Dear Greece, I'll be arriving soon...

(Doreen, Charles and myself)

In the morning I leave for an airplane ride. This airplane ride will take me to Athens, via Frankfurt.

It has been a good time here in Muizenberg. I’ve been saying a lot of goodbyes today, and I would definitely say that the one that has stuck with me the most was the one I said to Charles and Doreen. It wasn’t long, but it was good. After our lunch here at the base, Naphtalie and I went to the grocery store to get some Cream Soda, (Charles’ drink of choice) and walked it over the street to where Charles and Doreen were sitting. Each time we talk with them I am taken aback by the beauty that God has placed in their hearts. It is amazing how close I feel to people that I’ve known for little over a week.

Charles was just finishing his fish, fresh out of the microwave. He was friendly as usual. They say that the sun is their microwave. Microwaving of this sort however, requires much more patience than the conventional microwave, as you must wait until the sun has heated the food to a warm-ish temperature. This usually occurs about half an hour to an hour after placing the food in the “microwave”.

Doreen said she now views us as part of her family. She also noted that she loved us. I replied that we also love them. It was a short goodbye, but one that I will remember well.

…

This week we had Ben Nimmo, a Graphic Designer from the YWAM Media Village in Kalk Bay (a few stops down from Muizenberg on the train) come to talk to us about digital workflow, archiving images, and Photoshop basics. All this can get a little boring to talk about for long periods of time, but it will definitely come in handy when dealing with large amounts of photographs.

Our team will be leaving the Muizenberg base at 3:30 this morning. Our flight leaves Cape Town at 7:00, and we’ll be flying to Frankfurt, and then to Athens. Once we arrive in Athens, which will be very early Friday Morning, we’ll be going to a smaller village called Porto Rafti, where we’ll be staying at a small convention center. They tell us it is about an hour away from Athens. I’m not too sure yet what the living situation will be like, but it doesn’t sound like there will be a lot of internet access.

So, I realized I just wrote my last update a couple days ago, but I figure I should let you all know what’s happening, just in case I’m not able to use the internet for a while. The team and I could use your prayers that all the small and big details of traveling from here to Cape Town to Frankfurt to Athens to Porto Rafti would work together in the best way possible. Once I find out more of what is happening I will hope to find some sort of access to the Internet so as to keep in touch.

Thank you all for all the various forms of support that you have been blessing me with. I have loved seeing God during my time in South Africa, and I have loved being able to grow the interest that he has placed on my heart for Photography. I feel that the more I’m learning about photography, the more I’m seeing a passion in my heart for using it as a tool to benefit God’s plan in the world. It is a pleasure to continue to let you all know what is happening with my trip, and I pray that you are all seeing God in new ways with whatever situation he may have you in.

(a sunrise near muizenberg)

.bushmen, of a different sort.

Outreach has been beautiful.

Since last Friday, myself and the two others in my group have had the privilege of spending time with the local homeless population here in Muizenberg. Monday and Wednesday we spent the mornings working with a local homeless ministry, Living Hope. We spent these mornings singing songs, leading devotions, and talking with the people that came in from the streets. I feel like God really blessed our time at this ministry. So many people come into living hope, just looking for someone to listen and be concerned about what is going on in their life. There were so many people, ranging from sad to hopeful, and I enjoyed listening, talking, praying and laughing with them.

The other part of our outreach took place in the streets, parks, beaches, bushes, parking lots, and wherever else the homeless people spend their time. Though there were a lot of ministry opportunities at living hope, I feel like our time spent outside with the people was even more fruitful, as we were able to build relationships with them in what is for them a real-life setting. We were able to witness their happiness, frustrations, arguments and quarrels, which turned out to be very interesting.

I myself spent most of this time getting to know a couple of the homeless people, or strollers as they call themselves, here in Muizenberg. Charles Jacobs, 67, has been living outside here in Muizenberg since 1981. Doreen Tofar, 58, has been living outside with him since 2001. I had some ideas in my mind for what I hoped to capture through my pictures, but in the beginning I did not realize just how closely the Lord was going to allow me to be in their lives. I was able to follow Charles and Doreen throughout most of the major parts of their day. They allowed me to meet them when they came out of their home in the bushes in the morning. They allowed me to come with them when they worked parking cars on Sunday. They allowed me to sit with them when they drank wine in the park on the afternoons. They allowed me to be in their home in the bushes as they folded the blankets on their tattered bed. They showed me where they kept their clothes, they told me how they hid their money, and they explained to me how they cooked their food by using the sun as a microwave.

