Enjoy the photos! More to come when i get reconnected with the techy worlD.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The End.
The gazebos came down easily after enduring wind, children, and sprinkler systems for 31 days. Poles were splinted with bamboo sticks and bandaged with red duct tape. Posters advertising information about women and children trafficked all over the world were as tattered as the stories themselves. After an hour or so of deconstruction of the Better World Village, I sat down on the lawn, my favorite little boy Bathle (I'm trying to convince his mother she should let me take him home) in my lap and my favorite man Cameron next to me, and took a deep breath. It's over. A band played on stage and there was a slide show of photos from the month on the big screen and I didn't try to hard not to get weepy. Breathing relief, exhaustion, and thankfulness, were all tangled up together. Just one more day of work here after a year of settling into this community, trying to follow Gods lead in the work and relationships. Each day navigating the challenges of working for a non-profit and living in the inner city.
Its not over yet, and I'm not sure that even when I go home, it will be over. After a year, the connection with a place is deep and the connection with people even deeper. Last Friday was my official last staff meeting and the time to say goodbye to the official job. Since then, passing people on the street or stopping in the office has already felt different. There is so much beauty in the ordinary and mundane of this city. Normal daily conversations with people have become highlights. Routine acts that just have to happen and sometimes became very frustrating are now things I know will be missed. To give you a taste of some of the names you may here me remember, here you go:
George is one of the security guards outside of the tlf offices. He is usually sitting on the cement ledge playing on his cell phone. But when anyone passes he looks up, gives his big huggable smile, and says “GooDday, how are you?” This quick chat would often be enough in the morning to get my mind checked in to engaging with people at work and stepping outside of my own mind.
Freddie the gardener. Wisdom like this guy has is rare, as is his ability to speak clearly and bluntly into whatever is going on in your life. Wait, actually nothing that Freddie says is clear or blunt. It's usually babbled full of extra words and questions that never get answered and stories that seem to be unconnected. But there's wisdom and truth within it all. And the way that he talks wraps you up and takes you with his wandering words. There have been many times where a “hey RoBi!” from behind a plant he's digging around, has turned into a chance to hear from God too. Freddie sharing his story and experiences with Christ have often spoken into mine. He wants to come to Chicago and work with youth but he also wants to stay a gardener. I think he likes the Simple life.
Scholastica's son is Junior. Junior has the most attitude and personality of any 2 year old I've ever met. And he gets it from his mother. Schola is always quick to say hi, and to ask for something. But she and I have had a good time this year. Her attitude is covered by the bright smile and hearty pat on the back that comes with it. She works hard and although she is always wanting something to be different in her life, she walks forward with peace and patience.
Lunch usually came from Annah, the girl who sells fruit on the corner of Andries and Minnar. We never figured out how old she was but she was there selling apples, kip kip, butternut squash, and avocados everyday. Green apples, one rand. That's my favorite lunch. She would usually laugh at something that was happening in the group of us walking by, give a smile, then keep flirting with whichever guy was trying to use the public phones that she operated.
Alan has been around since the beginning. He, his wife Brenda, and little boy Branwell, used to sit on the bench outside of City Hall and set it up like their living room. Branwell would be layed out on a blanket on the sidewalk and laundry drying on the hedge. They are now in Cape Town with Brenda's family and Alan is still working washing and parking cars. Its nice to see him on the way to work, give him a hello and an African handshake, and hear the latest news in his life. Recently he's had a need to go to Jo'Burg and has gotten into a habit of telling us that someone in his family has passed away. Last week it was his 90 year old grandmother, mother, and his uncle. Maybe he forgets that Cameron, Siri, and I all stay together and that we would fit the story together eventually. Alan and his family will be in my prayers for a long time. That they would be able to heal and move forward in this world and that they would come to understand a God that cherishes each of them.
Chris and Jenny. I've written about Chris and Jenny before and haven't seen them much lately. They were, for a long time, a part of every walk to work.
