Praises and prayers!

Just wanted to quickly let you all know how the Lord is providing for the Zimbabwean immigrants who were staying at Alabanza. Three out of the last group that were staying here are on their way back to Zim for a few weeks until hopefully things calm down here and they can return to SA to continue looking for work to support themselves and their families back in Zimbabwe. However, the Lord is faithful through it all. He provided transport for the three to be able to return home, as well as some clothing and bedding as their homes were burned and all they have here are the clothes on their backs. It's a sad, horrible situation, but I praise the Lord that He is still in control and is perfectly faithful even in the midst of such tragedy. The half dozen others are now being sheltered at another local ministry. As I talked with the Zimbabweans over the past few days, I was sad to learn that most of the people we were housing at the base had only been in SA for a few months. I cannot imagine leaving the crisis in their own country only to come here and have this kind of thing happen after just a few months of being here.


Another really sad thing was the 15-year-old boy, Sam, who was the youngest immigrant staying at the base. He came alone, without any family, to try to find work. I couldn't really talk much to him because he didn't know much English, but I couldn't get over the sadness and fear and distress in his eyes. I can only imagine what he has seen and what desperate circumstances force a 15-year-old child to move alone to another country to look for work. I said to the adults there, "He is so young. Are there many young ones like this who come to look for work?"
"Yes, he is still a child" they agreed, "He should be in school. But there are many young ones like him who come trying to find work to help their families."

Last we heard, an estimated 8,000 immigrants (these immigrants are both legal and illegal) have already fled from Atteridgeville. The fighting has been going on for over two weeks now. A few days ago, we heard that they were planning some big "town" meetings to once again discuss the issues. Please continue to pray...only the Lord can bring peace to this situation.