Hope for South Africa

We are the nation's ‘Third Force'

2005-11-19T05:16:00.000+03:00

Published in The Star, November 9, 2005
By s’buZikode

The shack dwellers' movement that has given hope to thousands of people in Durban has always been accused of being part of the Third Force. In newspapers and all kinds of meetings, this is said over and over again.

Money has even been wasted on investigating the “Third Force”.

We need to address this question of the Third Force, so that people are no longer confused.

Government officials, politicians and intellectuals who speak about the Third Force have no idea what they are talking about. They are too high to really feel what those on the ground feel.

They want to talk for the people and about the people, but they need to learn to allow us to talk about our lives and our struggles.Let us get something clear. There definitely is a Third Force. The question is: What is it, and who is part of it?

Well, I myself am the Third Force. The Third Force is all the pain and suffering that the poor are subjected to every second of our lives.Shack dwellers have many things to say about the Third Force. It is time for us to speak out and say: “This is who we are, this is where we are and this is how we live.”

The life that we are living makes our communities the Third Force. Most of us are not working, and spend our days struggling for small money. Aids is worse in shack settlements than anywhere else. Without proper houses, water, electricity, refuse removal and toilets, all kinds of diseases breed.The causes are clearly visible and every man in the street can understand.

Our bodies itch every day because of the insects. If it is raining, everything gets wet – blankets and floors. If it is hot the mosquitoes and flies are always there. There is no holiday in the shacks. Evenings are always a challenge. The night is supposed to be for relaxing and getting rest. But it does not happen like that in the shack settlements. People stay awake worrying about their lives, watching huge rats running across small babies. Some are forced to sleep under bridges when it rains because their floors are so wet, and the rain comes right into their houses.

Those in power are blind to our suffering. This is because they have not seen what we see, they have not felt what we feel every second, every day. My appeal is for leaders who are concerned about people's lives to come and spend a week in the settlements.They must feel the mud. They must share six toilets with 6 000 people. They must dispose of their own refuse while living next to dumps. They must come with us while we look for work. They must chase away the rats and keep the children from knocking over the candles. They must care for the sick when there are long queues for taps. They must explain to the children why they cannot attend the technical college down the hill. They must be there when we bury our children who have passed on in the fires, from diarrhoea or Aids-related illnesses.For us the most important struggle is to be recognised as human beings.

During the struggle prior to 1994 there were only two levels, two classes – the rich and the poor. Now after the election there are three classes – the poor, the middle class and the rich. The poor have been isolated from the middle class. We are becoming poorer and the rest are becoming richer. We are on our own. We are completely on our own.

Our President Thabo Mbeki speaks politics, our premiers Ndebele, Shilowa and Rasool, and many mayors speak politics. But who will speak about the genuine issues that affect the people every day – water, electricity, education, land, housing?We thought local government would minimise politics and focus on what the people need, but it all becomes politics.Our municipality members do not listen to us when we speak to them in isiZulu. We tried English. Now we realise that they won't understood isiXhosa or Sesotho either.
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The only language they understand is when we put thousands of people on the street. We have seen the results of this, and we have been encouraged. It works very well. It is the only tool we have to emancipate our people. Why should we stop it?We have matured in our suffering. We had a programme to find a way forward. Our programme was to continue with the peaceful negotiations with the authorities that first started 10 years ago. But our first plan was undermined. We were lied to. So we had to come up with an alternative plan.

We have learnt from experience that when you try to achieve what you want, what is legitimate, by peaceful negotiations, by humbleness, by respecting those in authority, your plea becomes criminal. You will be deceived for more than 10 years, you will be fooled and undermined. This is why we have resorted to the streets. When we stand in our thousands, we are taken seriously.

We are aware of the strategies police use to demoralise and threaten the poor. We don't mind them building more jails for us and hiring more security if they are not prepared to listen to what we are saying.It is important for every shack dweller to know we are aware of what is happening in Alexandra in Johannesburg, in Port Elizabeth, in Cape Town. We know our struggle is not alone. We have solidarity.

Our movement is a kind of social tool by which the community hopes to get quicker results. It has nothing to do with politics or parties. Our members are part of various political organisations. We are a non-political movement, and will finish our job when land, housing, electricity and basic services are won and poverty is eliminated. We stand united until our people have achieved what is wanted. Until that happens, we will never stop.The community has realised that voting for parties has not brought any change to us – especially at local government level.

