Prayer letter                                                                                                  16 July 2021

 

“

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps.11:3)

 

             That’s the question we are asking as we look at KwaZulu/Natal. In every town and city the shops are plundered. Also in Richmond: supermarkets empty, banks destroyed, post office looted. The railway tracks are full of obstacles. Trucks are burned, ATMs ripped from the wall. The economic infrastructure is destroyed for a large part. The largest refinery in the country, in Durban, is out of commission. Almost no fuel available anywhere. More than 200 people dead. In the wake of the widespread outbreak of anger and frustration in Natal and Gauteng the people are  standing for hours in long queues to buy bread or a litre of milk. No medicines for sale anymore. A total disaster. And all that in a country where the Covid infections are surging like nowhere else. The drive to vaccinate has halted. Everyone you talk to is flabbergasted. It’s worse than the darkest days of the unrest in the nineties. 

              It is being said, that the insurrection is a protest against the imprisonment of ex-president Zuma. But it got totally out of hand. It looks as if a major part of the Zulu population participated in it, at least here in the South. It may have been the intention of the instigators to provoke a bloody reaction which would make way for a coup. We don’t know. In any case it’s total chaos in Kwa-Zulu/Natal.

              Our brothers and sisters urgently ask your prayers. Psalm 11 comes to mind. Unbelievers would advise you to flee like a bird to the mountains. But the Psalm starts with the strong statement: “In the Lord I take refuge” He has not abandoned us. He tests the righteous and the wicked. We’ve got to choose. On whose side are you? For or against the Gospel. And when it is said (vs.8) that He will judge the wicked with fiery coals, I’m also reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 12:20,21 “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” 

               Will you pray along with your brothers and sisters? That they may show a Christian attitude. Learn to care for each other. Not share in racist hate campaigns. Pray that food will be made available for the millions of hungry people. Pray for president Ramaphosa. That humble leaders may rise up, who will seek peace.

Pray that hearts may open up for the Gospel of grace for sinners. That is the only message that offers hope for the country and its people.

                                                                                 Your missionary, Arie Reitsema