Funding for our work in South Africa..

Hi family and friends,

We wanted to pass on some urgent news.

We have recently learned that we will be loosing $900/month or $10800/year in support at the end of this month. This is almost a quarter of our budget. This has serious implications and we need God to lead, guide and provide for our family and ministry.

Please join us in interceding for God to provide new support.

Please could you pray and consider making a contribution, either an extra gift or starting for the first time.
If you have any connections that might like to partner with us in this way, please let us know.

Please visit https://servantpartners.org/give.php to give.
If you live in South Africa, please contact us and we will provide you with giving details.

Thanks for your partnership,

Trevor, Chrissy & Keira Davies + 1
Servant Partners - South Africa
www.servantpartners.org
thedaviesupdate.blogspot.com
trevsa@gmail.com
davies.chrissy@gmail.com

Reconciliation: A journey together…facing the past to move forward…

This past weekend we went to the Apartheid Museum. The purpose of the trip was for a group of us to discover and learn more of the history of our country so that we could move forward in to the future. The Apartheid Museum is unfortunately not a popular place for South African’s but very popular for foreign tourists. The funny thing is that Chrissy and I visited it on our honeymoon. It has been a helpful place to recognize what we are up against as we seek to walk into our call to be bridges of reconciliation. There is hope if we can walk through our past into the future together. One thing that struck me most was the pervasive lies, propaganda and systematic oppression that were put in place under apartheid. Everything was set up to segregate blacks from whites and to benefit the whites minority population at the expense of the majority black population – The scariest thing though is that post 1994, the democratic elections, one would have expected things to have changed but for the average black person on the street not much has changed. Apartheid might not be the law but the is an ever increasing distance between the haves and have not’s, a distinction that runs mostly along the black white line does not help to bring people together. This is what we are feeling more and more called to work against. The challenging thing for the wealthy white, I being one of them, is that because of our privilege we have to choose to enter into this struggle for equality and justice. We also have the choice to leave and return to our lives of privilege. It can be difficult to stay and learn, as it is easier to turn a blind eye and remain ignorant. It is a more radical choice to try to listen to and identify with those who are oppressed or who are poor, especially when you are part of the reason they are in the position they are. I pray that more white people will stay and commit to the journey of learning together how to reconcile, to follow Jesus into a place of healing together. Praise God for food, taxi rides, singing songs, soccer balls, rugby, tea and coffee and laughter that were also part of this challenging day. They all brought us closer together and give us stories that we now share.

Apartheid's Legacy

( A picture of my family that I miss very much!)

I don’t make a habit of thinking about evil too much. But today I have thought about it quite a lot. You know satan doesn’t have too many tricks, just the same old material that we fall into.
Thinking about Apartheid and how just a few people thought of this horrible thing and it became a nationwide plague, for not only blacks but whites too. I think the evil that was inflicted on the blacks was also harmful to the whites inflicting it. What I mean is hearts were hardened and blinders made thicker, and humanity taken away from a whole race of people and. . . that is evil.
What’s worse is that even though the institution is gone, the results of it run so deep . . . I am not sure when everyone will be able to breathe easily the same air and be comfortable in their own skin.
Our group that is meeting on a Sunday night seems to be pretty unique and I am enjoying the time I get to be apart of the discussions, I am mostly just listening a lot and trying to learn and take it all in, and its great to feel like there is one place where I feel like we (T and I) are living out our call on our lives, our relationship.
But sometimes when stories of pain are shared or ignorances are revealed I shudder, and I suppose that is a natural response. But for someone who sometimes just wants things to be better . . now! . . . it is a very difficult place to sit.

My heart feels tender and I think that is where God wants it to be, but part of my reaction to that is to miss home, friends and family terribly, so here is a picture that I stare at when I get a chance to stare and pray.
Remembering the Love that conquers all,
Chrissy

Soccer the ultimate uniter

This is a picture of friends after a recent soccer game. This game was planned as a result of the fun we had in our front yard, see A little bit of soccer, pain and friendship. We had a lot of fun. The game ended at 9-8, after multiple golden goals (next goal wins) and the girls shouting on the sideline that the game time had run out 20 minutes ago. We all had a great time, had fun and figured out that we need to train.

