The Sangoma

I was meeting with Goodwill out in Freedom Park the other day when a group of people walked by making noise.  Goodwill told me they were headed to the sangoma, or "witch doctor".  Apparently one of them had been stolen from and they were headed to the sangoma to find out who had done it.  The sangomas are all over in Freedom Park, and people go to them for all sorts of different things.  Some reasons people may visit the sangoma are:  To insure a safe home, to boost their business, win at gambling, find out why bad things have happened to them, sex and health.  These are just a few reasons and services that are advertised.  The Sangomas will also do things like finding out if someone has cursed you, or even help you curse someone.  This witch craft and evil is all around Freedom Park.  These people are enslaved to this idea that sangomas offer the way to a better life.   It is crazy to us as Americans that people would actually buy into this sort of thing, but the thing is, that it is very real to them, there is with out a doubt demonic forces at work, and they often use these sangomas to further deceive these peoples.   One thing I have learned since being here in Africa, is that the devil works in different ways in different places.  Here in Africa people know that are other realms where things are going on, and the devil uses that against them.  In America we like to think that things like demon possession and evil spirits doing things is a bunch of hogwash, I was always skeptical when I heard stories about that sort of thing.  In Africa it is going on, the spiritual warfare that exists is much more visible and the devil knows it has to be that way in order to deceive these nations.  In the U.S.  I think the devil often plays the card that he doesn't exist, and that he isn't responsible for the things that happen.  He is trying to create in the U.S a people that are apathetic and everything can just be easily explained away be science and what not.  No one gives any credit to the devil for anything.  However, when this happens and we act like the devil has no power and isn't real, we end up doing the same thing with God.   We begin to think we don't need God in this World and everything is up to us.  What a scary and horrible place for a person to be.  In Africa the people want help, and are quick to believe whatever you tell them.  In America people are slow to believe and often very skeptical of anything they don't understand.  Both of these outlooks offer there challenges in evangelizing.  My prayers for Freedom Park are that the people would see and understand there is a better answer to life than the sangomas, or these false religions that are so wide spread in Africa.  I pray that the Holy Spirit would convict these people that they are living in sin and that He would open their spiritual eyes.  I pray that they would understand that there is only ONE way to God, and that ancestors can do nothing for you.  I pray for strength among those all ready belonging to God, that they would always remember that, "Greater is He that is in you, then he that is in the world."   

Corruption

A mine shaft in the background

There are may problems that face the vast majority of people living in South Africa.  I felt compelled to share one that really bothers me.  Corruption.  It continues to amaze me at how wide spread it actually is, and how high up it actually goes.  I was out at Freedom Park yesterday talking with a man named Orbits, who was probably in his 40's.  As with most people in this area, the main thing they want prayer for is to find a job.  So he began telling me about how he has been looking for a full time job since 2000, thats right 8 years!!  He has worked peace jobs, or temporary job for the last 8 years.  He has gone to the mines many times trying to get work, however when he gets there they tell him, many people are applying for work and if you want a job you will have to pay me 1000 rand.  1000 rand is about 125 dollars.  The average job in south africa for the uneducated person pays about 60-70 rand a day, or 8 or 9 dollars, there is no hourly work here.  So as you can see 1000 rand is a TON of money.  Many of these people don't have that money, thus will never be able to get a job.  It's hard to show hope to these people who have a defeated attitude about life and how it works.  The corruption isn't just with the mine workers either, the police are just as bad, if not worse.  Anyone can get out of anything if they just offer a bribe to the police.  The police really exploit the illegals here as well.  They make them pay them or else threaten to deport or arrest them.  It's sad that it seems everyone just accepts that bribery is just a way of life here.  The proverbs have a lot to say about both the man who asks for a bribe and the one who pays it.   I struggle with saying to people that it is wrong to pay the bribe, when there really seems to be no other option for them.  Pray for the leaders of this land, that they might know Christ and become Godly leaders who will work to fix the corruption problem that faces this land.  And pray for the people that they might see Christ, and know He is the one to offer them hope in what seems to be a hopeless land.  It is good to know God is not finished in South Africa, and that no problem is to big for Him to handle!! 

September update

A nature reserve in my city

Greetings friends and family

I want to let you all know a little of what is going on here Rustenburg, South Africa.  I have now been living in Rustenburg for about a month and a half and am really enjoying myself.  I have been working in an area known as Freedom Park.  Freedom Park is made up of a few different parts.  There is Phase 1 and Phase 2.  Phase 1 has been around for quite a long time and has slowly been developing over the years.  It has quite a few churches, all though not to many "good" ones.  It also has the big primary and secondary school that we work with as well.  Phase 2, however is still really new.  Phase 2 is all RDP homes, rural development project.  The government built all these homes and then gives them away to citizens who have the right documents, and make under a certain amount of money.  Needless to say this a very poor area.  Phase 2 still has no electricity either, everyone is moved but still awaiting the electricity to come.  Another part of Freedom Park is the squatter camp.  The squatter camp is made up of mostly immigrants and most of them are illegals.  They live in tin shacks, and have no electricity or water. There is always a truck going around selling water to them.  The final aspect to Freedom Park is the mines.  This area is one of the biggest producers of platinum in the world, and as look over freedom park, you will see mine shafts everywhere.  Most of the squatters and people in Freedom park are there trying to get work at the mines.   

The work I'm most excited about is taking place in the new phase 2.  We have been canvassing the area, passing out tracts, and praying that God would lead us to people interested in Him.  We just this past week had a volunteer team from Tennessee come out, and they helped us finish the tract distribution in the area.  We have made quite a few contacts all ready, and Jen, my supervisors wife all ready has a couple ladies groups meeting on a weekly basis.  I have met a few guys that I have been able to share with and am hoping to find more.   The next few weeks will be follow up with the ones we have made contacts with to see if there is any genuine interest in going deeper.   Pray for this area as there is not much of any established church presence here.  Pray that God would do a mighty work, and draw to himself the ones that can make a difference in this community.  They need GOD!    

I also am helping in a small role at Freedom Park secondary school.  Stacy, a journeygirl here who is about to finish her term, has done a lot of good work in this school.  They have recently started a christian group that meets on tuesdays and thursdays during there 45 min break time.  I have started and will continue to meet with Tebogo, the leader of the group who is in grade 10.  He has a desire to learn and lead, a trait that I have found to be rare here.  Pray for my time meeting with him that it would be fruitful, and God would help me in helping him.  

Well thats all for now, I hope you all are doing well and I would love hearing what's new with you!  

Talk to  you soon,

Paul Weiblen