Blignaut Family

Jared and Kelley Graham arranged for me to spend a couple of days and a night in the presence of this couple, Fredrick and Abby Blignaut. He is on the worship team at their church and they together head up an outreach program called Project Hope for children and youth. It is a combination of humanitarian aid and gospel outreach.

They live in a neighborhood that is in between the wealthy and privileged few and the masses of poor. They took me to a youth service on Saturday night and to their church Sunday morning. They shared with me lots of things including racial issues that they and their church seek to help eradicate. They talked about growing up in the different cities in South Africa and their heritage --for Fredrick, French and South African, for Abby, Indian and South African. In South Africa there are three primary races: Black-- which includes many people groups. White-- which includes Afrikaans (descendants of Dutch settlers) and British. Colored-- which includes people who were the result of interactions between the blacks and whites. They were not accepted into either race and so are a race of their own--each bringing portions of their mixed culture and traditions.

After church on Sunday, Fredrick and Abby took me to the beach which is only about 20 minutes from their home. This was their son Nahum's first trip to the beach though they live nearby and visited it regularly when they were dating. I had the impression that they work so hard, and are so focused on ministry and Nahum, that they take little time for themselves.

They were curious about my family, life, work and trip to Malawi. We spoke for some time about the degree to which America is a Christian' nation.

At the time I was there Abby was expecting their second child who has arrived and is pictured here with Abby. His name is Daniel.
I was so impressed with their hospitality and generosity. Abby fixed an amazing evening meal with many components that are common both in America and in South Africa. The portion of the meal that was a surprise for me was the lima beans cooked with tripe. Tripe is sheep stomach that is boiled for several hours and flavored with curry. Since the trip, every time I smell or taste curry I'm transported back to Abby's table.

Abby and I have maintained contact via email. Hopefully one day I will be able to host them in my home.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. --Martin Luther King, Jr.