Tunisia is very much the opposite of South Africa. We have the most Southern point of Africa, they the most Northern point. We drive on the left side of the road, they on the right. South Africa's main religion is Christianity and Tunisia's dominant religion is Islam.
Tunisia is a beautiful country with lush country side, turquoise sea side and very creative architecture. All the window shutters and doors are painted bright colours and most buildings are decorated with hand painted tiles. The market place is a hustle bustle of shoppers and merchants bargaining for a good deal. It is amazing to see how Tunisian people seemed to bounce back to normal after their revolution only three weeks ago. The only evidence of the revolution is the burnt out cars on the pavement, the looted shops and graffiti on the walls. In conversations with Tunisians on the train, every one seem to be positive and hopeful of a better future. In those conversations, once people hear we are from South Africa, they express a gestures of brotherhood or camaraderie because they know we have been through a liberation of our own.
The most precious thing about Tunisia are the people. We have met the most amazing people who have just opened their hearts and homes to us and showered us with hospitality. In this topsy turvy world I have gained perspective on what it means to really follow Jesus. If a South African chooses to follow Jesus they mostly have support from friends and family plus they have freedom to express their beliefs. But if a moslem in Tunisie coverts to Christianity they can loose their lives, are rejected by their families. Yet there are new converts every day because they realize that counting the cost is so worth it. They get what it is all about. I wonder if us in our western society are so overfed with a gourmet meal of freedom to live for Christ that we start playing with our food. We critisize each other, we have newest worship trends, we build churches for every trend.. and we forget that the undiluted Gospel has the power to save us to live Godly lives. Christians here are so hungry for the very basics like fellowship with fellow believers and bible study. They don't have the luxary of christian bookshops but they value every morsel of Godly input and revelation. Just because we are overfed does not mean the food is any less life changing. Maybe we should stop playing with our food and go out and share it with the starving masses outside our neighbourhood.
We came to Tunisia to help where God is working, but Im leaving so humbled and in awe of His work and his beautiful people .
lots of love
JOY