can't take my country anymore...

now, all of my friends will tell you that i am proudly South African, that i am politically liberal and absolutely love my country...

but lately... the crime is getting to me. my family and i have been constant victims of crime, from thefts to breaking and entering in broad daylight. one new years' there were riots at the holiday resort where we stayed and people started firing shots.

i hate saying this because i am not racist at all (quite the contrary) but it might have something to do with the fact that i am white and afrikaans-speaking, two things commonly associated with "the opressors". which is sad, since my family was actively involved in the struggle and ending apartheid. i've reached a point where i'm scared to speak my home language in public!

please help me. i'm so scared and i do pray about it constantly. if this doesn't get better i'm seriously considering leaving after school... which would be horrible since i was so looking forward to bringing my children up in this country, living here, meaning something to society... after all, i do consider myself to be a true South African.

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I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles. I can't imagine what it's like to live like that. Being American, and from the Midwest, I've never been in a senerio where I had to look over my shoulders where ever I went. I will pray for you that God keeps you and your family safe and close to His heart. I have been robbed and have had my house broken in to before, but where I live now, I don't give it a second thought. Stay strong and keep praying. God has a reason for putting you where you are, and I'm so thankful that you and your family are doing so much to help these issues. You are truly doing God's work.

"My brethern, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." -James 1:2 (NKJV)

This is my favorite bible verse, and it helps me through all sorts of issues that I face everyday. I hope it will help you a little too!

Your sister in Christ!

Klynn

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God bless you as you keep Him in your heart!
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Love from Klynn!

thank you so much... i'll memorise that verse!

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I have that verse framed!

Much love and prayers,

Klynn

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God bless you as you keep Him in your heart!
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Love from Klynn!

Honey, I am so sorry that you're so scared to be yourself in public. I cannot imagine what it must be like and wish there were something I could say to make you feel better. Have you told your family you feel this way?

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to my parents i'm the politically correct one, the girl who has so much confidence in the future of this country, who doesn't fear much. i only started feeling this way after new years, when there were a few riots and some people started firing shots, and since i've bwecome more sensitive to the way strange men stare at me in public and... oh ya, btw, it was in the newspaper on friday that in a rural area close by there were 20 cases of rape/murder all against women only from 1-7 January. (it's a really small area). and that's just two weeks after our whole province had a 20day campaign against rape and violence against women...

thanks so much for the concern though

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Do you have anyone you can talk to about this? Not living there, I can't help you come up with ideas on how to cope with all the things going on near you and to you. Just having to hear things or about things happening without them actually happening to you can be very disturbing and I would hate for you to have to carry that all alone.

Being scared doesn't mean you don't have hope, likewise having a lot of hope and confidence for the future doesn't mean you aren't really scared and uncomfortable now.

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thanks... that helps thanks so much... i have a school counselor, she's really nice she's like in her 40's, a qualified psychologist and we've become really close the past two years... and school starts tomorrow so i'll be able to talk to her again for the first time in 8 weeks. the sad thing is, she's leaving at the end of january to further her studies and it's a two year program... and i really really really don't like the person who's coming in her place.

but... thanks for the advice

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Maybe before she leaves you can ask her if there's someone else she'd recommend talking to. Or maybe you could get her email address or something.

But I'm glad you have someone to talk to, even if just for a bit.

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she promised me she'll always be there for me, if only at the other end of the telephone line. and i believe her . don't think she has email, but don't know

thanks!

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