something remarkable is stirring

The “widows mite” is one of those startling parables you read in the New Testament which has a mildly edifying impact but rarely assumes any concrete image for us. A mite has come to mean something very small, referring as it does to a poor widow who reached into her purse and gave up this smallest of coins as a gift, something she could hardly afford to do.

Last night, Karen and I were guests at another St. Kizito meeting in another poor township on the edge of Cape Town, somewhere between Somerset West and Kuilsriver. The women, all coloured and all poor themselves pitched up to discuss some of their cases, mostly involving the abuse of the young children of other poor families. What was most striking to us was their humble telling of how they themselves had difficult problems of their own but felt they could not ignore their struggling neighbours,

In the very midst of the horrors of these poor and dysfunctional neighbourhoods, something remarkable is stirring. People are beginning to mind other people’s business.

Remember these are the women whose motto is: “Your child is my child”. When they visit a neighbour, they are not only crossing a threshold, they are dismantling a social taboo. As one said eloquently, “our generation has always been taught to mind our own business, but now it is time to reach out”.

One woman called Hendrinia told how, after reaching out to help other families, she found it in herself to love her own family even more. Another, who had lost her job described how the courses she went on gave her insight into how she might encourage her children with their studying. Giving has enriched them in ways they least expected.

If they have food, they bring some to the family they are visiting. If they notice a child without shoes, they will find some. If a hospital visit cannot take place because a fare of R20 is impossible, they will find it. Somehow. Such examples as these are concrete images of the widow’s mite.

The Cape Kids account, managed by RW and myself, will donate £500 for this movement into what will be known as the “Widow’s Purse” for just those times when the smallest coin will make a difference.

Email myself or Robert Weatherall if you want to help with any of the three projects that we have adopted and that have been featured in this blog:
St. Kizito
Masizame
The Institute

We really want to donate sustainably. Any giving welcome, standing order best.

Michael: mchstw4@aol.com Robert: robert@pwf.uk.com

R20 is currently £1.60