Kings.

Regardless, join me for a moment in praying for these people.  Maybe better, ask G^d what you can do to change the world for His Kingdom.  But in the meantime, please pray.

No comments:

Post a Comment