Those who made it to that evenings discussion group at our house all were limping and complaining. It was all worth it though, we will have to do it again.

It is great to have a group of growing friends who can have serious conversations about race, money and following Jesus in South Africa and then run around chasing a leather ball together.

The Davies Update July 2009

The Good the Bad and the Ugly in only 8 months!  

Through this last 8 months we have already experienced so much! We thought it would be good to take a little time to reflect and look back on what has happened since we have been here.  

The Work.   

Emthonjeni Staff Bible Study: Every Wednesday Trevor this time to help invest in the Emthonjeni leadership and connect them to Jesus. It has been a fruitful time that has provided the staff a place to grow and learn together. They are learning to be real and trust God and each other. Pastors Gathering: Once a month Trevor has helped gather Pastors from the different churches in Zandspruit. There has been much division and competition in the past and it has been great to see the Pastors catch a vision to work together for the transformation of their community and to support each other. 

Discussion group: We are really excited about the diverse group that meets at our house each Sunday evening to discuss what it means to be a Christian in South Africa given its sordid past. The intention of the group has been to provide a place to talk about real issues in South Africa and figure out what God’s call is for us who claim to follow Jesus. We have committed as a group to keep it real and honest.  We know God is moving among us as we talk about things most people don't talk about; money, privilege, poverty and what Jesus has to say about all those things. It is crazy but we are excited to see fruit and the relationships that will be built out of these conversations. 

 

Friendships.  I can say that we have a few relationships that are budding.  Trevor particularly has begun some very real and admonishing relationships that, I am as excited about as he is.  These men are really a gift as they journey together, wrestling with what it means to minister to the poor. We continue to have people over often and plan occasions in efforts to keep on the hard task of building and initiating friendship. 

Language has also been a bit of a roller coaster journey.  It was so difficult to sit in on conversations and not know what was being talked about or to be spoken to and then receive strange looks when I said," sorry I only know English".  Since we have taken a Zulu course we are glad to be able to communicate the basics and have at least a few words that we can pick out to get the gist of different conversations! That is exciting progress! We would however like to get more practice and are looking into doing a homestay to accomplish this.   

Finding a Church is hard especially when we would love to be in a diverse church that is actually pursuing reconciliation. We are still searching and at times are weary and miss our home church communities very much. It seems like many people we know have the same struggle in finding a church that is diverse and has solid teaching.  We know God has a place for us, we are just still looking for it. 

When I look back on what has happened so far I see a lot of wrestling, questions, a few exciting things and still a lot of questions.  Eight months seems like a long time but we are still so new and learning a lot.   

Funding Update: We continue to be incredibly grateful for your financial support and prayers.  As economically the times are hard, we feel privileged to be your hands and feet in Africa.  Thank You.  If you are aware of anyone who would like to know about our ministry, please be in contact. We need to raise an $200 a month to meet our budget. 

We covert your prayers! Blessings, Chrissy for the Davies

Expecting in December 2009

Hi all,

Not sure if you have picked up on twitter or facebook but...

We found out that we are expecting another little girl to join the Davies family on December 13th. 

We are excited for the new gift from God. 

As a friend said to on Facebook, "A girl?!  You are sooooo outnumbered.  

Very fun!" Of course I would have taken a boy, but I have had so much fun with Keira, I am looking forward to holding the next one. God does have a sense of humor though.