We have seen some important changes at national level, but at local level whoever wins the elections will be challenged by us. We have been betrayed by elected councillors, and we have decided not to vote.We are driven by the Third Force, the suffering of the poor. Our betrayers are the Second Force. The First Force was our struggle against apartheid. The Third Force will stop when the Fourth Force comes. The Fourth Force is land, housing, water, electricity, health care, education and work. We ask for what is basic, not what is luxurious.

This is the struggle of the poor. The time has come for the poor to show themselves that we can be poor in life but not in mind.Time has been a good teacher. People have realised many things. We have learnt from the past, and suffered alone. We have learnt that we are not supposed to live under these conditions.

There has been a dawn of democracy for the poor. No one else would have told us – not our elected leaders nor any officials – what we were entitled to. Even the Freedom Charter is only good in theory. It has nothing to do with the ordinary lives of the poor. It doesn't help us. It is the thinking of the masses of the people that matters.

Our country is rich. More airports are being built, stadiums renovated, more money is floating around, even being lent to Robert Mugabe. But when you ask for what is basic, you are told there is no money. It is clear there is no money for the poor. The money is for the rich.

We now say “enough is enough”. We all agree something must be done.

nS'bu Zikode is the elected chairperson of the Abahlali base mjondolo (shack dwellers) movement which currently includes 14 settlements in Durban, and will march on Mayor Obed Mlaba's offices next Monday.

May '04 or October '05 - what's the difference?!

2005-10-31T19:50:00.000+03:00

We were in Bangalore for a week and spent the weekend in a retreat centre ran by Jesuit priests - a new, interesting, silent and wonderful experience! New and interesting, since we've never done anything like it before. Silent, because trainees at the centre are required to go through 30 days of absolute silence which we joined for two days. They ran out of calendars for their rooms and started recycling 2004 calendars. Brilliant innovation in the heart of India's IT capital!

Join Operation Hope for Zimbabwe!

2005-10-21T17:10:00.000+03:00

Upsetting pictures of violence and suffering from Zimbabwe have so many times in the past few years led to feelings of sadness and helplessness. A post by Hermann on Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe made me realise that we have no choice but to act. Doing nothing makes us accomplices of the evil deeds of Mugabe and his government.

And, to my surprise, there is much we can do - from anywhere in the world! Please join us in doing whatever we can to support those suffering and also help Zimbabwe return to the democratic, stable country it once was. Here is a list of things you can do...

Visit the This is Zimbabwe blog to stay informed about the experiences of Zimbabweans. Read at least one article on this blog if you do not yet feel like taking action.
Support the South African Council of Churches' Operation Hope for Zimbabwe. The SACC has done much to support ordinary Zimbabweans and engage the South African government on its policy of "quiet diplomacy". Bank account details are on the site and electronic transfers can easily be made.
Subscribe to the newsletter of Sokwanele, an organisation dedicated to "removing the dictator through non-violent action".
Support SW Radio Africa, a radio station broadcasting independent news to rural Zimbabwe (via PayPal or an UK bank account, this might be the easiest way of giving from outside South Africa).
Encourage everyone you know to get involved!

Leave a comment or e-mail me at arnies@ananzi.co.za if you have any ideas of how we can do more or would like me to e-mail you the html with all the links above to use in your blog or e-mail to your friends!

Education in South Africa

2005-10-20T09:56:00.000+03:00

The South African Human Rights Commission held hearings on the right to basic education last week. Their findings will be published in December, but the expert views presented to them were not very positive...

A recent study tested the reading and maths ability of grade 6 pupils. Only 65% of pupils in former Model C schools (mainly in white areas) was on standard. Shocking? It gets worse: the number for former 'blacks only' schools: 0,1%! Worse, the majority of children attend these 'former' black schools!

We all know that a good quality education is an essential first step in avoiding poverty. I used to blame the teachers for the situation - until I met some through a church volunteer programme. The teachers were extremely dedicated to their students, all desperate for help and exhausted from years of fighting a lonely battle against lack of resources and training. The programme, Ikusasa Phambili, provides tutoring to students from four schools in slum communities. 120 students spent Saturday mornings being tutored by volunteers. Words can not describe the difference this makes in the lives of both studens and volunteers.

The only way out of this crises situation is for more and more volunteers to become involved with a school in a poor area - strengthening committed teachers and providing resources required. A few hours can make a massive difference!

What is a Christian?

2005-10-17T05:03:00.000+03:00

We left South Africa exactly a year ago, in search of a way to make the dream we have of working for the poor and marginalised in our country possible. We learnt more than we ever thought we would, had many great experiences and met even more wonderful people.

