Church with Paul then with Elias in Zandspruit

(follow up - added after we returned)
It is Sunday and we spent the morning at Paul Siaki's church. A great congregation and we enjoyed the service. We then headed over to the squatter camp called Zandspruit and attended Elias's church in a tent.

It was one of the most amazing services I have ever been to. The music at the end had everyone dancing and Elias was kicking his leg in the air above his head. I don't think it was an experience any one of us will forget.

We then had lunch with Elias. Zandspruit is a migrant camp in which the residents are only there for a few months at a time. The land is government land where people are there illegally, but have virtually taken over every inch of space. All the buildings are make shift and there is no electricity, water or proper services. When we later drove by at night it was pitch black. The area is home to approximately 10,000 people, but that is a rough estimate. It may be more, but may be as low a 5,000. It was very densely populated.

After lunch we returned to a creche "pre-school" deeper in Zandspruit and did crafts with the kids. This creche was also in a shipping container. We helped load the generator, speakers and equipment from the tent church and headed back to GNCC. The work Elias is doing in Zandspruit is truly heroic. He is an amazing pastor and leader.