a gate and a fence

"I like to come to Berakah because there is a gate and a fence."

Recently Chandra interviewed some of Berakah's children with the question, "What do you like about coming to Berakah?"

There were outtakes, shy grins, and giggles. One little girl said she likes to come because there are white people. Several said they like the playground, games, or activities. One child said she liked ma'am because she is ma'am. We compiled some of the responses into a video on our Facebook page.

Woven into the steady stream of irresistible cuteness, childlike simplicity, and kids-say-the-darnedest-things humor were striking insights into the felt needs of these children and their community. One little boy said he likes to read and write. The most poignant statement, however, was the little girl who simply said, "I like to come to Berakah because there is a gate and a fence."

Even at their very tender age, Berakah's children understand the daily threat to their safety and innocence lurking in the streets of a damaged culture where "hurting people hurt people" with alarming regularity.

We posted the kids' video on our Facebook page. Our friend Meleney, who leads an amazing community upliftment center about 5 miles from Berakah, commented that teenagers "just want to walk from home to school and back without being raped and molested."

I'm reminded of an old Fred Hammond song, "Jesus Be a Fence Around Me". While serving Him doesn't necessarily bring with it a guarantee of physical safety, He does "put a fence" around our hearts and minds, guarding us from predatory fears, prejudices, and other wicked thought patterns.

​As we thank the Lord for His protection around our lives today, won't you join us in asking Him to guard the children of Mamelodi?