The greatest of all, though, is the way in which our understanding of what it means to be Christian grew. And, trust us, following Jesus is much more exciting than most people think! Read this short article - Mike Todd explains it much better than we would ever be able to... three extracts that will hopefully encourage you to have a look!

"So here I am, no longer young but not quite old, and I'm just discovering that there's more to being a follower of Jesus than saying the Sinner's Prayer. Or less to it, depending on your perspective. It turns out that in order to qualify as a follower, I need to actually try to, well… follow him. Why didn't someone tell me this 20 or 30 years ago?"

"Jesus came to put an end to religion as a means of salvation or identification, and to teach us what life in his upside-down Kingdom looks like. So, what did we do? We made a religion out of him..."

"We're not supposed to love others because we're Christians and it's a good idea. The loving others is what makes us followers of Jesus!"

Two boys sharing crutches

2005-10-10T06:00:00.000+03:00

We love Johannesburg!

2005-10-06T15:33:00.000+03:00

Johannesburg is the 85th best city to live in! The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked 127 cities worldwide, using indicators grouped into five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. "The survey gives a rating of 0%-100% and judges a city with a lower score to be the more attractive destination. A rating of 20% is where real problems are seen to begin - anything over 50% places severe restrictions on lifestyle."

Johannesburg and Pretoria both got 39%, while Cape Town wasn't included (I did say it was a survey of cities not towns, didn't I?). Vancouver came first, London tenth and Mumbai 115th.

The newspapers in Mumbai was very upset with being among the worst cities and tried to cheer us up with results from another survey on the front pages today: Even though they live in the worst cities in the world, Indians are the fourth happiest people in the world (behind Australia, USA and Egypt). Their list showed South Africans to be in position 26 out of 30 with only Hungary, Russia and Turkey more unhappy.

Whatever, there's no place we'd rather call home!

Any difference?

2005-10-02T13:51:00.000+03:00

True story: Catherine (visiting us from the UK) decided to buy some snacks for a girl begging at the local station. Before she could pay, there were six others and she decided to buy seven. She handed all seven to the first girl. Instead of sharing with the other kids the girl ran off - keeping all seven for herself! Our reaction: that's wrong, how could the little girl?!

Fact: The world's 500 richest people have a combined total income greater than that of the poorest 416 million. In South Africa, the poorest 20% earns 2.8% of all income while the richest 20% earns 64.5%. Our reaction?

Being the patient.

2005-09-28T04:20:00.000+03:00

The week before last, I suddenly developed a severe headache, and before I knew it fever and a rash accompanied it! As a nurse, I'll do anything not to visit a doctor, but nothing helped and eventually I went...

I was pleasantly suprised by how qiuck everything happened. The doctor saw me, referred me for blood tests, I received the results and went back to him, he referred me to a specialist and after he saw me, I was admitted in hospital! All of this happened in just four hours and cost only 600 Rupees (R100/ £8) .

Now in hospital - a charitable hospital run by nuns, I faced a little fear... being the patient! Although the service was good, I learnt some valuable lessons. Firstly having to answer hundreds of (remember I have an unbearable headache!) unneccessary qeustions, asked by more than one person and then having a drip put into my arm at the same time, while the nurse assures me that "don't worry it'll only sting a little" - I clearly remember saying those words - and it didn't sting a little, it stinged a lot! Especially when she injected the antibiotic, I wanted to shout at her!

The next morning I felt nauseous and refused breakfast, what a mistake! My neighbour patient gave me a great speach on how I'll never get any better if I don't eat (she was a nurse herself), the man who delivers the breakfast said he won't take my plate away until I finish it and then he called the nurse in charge! She then nearly force fed me (it's not as if it was nice yogurt or fruit or anything appetizing, it was a bland ricy and lentil dish), and then suddenly everyone joined in the quest, students making the beds said "your neighbour patient ate all her breakfast, thats why she can go home today". My neighbour patient was admitted for high blood pressure and she wasn't feeling nauseous! Finally after even the cleaners came complaining about me waisting food, I took a bite and felt even worse!

After four days of "little stings" and lots of fighting over food I did get better, especially after my first neighbour left and another lady and her whole family moved into the next bed, I really longed for a speedy recovery! I certainly will aproach a lot of things differntly now that I know how tough it is to be the patient.

On behalf of all the nurses, look after yourself!

