Just last week we mentioned the increasing effects of poverty we are seeing around us. Well, it is staring to ‘come closer to home' as people are getting more and more desperate.

Sunday afternoon we got a call from Julie; one of our AIM staff members. She, her daughter and a friend were in South Africa. The car they were driving (one of the ministry vehicles, because Julie's own car has been in the shop forever and they can't seem to fix it!!) got stolen in the parking lot of one of the malls. Julie's passport and brand new computer were in the car; it was also gone!

Yesterday morning we received another call. Zodwa, a member of the D-team, and her family was mugged and robbed during the night. Zodwa and her sister each has separate rooms away from their parents' house. Sometime during the night somebody knocked on her sister's door, she asked who it was, but there was no answer. The next moment the door (just a wooden door, no safety gate) was bashed opened and some guys stormed in. Zodwa's sister yelled for help, Zodwa heard her and came to help her. Not sure what happened next, but their parents also came out of their house and Zodwa's mom was badly beaten over the head. The thieves stole a bunch of things from their rooms and the house and then ran away.

Zodwa's mom is doing okay and she is home after they have taken her to the hospital, but Zodwa sounded pretty upset when I talked to her. Of course they are upset by what happened, but they are also scared for a repeat of this.