Tumi is a regular at the Potters House. She sits in the corner, usually sleeping but sometimes grabbing a cup of coffee or tea. She's quick to greet you with a slap on the back and a smile so big her eyes close up. There's always some reason why she's not staying at the Potters House, but she seems pretty content to just be around it.
Now for one of my favorite “Pretoria characters.” Rasta. Mo Fire, One Love, Togetherness, Respect, Mo time, Bless I, Rasta. He works on the corner of Bosman and Minnar just opposite Museum Park and lights up the neighborhood (literally and metaphorically). We cannot always tell what Rasta is saying other than it is usually some sort of blessing for the day. He sells sweeties, snacks, and beaded creations. One day he gifted me with a rasta colored beaded ring! To me, he seems like the guardian angel of the area. As Cameron put it...he stays out of everyone's business but somehow knows it all anyway. Rasta...much love, respect, and more time right back atcha!
Abel is Museum Park's caretaker/handiman. He doesn't speak much english but what he knows, he uses often. He and his wife (I think) and a few other family members stay in one of the rooms on the west side of the complex and he's up early everyday fixing, tinkering, or painting something. His cap is falling off his head but always has time for a “morning morning morning” or a “good good good,” Never is a word said only once. Sunday mornings, he's listening to beautiful music and a little boy dances and his wife does the washing. As much as Museum park became a cage in a lot of ways, it also became home...a big home with a huge and crazy family.
All of the German volunteers have become very dear to me also. We have walked this year together in so many ways. We arrived around the same time last summer, adjusted to South African traditions together, lived together, traveled together and endured a month of insane world scale event together. Maren, Nora, Marlena, Carlotta, Antje, Carola, Saskia, Laura, Eva, and Simone will all be very missed. Each of them will be remembered for their generous hearts, laughter, willing spirits and amazing cooking! I have learned so much about the German way of life and even have picked up a few words here and there. So now, there are not too many secrets between the Germans and Americans.
Last, youngest, but definintely not least are the children here who will be remembered so fondly the size they are. Next time, if there is a next time, they will have grown in ways that would be impossible to imagine: Kiki, Koetze, Bathle, Junior, Sinesipho, Ntogoso, gave so many of their hugs and tears to this year. They were often the ones who inspired me to show up to office duty once a month. It was a chance to play with them for a few hours. Their transparent joy reminded me always of the words of Jesus that unless we become like these children...we will never see the Kingdom of God. Thank you little ones. May our paths cross again sometime very soon.
Some of the routines that will be missed: getting airtime, buying bread daily, fruit for breakfast, not having a refrigerator stove, oven or shower, trying to figure out which taxi to take to get anywhere beyond walking distance, locking up the bathroom so the toilet paper won't get stolen, and forgetting that spathlo (chips, russian, bread, and cheese) is not a healthy meal.
Some things really changed during the month of the World Cup, while everyone was in town and international eyes were on this country, people were friendly in a new way. They asked questions, why we were here and if we needed help. The city was more mixed than usual. It was strange to see white people, latino people, and eastern European people walking around town like normal. The city was beautiful. Now, it's back to normal. But my prayer is that some of the changes that happened here will not be temporary. That the atmosphere of the park will be sustained. That it will continue to be a safe place for children and families and that it will still be a place to gather and enjoy the beauty of each day.
Since then, these last 2 weeks have been enjoyable. We took a trip to Pilanesburg to say goodbye to all the animals. Unfortunately still no elephant or lion sightings. There was a trip to Cape Town, which I will have to write about later and now, in the final 3 days its sorting packing and saying see you laters to all those who have become my community here.
Now, if your interested the plans for coming home are to be in Tacoma for a few days then head north to Bellingham, pray there is a job or some potential jobs there to look into, get settled into a new house (at least for a month) then spend some good time with my Mom and Jeff who will be visiting from Texas. So looking forward to sitting with people and just hearing where they are at and how they are doing.