Thanks for celebrating with us, 

Trev

Yes, I am American

I know I have mentioned before about people speaking to me in all sorts of languages, assuming that I know one of them, but I think I have gotten a little bit used to that. Lately I have been getting really frustrated with people that I am not even interacting with. Often when I go out I am stared at, I checked my nose, my hair or if Keira had smudged something down the front of my shirt and everything seems fine. Even stopped at a robot (stoplight) I get strange looks. Now if I run the possibilities; if I am with Trevor, sure that makes more sense, if I am with Keira, that also could raise a questions or two; is she the nanny, is the baby’s father white? But what I really don’t get is when I am by myself. Some days I really have to hold back the urge to scream “ Its rude to stare!!!” But then it is also rude to yell at people . . . so I am stuck. Just a strange thing that I have yet to figure out! One of these days I will ask someone why they are staring and maybe engage in an enlightening conversation . . . we’ll see.
Anyway, we had Keira’s Birthday party last weekend, and it really hit me that we are in South Africa, I was missing my mother so much that it was hard to breathe at times. I attempted to bake Keira a butterfly cake at her request, and my Mom is way better at making character cakes and I needed to be able to call her quickly. But all that really mattered is that when Keira saw the cake she said “ Thank You Thank you Mommy!”
At the party we had a nice diverse group of kids and I realized that if we had been in the states, the demographic probably would have been flipped (more white and/or Latino, and a sprinkle of Black children) I loved that Keira played well with all these children regardless of color or language, although the thing that Keira remembers the most when asked was “ I ate cake!” Heehee.

What could life in South Africa look like?

Check out this blog post by Tom Smith, a friend who is part of the discussion group we are having on Sunday nights about following Jesus in South Africa; dealing with race, money and other issues with a great diverse group of friends.
What could life in South Africa look like? Click http://www.soulgardeners.com/2009/07/bending-our-lives-towards-others.html to read the blog.

Let me know you thoughts,

Trevor

I'm Back!

Hello, I am finally fully recovered and functioning after a little over two week s of being sick and recovering slowly. Thanks for your prayers! I don't have a lot to report since I have been at home recovering for the last little while, but I have a few things to share.

First. . .Trevor and I are adding to our family. . .yes I am pregnant! At this point I am about 16weeks pregnant and am doing well, now. I am feeling the baby move a lot and that is fun to have movement so early. My only sadness is that this brings my physical doula work to an abrupt stop as I don't have the endurance anymore, but I can still counsel and help outside of labor.
We are very excited and so is Keira, everyday she says " Hello baby" to my stomach and sometimes offers the baby a snack. She'll be a great big sister! Keira turns 2 this week! And she has proven to be a joy and a challenge in both of our lives, I'm sure it will get better and get harder :)

In other news, God has recently made it clear to me that I must pray on behalf of the pregnant moms and the hospital system with dilligence. If any of you are interested in praying with me, and listening to what God might say please email me. I will be praying for 3 months in the way of Nehemiah. It feels daunting and difficult but our God is one who listens and on that I can depend.

I will post some pictures soon, especially after Keira's party. I know many of you have been asking for them!
Blessings and love from Chrissy +1

A little bit of soccer, pain and friendship

Some pictures from our impromptu soccer tournament at our house last weekend. We had a great time playing this countries favourite past time but left with a few aches and pain. We are not all as active and as young as we used to be, well we have to have some excuse right.
Let's just say that there was some surprise winners. Here's to building community and friendships.

Generosity?

I have been challenged a lot lately about being generous.
With South African being one of the most unequal countries in the world the disparities are glaring, in my face in fact.
There is so much need and I have so much in comparison. It is not that these differences between rich and poor are new but more the exposure that I now have to the poor and poverty that is challenging my thinking on my generosity. What do I do with this reality and the gospel's clear call to be generous, to give to share, to help, to be involved, to be community and family.

I am realizing that when I was living in the suburbs in SA and the USA, especially on the college campus, it was so much easier not to be generous, to believe that everyone has enough. When we live in communities that shelter us from the realities of the world it is easy to believe in a gospel that doesn't require us to give of ourselves and our resources. A gospel that is just a personal relationship with God. I have chosen not to have that privledge anymore.

I think that this is why Jesus was with the people. He wanted to see. How else can you see that someone is hungry and give them something to eat, see that someone is thirsty and give them something to drink, see that someone is a stranger and invite them in, see that someone needs clothes and clothe them, see that someoneI is sick and look after them, see that someone is in prison and visit them.

I am deeply challenged by Jesus words and his actions. I hope that Jesus will receive my feeble attempts at being more generous as my blind eyes start to see. I hope I have the courage not to run away.

Some questions that I am asking...
Does the standard 10% giving to the church cut it when a friend looses a job, can't feed his family and you have a savings account?
Does the standard 10% giving cut it when a friend is sick and doesn't have money to go to the doctor?
Does the standard 10% cut it when there is hunger and pain?

