The Hillsong Africa Foundation began going to Mitchell’s Plain in September 2012, handing out meals every Wednesday in an area called Lost City. Unemployment is very high there and people are literally starving. On average we hand out between 750–800 meals each Wednesday. We also hand out clothing parcels and minister to the people one on one. I began volunteering there in February.
One particular Wednesday, I sat down on the steps in Lost City, and soon had three little girls sitting on my lap playing with my hair. (The girls in these informal settlements love my blonde hair.) As I was sitting there, a man walked over to me; he was the father of one of the girls sitting on my lap. He was high on something and told me that his little girl had dragged him to the feeding centre saying, ‘Daddy you don’t have to hurt anymore, those people are giving out food over there.’ As he was high, much of what he was saying didn’t make sense. But then he asked me why I was there. He asked me if I really cared about his daughter. Right then, his little girl kissed me full on the lips – not once but three times!
At first, I was a bit taken aback by the kisses as the kids there are usually snotty and dirty but her father had just asked me if I really cared. This scripture came to mind,
‘Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me – God who sent me.’ (Mark 9:37 MSG)
We are God’s hands and feet. When we hug and hold a child and let them kiss us, we are showing the love of the Father in a practical way. I’ve had the privilege of travelling all over the world and people are the same everywhere. John Maxwell says, ‘People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.’ Everyone just wants to be loved and accepted.
Next month we’ll be starting the Shine course for the women of Mitchell’s Plain, which I’m personally very excited about. It teaches women that they have worth, strength and purpose.
The gospel couldn’t be any simpler, it’s loving God and loving His people.