Bob's South Africa Trip Report

As I left for South Africa on Sept 22nd, I wondered what I would find there waiting for me.  It had been 22 years since I last set foot on the African continent.  At the time I was under considerable duress with the sudden deaths of my friends at The Community of Reconciliation.  Now I was returning all these years later after telling their story in the book "Saving Zimbabwe."  First to greet me as I walked through Customs was Matthew Marais who was only 6 years old when I last saw him.  Now 28, and on the verge of getting married, it was a very special time getting reacquainted.  Matthew lost both his parents and younger brother on that traumatic night.  Over the course of the next few weeks, I would find myself meeting and reengaging with many people affected by the tragic events of November 25th, 1987.  As you can imagine it was a deeply emotional experience and yet something profoundly spiritual started to take place... healing.  It seems that for most everyone involved with this story, time stood still emotionally.  In most cases people have not talked about the events of the massacre since it happened.  It seemed that my presence and the soon release of the book in Africa was an opportunity for many to express thoughts and feelings locked away for decades.  While it exhausted me, it was good to be able to walk through the healing process with people one on one.  It became clear over time that God was up to something as He was bringing together relationships that had been violently torn apart in one terrible moment.  I was astounded by what I witnessed and yet grateful to be a part of it.

I would have to say that without a doubt, the month I spent in South Africa was the most fascinating I've ever been a part off.  I had left the US with a sense that there was a Divine purpose for me there but had no idea just how true that was.  Just about every day I experienced some sort of supernatural intervention that indicated loud and clear that I was on a Divine mission.  While I thought that I was going over to prepare the way for distribution of the book and sending medical supplies to Zimbabwe, I soon discovered that God had already prepared the way.  In fact it felt like the wind suddenly started blowing uncovering already existing ancient paths.  It was strange really.  Within a few days I figured out that it wasn't about me making a new way, but me simply being discerning to what God was already up to.  I soon found myself paranoid about not messing it all up!  Besides reconnecting with old relationships, I was surprised at how many wonderful quality new relationships developed.  It looks like Elizabeth and I may be headed back over to South Africa in March of 2010.  I actually can't wait to introduce her to our many new and amazing friends. South Africa has some wonderful people who are passionate about seeing authentic Christianity expressed in their nation.  Its amazing but over time it actually started feeling like I was at home.  I even got used to driving on the left side of the road!  South Africa is a huge key to the transformation of Zimbabwe, please keep the nation in your prayers.   I feel a debt of gratitude for the kindness and hospitality that the people of South Africa showed me.  I only hope in time I can repay their graciousness.
-Bob

For a more detailed account of the trip visit my blog at: http://blog.compassionatejustice.com

On Oct. 24th we held our first of three "Sort & Pack Days" to prepare our medical supplies for shipment to Zimbabwe.  We were absolutely overwhelmed by the wonderful support of over 20 friends would gave up their Saturday to stop by the warehouse and give us a helping hand.  Mid-America Display out of St Louis was ever so kind and donated 2 pallets of new boxes for repacking. Mike Henderson the truck driver who delivered the boxes the day before was so intrigued by what we were doing, he came back on Saturday to lend us a helping hand!

While Compassionate Justice is heading up the project, we are grateful for the support of a number of organizations that have come together to make this first shipment possible...

Mercy & Truth Medical Missions (www.mercyandtruth.com)
Project Generation Hope (www.projectgenerationhope.org)
Heartland Community Church (www.heartlandchurch.org)
One World Transport
St Joseph's Hospital
KU Medical Center

If all goes according to plan, we expect the first container to leave the warehouse by years end.  At that point we are going to need to regroup and find a larger warehouse space (10,000 sq ft) in the Kansas City area.  As supplies continue to come in, we need to try and stay ahead of things by sorting and repacking at that point and not waiting until we have a whole container's worth to get through at once!  We are also in real need of a small pick-up truck for transporting supplies and trash hauling.  Not everything we receive can be used and therefore has to be disposed.

While Bob was in South Africa he met with Tatenda Gungewo the head of Voice of Peace in Harare and Richard Ndlovu the Administrator for the Mtshabezi Hospital located near Bulawayo.  Both men reiterated the desperate need there is in the country for medicines and medical supplies.  People are dying daily from simple infections due to the lack of supplies to clean wounds and providing them with antibiotics.  They both expressed heartfelt thanks for the pending shipment and assured me that many lives will be saved.  It's hard for most Westerners to grasp the idea that what we throw out everyday at hospitals and medical supply companies in the US can save lives in Africa!