Who's money is this anyway and what did God give it to me for? For myself, my family? Or did God bless me with resources to join him in offering a drink and clothing a brother or sister. I have friends who have considerably less than I do but support multiple family members, share whatever they have, live a communal life of generosity.

I realize that I can't be God, I can't be the solution to all the problems I see, but I do see and God is calling me to be generous, to use his money to bless others. To share and be involved, rather than isolate and protect what "I have earned."

Thank you to all those who give generously to us, we are honoured to be your hands and feet. You are a model of God's provision. Join us as we wrestle with being rich in a world with intense need.

Please share any thoughts...

Nothing like eating sheep head, learning Zulu and bible discussions...

I have an agreement with my friends in South Africa about eating food. Anything they eat I will eat with them, but I won't eat something they won't eat.
So, as you see in the picture, I had the privilege of eating "Sheep Skopo", sheep head with my friends Orapeleng and Happy.

I ate mostly jaw bone meat that wasn't too bad and tried the tongue and brain which were more challenging.
The other name they call this tasty treat is a "Smiley". A fitting name as this is a boiled sheep head, wool removed but everything else is there, a one sided face smiling back at you. When Rapi and Happy were finished those bones were shinning, eyes the works. Thanks for the treat abafowethu (Friends).

Besides eating some new treats Chrissy and I are enjoying the challenge of learning Zulu. We just finished our fourth formal class and are making some progress. It has been especially fun to practice with new friends in Zandspruit and see there eyes go wide with surprise when an Umlungu (a White person), the name the kids call me, speaks in Zulu. I really enjoy how far a little effort to learn and speak someones language goes. Hopefully we can continue to practice and find some settings to immerse ourselves in some Zulu only setting to help solidify what we are learning in class. I am surrounded by a lot of Tswana speaking friends, and so have picked some of it up too, although Zulu is a better longterm lanuage to learn.

Lastly, I have been having some encouraging times of discussions and bible studies. On Sunday's we have a diverse group meeting to discuss and study issues of cross cultural relationships, money and following Jesus. There don't seem to be many places actively talking about these tough issues and how Jesus calls us to deal with them as a community of faith. With South Africa still heavily divided along racial and economic lines is has been good to share our different stories and wrestle with how to move forward. We are learning together. What do we do when some of us have more money than others? How do we deal with the fact that one group benefits at the expense of another? How do we respond to ongoing prejudice and racism? How do we share each others burdens and pain? Hard questions, but ones the Jesus and the early Church faced, and ones that I am grateful to be making friends to face these struggles with.

At another time I will share with you how God is working in a gathering of Zandspruit pastors, an Emthonjeni staff meeting bible study, a bi-monthly young adults bible study and a bible study with some young guys who have never studied or read the bible before. God's word is alive and active, it is fun to be a part of it.

Peace,

Trevor

On the street where we live

Well I just had blogged a nice long blog, but then the server timed out and apparently nothing got saved even though it said it was saving.
I wanted to tell you about how our street is really coming together. Last night we had a street meeting and it was the biggest turn out yet! Not only did we cover the issues of the street but we also were able to laugh and joke together, it was really fun. Hopefully we can really make some progress to making this a safer street by building relationship with each other and depending on each other to look out for all our best interests. I think I am feeling more at home here as there are people I feel comfortable leaving Keira with and I am making friends with some of our neighbors. Keira is feeling comfortable as well. . . the other day a couple of the neighborhood boys were here playing and they came inside because it was getting cold. . .and they wanted some of what I was baking : ) So I suggested that each of them read a story to Keira. You should have seen it, I wish I had been able to get a picture of it, but here were these two 8 yea old boys kneeling at Keira's cupboard with Keira in between them with an arm wraped tightly around both of their necks! She really loves them and prays for them. . . I love how soft her heart is. Well first Mandla read and did pretty well with a little help. Then Mike started and I quickly realized that he didn't know the sounds of the letters, so 20 minutes later we were halfway through the 6 page book and it was getting dark so they took their goodies and went home with promise to come back the next day to read some more, but they didn't show. I have often wondered how to do a homework club that would work, that the boys would actually come back to. . . I don't know, one thing at a time I guess. I am so glad that God knows how much need there is and He can handle it.

