ALMA MATER Starving for Education

According to today’s South African news report, “thousands of mainly poor, black students have to live in such appalling conditions that it is a ‘major miracle’ they manage to pass any academic courses at all. Among the report's findings is that some students are "starving" and many go for days without meals while living in accommodations that are ‘squalid.’ The stench of blocked drains and malfunctioning sewerage systems was indescribable. The students' rooms were minute, barely big enough for a bed, which consequently must be used also as a desk, a cooking space and a social space." Student residents, student leaders and university officials alike acknowledged the extreme and varied dangers of such overcrowding, but pointed out that the alternative was for the extra occupants to sleep in hovels or on the streets."

Our hearts break for these students who are trying to get an education and make a better life for themselves and for their families. We work with many of these students. One woman that came to take our workshops said, “I’m so stressed right now. I have no money, no food, no place to stay and no job.” Her English is difficult to understand so that puts her below the radar for being detected for employment. There are so many hundreds of thousands like her. I hugged her, cried with her and gave her some food but the problem is so huge. We just keep trying to give them hope and skills . . . and love.

We heard that one of the problems that Mission Presidents in Africa have to deal with is convincing the black missionaries to return home at the completion of their missions. Most have never lived as well in their lives as they live while serving missions. They have a bed to sleep on, often for the first time, and have food to eat every day. Many send their mission funds home to help feed their families. Some enter the MTC (Missionary Training Center) with only one white shirt that has a “Pizza Hut” or car dealership logo on it. We have personally seen several of these. The only wardrobes many black missionaries have are retrieved from donation bags or given to them by families who fast to save money for their meager, bare necessities such as paperback scriptures. All the ones we have met have such a special, humble spirit about them and express heartfelt testimonies of their love for the Lord. My faith and testimony has grown immensely by rubbing shoulders with Heavenly Father’s beloved children here in South Africa.