Concerns of Life

Holly McKissick – South Africa I begin the class by asking the 8th grade girls: What are their biggest concerns? In their life? In their world? The first hand goes up: Ma, my biggest worry is what will happen to me if my mother dies? Another hand, Ma, my biggest worry is what I’ll do if my mother and father cannot take care of me? Ma, my biggest concern is where I’ll live if my mother leaves me? Not what I expected. Not what I’d hear from our 8th graders. But this is South Africa. Although no one is exactly sure, the official line is that 1 in 4 women are HIV positive (compared to 1 in 14 men). That disparity is one of the tragic legacies of rape. You can see why momma’s health is their central concern. When prompted, they quickly broaden the discussion and mention other concerns: child abuse, HIV/aids, poverty, unemployment… I point out that, in the Bible times, they had similar concerns and different ones: that is why at times the Bible sounds strange to us. The class begins. I teach them about the Apostle Paul. They are engaged… On the chalkboard, I outline my timeline of Jesus’ life, then the gospels…then I show where Paul fits in. We read in Acts how Paul was converted, how he went from being a persecutor of the early Christians to spearheading the whole movement. I explain how he “planted” a faith community, moved on to start another, and then, when questions arose, he wrote them letters. We look at some of those letters in the New Testament—Romans, Galatians, Philemon… At the end, I ask if they have questions about Paul…or anything for that matter. One hand goes up: Ma, does God have a mother? Dear One, How we long to be held close. How we long, all of us, wherever we are, squatter town or loft apartment, To be safe. Gather your children close, Hold them tight. By the mystery of your spirit, may we bring comfort to those close and those far away. Amen. You are in my prayers and thoughts, Holly Holly McKissick has been appointed as a short-term volunteer to Inanda Girls’ Seminary in Durban, South Africa where she is involved in the life of the school community serving in a volunteer teaching capacity and visiting nearby churches on weekends.

Holly McKissick has been appointed as a short-term volunteer to Inanda Girls’ Seminary in Durban, South Africa where she is involved in the life of the school community serving in a volunteer teaching capacity and visiting nearby churches on weekend

Holly McKissick – South Africa I begin the class by asking the 8th grade girls: What are their biggest concerns? In their life? In their world? The first hand goes up: Ma, my biggest worry is what will happen to me if my mother dies? Another hand, Ma, my biggest worry is what I’ll do if my mother and father cannot take care of me? Ma, my biggest concern is where I’ll live if my mother leaves me? Not what I expected. Not what I’d hear from our 8th graders. But this is South Africa. Although no one is exactly sure, the official line is that 1 in 4 women are HIV positive (compared to 1 in 14 men). That disparity is one of the tragic legacies of rape. You can see why momma’s health is their central concern. When prompted, they quickly broaden the discussion and mention other concerns: child abuse, HIV/aids, poverty, unemployment… I point out that, in the Bible times, they had similar concerns and different ones: that is why at times the Bible sounds strange to us. The class begins. I teach them about the Apostle Paul. They are engaged… On the chalkboard, I outline my timeline of Jesus’ life, then the gospels…then I show where Paul fits in. We read in Acts how Paul was converted, how he went from being a persecutor of the early Christians to spearheading the whole movement. I explain how he “planted” a faith community, moved on to start another, and then, when questions arose, he wrote them letters. We look at some of those letters in the New Testament—Romans, Galatians, Philemon… At the end, I ask if they have questions about Paul…or anything for that matter. One hand goes up: Ma, does God have a mother? Dear One, How we long to be held close. How we long, all of us, wherever we are, squatter town or loft apartment, To be safe. Gather your children close, Hold them tight. By the mystery of your spirit, may we bring comfort to those close and those far away. Amen. You are in my prayers and thoughts, Holly