15 February 2008 - Red Hill
We dared to face the accusations of many; serve the poor; listen to the broken hearted and wipe the tears of the widows. With broken hands and feet we have become builders of homes and builders of God’s Kingdom in Red Hill.
In the beautiful valley of the red rock mountains, on the way to Simons town, hidden among the trees is the temporary community; Red Hill.
An ordinary day turned into a disaster.
Alarms echoed in the valley and sirens repeated the fear in the hearts of the people. A cloud of smoke covered the mountains and flames blazed as the heat was ignited by the wind blowing at 65km/h. Nothing was standing in the way of the fire and no water could stop it.
Many people
rushed to grab their belongings but the heat forced them to do just the opposite; run without looking back. Within seconds the flammable homes built out of scrap wood turned into ashes. Minutes later the whole lower part of the Red Hill squatter camp went up in flames and nothing remained.
Many were left homeless. Years of hard work and the building of a home was taken away in seconds. The only belongings that survived the fire were the clothes they were wearing.
Tears filled the eyes of the people and fear caused them to protect that which was only scrap; the metal from a burnt fridge. Helplessness washed away their smiles and anger caused quarrelling.
Through prayer we answered God’s call and stepped up to help the people stand up from the ashes and start a new life. We dared to face the accusations of many; serve the poor; listen to the broken hearted and wipe the tears of the widows. With broken hands and feet we have become builders of homes and builders of God’s Kingdom in Red Hill.
We are trusting God to transform not just their lifestyle but to transform their lives through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are trusting God for a miracle.
Clara Miles