A letter from Bridgette Hector in South Africa
november 2011
…For ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28).
Bridgette hosting members of the Ga-Pila community in her flat as they strategize ways to speak against being displaced by mining companies.
Greetings from the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa! Whew! It’s now two years and three months that I have been driving all over the countries of South Africa and Lesotho, serving as their companionship facilitator, accompanying network members as they venture to discover and address root causes of hunger in their immediate contexts. When I left my family and friends in America, they wondered how a single African-American woman was going to make it alone in two strange countries. Well, praise God! I am happy to report that (through it all) this journey has been an immense blessing filled with so many powerful experiences.
To be honest, I have not had the opportunity to fully process all of my encounters with so many different people. But I always am reminded of Paul’s words throughout his ministry of encountering so many diverse persons. He said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). Certainly this text can be treated with many hermeneutical tools; I, however, find peace and purpose in knowing that when people gather to do the work of Christ they can create one holy consciousness that allows them to experience love and transformation toward love and justice for all. This is the only way I know to do ministry in so much diversity.
A group of kids who are given shelter through a SMI network named the Landless People Movement.
Truthfully, I must say that all of my favorite experiences thus far have been related to the amount of diversity that I encounter on a daily basis. In South Africa there are 11 official languages, and believe me, each day I hear and try to communicate with people who speak all 11! Then when I go to Lesotho I engage persons who speak Northern Sotho (which is not spoken in South Africa).
Just as much as I love diversity, I must say that there are aspects of apartheid that I have still not become accustomed to. In South Africa, though the jaws of apartheid were dismantled in 1994, there are still vestiges of apartheid throughout the daily lives of the people here. Yet on a daily basis I experience South African citizens trying their best to express love and communicate with each other. It’s not an easy task to communicate with so many different people—this I know from the ministry tasks that are set before me.
Bridgette having fun joking around with women in Limpopo who have the charge of taking care of orphans whose parents have died to HIV/AIDS. The women sell their handmade pottery to buy food supplies for the kids.
One of the foundational tasks of my ministry is to foster communication between the Sisonke Masilwe Indlala (SMI) network members within South Africa and the Kopana Ke Matla (KKM) network members in Lesotho. On any given day I might work with Sotho-speaking persons in Lesotho trying to plan an educational workshop to teach Sotho farmers the dangers of relying on and using GMOs (genetically modified organisms). On that same day I could be given the task to go through a budget proposal with a Xhosa-speaking network member in South Africa so that network might be able to help poor farmers whose land is being taken away by foreign investors who are hoping to build a luxury golf course.
Though the tasks are often seemingly overwhelming, I am amazed at the power of the Holy Spirit throughout our interactions and work. It is only by the power of God that persons in abject poverty can muster up enough strength and hope to come together and feel that they can fight huge corporations that are trying to take their land.
Farmers in South Africa sharing with us in the SMI network about how their water supply had been cut off by large investors planning to build a resort near by
It is solely through the power of God that a grandmother who is trying to raise her grandchildren on practically no income still finds the power to walk blocks to a meeting of persons who are determined to make the government of Lesotho accountable for its corrupt actions against its poor citizens.
While maintaining those connections here in Africa, I must also strive to keep both SMI’s and KKM’s U.S. partners abreast of the campaign work of each of its country networks. SMI is partnered with the South African Mission Partners (SAMP) within the Presbytery of the Western Reserve in Ohio. SAMP journeys with SMI, studying, advocating and praying for SMI’s work on hunger. Certainly this partnership between SAMP and SMI continues to be one of great challenge as each group changes and grows while continuously trying to stay connected through eight hours of time zone difference. It is only through patience and God’s miracle work that their partnership is able to continue to grow and be effective.
KKM is partnered with Los Ranchos Presbytery in Los Angeles, Calif. Los Ranchos Presbytery is doing its best to journey with the people of Lesotho as they fight various causes of hunger, with an nine-hour time difference.
So if I could summarize my two years in one declaration I would shout out, “Oh, the Challenges of Communicating Through Diversity and Different Time Zones!” Thus far I can attest that through all of these challenges I have seen hundreds of farmers in Lesotho receive an education that is helping them maintain their sense of dignity in their work toward justice. I have also seen many persons in South Africa develop knowledge and skills related to hunger that are helping them to create sustainable livelihoods.
Thank you for your support, prayers and love. In Christ we are making a difference!
Bridgette
The 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 74
The 2012 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 112
Write to Bridgette Hector
Give to Bridgette Hector's sending and support