Bharat Mansaamy, saviour of the planet

2005-09-23T05:15:00.000+03:00

A fairly good quality umbrella costs around R 25 / £ 2. Three of the eight pins holding your umbrella together breaks in a sudden and severe Mumbai monsoon rain storm. What do you do?

Until last week, only one obvious answer existed in my mind: throw the old away and buy a new one. Problem solved. That was before I met Bharat Mansaamy. Bharat's business specialises in repairing shoes, but in monsoon time, fixing umbrellas becomes a lucrative business on the side. I took a different route home on the day my umbrella broke and walked past his shop - a cupboard standing under a tree alongside Holy Cross Road. I noticed he was working on an umbrella and thought I might as well see if there is any chance for mine to be fixed. Doing this before I get home might just save me from being caught in the next storm without any protection. He only speaks Hindi, but managed to get the message across that there was still some life left in my umbrella. Bharat has spare parts of what must be about twenty old umbrellas in his cupboard and took his time matching each of these to mine in order to find the best parts to use. Three other customers came by while he was working on mine: one with two broken umbrellas, another needing the pin of her name badge to be fixed and then the more traditional request to repair three pairs of sandals. Fifteen minutes later, my umbrella was stronger than ever and ready to face any rain storm. Bharat's charge: 30 rupees (R 5)!

Poverty is the main reason, I guess, but Indians are great at extending the life of nearly everything. There are small shops repairing from shoes to electrical appliances around every corner. The trains and buses in use are more than fifty years old and the taxis date from the sixties. Even our local bakery is into recycling - buying old newspapers for 5 rupees per kilogram and then use it to package bread (not a bad price, a new newspaper sells for around 3 rupees!). No-one, except the extremely wealthy, has ovens or washing machines. The result: India with 16% of the world's population consumes less than 4% of the world's resources. America on the other hand, with 5% of the world's population consumes more than 20% of the resources (and this won't be much different for any other community living a first world life style).

Rising or dropping temperatures, floods in Europe and Mumbai, drought in Niger, Katrina and now Hurricane Rita. Every disaster makes it more difficult to deny what we all suspect - weather patterns are changing. As with all human suffering, we are shocked by the devastation, even reach out to those affected. But, collectively, we choose to ignore the question we should all be asking: Can our planet sustain our current life styles? Even if it could, there is absolutely no way that it can sustain everyone on earth living the equivalent of a first world life style. Gandhi once said: "The earth provides enough for every man’s needs but not for every man’s greed". We face some tough decisions and time is running out for us to change voluntarily.

Photos

2005-09-22T18:47:00.000+03:00

Our building: Florence House. The building has recently been painted - makes a great difference! A close-up picture of the "scaffolding" used by the painters is.

Our local market - the best place to buy fresh fruit and vegetables.

The train we take to work, always space for one more person!

Auto riskshaws - the quickest way from the station to where ever you want to go and always an adventure. Most of their engines were converted from petrol to liquefied petroleum gas to reduce polution.

The slum community in Bandra where Chantel works.

Housing

2005-09-11T17:07:00.000+03:00

The contrast between wide spread poverty and small pockets of wealth in Mumbai is striking... ultra modern, air-conditioned shopping malls and luxury apartments right next to huge slum communities.

This is very different to South Africa where rich and poor are mostly separated. The minister of housing, Lindiwe Sisulu, last week proposed a policy that will change this. Click here to read Tom Smith's blog for a view on her proposal - one we agree with!

Criminal justice.

2005-09-05T07:23:00.000+03:00

I visited an organisation last week, that left me thinking about the way we treat each other. PRAYAS is an organisation working for criminal justice. When in general I think about what justice criminals deserve, I can only think negatively, the only justice criminals deserve is, punishment, abandonment, isolation, over crowded facilities, a filthy environment, being among people like them and even becoming victims of harassment or abuse. That ought to teach them!

We all have heard horrible prison stories, that makes you thankfull for chosing a different path. Why did you chose a different path, who guided you? The above mentioned organisation, challenges society to think, different. They send volunteers or social workers to build individual relationships, assisting the young offender to explore why he/she has chosen to get involved in crime and together discuss, other practical alternatives... The young offender is patiently being re-integrated into society, given a second chance, or a third, even a fourth, how ever many it takes, always believing that every human being has the ability to change.

Surely there must a different outcome for the two approaches, a dark, hopeless environment or someone who believes in you. I do know of people already doing this in South Africa, but they are few and the people that need someone like you to believe in them, willing to give them a second chance, are many. If only we all believed in one person at a time, could it not change the face of South Africa.

