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April 16, 2001
Dear Family and Friends,
Recently an overseas visitor asked me how the white community
in South Africa is responding to the AIDS crisis here, which is
impacting the black community to such a great degree. That can
be quite a loaded question, as sometimes what is really being
asked is: "Does the white community care enough about what
is happening in the black community to get involved? If so, to
what degree?" Further instilled in this question can be:
"Are they willing to share their resources, which they acquired
at the expense of the blacks who were oppressed and impoverished
during the years of the apartheid government?"
To answer the initial question is not so difficult, though when
one begins to address those deeper questions it becomes quite
complex indeed. But that is the place where, out of anger and
frustration and maybe a sense of hopelessness, the issues of true
responsibility and even blame are begging to be heard and placed.
Such issues do indeed need to be addressed along the way, as
the reality is that the impact of forced movement, migration,
and imposed poverty have greatly affected the culture and life
styles of the black population in South Africa over the years.
Such changes have allowed the development of some behaviors that
were not acceptable in the traditional African culture but are
prevalent today. With this in mind then, do we, the white population,
have some responsibility in the current AIDS situation, even if
we aren’t being infected and affected to the same degree?
I would have to say absolutely yes, for many reasons. By default
of our color alone we are automatically linked with the previous
established institution of "separate and unequal" that
epitomized the white-run apartheid government whose byproducts
have contributed to the conditions influencing the spread of this
disease today.
However, accepting that responsibility does not exclude responsibility
of those whose behaviors spread the disease, affecting many innocent
people in the process, mainly women and children. What I am saying
is that this is a shared problem. It is our problem, no matter
what our color, our culture, or our economic status. One cannot
blame the other—both are responsible. As Christians we dare
not turn our backs on people in need, no matter what the cause
or situation. Like Jesus, we should be drawn to them and they
to us, as was the woman at the well or the blind man at the pool
or the lepers who asked to be healed.
As the Christian Church, this is our opportunity to respond with
open hands and the love, care, compassion, and hope of Jesus in
a way never before known in modern times. Jesus did not ignore,
judge, or criticize those who did the same foolish things that
we do today. He did not turn his back then nor does he today.
How can we do otherwise? Consider this…
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down
his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need
but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear
children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions
and in truth" (1 John 3:16-18).
Local church shelter project
Our local church’s involvement with a shelter for children
identified as "in distress" in a nearby black community
continues to grow. With the locals we will soon be refurbishing
and upgrading two small, block buildings that will serve as the
new day-care facility for our initial 30 or so pre-school-aged
children. A couple of kilometers away another existing structure
made of aluminum siding can, with lots of elbow grease, also be
refurbished and upgraded to take in another 50 to 60 children
each day. And that only begins to address the basic needs of some
of these children in that area alone, of which there are hundreds
more needing a place to come, be cared for, and fed on a daily
basis. In the meantime, the women in the area are doing all they
can and are grateful for the help that will enable them to have
a greater impact in their own community.
Beyond our own church involvement, our hope and desire is ultimately
to involve other churches and businesses who will supply food,
clothes, and other necessities for these children. At the same
time, plans are developing to assist them in areas such as health
care, nutrition, gardening and self-supporting projects. Just
some small ways that together we can share the burden.
To answer the question: "How is the white community responding
to the AIDS crisis in South Africa?" I’ll wait to expand
on that next time. What I will say for now is that, from my experience,
there are many people, including whites, who are helping—and
even more wanting to help but not knowing what to do or where
to start. Fighting this AIDS battle and responding to those impacted
by it needs to be beyond color and culture. It requires all of
us. Hopefully that’s where the Church can make a difference,
by being the catalyst that bridges the chasm of AIDS with not
just words, but with actions and truth.
Blessings and love,
Cindy Easterday
The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 47
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