Thank you for joining me in this journey that God lead. I will stay in touch over the next month or so during the transition back home. I am as curious as you may be in what God has in store next, what lessons will follow me home and in what ways the world will look completely different on the other side of the ocean.
Stay WeLL South AfricA.
Its not over yet, and I'm not sure that even when I go home, it will be over. After a year, the connection with a place is deep and the connection with people even deeper. Last Friday was my official last staff meeting and the time to say goodbye to the official job. Since then, passing people on the street or stopping in the office has already felt different. There is so much beauty in the ordinary and mundane of this city. Normal daily conversations with people have become highlights. Routine acts that just have to happen and sometimes became very frustrating are now things I know will be missed. To give you a taste of some of the names you may here me remember, here you go:
George is one of the security guards outside of the tlf offices. He is usually sitting on the cement ledge playing on his cell phone. But when anyone passes he looks up, gives his big huggable smile, and says “GooDday, how are you?” This quick chat would often be enough in the morning to get my mind checked in to engaging with people at work and stepping outside of my own mind.
Freddie the gardener. Wisdom like this guy has is rare, as is his ability to speak clearly and bluntly into whatever is going on in your life. Wait, actually nothing that Freddie says is clear or blunt. It's usually babbled full of extra words and questions that never get answered and stories that seem to be unconnected. But there's wisdom and truth within it all. And the way that he talks wraps you up and takes you with his wandering words. There have been many times where a “hey RoBi!” from behind a plant he's digging around, has turned into a chance to hear from God too. Freddie sharing his story and experiences with Christ have often spoken into mine. He wants to come to Chicago and work with youth but he also wants to stay a gardener. I think he likes the Simple life.
Scholastica's son is Junior. Junior has the most attitude and personality of any 2 year old I've ever met. And he gets it from his mother. Schola is always quick to say hi, and to ask for something. But she and I have had a good time this year. Her attitude is covered by the bright smile and hearty pat on the back that comes with it. She works hard and although she is always wanting something to be different in her life, she walks forward with peace and patience.
Lunch usually came from Annah, the girl who sells fruit on the corner of Andries and Minnar. We never figured out how old she was but she was there selling apples, kip kip, butternut squash, and avocados everyday. Green apples, one rand. That's my favorite lunch. She would usually laugh at something that was happening in the group of us walking by, give a smile, then keep flirting with whichever guy was trying to use the public phones that she operated.
Alan has been around since the beginning. He, his wife Brenda, and little boy Branwell, used to sit on the bench outside of City Hall and set it up like their living room. Branwell would be layed out on a blanket on the sidewalk and laundry drying on the hedge. They are now in Cape Town with Brenda's family and Alan is still working washing and parking cars. Its nice to see him on the way to work, give him a hello and an African handshake, and hear the latest news in his life. Recently he's had a need to go to Jo'Burg and has gotten into a habit of telling us that someone in his family has passed away. Last week it was his 90 year old grandmother, mother, and his uncle. Maybe he forgets that Cameron, Siri, and I all stay together and that we would fit the story together eventually. Alan and his family will be in my prayers for a long time. That they would be able to heal and move forward in this world and that they would come to understand a God that cherishes each of them.
Chris and Jenny. I've written about Chris and Jenny before and haven't seen them much lately. They were, for a long time, a part of every walk to work.
Tumi is a regular at the Potters House. She sits in the corner, usually sleeping but sometimes grabbing a cup of coffee or tea. She's quick to greet you with a slap on the back and a smile so big her eyes close up. There's always some reason why she's not staying at the Potters House, but she seems pretty content to just be around it.
Now for one of my favorite “Pretoria characters.” Rasta. Mo Fire, One Love, Togetherness, Respect, Mo time, Bless I, Rasta. He works on the corner of Bosman and Minnar just opposite Museum Park and lights up the neighborhood (literally and metaphorically). We cannot always tell what Rasta is saying other than it is usually some sort of blessing for the day. He sells sweeties, snacks, and beaded creations. One day he gifted me with a rasta colored beaded ring! To me, he seems like the guardian angel of the area. As Cameron put it...he stays out of everyone's business but somehow knows it all anyway. Rasta...much love, respect, and more time right back atcha!