Do you think this approach is possible?

Anna

2005-08-31T05:41:00.000+03:00

Since arriving in Mumbai, we've visited many projects ran by different organisations, all helping vulnerable people. Most organisations take one of two approaches. The first is to provide a particular service, aimed at meeting a specific need. Soup kitchens, feeding hundreds of street children every day for example. The other is to focus on a small group of children, say eight at a time, providing them with a family atmosphere in a home with two parents. The organisation ensures that a member of staff has a personal relationship with each of the children, helps them through school, training and eventually finding a job and a own place to live in. The overwhelming need we face makes the first approach very tempting, but is that effective on the long term? Thinking about this reminded me of an experience I had in Johannesburg.

I used to work in Dunkeld West and loved going to Zoo Lake in lunch time on some afternoons. Walking around, being quiet and just enjoying the open spaces and sunshine was guaranteed to be a worthwhile use of time (the odd power nap, dressed in a business suit on one of the park benches on a sunny winter afternoon can be recommended!). These visits were mostly refreshing and uneventful, but there were exceptions... the shock, for instance, when two smartly dressed boys, part of a group always around and working as male prostitutes, mistaken my seemingly aimless walk in the park as being that of a potential client too shy to approach them directly. And then the day I met Anna: I found a perfect spot in a quiet corner of the park on one afternoon in April 2002. Planning an half an hour of reading on my own, I was disappointed to suddenly hear a loud "Hello, my name is Anna. What are you doing?". Looking up, I saw an old, clearly homeless woman standing in front of me. "I'm reading the Bible", I replied. Anna then asked whether I go to church and where this church is. Keen to be a good representative of Christianity, I explained that I did and where it was. Her next question was odd, but I thought I understood why she was asking it: "What can the church do for me?" I explained that it was too far away from where we were and suggested she visit one of the churches in the area where I've seen homeless people queuing for food on my way to work in the mornings. She only stared at me, not saying a word. Feeling uncomfortable and desperately wanting to break the silence, I started to explain that I do not have any money or food with me (which, for once, was the truth!). Anna interrupted me, "I do not need food or your money, I need a home". Keen to solve her problem, first of all to prove that Christians can really help her, but also wanting to get back to reading, I suggested she visit a homeless shelter in the inner city. Midway into me giving her directions, Anna shook her head, turned around and walked away. Her reaction and body language had only one message: "You just don't get it, do you?". I was stunned, but knew that I experienced much more than just an old lady talking to me. Instead of reading on, I prayed and tried to make sense of my encounter with Anna.

Food and a place to stay wasn't a real problem, probably having survived on the streets of Johannesburg for years. Anna was looking for Christians to help her with her greatest need. Her need for dignity, for being treated as a person and not just as one of hundreds of homeless people to be fed, cleaned and given a place to stay for the night. Thinking about Anna's message now, I think she might have tried to convince me to stop thinking about people as projects to be completed. Could it be that treating one person as a real human being, restoring dignitiy, has much more worth than satisfying the short term needs of thousands? Welfare projects like soup kitchens certainly has its place, but I believe Christians need to get better at providing long term solutions for people like Anna. And that can only be done one person at a time.

I was reading Mark 16:15 to 20 when Anna interrupted me, trying to understand what these words of Jesus meant. Verse 20 in the translation I was reading is: "And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs." It didn't take me long to realise that we need to confirm the words of those preaching by being the hands through which Jesus can do miraculous things in the lives of people desperately in need of nothing less than a miracle. If all of us do our part in the lives of the few that cross our paths, millions will be reached in the only way that really makes a difference - one person at a time. And that is our dream - to form an organisation equipping churches and individuals all across South Africa to do exactly this!

Inspiration

2005-08-24T05:06:00.000+03:00

Terrifying!

2005-08-18T16:45:00.000+03:00

"And it's the same with ministry. If you will do what you can do, then God will do what only He can do." These wise words, written by Sandy Millar and posted as a comment by Larry & Melani earlier this week (see below), remained in my mind ever since I read it. It was comforting, but there is something about it that terrifies me...