Here a a couple of pics: Mike and I reading, Keira and Lionel ( neighbors that came for dinner) under her table, and Keira with Super Gran on her 93rd birthday. Oh and one of when we caught Keira rocking out on Trev's ipod- I love the hair!!!

I got to go to the hospital with my second Mama the other day. She had high blood pressure and so she was preparing herself for the possibility of an emergency c-section. Well the hospital has some strict rules and I am actually not allowed in with the patient except if I am the only one with her and she is in the final stage of labor and ready to deliver, which doesn't make sense for what I am actually there for.
Anyway, when I arrived at the hospital, a security guard let me go up to the waiting room where this young woman's mother was waiting. While we waited my only contact with this scared young first time mom was through phone calls and texts of encouragement ( I am thankful for cell phones). You see my client was not in labor but she was put in a labor ward with many other women who were in active labor. So as you can imagine the sight of these other women was not helpful for her blood pressure. . . when we did get a chance to talk face to face she spoke of the most horrendous things that were happening in the labor ward; mothers being hit and yelled at by the attending nurses, she herself had been hassled and repeatedly yelled at for crying.

I was starting to really get fired up about the things she was telling me when we met another young woman who had just had her baby by c-section and she showed us her baby who had a very bad cut on his head, when we asked what happened she explained that they cut the baby when they cut her!
Now here I am sitting with all these stories and experiences and I don't know exactly what to do with it??? I came home feeling so upset that the people who need help are constantly the victims in places where they should be getting help. What do I do??? What can I do? Despite the fact that I just got certified by DONA as a Doula ( yeah!!) I don't actually have any credibility in these hospitals, and I don't know anyone who does!

I listened to a song that my friends Yasmin and Ben wrote when they had studied the book of Amos it says:

"If you remain silent
If you just turn your head
If you remain silent
What can I say to those who will cry
Where is our God when our children die?

Speak through Your Word
Let us understand
Their cries must be heard by both God and man

Do not remain silent"

I cry every time I listen to that song, but it helps me remember that no matter how small, no matter how few connections I have, I must speak, speak up for those who don't have a voice and continue to listen.
Please pray for the government hospitals in South Africa, there are many issues, understaffed over worked and millions of sick people without resources just don't make for a good situation.

Some fun Keira video's

Chrissy and I have being really enjoying Keira. She is an incredible blessing to us. She is independant, smart and full of joy.
Enjoy these two vidoes.
Love us

Reality.

What is safety??? I have been wrestling with this question this week as there have been some incidents on our street. Last night I attended a street meeting where a few of our neighbors spoke of suspicious people around, attempted robberies and the like. As I asked clarifying questions, the street leader finally said, "Chrissy, I am sorry but in this country we have come to a point where we must trust no one!" My heart sank, trust no one. . . I have been told and taught that only the paranoid survive but I also feel like I don't want to waste life worrying when "it won't add a minute to your life". But the reality is that bad, scary and horrible things happen to people everyday all over the world. . .
I have to say my first reaction to hearing all the stories last night was one of fear and flight " How quickly can we move from this place?" But then after a deep breath I was moved to ideas of action, to follow up with other neighbors, prayer walk, connect with other people who are at home during the day. All good things but that nagging fear, which I am so familiar with, didn't want to let go of my heart. I came to Trev with talk of burglar bars, and panic buttons and roaming security.
Repeating scripture about how God is our shelter and how He never leaves us, was helpful to calm me down but it also made me realize the reality is that God is still that same God whether we get robbed or worse. Trusting Jesus for our safety doesn't mean that bad things won't happen. Today, in the wake of reality, my heart longs for home and familiar and seeming safety, but more than that my heart aches for a place where people feel that they must trust no one. To me, that is an isolating and lonely reality to live in.