Abel is Museum Park's caretaker/handiman. He doesn't speak much english but what he knows, he uses often. He and his wife (I think) and a few other family members stay in one of the rooms on the west side of the complex and he's up early everyday fixing, tinkering, or painting something. His cap is falling off his head but always has time for a “morning morning morning” or a “good good good,” Never is a word said only once. Sunday mornings, he's listening to beautiful music and a little boy dances and his wife does the washing. As much as Museum park became a cage in a lot of ways, it also became home...a big home with a huge and crazy family.
All of the German volunteers have become very dear to me also. We have walked this year together in so many ways. We arrived around the same time last summer, adjusted to South African traditions together, lived together, traveled together and endured a month of insane world scale event together. Maren, Nora, Marlena, Carlotta, Antje, Carola, Saskia, Laura, Eva, and Simone will all be very missed. Each of them will be remembered for their generous hearts, laughter, willing spirits and amazing cooking! I have learned so much about the German way of life and even have picked up a few words here and there. So now, there are not too many secrets between the Germans and Americans.
Last, youngest, but definintely not least are the children here who will be remembered so fondly the size they are. Next time, if there is a next time, they will have grown in ways that would be impossible to imagine: Kiki, Koetze, Bathle, Junior, Sinesipho, Ntogoso, gave so many of their hugs and tears to this year. They were often the ones who inspired me to show up to office duty once a month. It was a chance to play with them for a few hours. Their transparent joy reminded me always of the words of Jesus that unless we become like these children...we will never see the Kingdom of God. Thank you little ones. May our paths cross again sometime very soon.
Some of the routines that will be missed: getting airtime, buying bread daily, fruit for breakfast, not having a refrigerator stove, oven or shower, trying to figure out which taxi to take to get anywhere beyond walking distance, locking up the bathroom so the toilet paper won't get stolen, and forgetting that spathlo (chips, russian, bread, and cheese) is not a healthy meal.
Some things really changed during the month of the World Cup, while everyone was in town and international eyes were on this country, people were friendly in a new way. They asked questions, why we were here and if we needed help. The city was more mixed than usual. It was strange to see white people, latino people, and eastern European people walking around town like normal. The city was beautiful. Now, it's back to normal. But my prayer is that some of the changes that happened here will not be temporary. That the atmosphere of the park will be sustained. That it will continue to be a safe place for children and families and that it will still be a place to gather and enjoy the beauty of each day.
Since then, these last 2 weeks have been enjoyable. We took a trip to Pilanesburg to say goodbye to all the animals. Unfortunately still no elephant or lion sightings. There was a trip to Cape Town, which I will have to write about later and now, in the final 3 days its sorting packing and saying see you laters to all those who have become my community here.
Now, if your interested the plans for coming home are to be in Tacoma for a few days then head north to Bellingham, pray there is a job or some potential jobs there to look into, get settled into a new house (at least for a month) then spend some good time with my Mom and Jeff who will be visiting from Texas. So looking forward to sitting with people and just hearing where they are at and how they are doing.
Thank you for joining me in this journey that God lead. I will stay in touch over the next month or so during the transition back home. I am as curious as you may be in what God has in store next, what lessons will follow me home and in what ways the world will look completely different on the other side of the ocean.
Stay WeLL South AfricA.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Ke Nako...It is HERE!
It has been 2 months since I've written a blog and that is officially way way too long.
