As I am getting ready to leave in about five days now, I have been praying for the Lord to grow my passion for the people in Durban. Interestingly, it was a prayer He had already answered months before I left for South Africa. During the winter of 2008, just before I left the States, I felt God growing my heart for India. I didn't know why, but my passion continued to grow as I already started to envision the Lord sending my husband and I to do His work in that country one day. As I began to research Durban in preparation for my ministry there, I learned that for years, Durban has been considered "the India capital of South Africa." 40-50% of the city is made up of the Hindu faith, another 40-50% is Muslim, and roughly 5% are Christian. This past week I have spent a lot of time learning and trying to understand both Hinduism and the Muslim religion. It has been interesting to immerse myself in learning a completely new faith of which I was not familiar with ever before. I actually have enjoyed it a whole lot as God has taught me so much of his perfect Love through Jesus Christ. Through learning about these faiths, He has revealed to me the beauty of the Gospel in ways I've never seen it before. I pray and hope that as my eyes have been opened after stepping into the curtain of these faiths, so too will the hearts of these Indian students who have lived behind them their entire lives.
In addition to learning about these religions, I have also tried to learn about the Indian culture; much of which is made up of their family faith, but also including many traditions and customs as well. The Indian community is extremely relational. Much of their identity comes from their family whom they are closely connected to, as well as their faith. They enjoy community and the fellowship of individuals coming together. A part of building relationships is eating lots of food! They love to cook and partake in the sharing of meals. And according to Provani, a campus staff in Midrand who grew up in a Hindu family and came to know the Lord through Campus Crusade during her college years, if you learn to play Thunnee...you are "in the club". Thunnee is a card game, very complicated and apparently known by every Indian on the face of the earth..or so Provani claims. Last night, Amanda, Ryan and I went to Provani's house to learn the game.
Having learned a little bit about the culture and having the game of Thunnee up my sleeve, I'm feeling ready as ever for Durban. Okay, maybe not ready as ever. I know I have so much more to learn. But the Lord is growing my heart for the people there, for the Indian community we will get to be a part of, and for the ministry we will experience in Durban. Pray with me as I spend these next few days preparing to go. I am very excited.
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