Respecting cultural heritage?

[Toelie Barkhuizen]

I am all for respecting others' cultures. But sometimes I just don't know... Went to the district of Msinga (Kwa Zulu Natal midlands, RSA) few weeks ago on an outreach. The inhabitants are mostly Zulu's. Very poor area, no work. We came to one hut where I met two little ones who obviously had much more than most other people in the area. Finiancially, that is. We met them at the house of the grandmother who was eager for her daughter and son-in-law to hear the gospel together with their two little boys. With their permission, we explained the gospel by using the Wordless Book. They were hesitant to make a decision, said they wanted to think about it. We left it at that, and on our way out, they showed us the hut they are living in. The hut had goat-horns on top of the roof, the sign of ancesteral worship. It broke my heart. These little kiddies, who have so much more opportunities than others in this poverty stricken area, are living in darkness. That then, was the reason for their hesitance. They fear the retaliation of ancestors... A culture keeping people in darkness? What would be the nest step?

Toelie Barkhuzien