I agree with what Chantel has written and have no doubt that God hates the state of our world. He will do what only He can to change it, but only once we've done what we can (and should). He chooses to work through us. The way I see it, God starts His work by first of all opening our eyes to the needs around us. This grows into a desire to do something - anything! And then, over time the specific area we should get involved in slowly becomes more clear. Sometimes we are given opportunities to serve with others, at other times a dream of something specific we should initiate. It all takes time and, since God is much more interested in us than what we can do for Him, the enitire process can be slowed down by our disobedience or lack of growth. And since God never forces Himself upon us, He will allow us to back down at any point - and this is the part I find terrifying. Will I be ready to do what is expected of me? Will I be foolish enough to choose my own comfort and not the adventure He plans?

In the past weeks I've realised that taking risks are a crucial part of life, especially Christian life. A book I'm reading puts it this way: "...that alongside man's created need for certainty and security there is an equally created need for uncertainty and for risk. We have a need to be challenged and tested and called to put our abilities on the line in the face of daunting circumstances. Our need for security is met by a God who is always the same, 'I the Lord do not change' (Malachi 3:6). Our need for uncertainty is met by a God who is always doing new things. 'Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing' (Isaiah 43:18-19)". The only way in which both of these needs can be satisfied is for us to be required to take real risks - with a real possibility of failure!

We don't want this site to be a diary of our lives in India - that won't be worth much. It would mean much more if this site can help all of us to discover where exactly we fit into God's plan, especially His plan for South Africa. And help us to work together to do what we're called to do so that God can do what only He can do and deliver our country from poverty, disease and injustice.

Please forward your dreams, ideas and opinions if you're also still in the discovery process. No doubt, there are many people already making a huge difference in many ways. We'll also ask them to contribute to this site to inspire and prepare us for the adventure!

HIV / AIDS

2005-08-17T17:59:00.000+03:00

Two extracts from a speech by the UN Special Envoy for HIV/Aids in Africa, Stepen Lewis:

Just a few weeks ago, I was in Zambia, visiting a district well outside of Lusaka. We were taken to a rural village to see an "income generating project" run by a group of Women Living With AIDS. They were gathered under a large banner proclaiming their identity, some fifteen or twenty women, all living with the virus, all looking after orphans. They were standing proudly beside the income generating project a bountiful cabbage patch. After they had spoken volubly and eloquently about their needs and the needs of their children (as always, hunger led the litany), I asked about the cabbages. I assumed it supplemented their diet? Yes, they chorused. And you sell the surplus at market? An energetic nodding of heads. And I take it you make a profit? Yes again. What do you do with the profit? And this time there was an almost quizzical response as if to say what kind of ridiculous question is that surely you knew the answer before you asked: "We buy coffins of course; we never have enough coffins". It's at moments like that when I feel the world has gone mad.....

I have heard the President of Botswana use the word extermination when he described what the country is battling. I have heard the Prime Minister of Lesotho use the word annihilation when he described what the country is battling. I sat with the President of Zambia and members of his cabinet not long ago, when he used the word holocaust to describe what the country is battling. The words are true; there's no hyperbole. The words apply, overwhelmingly, to women. That being the case, there has to be a proportionate response. But I have to say that I can't get the images of women I've met, unbearably ill, out of my mind. And I don't have it in me either to forgive or to forget. I have it in me only to join with all of you in the greatest liberation struggle there is: the struggle on behalf of the women of the world.

Good news?

2005-08-15T10:39:00.000+03:00

The Creator of the universe knows you, He has created you with a purpose, He wants to give you hope, a future... Really? Would you believe this if you had to live in a slum, if your father was a beggar an alcoholic, and your mother abused you, if no one ever even looked your way?

This was what I wondered as I walked the streets of Mumbai, the poverty is overwhelming and always in your face, people and animals sometimes look so bad that I can hardly believe my eyes. I know that I cannot give everyone money, because the relief will be only temporary, and have I really helped, or have I affirmed that begging works? You beg, I give? Do I give because I want you out of my face, out of my conscience?

I want to look in every hungry persons' eyes and be able to offer real help, perhaps empowering them to help another. Please help me find out how?

Would you believe it, when a stranger told you that Jesus has (Isaiah 49:16) inscribed you on the palms of His hands, that He continually sees your walls before him and that He feels your pain?

God is angry about what is happening to His people, and wants to change the lives of the oppressed! He has chosen to use you and me to touch peoples lives and give what we have. Are we involved in this battle, do we pray as if we believe in the power of prayer, do we give with generous hearts, do we live a life of unconditional love? Is the good news of Jesus a reality for all of us, or do we keep what God has given us, to give away?

So I'll wonder everytime I look into a childs' eyes, what does Jesus mean when He says; we should love our neighbour as ourselves.