"Cry, The Beloved Country"

Hi Mom,

      This week was a spiritual one for sure.  We fasted and prayed a considerable amount as we try to bring about success where it’s needed in Pinetown.  We fasted to be able to find fathers and father-led families.  The Lord was kind by delivering a handful of individuals to us, as well as helping us retain some people we have been teaching.  On Saturday night six of us missionaries in the district were with the Senior Couple.  We ate dinner and watched a film.  A few months earlier we did the same, but watched a film on the church history in Africa.  It was very inspiring.  This time, however, we watched another film, but much to our surprise it wasn’t a church film.  It was called, “Cry, The Beloved Country,” and took place in South Africa near the beginning of apartheid in 1946. I wont say much about it, partly because I have too much to say.  Its story line deals with a complex and moving relationship between a black pastor and a white farmer and how the walls of racism are broken down between them.  The story also highlights the struggles and challenges of the natives during that time.  Those challenges still continue, even today.  Let me explain:

      We are teaching a man who I will call Teddy.  He is about thirty-years-old, is from a small farm town in Zimbabwe, and has a wife and two kids who still live there.  He left Zimbabwe after loosing all his money in a fraud business scam (probably having roots with the government).  Right now the government has a lot of problems and corruption is ramped.  So, in search of a better life Teddy came here in hopes of finding work.  Not long ago, after applying everywhere for a job, his passport, ID and other legal papers were all stolen.  After this unfortunate event he got job offers, none of which he could accept because he had no documents.  Teddy started doing local piece jobs, and people scammed him there as well (they didn’t pay him).  He is confined to selling trinkets at intersections, and is probably making somewhere around two or three dollars a day (maybe even less).  He really has nothing…one pair of pants, one shirt and a jacket.  He can’t even get money to go back to Zimbabwe yet, but he is trying.  I don’t mean to sound gloomy, but it paints the picture of his life and his reality right now.  Above all, through all of these challenges, he has continued to seek the Gospel.  Yesterday he walked 3 to 4 miles (one way) to get to church.  I’m so humbled by his determination to hold to the truth he has received thus far.  I'll continue telling you about him as the weeks go by.

I hope you are doing well mother.  I pray for you often.

I love you,

      Elder Gold