DAY 2 WORKING IN SOUTH AFRICA COMMENTARY

Last evening the group of SS. Simon and Jude and the Evangelical Free Church of Chico got together where each person stood up and introduced themselves and spoke about why they were here and what they were experiencing. These are two incredible groups with lots of Amor Mexico experience between them; that's lots to say. Many testified how Amor Mexico had changed their life and how it was the best thing they looked forward to and to be able to come to Amor South Africa is a "trip of a life-time!" We all love Amor and what they are doing here.

From my perspective what God has accomplished here through Amor is nothing short of His Amazing Grace and a complete transformation of what I saw when I first arrived 18 months ago. Then Ebenezer's Care Center was crumbling. It had been serving many in need but wasn't going any where. Both Tommy and Shirley's, the Care Center's Directors, faces carried the weight of the world with what they were doing. Today, they both look twenty years younger. A light is shining through their faces with how this place has been transformed. Monday Ebenezer's was Grand Central Station. We needed a traffic cop to direct the traffic coming through. Many from the surrounding community were coming to see what was going on, including about 25 youths who joined in the work. Their pastor has invited us all to their church for dinner. Then another group showed with about 75 blankets for the center. Later that day another group who looked Hindu arrived with another 50 new blankets. They had heard that the Americans were cold in the South African winter and wanted to contribute to help keep us warm.

Today, Steve Horrex looked out our office window and said, "Oh my, I wondering what this is." There was about 25 Muslims arriving, mostly in Black, many with turbans. Their group had come by the orphanage, to guess what? To deliver more blankets. They all came to our construction site to see what we were doing. They couldn't believe it. I spoke with them and one of their woman said, "You have woman working?!" My response was "Of course." Her response again was, "You have woman working!" I said, again, "Of course, what do you expect, we have to keep them working to keep them out of trouble." She laughed while one of the men's eyes grew wider and wider. I said, "there is my wife over there and my daughter is over there. C'mon I'll introduce you to them." About 8 of them followed me over. I introduced them and they asked Jessica many questions. They were amazed to hear that this is how she was spending her vacation time and that she had paid her own way (through sponsorship of her family and work and her own funds of which she took a second weekend job to be here) to come here. When I asked her if she knew what Amor meant she said, "of course, it means love." Soon these visitors were catching the attention of all and we all mingled, then took a group photo. The Muslims were so happy to see what we were doing. We joked with each other and spoke how if we could get rid of most of the politicians and religious leaders who keep us apart we could come and work together in love.

One of the more humorous moments was when they walked past Dave Newquest who was teaching a group of African children American football. One of the Muslims asked what he was doing and Dave enthusiastically and proudly said, "I'm teaching them American football!" The visitor said, "American football is a wimpy sport." Dave laughed and the Muslim laughed, at each other. We need to do more of that. After they left David continued with his American football lesson and every time one of the kids didn't do it the way he explained, he made them get down and do push ups; of course Dave did it with them. Then the skies opened up with a complete downpour of rain. Most everyone kept doing their work, cement, foundation, stucco, roofing and their was Dave teaching the kids - American football! Then someone said, the African skies are crying because the Americans are teaching us American Football!

As I sit here and blog there is music to my ears with the sound of hammers and the work pounding away from the work site. Children are nearby with some of our workers; they are in a circle singing, beautiful African songs, they are dancing, jumping up and down and they are laughing; there is joy in the air here.

Amor has changed this place! And those changes along with the help of Humphrey Birkenstock have become infectious in the surrounding community. People want to help each other and here you can see it in action.

Please enjoy the some 40 pictures we uploaded after this blog called "South Africa Work Day 2".

Note: Written by Dan Irving of EV Free Chico from the Amor Camp in Johannesburg and edited by Scotty in San Diego, Californa.