I saw that their hearts are rich. One thing that stands out to me is that Charles and Doreen never asked me for money. They were happy when we would bring them milk, bread, or fruit, but they never asked us for these things. I was blessed to see their generosity at work, whether it was sharing their bread with the pigeons, giving food to other strollers in the park, or giving their extra shoes to someone in need.

With this, the beatitudes come to mind.

God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is given to you.
God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.
God blesses you who weep now, for the time will come when you will laugh with joy. God blesses you who are hated and excluded and mocked and cursed because you are identified with me, the Son of Man.
When this happens, rejoice! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were also treated that way by your ancestors.
Luke 6:20-23 NLT

I have been so blessed by Charles and Doreen. I can now say they truly are my friends. I leave South Africa next Thursday, but I will continue them in my prayers. You can pray for them too if you would like. Here’s how:

• Charles and Doreen know about Jesus, and they certainly displayed the love of Christ in their lives, but they need God’s help to overcome the things that hold them back from knowing God on a deeper level. Alcohol sometimes seemed to be a struggle for them, so pray God would work in their lives to bring them victory in this area.

• Pray for healing in Charlie’s body, as he is recovering from a minor stab wound inflicted by one of the other strollers in the park. Also pray for healing in the relationship between Charlie and Karl, the man who stabbed Charlie. This could be a way for Charlie to see God’s grace at work in his life and in the lives of others.

FINALLY, thank you for your prayers in regards to my safety. On Wednesday when Charlie was stabbed, I was quite close to the incident, and quite close to Karl before he stabbed Charlie. Praise God for keeping me from getting sliced up!

My Photo Story is posted below for your optical enjoyment.

I Can Go Home, but It's Hard For Me to Go Home (I Didn't Have Trouble Here Before)

Doreen Tofar smiles as her friend Charlie Jacobs lies on their mattress. Doreen and Charles live together in the bushes near Sunrise Beach in Muizenberg. Referring to a hard life back with her sister and mother, Tofar says, "I can go home, but it's hard for me to go home."

Charles pauses for a moment from parking cars at the Sunrise beach flea market. Charles, one of the original car guards at the lot, has been employed here since 1984. Each Sunday he earns tips by directing and watching over cars from about 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Sitting beneath the shade of a tree in Muizenberg Park, Doreen cries as she recounts stories of her married life. Her husband Karim, who died in 1999, required her to work work selling wine for him rain or shine; if not, she would be beaten.



Ibrahim, a local gardner for the City of Muizenberg takes a break in the shade of a tree in Muizenberg Park to share a laugh with Charles and Doreen.



Doreen pours herself a fresh glass of Lion's Head wine. Doreen and Charles often share a five liter bag of wine with their friends in Muizenberg Park.



From her spot in the shade in Muizenberg Park, Doreen lights a cigarette as the pigeons go about their business. Tofar appreciates the pigeons, and enjoys taking time out of her day to share her bread with them.



Sitting down in Muizenberg Park, Charles winds his clock to the proper time. He checks the clock a couple times each day, as he likes to keep it five minutes ahead of the proper time.



As the day is coming to a close, Doreen follows Charles as they make their way back to their home in the bushes near Sunrise Beach. Charles has lived in these bushes since 1981, and Doreen joined him in 2001.



Karl Green threatens Charles and Doreen as he reveals a knife concealed in his jeans. Green soon after proceeded to stab Charles Jacobs with the knife. Jacobs, though not seriously injured, proceeded to arrange for an ambulance to transport himself to a hospital in the area.



Charles and Doreen sit in the grass at the top of Muizenberg park as Charles waits for an ambulance to transport him to the hospital. Jacobs, who was moments before stabbed by Karl Green, is considering pressing charges against Green. Charles was also contemplating moving in with his sister in Wynberg. He stated, "I didn't have trouble here before...From '81 I didn't have trouble." Doreen however, believes Charles will eventually come back to the streets. She says, "One of these days he will come home (back to the streets). He will come, no matter what."

All Photographs Copyright Tim Dyk, 2007.