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Habitat for Humanity -
South Africa 2002
A wise man once
said, "It takes more to plow a field than merely turning it
over in your mind". During our month in South Africa, Mardy
and I have seen wondrous things.
We've enjoyed
God's awesome creation, gazing upon alpine mountain ranges.
We've seen bush covered hills, open plains, vast vistas and
gorges, endless beaches along the Indian Ocean.
We've observed
the tumultuous waves at the intersection of the Atlantic and
Indian oceans. We've been enthralled by beautiful birds and
trees of familiar and unfamiliar shapes, sizes and colors.
We've seen all
kinds of new plants from thorn trees and cactus to king
proteas, giant allows, and succulents of all kinds. We've also
gotten "up close and personal" with all kinds of animals: from
lions, elephants, baboons, water buffalo, ostriches, zebras,
hippos and rhinos, to impalas, monkeys and a lone meandering
mongoose.
Some day soon,
when the chaos of 32 rolls of film is tamed into a viable
slide show of a few choice scenes, we'll be posting it to the
web site.
The animals,
plants and geography made a great impression but of all the
things we saw in Africa nothing was more impressive than the
people. People of all races cultures and nationalities. People
working together to create a new nation of diversity,
tolerance, civility and mutual respect.
People working
together to transcend a past history of hatred and bigotry,
and replace it with a nation that will some day meet the needs
of all its people. That is not yet a reality, but in very
visible ways, every effort is being made to insure that this
goal will be met.
As Mardy and I
traveled some 3,200 miles across that wonderful country, we
met people of all backgrounds whose demeanor was characterized
by humility, gentleness, and graciousness.
From all walks
of life the African people of all races seemed polite,
well-mannered, patient and lovingly open. I'm sure that this
is not the case for everyone, but the vast majority of the
people we met fit this description.
South Africa, as
we experienced it, is a nation of hard working people. Poverty
is very visible, as is affluence, and everything in-between.
One thing hit me as most noteworthy in the midst of all this
diversity: No one is afraid to work and all work is honorable.
From doormen and
ditch diggers, laundry workers and road workers, to
plumbers, car-washers, executives, villagers, street market
sales people, security workers, pastors and politicians, all
who worked, worked with self-respect and dignity.
Any job was
worth doing with dignity. Every job was done with manners.
That's refreshing! No where was this more visible than among
the participants in the
Habitat for Humanity Jimmy Carter
Work Project in Durban.
For 5 days we
worked with a team of people from all over the world. The men
and women of the crew who worked with us on house #945 were
multi-racial, multi-national and included former Zambian
President
Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and the
eventual home owner Sifiso Bhengu and his 2 brothers.
Never have I
seen such hard working people as Sifiso and his brothers.
Along with 4,000 other participants (2000 from the African
Continent and 2000 from America, Europe, Korea, Australia, and
Latin America) we were part of the larger construction of 100
concrete block homes, each with tile roofs, 2 bedrooms, a full
bath, kitchen and living-room.
On Monday June 3, there were 100
concrete slabs. On Friday June 7, by 4:00 PM there were 100
finished homes. The sites had been cleaned up, a shrub or two
planted, finished drywall interiors and ceilings, taped,
mudded, sanded and painted, full electrical wiring and
fixtures installed, interior and exterior doors hung, awnings
installed, and plumbing connections all completed.
The houses were
dedicated at 4:00 PM on Friday and the owners were given their
keys.
On Thursday
President Jimmy Carter gave
all homeowners a Bible, and he personally installed all 100
awnings. On Friday he visited every house again as time drew
near for the final dedications.
Each day, the
4,000 workers were picked up at 5:30 AM.
We were served a brown-bag breakfast, lunch and supper on
schedule, at the build site. Devotionals were observed daily
at 7:00 AM after the 6:00 breakfast, and entertainment
followed supper at 7:00 PM. It was a busy but fulfilling 5
days!
On Monday there
was nothing. On Friday there was a community of 100 homes, and
a fellowship of 4,000 tired but exuberant workers. All this
was done with inadequate tool supply: one hand held power saw
per three houses, 2 tape measures per house, one hose per
three houses, and all supplies, except trusses and roofing
tiles, distributed at centralized bins in the middle of every
three or four properties.
All houses were
built on the steep slopes of a mountain foothill. Even for the
Army Corps of Engineers this would have been an impossible
project. It was accomplished because of the willingness of
approximately 24 strangers per house who worked together and
became a team of brothers and sisters, sharing labor, food,
sweat, tools and ingenuity.
Paul said "Work
with your hands". Jesus said "Love your neighbor as
yourself".
James said "Faith without works is dead,... you show me your
faith,.. and I will show you my works."
There is no
limit to what God can do with willing hands and hearts! And
this is true here in Polk County every bit as much as it was
in Durban South Africa.
While some of us
worked over seas, others continued working on our second
Presbytat House built in Eagle Lake, Florida by 7 East Polk
County Presbyterian Churches under the direction of our own
Tom Wilson. That house was dedicated on Sunday July 28th at
4:30 PM in Eagle Lake at a short but meaningful dedication.
There was a
covenanting worship service on Sunday September 15, 2002, for
our THIRD Presbytat
House that had it's ground breaking
in January of 2003. That house is now completed.
Habitat for Humanity is
Christian work at its finest. It is faith with works, seen in
such a way as to bring glory to God our Father in Heaven.
It is, in part,
the fulfillment of Paul's words to the Colossians where he
said: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all
in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him." (Col 3:17- NIV).
Here in Polk County and overseas
in Durban South Africa, I've seen the unmistakable light of
God's love pass from willing workers to new homeowners as
Christian hands worked together to powerfully proclaim the good news of the Gospel.
It really does
take more to plow a field than merely turning it over in your
mind! But as Christians when you "Work with our hands, giving
thanks to God, all things become possible."
Roland Castro |
