DURBAN, South Africa — Partially-clothed children of all ages dart between people and cars, playing in the streets and alleys. The children are a mixture of European, Indian, African and Indonesian descent, and their eyes are striking, ranging from bold blue to jaded green to the deepest black. Playing outside all day trails dirt and mud across their faces, hands and legs, leaving decorative swirls on their bodies.

Coming from broken homes and distracted parents, the children are often left to roam the streets, learning how to live on their own. The “broken homes” in South Africa are often unlike the traditional American definition in which parents have split up; here, “broken homes” mean broken circumstances. Crime, drugs, alcohol and prostitution are only a few of the coping mechanisms many of these young people employ when trying to deal with physical and emotional abuse, rape, grief and parents who are drug dealers.

DURBAN, South Africa — When most people think of a mistake, a bad decision or regrettable action comes to mind. Few people think of a child as a mistake.

During a Holiday Bible Club at Pinetown Baptist Church in Durban, youth pastor Tyronne Eilenburg found some of the children have never been told the words “I love you” by their parents. Some were even told they were a mistake from birth.

PRETORIA, South Africa — Suicide. Grief. Abuse. These are some of the issues faced by the women on the South African national soccer teams. About 27 female soccer players from Athletes In Action (AIA) came from the United States and Canada to train with and minister to over 30 members of the South African teams — Banyana Banyana (the national team), Betswana (the Under 20 team), and Betwana Betwana (the Under 17 team).

A large part the training camp was spent on drills, skill building and simulation matches, while relationship building and group sessions aided in the women’s emotional growth.

During the sessions, some South African players opened up about their social and familial exploitation, such as rape and lesbianism, which they experience on a regular basis in their living situations.

The woman fights back her tears, biting her lip as it quivers. As hard as Meena* wants not to cry, they fall. Defiantly, she tries to wipe them away as quickly as they well up in her eyes. Angry. Meena is angry, angry with God, wondering why He’s allowed such hardship in her life. Her [...]

“I am taking you to the red-light district,” our translator says, “so we must pray because there is much spiritual battle there.” We pray, then dodge auto rickshaws and taxis and goats, crossing the main road. We step around the corner, into a lane and I see them: women in front of narrow doorways on a dark street. Some just sitting and staring, others taking care of daily tasks—cooking rice, washing clothes. Ordinary things. We stop to talk with them, asking if they know of Jesus and would they like to hear His story, asking how we can pray for them.