Living from a Suitcase—And Liking It!
Allison Beck has been passionate about the people of Africa for as long as she can remember. That passion took her on a journey she’ll never forget to the southernmost tip of Africa for a three-month mission outreach with BCM International.
South Africa is made up of nine provinces, its highest concentration of population along the lush, green eastern coast. Its diversity of African, Indian, European and mixed-race population is reflected in its range of religions, including Islam, tribal African religions, Hinduism, and humanism as well as Christianity. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a devastating reality in South Africa. Nearly five million people have HIV/AIDS, including a reported 31% of pregnant women. By the 2007 census, South Africa had an estimated 1,400,000 “AIDS orphans,” children who’d lost parents infected with AIDS.
In the fall of 2008, Allison flew into Durban, South Africa, a coastal city on the Indian Ocean and the busiest seaport in Africa, with a suitcase full of craft supplies and a desire to make a difference. There BCM Africa director Rev. John Peter and his wife “Aunty Vijay” welcomed Allison into their family with a wide smile and a cup of tea. Rev. Peter’s outline of Allison’s upcoming ministry schedule was daunting. She’d spend each week in a different city, first in South Africa, then Swaziland, returning to Durban only long enough to do laundry before heading to her next destination.
“I learned to live out of a suitcase,” Allison says with a laugh. “And it was so worth it.”
Each city also involved a different area of ministry. Allison began in Sezela, a rural community about 66 kilometers south of Durban, where she worked with a local church going door-to-door for a community outreach. The following week took her 48 kilometers south to an urban development, Isipingo, where Allison provided food to children in various “squatter camps,” settlements of shed-sized shacks made of wood, cardboard, or other scrap material, where entire families live. There is no running water, plumbing or electricity. Open fires are used for cooking, candles for light. In Isipingo Allison visited a Hindu temple, where a man living at the temple paused his walking and chanting to ask who she was and why she was there. Allison was able to share her testimony with him.
After another week working with youth in a rural area called Amatikulu, Allison headed back to Durban to give her testimony at a BCM banquet. When a local Christian radio station asked to interview Allison, her radio host turned out to be a man who’d attended the same North Carolina college as Allison’s brother. Who would have thought the body of Christ was so interconnected! Allison then hopped on a plane to a Cape Town crèche (daycare) where fifty children were cared for so their mothers could work. The crèche was one of many places where Allison’s suitcase full of crafts came in handy. Children were delighted with a puppet Allison used to tell stories and sing songs.
In total contrast was Allison’s next week of ministry in Pietermaritzburg, where she helped encourage a pastor and his family. Allison shares, “Helping that family made me realize that missions isn’t just about going overseas, but also helping in one’s own community. This family was struggling because their church was struggling. My ministry for that week was simply to encourage them.”
Next was Verulam, where Allison was assigned to a pediatric ward at a local hospital and an HIV/AIDS clinic. People stood in lines waiting to be seen, often for hours. Orphans waited alone for medical care in those same lines. In Port Shepstone Allison worked at Project Positive Ray, an organization that provides HIV/AIDS counseling as well as awareness training in schools, factories and outlying villages. By now as her time in South Africa moved into its third month, Allison was witnessing more and more the effects of the AIDS pandemic. People were afraid to be tested for HIV because of the stigma attached to an infected person. Fear of being shunned kept those who did have the disease from seeking help. Because of this fear, Project Positive Ray volunteers offered home visits in addition to meeting women openly at the factories on their lunch breaks. One out of three children test positive for HIV, so the need for awareness grows daily.
Last stop on Allison’s African journey was Swaziland, a country bordering South Africa. There she met up with BCM missionaries Sister Martha and Aunty Seko, two women who minister to more than 6000 children each week. Together they visited schools and villages where they held afternoon Bible Clubs. At one gathering at Martha’s church, Allison spotted a little girl in a red corduroy jacket sitting all alone. Joining her, Allison began coloring with the little girl, then read her a Bible story and gave her stickers for the craft project. The little girl’s face lit up. Putting a flower sticker on her forehead, she then reached over to put one on Allison’s face. As the little girl’s arms went around Allison’s neck for a hug, Allison discovered how hard it was going to be to leave Africa behind.
“It broke my heart to have to tell her goodbye and ride away, not knowing what will happen to her,” Allison expresses. “However, I know God is watching over her. You always think missions deals with you impacting others. But the people I encountered while in Africa impacted me far more than I could have imagined. They were so loving, and no matter what their situation, they praised God and let Him have control. Control is a big issue for me and seeing these people worship God and give what little they had to God and the people in their community was such an encouragement. One couple with a little baby girl were refugees from Zimbabwe and had left everything behind in fear for their lives. But they have formed a new family with their church community. Instead of dwelling on the tragedies they’ve been through, they look forward to what God is doing and how He has protected them throughout their journey. They were so inspiring to me to have gone through so much and remain confident in God’s love. It changed my whole attitude on really trusting God and knowing His hand is holding and guiding me.”
Allison left South Africa with a suitcase now empty of craft supplies, but a firm confirmation of God’s call on her life. She is now headed back to college for a Master’s degree in Social Work/Public Health with a focus on HIV/AIDS. Would she recommend her BCM missions experience to others? “I would really encourage you to go on a missions trip if you get the chance, because missions is what God’s heart is, and it should be ours as well. If you are scared or nervous about going, do not worry, because God has everything under control.”
