Khayelitsha

Our team had the great priviledge of spending Tuesday afternoon at Khayelitisha.  This is the largest township in South Africa, with an estimated 2 million people residing.  

This was a picture I took from the road as we were driving in.  Can you see just one "house" next to the other?

We met with the pastor of Mandela Park Church, Phumezo.  This pastor was amazing.  Such a huge heart for the Lord and really seeking to make a difference in this very large township.  He so graciously invited our whole team into his home to meet his family.  This was his little 2 year old boy.  He was so stinkin cute! 

Phumezo took us up to the top of an overlook to see the township.  He shared his heart with us and dreams for these people.  There is so many poverty, abuse, alcoholism, withccraft, rape, neglect in the townships.  It was so neat to hear a man who lives in the midst of it with his family seeking to be a light and slowly making a difference in a very broken place

This is another picture taken from the road.  A lot of the houses have pieces of tin or tarps covering them to make a roof

We also had the opportunity to go inside his church with him.  They are in the process of opening a school at their church, which is so cool!  

Some cute little boys found us when we were at the overlook and somehow talked some of our guys in to racing them up this sandy hill.  I think they all had a blast!  

There were so many interesting sites in this township.  I thought this barbershop was interesting, especially the name

Some of the homes

The Produce Stand

Our Team with Phumezo (and the cute little boys) at the overlook.  It was so interesting to me that these boys had no adult supervision.  They were just wandering around alone.  This sadly is very normal in these areas

and another pic of Phumez little boy

Wherever we went in this township people waved at us and stared at us.  When we got out at Phumezo's house, kids flocked to us!  Within 5 minutes the whole driveway area was filled with kids from the township 

 We joined hands and sang and prayed today.  Such a special time!

 One of our teammaes, Lindy had her nails done with the SA flag.  The children loved this!

We had so much fun playing  with some cute kids!

 When it was time for us to leave they all went out to the road and waved to us! 

 They followed us all the way down the street

 This little boy literally ran beside our cumbie for as long as he could keep up.  It was so sweet!

We had such a great afternoon with the people in Khayelitsha. We really wanted our team to have exposure to a township and the work being done there.  It was cool to visit a church that Point Community is already seeking to partner with.  This was one place our team really walked away wanting to spend more time at.  We would love to see a team partner more diectly with this church.  The need is great in this township, but the Lord is at work! Hearing Phumezo's heart was really impactful for me.  In the worlds eyes he has so little, yet he really has everything!  He radiates Christ.  I loved the simplicity of his life and that He is seeking to serve Christ above all else.  I love that joy fills his heart and all that are around him can see that.  I want to be like that!