South Africa

My flight to Joberg was a pleasant surprise, not just with a premium economy upgrade, but sitting across the aisle in God's providence was former CS Coffs Harbour leader Jon Hastings! We caught up on the past 20 years and stoked to see a brother passionate for Christ and investing in building integrity in business in the corruption ravaged Congo. 

Arriving in Cape Town was very familiar, it's now been 13 trips there, and Roy collected me and we prepared for their second annual fundraiser dinner. So good to see many old friends and meet new ones. A special catch up with Bruce McDonald who has produced and directed The Perfect Wave, the Ian McCormack story...you know the jellyfish guy who got stung and went to heaven? How classic! Clint Eastwood's son plays the lead, along with some notable South African surfers. After reviewing this it's a bold move to mention Jesus in a mainstream film here, look out for it! 

Sunday in Kommetjie was a special treat visiting the Band of Brothers surf church. Arriving to tarp surfing in the street and a braii in the backyard of a surfboard-strewn house, I found a church I would love to be part of and could easily invite friends to. Dougal set a great example of passionate commitment and vulnerability and I was impressed hearing testimonies of many hardcore surfers who had come to Christ or been freshly inspired...I guess if you surf 20' Dungeons it leads a man to pray!?

Special thanks to Merv who drove me up the coast to J-Bay with a stop off in Victoria Bay for a surf. Merv has such a heart to serve and is currently our Regional Chaplain for Africa. Reconnecting with Roy and Sharon I'm struck with the longevity of this CS founder and his wonder wife and hyper grom Nathan who is Roy revisiting his parents to torment them. The national conference saw a mixed bag of 80 surfers and skaters of various colours and economies, but all one in Christ. There is an amazing internship program called CSALT and I was impressed with the calibre of students including their first brave married couple, all the way from Canada, go Sarah and Andy! The Africa office sure is rocking with interns, op shop, local hub of mission and more.

Aleph was another highlight as Rehgert and Vanessa do restoration through recreation teaching township kids to surf and teaching them life skills. Stoked to see a small sewing space for kids mums to expand their skills, a surf garage and a new shopfront being fitted out to be a public face of Aleph. So many challenges, the AIDS rate is 30%, unemployment 75% and the life expectancy for most is 51. 

I never surfed once! The BD surf mojo must have been left at home? But I did manage to pick up a near-new Firewire board for $200!

Flying back home out of Joberg I look out at the vast expanse of township squalor mixed with coloured and white communities and it would be easy to despair. But God is at work through his people and many hopeful things are coming out of the ashes. I am reminded again to be ever thankful for the ease of life in Australia. Tragically the greater the comfort the weaker the reliance upon God. 

And I read a favourite text from Brother Lawrence from 1685, "Never tire of doing small things with love, for God is not so interested in the greatness of the thing, but in the love."

Home now for 3 days then CSA National Gathering over Easter!