Day 4

//Tuesday 8.8.17//

Today we woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the mountains. What can I say? I could probably live here forever and still be in awe of the beauty that God has created here.

Today’s agenda was a trip to Robben Island, the place where Nelson Mandela and many others were imprisoned during Apartheid. We had a bus tour with a very knowledgable and friendly tour guide and got to travel around the island to different locations that the prisoners or prison guards might have lived. Across the way from the island, a beautiful view of Table Rock could be seen.

At the Prison, we were given a tour from one of the inmates who was imprisoned from 1983-1990, during the reign of Apartheid. He was imprisoned for sabotage and treason, mainly because he was a political activist pushing against Apartheid. He told us of how the prison worked, how he and the other prisoners were treated and showed us where Nelson Mandela’s cell was.

One of the questions raised at the end was “How did you deal with what happened to you?” His answer moved me to tears. He told us that he had to reconcile within himself and come to terms with what happened to him and others, and first come to peace with it before he could forgive those who oppressed him. He said that coming back to the prison, leading tours and talking about it every day helps him cope and process, and share with others what happened and why it is so important to remember. He revealed to us with unhindered honesty that even though they have a president who was a comrade with Nelson Mandela and fought against Apartheid, he is a corrupt man and the government is not what it should be.

This trip has made me think on and reflect all of this. Folks, I want to be honest with you right now about these issues and share some thoughts that have been floating around my mind.

Going to Robben Island and hearing and seeing all that occurred there and during the reign of Apartheid solidified some things that I have been hearing and reading about. It made me realize just how recent these events were, especially hearing the story of the prisoner and seeing how young he still was. He told us that the people need to be educated, and not only educated but taught what is right and what is wrong. It made me start thinking about what needs to happen and how the people of this country can reconcile and leave the past behind.

Reading about Apartheid and the laws passed during its reign before the tour today convicted me. It made me think about what America was doing during that time, how it had just abolished segregation right at the height of Apartheid and yet did not intervene with the fight for justice here. It made me think about the people that I know who were alive during that time and wonder if they even knew the immensity and importance of what was happening here, which made me realize that I don’t know half of the things going on in the world at the present, the oppression and injustice taking place in other countries.

Seeing the photos from Apartheid has sobered me and brought me to the question “What has man done to man?” And ultimately “What is man doing to man?”. What will South Africa do next? Today there was a protest for a no-confidence vote, which means that (I believe) the parliament here voted on whether or not to kick President Zuma out of office. It did not pass and he has survived his eight no-confidence vote, but with a close vote. It seems that there are many challenges still facing the people of South Africa and Cape Town. The prisoner that gave us our tour said “Apartheid has been abolished. But Apartheid is still here.”

I am having trouble processing all of this new information and feelings. I don't have any answers to these issues that are rising up except that Jesus’ blood covers a multitude of sins, and His grace transforms lives. I can only pray for the love and power of His name to influence the hearts, souls and lives of the people of this country.

#InAfrica #CapeTown #SouthAfrica #Africa #CapeTown #SASA