About a month ago the german girls and I took off for the mountains. It has been about 10 months since i've seen proper mountains. Like craggy, crisp air, terraced garden, stone face mountains. Lesotho was full of them! We took a route through the northwestern part of the country within a country. Up and over the Maluti mountains. Our first stop was in Roma, a small trading post town just outside of Maseru. Our drive took us over winding roads through the small villages, passing horses donkeys and herds of goats the whole way. As the sun set, the fields turned an incredble color of green. It was a hazy, mossy green that I have never seen before. We settled into the backpacker which had amazing big beds then went out for an evening walk in the village. Some girls from the area decided to be our tour guides for about an hour and showed us the community center, their schools, the little red berries which you can eat, and the small shop tucked behind some buildings. Unfortunately, my sceptical side was going crazy after living in South Africa for 10 months. Apparently, my new motto is “trust no one.” Okay, so it's not that bad, but I was definintely looking for any tricks these girls may try to pull to snag a camera. The next day, we settled into a routine of driving for a LONG time, then finding a place to crash for the night. Cook dinner and take an evening hike. The third night, was a much more unexpected “evening hike” than we were ready for but it was so worth the treck through the freezing cold. We ended up at a national park which claimed to have accomodation. Pulling up to the entrance just after closing time, we hoped that the accomodation would be near. A stunning view met us at the visitors center. Sunset over layer upon layer of mountains took our breath away. So did the 0 degree temperatures. The huts we would stay in were 2 km away. It was getting dark, we were frozen, but had no other options so off we went...a hike to the river to find our huts. The frozen, dark walk was more than worth it when we arrive at our hut which had cots and a propane heater, then there was the kitchen hut with candles, stove top, and all the supplies we needed to cook our potato curry and enjoy it with a bottle of wine and a card game. Next day we did some exploring around the park, hiking all morning then had to head out and make our way back to Pretoria. Of course, such an amazing trip could not go unhitched...while trying to exit the country, a money hungry border patrol decided that we needed to be “an admission of guilt fee” in order to get across the border since we had somehow missed the entry stamp place on the way in. 200R went to this guy for he and his buddies to have a nice lunch. On us. This was the first, and God willing the last bribe I have to pay in Africa. But hey, I guess it is all part of the experience hey?
When we returned to the city. It was both exciting and stifling. Knowing that the next few months would be fairly hectic. Paul and Kellie were going to arrive in the next few days, Aaryn would also be showing up, then Cameron would finish off the house properly. All these new additions along with the beginning of the Soccer World Cup when TLF would start hosting the Better World Village (which I will tell you more about soon).
The outreaches with Lerato House continued and we were still attempting to do outreach in Arcadia, where a lot of women work on the streets. Every week there are challenging conversations and realities to invite God into. We walk away with a new awareness of the depth of pain people in this city are in. Not just the women who are working the streets, by choice or not. But also the men/women who choose to exploit precious women just to satisfy some greedy desire. The loneliness and hurt that motivates this action is tragic. While we are walking the streets, we pray not only for the people trapped in the sex industry but those who are trapped into using people as objects. What does human trafficking look like in this city and why is it a challenge to combat? My friend who lives in one of the buildings in Arcadia saw us a few weeks ago. She grabbed my arm and pulled me around the corner, told us speedily that she only has 4 minutes to talk before her pimp will call her phone, asking why she is not back on the corner. The week before she had stolen 5 laptops and 12 cellphones, as instructed by her pimp. When we asked if the police do anything when they catch her on the corner with stolen goods, she laughed and said that if they do she just tells them who her pimp is and they leave her alone because he pays them off weekly. How did she get here? About 2 years ago, she was living in Durban and met this guy who seemed really nice. They dated for about 6 months then he told her about his company in Pretoria that would be a perfect place for her to work at. She agrees to go with him to Pretoria, but when she arrives, the company isn't what she expected it to be. He traps her in the flat, addicts her to drugs and threatens to hurt her family if she leaves or argues. One and a half years later, she is still working the corner of Pretorious and Johann Street. Stories like these are common here, they are often hidden but all too real.
