Jesus Overlanding, Black Poison Gym and Lifting Dreams Soweto
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
Philippians 2: 3-11
On Saturday 12 November I had quite a packed day ahead of me; the usual Lifting Dreams Program in Jabavu Soweto having their last Saturday session of the year, a media creation opportunity for a local gym at which one of my close friends from Soweto coaches, a meeting with a man named Jesus, who has been a missionary for the past 25 years, at a Krugersdorp soup kitchen and finishing it off at the church I attend prayer evening.
The day didn’t bring the best weather, it was raining on and off the entire day but that wasn’t going to damper my mood. I knew I had appointments in store for me. Starting off in Soweto with the kids was the best way to start the day. Being able to chat with the two local heroes, Zeus and Tshepo, bonding over our hardships mixed in with some music to lighten the mood. We were given hot dogs to prepare for the kids. It ended up being a blessing in disguise that it was raining as the usual high number of kids that attend the program decreased to around 50 kids. I say this as the gas for the stoves was finished and we had no means to warm up all the viennas for the kids. But if there is a will there is a way – Tshepo went to the principal’s office to fetch the kettle where he boiled that kettle probably around 20 times in order to fill one of the pots with enough water to warm up the viennas. Once again these two legends didn’t linger on the problems but found solutions to the speed bumps we came across. We had some hard conversations about next year; where we were going to be involved and what our goals are for our personal growth. We had a running joke that day that Zeus was going to pave the way for Tshepo and me and we had to brush up on our speeches. It has been a blessing to be a part of lifting dreams since 2020 with its ups and downs almost causing me to lose the cycling team I’m a part of along the way due to neglecting my duties for the team.
It was time to head to the gym Black Poison, which is run by Thapelo, where my close mate, Zeus, is one of the coaches. I was super excited to do some work behind the lens for these guys. They strive to keep kids off the streets and to live a healthy active lifestyle. They have weightlifting sessions almost every day and have up to 20 kids joining. Seeing how motivated these kids are to get stronger was truly inspiring. You could never say that we were gyming in a school classroom with very limited weights and bars. Zeus’ ability to motivate even another volunteer and avert cross-fitter Jamie Dunbar was evident throughout the day. Everyone managed to move some seriously big weight on Saturday. I tried my hand at some of the exercises but was humbled straight away when my max effort was warm up for some of the kids in the gym. Leaving the gym, Jamie & I started chatting about how can we help get the word out about this gym and how can we get them the equipment they need. I mean they were lifting weights that were unheard of and to put it in a way we can understand, without even having equivalent nutrition to sustain the muscle they have. (this is not even looking at the no protein shakes, no supplements side of things )
After a quick lunch with Zeus and Tshepo, Jamie and I were off to Jesus Overlanding where we were going to help at one of the many soup kitchens Jesus helps within South Africa. Once arriving in Krugersdorp we were met by a lady named Kim and Jesus, the owner of Jesus Overlanding. We were invited into a small apartment where we sat in the main bedroom and just spoke about God and how he has moved in Jesus’ life. Jesus had shared parts of his testimony with us where his life had been spared not only once but twice in situations he saw fellow countrymen being taken out. I would need to probably write 3 pages to summarise everything we spoke about in the 2hr we all chatted. Which included questions like “what happens to people who never know about God” to “How do you teach wisdom when there is none?” to being told you don’t need to do what he did and sell everything and leave to follow your calling. I would recommend to any missionary to give him a shout to find out his incredible journey from Mexico to Zambia , South Africa and Botswana, building churches and equipping those in the communities.
It was now time to open the Soup Kitchen. While we were setting up the soup kitchen Jesus came to me and asked me to capture some moments while the kitchen was operating. So for the first part of the evening, I was focusing on capturing the emotions of the individuals involved with the soup kitchen and those coming to get probably their first meal for the day. When I was done getting the footage I needed I spent the last few minutes praying to be shown what I need to see, along with guidance in the situation I found myself. When I stood back and spoke to Jesus, looking at Jamie & Kim handing out food and listening to those who were waiting to get food I was absolutely blown back by how God was working around us. Kim who shared her small apartment with her husband and two kids also living off minimal income was out here on the street giving food to those less fortunate and even giving her jersey away to one of the ladies whom we were told was actually a gang leader in the area and seeing Jamie that could be doing anything else with her Saturday evening but chose to serve God in Krugersdorp instead. I started praying for guidance when a lady, probably in her early 30s, was making her way to the table and I saw her probably from about 200m away . I just felt God telling me, “Tell her I love her, and I forgive her” . This specific lady came got food and rushed off with me not acting on it. Kim and Jesus confirmed that she was in fact a prostitute. I felt this immediate feeling of guilt for not acting on what I felt in my spirit but Jesus said to me “don’t feel guilty about it, that was a lesson then. Now next time you know” . We continued with the soup kitchen then another old man came up to the table a second time where Jamie asked him “ would you like some more sir?”. I was absolutely blown away by his reply “It’s my second time, let the people who haven’t gotten yet have first”. Here was a man who didn’t have any food throughout the day but he selflessly cared more for the other people around him than for his own well-being.
Things that really stood out to me today were
· How you can always help! Like Kim said to us you don’t have to give money sometimes all someone needs in an ear to listen and sometimes giving just your time is a more effective way of helping others. Just you being there listening could change that person’s entire day. You are never in a situation where you can’t help.
· If God calls you to serve go with faith He will provide what you need to do his good work.
· A personal willingness isn’t based on what earthly things they have or might not have but on what the Holy Spirit has called them to do.
· Be grateful for the small miracles every day, cause how can we expect big miracles when we neglect the small miracles happening every day in our lives.
