In South Africa, 80% of deaths amongst young men are alcohol related. If you ask someone why they drink, the answer is almost always, “to forget.” Let me explain what they are trying to forget:
Walking through the South African squatter camps, the feeling of hopelessness is almost palpable. There are thousands of people from dozens of different cultures all crammed together in small, corrugated iron shacks which are held together by nails driven through bottle caps. Grey water runs freely down the streets and there is trash everywhere. The prevailing scent is burning garbage and sewage.
Most folks live there because they are desperate to find work in a city where there is no work to be had. Many grew up in rural Africa, living in small villages, farming land, and generally living a more simple life. Many leave their families behind in their home villages and countries and come to South Africa in order to make money to support them. Labor market is depressingly competitive. With an unemployment rate of over 30%, most end up working odd jobs whenever they can find them. The pay is depressingly low and hardly enough to live off of even if it were consistent.
And why wouldn’t you drink to forget? Your kids are hungry. You are hungry. You live in a tiny shack. You’re far from your family and country. You have no prospects to better yourself in the world. Everywhere around you is suffering, disease, and debautry. You’re living in the HIV capital of the world. There is no “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” option. You are stuck, and there is no way out. Newborns are literally abandoned in fields to die because the family cannot afford another mouth to feed.
But then you see the ones that love God. The ones who are not involved in a cult or traditional religions. The ones who have found Jesus. There is a spark in their eye. It is uncanny how, just by applying christian principles to their lives, they are able to rise above their circumstances. These are people who are profoundly acquainted with suffering, but have found a purpose far greater than their circumstances. Within these contexts the principles of knowing God shine brightly.
Hopeless people are ripe for the gospel. The vast majority living in the squatter camps are at the end of their rope. All they need is someone to come and introduce them to Jesus. Literally all that is needed are willing hands and feet to bring the Kingdom of God to earth in these places. Yes, we help provide tangible love through education and community upliftment programs, but those are always the means to the ultimate end of seeing people come to know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. This is why we are excited to go. We know that the harvest is ripe, hope needs to be proclaimed to the hopeless, and all that people need is someone to tell them the Good News.
We won’t just be filling the need for people to go and share, but as Impact Africa’s Global Internship directors we will be raising up young missionaries who will go into the world and share Jesus with every nation, tribe, and tongue. We will be working alongside them in various roles within the ministry, teaching them life-transforming classes, and discipling them one-on-one into maturity in Christ.
We are excited to go, but we can’t get there without support from the States. Thank you so much to all of you guys who have given! We are currently 47% funded for our monthly support goal, and need $2,664 more in order to fund ourselves while there. We have been on an excellent trajectory and feel so blessed and supported by all who have been praying and giving. Funding permitting, we are hoping to move this month (July) and begin the work God has for us out there.
Here are some links for giving or for more information about us and what we’ll be doing on the field:
Our website – https://thebridgfords.com
Giving link – http://www.launchinternational.net/ryan—kindle-bridgford.html
The ministry we are working for – https://www.impactafrica.org
Blessings,
Ryan and Kindle Bridgford
The Bridgfords in South Africa 