The Arrivals: Paul and Kellie flew in after their trip to Italy and settled in quickly. It always takes a few days of wandering the city and gathering the essentials to get sorted out in this town. But they got towels, cellphones, and some food. A week later, Aaryn flew in from his travels around Asia. The reunion began! We were given an amazing opportunity to visit a camp south of Pretoria that some friends had previously volunteered with. 4 days of just enjoying nature and the company of each other was exactly what we all needed. Camp Busisa was about a 5 hour drive along the Drakensburg Mountains away. It was a gorgeous drive but as we approached the land where the camp was...we all started to hold our breath at how beautiful the area was. Valleys spread out between lines of hills and mountains covered with evergreens. Rolling hills of tall golden grass broke up the forests perfectly. We were given the chance to do some small projects around the camp to pay for our accommodation which we were all more than happy to do. Paul and Aaryn blazed some trails and cleared out a camping spot. Kellie and I painted window frames, and Siri re-tiled a shower floor. Other than that, days were spent hiking trails, going down zip lines over rivers and valleys, jumping waterfalls (freezing ones!), chatting, playing cards, sitting on balconies and watching the mist fill up the valley. This place was like heaven! The pictures will not do it justice but they'll give it a valiant effort. Four days felt like 2 weeks and it was just enough to re-energize us all to jump into the wildness of the World Cup kick off. Again, the incredible vacation has a frustrating final touch. During the drive back, after we stopped for dinner at a petrol station, Paul realized that the back left tyre was flat. We consulted a few guys at the garage, tried that foamy tyre filler stuff, but eventually had to put the spare on. Driving 300 km with an 80km/hour limit is incredibly defeating. Especially when a 4 hour trip just turned into a 7 hour long trip home on a sunday night. Good friends pulled through though. We swapped off driving, sleeping, and keeping the driver awake. The weekend was still so worth it. We got to see a new part of this beautiful country and soak in the fresh air and open fields.
The next day I was heading to the airport to pick up Cameron. After 10 months of writing back and forth, buying phone cards, and sending songs and letters across the sea, we could finally be in the same country! My friends here would see that my boyfriend was not imaginary. :) His flight came in late to the jo'burg airport and I ended up going there a few hours early because I didn't know what else to do with myself and I was so excited. Everything went smooth and he came walking through the gate, the last one off the plane. For a few minutes I was nervous that for some reason he had decided not to come. A wonderful reunion, and pretty much instantly comfortable, it has been fantastic having him here. Getting a chance to experience this interesting, challenging, and beautiful combination of cultures. He has been an amazing support in the work going on through TLF and we are trying to find the precious little free time to steal away and just chill. Again, pictures to come soon.
June 11th, 2010. The long awaited opening ceremony of the Soccer World Cup. South Africa vs. Mexico. TLF, as I've mentioned before has had plans to host a month long, city wide, free festival in Burgers Park. Today was the first day. As is the African tradition, the day must be kicked off with a parade. And how does TLF do parades? Does anyone remember the second blog I posted? Yes, TLF does parades dressed as clowns! So about 70-80 of us dressed up, made ourselves up, and hyped up the city dressed like clowns. We joined bands, schools, traditional dance groups, fans, and all sorts of vehicles to draw the crowd from Sunnyside to Pretoria Central. 3 hours of running, jumping, smiling, goofing, handing out flyers, and blowing on vuvuzelas is a lot. But the crowds came. That night at Burgers Park, about 10,000 people showed up to watch the Bafana Bafana take on the world! We had planned on about 3,000 and were legally only allowed 5,000 in the park at a time. All of us saw people start streaming in, vuvuzelas and children in hand. People kept coming, and we all started praying. Pleading with God for positive energy and miraculous peace in a crowd that size. There were 40 security officers and about 60 staff members. Thankfully, people enjoyed the game with a lot of enthusiasm and a kindness with each other that I have not seen often here in town. It was a blast to watch the sea of yellow and green get pumped up and cheer on their nation. Thankfully, the game ended in a draw and people went as quickly as they had come.