To tell or not to tell

I have had the privledge to be part of a new young adults bible study in Zandspruit on Thursday nights. We meet every other week.
The last two weeks we have talked about the topic "To tell or not to tell." This has created some real discussion as we have wrestled with the struggles of telling the truth, for ourselves, for our friends and our communities. I think this is a challenging issue for us all, especially when telling the truth has consequences.
This is especially true in the squatter community where you can't hind in your house in the burbs, but are tightly packed together, where you see things that you don't really want to see, where telling what you did see has serious consequences.
We are growing as a new community of believers and we are starting to see the more negative consequences of not standing up for truth. Not telling the truth leaves us in the dark, it leads to communities that don't care what happens, where violence prevails. We have to start standing up for truth so that the light can prevail but we have to do it with love.

I hope that my character, along with this great group, will be changed, to be more truthful, to face the reality that if the truth does not prevail, it only leads to death and heartache in the long run.

Its not up to me

We start Zulu classes tonight! It has been one of those things that has been postponed then canceled and then restarted so we are looking forward to actually getting started in an official way. Language, as you know has been a bit of an issue. For me it especially hard to help a mother fill out an antenatal card for the clinic if we don't speak the same language, so I hope in learning Zulu it will at the least familiarize my ear to the different sounds of the other languages that come into the clinic. Speaking of the clinic, for those of you that don't know I work in the antenatal clinic that is held at the community center 2 days a week. Antenatal s the same as Prenatal, so the ladies come and get checked by a midwife and have their blood work done before they deliver at a far away hospital. The problem that has been reoccurring at this clinic is that we haven't been able to keep a steady nurse to do the blood work. Govt hospital nurses are over worked and understaffed and underpaid, so no one seems to be able to spare anyone. And it s actually very dangerous to continue with antenatal care without having blood work done, several problems could be present that the mother or the hospital would not be aware of, the scariest of which is HIV. So instead it looks like the clinic will have to close until we find someone to do blood.
Even though I get queasy at the sight of blood, I wish that I was qualified. I know that is not what I am here for but it is so awful for these moms who will have to either travel far to the hospital to get their blood workup or they will go to another clinic that is not so nice. . . or they won't go at all and end up with a baby that is infected with something. I just wish I knew more. . .on a daily basis. Or had more helpful skills, I know I have resources and education and that is more than the average Precious or Soley (common names here) but it s a challenge to feel that inadequacy and then know what to do with it. I won't be taking on anymore degrees at least not at this stage but I can pray and use what I do know to do the little that I can and ask Jesus to multiply it. So really its not me at all, people don't need me, they need Jesus the one who can supply for their every need, the one who feeds 5000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish. I am not trying to preach, just thinking out loud or. . . through my fingers I guess. It is helpful to reflect a little in these quiet moments when Keira is sleeping, thanks for listening. . .or reading I mean. Until next time,
Love Chrissy

Life in Zandspruit

Just wanted to share some pictures from the community we work in.
They show some of the everyday issues that have to be faced just dealing with basic services.

Quite different from most our lives and the hiking in the Mountains...it is really the survival of the fittest and the least getting treated the worst.

Pray with us as we try to empower this community to demand better service from the government and to see their living situation improve.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2188785&id=19712795&l=bd2d5359aa
Copy and paste above address into a new browser to view.

Peace.

Hello Change, old friend

I know that nothing in life is permanent. . . but it feels like here that reality is accentuated! I start to make a friend and then they move, I start to make another friend and then they move. I offer my services as a doula and then a woman who sounded sure she could use the help never calls. It can be really difficult at times to be so unsure of things that seem like you could be sure of.

I am very thankful to Jesus that HE is constant! In the midst of so much instability, poverty, corruption, injustice and hopelessness it is only Jesus that I can cling to to know that there is hope for the next breath! Thanks God.

News on the home front; Keira started Nursery school this week and absolutely loves it! (She is just going on Monday and Thursday when I have clinic.) She came home with a noodle bangle that she made and singing the days of the week. I was the only one who cried in the whole ordeal! Its funny that all of a sudden someone else is influencing my child! I know its good but it is strange, but Keira loves playing with the kids and I know she feels safe there because her first day she went and sat down on the carpet and said "Jesus loves me"
Apparently the church where the school is, had prayed in each of the school rooms the night before asking that each child and parent would know the love of Jesus when they walked in, well Jesus heard!!