Safe and Sound

I have received several concerned messages and wanted to post and assure everyone that I am safe and doing well. I know that there have been quite a few news stories about Xenophobia in South Africa recently and there has definitely been serious violence here. It has impacted the area I stay in, as well as the areas I visited while in Johannesburg. I did have to “evacuate” on Friday night and stay in more safe accommodation last weekend. I am back in Kayamandi now and feel safe, things have settled and the general sentiment is that there is no longer an increased risk to my safety.

"Xenophobia" here in SA is primarily black South African people groups persecuting black immigrants from other African countries(most of which are refugees). Those who are encouraging the violence say that these immigrants (nearly all illegally in the country) are taking jobs and wives away from the native South Africans. Considering the importance of tribal heritage and blood lines, for many black South Africans the issue of taking wives is even more serious then taking jobs.

However, as with most mob violence like this, it has become an opportunity to commit crime irregardless of race or ethnicity. In Johannesburg, I read headlines that estimated 42 people dead and 15,000 homeless. Here in Kayamandi we had riots and looting last Friday and Saturday night. The information I received was that 230 people were escorted out of the township under police protection after mobs attacked them with rocks, fists and firearms. We are a fairly small township so 230 people feels like a lot. I am sure there were more attacked who were not lucky enough to make it out with the police. One of the boys I work most closely with had a gun stuck in his side and was threatened. This was very scary, Friday night things started while we were still here in the office and it was very frightening. We have fantastic security staff who anticipated the riots and tripled their staffing. They were also armed. Myself and another American volunteer were escorted out of the township by one of the South African staff. I still had my bag with me from my time in Jo-burg (I had the privilege of being sponsored to attend a conference on Child Psychology there). So I was already packed to spend the weekend in safety, thank you Lord.

Nearly all the shops in Kayamandi are owned and run by foreigners, primarily Somalians, but recently we have had more refugees from Kenya and Zimbabwe moving in. These shops were completely gutted and many structures knocked down or damaged as people frantically grabbed all they could carry. Homes were also looted. There were so many people involved that the police did nothing about the theft, realizing they did not have the man power to do much more then insure the safety of those under attack.

Like I said things have calmed now. I met many people in Jo-burg who had lost nearly everything and send family back to their home countries for fear that they would be targeted. Please continue to pray for these people and their families.

This is the third post I have made today. So please read further to get updated on the other happenings over the last several weeks. Thank you for all your love and concern for me.