Anyways, a heads up here that a) I'm in a writing mode, and b) I'm about to write about something I'm passionate about. So this means one of two things i) what I'm about to write could potentially be very good and worth reading and ii) what I'm about to write could be very long. I'll let you judge the former and the latter is probably a given!
Ok so what I'm about to write about comes from two sources. One, just being with people around here is enough to see what drives them. Some people have no drive, some people are deeply driven but keep it deeply hidden and some people are so driven by something that it doens't only come out in their observed behaviour but also in what they say. Not that any of those are better than the others, but people here often fit the last type.
The second source is the calendar work I did. I spoke to people about how they came to work here at Gateway, why they still work here despite salaries being affectionately known as 'sacrificial salaries', and what Gateway means to them. So here goes:
#1: Z (not his real name)
Baba Z works on site as the driver, working each night in the overnight shelter and general handy guy. Before he began working here he was in prison for murdering a prison warden. However in prison he became a Christian and every day works in the shelter looking after 70 people a night. I asked him why he does it and he said in his broken English, 'because many of these people have absolutely nothing and that was exactly where I was when I came out of jail.' He now gives everything to live his life in another way and out of love.
Just thinking about Z blows me away. This is no middle-class white guy who was kinda nice and kinda good but then decided to change his life a wee bit here and there. He was in jail for murder and somehow, by his own admission through becoming a Christian, has had his heart and life flipped over and is now seeking to uplift those who have nothing. He has not forgotten where he came from but rather after being lifted out of the mire has chosen to get back into it and help out others.
#2: Edith and Rene
These young sisters (Rene is 80 and Edith just behind here) began working at Gateway AFTER retirement from a life of nursing all over Africa. Rene told me that when she was younger she had a vision to see the young look after the old and the old teach the young. However that vision laid dormant for a number of years until ten or so years ago when they came to Gateway and began their ministry known as 'Rural Home Industries'. This is basically a little programme where they link into poor communties and go in to teach them in sewing, cooking and gardening skills. Things which younger people, especially in poor areas, have no way of learning but skills that will enable them to lift themselves out of poverty.
I mean, who does that?? In our culture, you work hard all your life and then you retire and enjoy your retirement doing whatever you like. And not that there is anything wrong with that, but these guys, at 80 odd, are still doing all they can to work against poverty in Africa and keep up the work they've been doing their whole lives. Ridiculous.
#3: Michael
Michael is one of my favourite people on site actually. I don't see him often but I when I do he's always got a massive smile on his face. I know his kid from the school and he's just the same. And what is the situation of this family? Well they run the Pregnancy Crisis Centre here at Gateway and are incredibly poor and struggle for money both personally and as a project.
I spoke to Michael about why he works in his ministry and he said at first he just came in to tell people about Jesus and offer them a hope, but soon he became envisioned by a more holistic service and wanted to help the women physically as well as offer help spiritually. He soon took over the centre and the phrase he used when I spoke to him was that he wanted to 'give a voice to the unborn'. That has stuck with me ever since. What a thing to say, and what a vision to uphold! He believes so strongly in the value of mothers and unborn children that he works in very trying circumstances to try to bring relief and hope. I don't see that kind of life as natural at all.
#4: Jabu
Jabu is Chairman of Gateway and is so busy with being the public head of this place. He's always in meetings yet when you see him he's the most down to earth and humble man you'll meet. I had a long chat with him last week about various issues and ideas and he just loved listening to what I had to say and would love to keep in touch. I mean I'm sure that won't happen because he's so busy, but he was still genuine in his desire. But this is the CEO, why the heck is he genuinely interested in learning from me?
Oh and he drives 4hours a day to get in to work. He's that dedicated both to his family and to the vision and desires he has for Gateway that he will give that much for it. Crazy.
#5: John (not his real name)
John is an amazing story. This guy did not get a good start in life. He was in drugs and sexual molestation from a young age and unsuprisingly that has significant impacts on someone's mental and emotional state. However one day he, through a friend, happened to come to church and heard about Jesus and the gospel of grace and was immediately changed. He is now still affected by his past, but the real story is that he now works with his girlfriend with drug users and other inner city people. People who he used to be like and can relate to in a way no one else can. He works hard and is always helping out wherever he can. Jonno and I had the honour of working with him and he is one of the most accepting and naturally peaceful guys you'll meet. A far far cry from his children and adolescence.
#6: Mark (not his real name either)
Mark was left with his father after birth when his mother left him, and then at the age of seven saw soldiers drive into his village and shot his father dead. He then grew up mostly on the run and as he got older soldiers made not one but two attempted on his life. The second was in hospital as he lay recovering from the first attempt. Only the Red Cross got him to safety. He is now a refugee in South Africa and works as the security guard at Gateway. While in South Africa his wife died in childbirth. You'd think this would be a very angry, bitter and disillusioned man.
'Mark' is actually always smiling and whenever we see him in the mornings he will grin, clench his first and say to us 'be strong'. He calls me Baba which means 'father' and is a huge honour for me. He now leads a church of refugees and works very hard to bring them food and shelter where he can. In the midst of the outbreak of xenophobia here two months ago we saw his leadership in action and he is as wise as he is brave. He relies on his God fully and draws his joy from Jesus. That's inspirational.
#7: Lorne
Lorne is bi-polar and has spent time in a mental institute and yet here at Gateway she has found a home and a community and is so much more stable and happy. She works in DMPR and is so valuable and helpful to people here. She works so hard and brings such joy to the place and you really wouldn't know anything was amiss in her mind.
I just find is so unlikely that any other sphere or organisation would've found room for her or been able to see who she really is and her true value beyond the disability she has.
#8: Di
Di is a lady of many many years of fundraising experience and skills. She has the gift of persuasion and can talk forever and immediately be likeable to anyone she meets. She knows the ins and outs of the business world and especially the fundraising world. She trains and speaks on various topics and has a true entrepenuerial spirit. Her ideas are fantastic and she is more than capable, with her talent and contacts list, to make them happen. Put simply, this lady could be earning so so much money in the private sector as some form of consultant.
Yet she works here at Gateway on a very small salary and does pretty much a bit of everything. She works harder and is busier than almost anyone here. All because she believes in the vision of Gateway and what we are doing here to empower the poor and downtrodden.
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So as I learnt from these people it's a bit like them taking me the top of a mountain, putting a hand on my shoulder and with the other hand pointing out a beautiful vista and saying 'that's where I'm going'. For sure it makes your spirit soar, just the idea of that place inspires you to set your own sights there or somewhere similar. But that inspiration rarely gives you the drive to get there. That person can show you their map and inspire your own, but their engine stays in them. The engine that drives you has to come from within you.
I have been taken to many vistas here and now it's up to me to use my drive to get to my own.
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