Xenophobia, Ebola and Malaria

Okay, we know some of you are concerned and are wondering  if and how the things you hear on the news and in the media are effecting us here in South Africa.

We know many of you are hearing various reports on CNN, Fox News and other media about the current civil unrest in isolated places in South Africa, referred to in traditional and social media channels as "xenophobia," or fear of foreigners. If these reports have concerned you for our safety and welfare, please rest assured that we are safe, we are well aware of the heightened political tensions and we are taking all reasonable precautions, but please know that this "xenophobia"story has been greatly overblown by the media, and the threat to our safety and security remains minimal. We stay well away from where any protests take place and have witnessed no violence whatsoever.

Just so you can understand the situation here, the violence against immigrants is mostly black-on-black, directed at Africans from neighboring countries who have come to South Africa for economic opportunities. Owing to their desperation, many of these immigrants work very hard and are very successful—much to the chagrin of their impoverished South African neighbors, who scrape to get by in a country with a 40% unemployment rate. White missionaries, though foreign, are not considered a threat, as we are not taking any South African jobs.

The actual violence began two weeks ago in Durban, against businesses owned by foreign nationals, and has since spread to isolated pockets in and around Johannesburg's central business district (closed to all missionaries) and surrounding low-income townships. Because of a politically motivated shooting in the township of Alexandra Wednesday, South African army troops were deployed in Alexandra to support the local police. Though dramatic, the move was mostly seen as a show of force to further discourage some of the random and opportunistic crime (looting, burglary) which has been associated with the civil unrest. To be clear, the violence has been shocking with many people injured and seven people killed in the last two weeks, but it's very isolated and not near where we serve.

From the outset, the Church's Area Security Team has been on top of this, monitoring hot spots and sharing that information with the Area Presidency and missionaries. At this point, they have not requested any restrictions on any missionaries' proselyting activities anywhere. In addition to our professional security, local members—who are always concerned about our missionaries—are monitoring neighborhood situations and warning our missionaries of any potential dangers long before they erupt.

On a practical level, we want you to know that life in Johannesburg feels very normal to us. Shops are open, people are on the street, and the work of the Kingdom is moving forward, thanks in great part to your prayers, which are always appreciated and helpful.

While we were at the Mission Presidents Seminar in West Africa this week, we received promising updates on Ebola, which is isolated now to two countries, both a 7-hour flight  from where we live in Johannesburg. The country of  Liberia went 21 days without a case of Ebola before one isolated case showed up. Once it goes 42 days without a case, the country is no longer considered at risk, the quarantines will be lifted and the missionaries will be returned. In fact, a new mission president has just been called for the Liberia Monrovia Mission, effective July 1st, and Bob will be training him next month. The country of Sierra Leone has just six cases of Ebola currently and the same thing goes for that mission... we hope to see a new mission president called this year and the missionaries returned to the country. That's it for Ebola - it's practically eliminated, and is farther away from where we live and work than New York is from Europe.

Malaria, however, is still very much present in West Africa, with dozens of cases reported among our 4,000+ missionaries this year, most often in West Africa, the Congo and East Africa, but it is virtually non-existent in South Africa, so it is a non-issue where we live. And when it does occur, the medication the Church provides works immediately and thoroughly.

In short, no Ebola, no malaria, and life is pretty normal here in South Africa, despite what you may be hearing about xenophobia. We remain healthy and happy doing the Lord's work.

If you want to read about the Church's response to xenophobia in South Africa, here is an interesting link: www.mormonnewsroom.co.za/article/latter-day-saints-respond-to-aid-xenophobia-refugees