Imago Dei Cafe

The water has been unavailable sporadically due to the shortage in the area. One of the times it occurred was when I was getting ready to shower. I ended up filling the sink with bottled water and giving myself a sponge bath. I enjoyed the humbling experience and didn’t mind having to do this, but I knew I would be able to shower in the near future. As I was washing off I was thinking about how this is how many of the South Africans bathe. This isn’t a temporary inconvenience for them, but a way of life. It’s been in the 90s every day. They said it’s a heat wave, it’s normally in the 80s this time of year. I learned that the municipality recently went on strike and wasn’t picking up trash. The workers teared up the trash and dumped it in the streets. The town came together to collect trash and take it to the municipality’s dump, but when they did they were fined because it’s not permitted. Since being here in November the church was able to renovate a small building on their property into a coffee shop for fellowship and to raise money for the church. They said it’s been a blessing, especially for the widows and elderly who are very isolated and lonely. It provides a place for the congregation to gather and fellowship after church on Sundays. The pastor said that they did the renovations all on their own, utilizing the different talents of their church body.