Since then, everyday in the park there are stage performances, dramas, advocacy information tables, a sports village, arts village, children's village, and an environmental village. People come and set up picnics, play small games of soccer, and watch the soccer games on our big screens. It has been a great success to have a new bright spot in the city. The park seems to have been reclaimed as a safe and beautiful place for families to enjoy. I hope that this continues after the games are over. That the drug usage, and dirtiness that used to be common there, has decreased and I hope can disappear altogether. God has done a miracle with the success of this daunting feat, and we can continue to hope for miracles daily in this space.
The Counter Trafficking Coalition has an information table up every day in the park. Volunteers stay at the table and hand out info about what human trafficking is, what it looks like in this community and how people can protect themselves. It has been an interesting place to be everyday, people have great questions and very true stories of what they have experienced. Groups of children will come up (maybe just to get a sticker) but we snag the opportunity to tell them a story with pictures about how people are lied to, taken from their home, and trapped somewhere and hurt. They are quick to pick up ways to stay safe. People come up and say they've heard about the “issue” but claim that it doesn't happen here in their town or that it couldn't happen to them. A few questions later, they see it in a new way. Here is a poem that someone was inspired to write about the issue, after they had heard a little bit about it:
Greediness intertwined by lust of money
humans turn to be object of sale
in the eyes of God tears run forth
while in the earth it turns to be cursed
tilling it came forth nothing
people watching while monsters roam the earth
Children become victims of money making schemes
They watch and do nothing
They hear but act not
WAKE UP people
WAKE UP nation
it is time to stop it
it is time to end it.
We have a long way to go in actually combating this tragic reality but there are steps being taken forward and a movement for many organizations to come together and really start speaking with one loud, unified voice.
Honestly, most of my time in the last 3 weeks have revolved around the Better World Village but some other fun things have been happening (somehow), woven into long days at the park. Some of the pictures will be from this stuff:
Going to a baby shower at Mandla's aunts house in a township south of Johannesburg
Kellie's birthday braii, Praying Mantis pinata included
Being inspired by Cameron to find some decent coffee shops in town
playing cards almost every night with 6 of my favorite people
Cheering on the South African and AMERICAN soccer teams. (sorry but we really have to loose that guy Altidore!)
Now, with just less than a month to go before returning home, there is so much on my mind and on my plate. I am confident though that just as God has been walking with me and providing for this time here, He will only continue to do that in the journey home. It will be such a joy to see everyone and to get a glimpse of what's next. The next blog will talk about this a little more, since I'm sure by this point you are all finished reading my blurting. Thanks for reading on, and again my apogies for leaving this for 2 months. Please know that I am alive and happy here and that you are each so precious to me. Thank you as always for your prayers and support. I will be home on July 26th. We'll talk soon.
Stay well!
About a month ago the german girls and I took off for the mountains. It has been about 10 months since i've seen proper mountains. Like craggy, crisp air, terraced garden, stone face mountains. Lesotho was full of them! We took a route through the northwestern part of the country within a country. Up and over the Maluti mountains. Our first stop was in Roma, a small trading post town just outside of Maseru. Our drive took us over winding roads through the small villages, passing horses donkeys and herds of goats the whole way. As the sun set, the fields turned an incredble color of green. It was a hazy, mossy green that I have never seen before. We settled into the backpacker which had amazing big beds then went out for an evening walk in the village. Some girls from the area decided to be our tour guides for about an hour and showed us the community center, their schools, the little red berries which you can eat, and the small shop tucked behind some buildings. Unfortunately, my sceptical side was going crazy after living in South Africa for 10 months. Apparently, my new motto is “trust no one.” Okay, so it's not that bad, but I was definintely looking for any tricks these girls may try to pull to snag a camera. The next day, we settled into a routine of driving for a LONG time, then finding a place to crash for the night. Cook dinner and take an evening hike. The third night, was a much more unexpected “evening hike” than we were ready for but it was so worth the treck through the freezing cold. We ended up at a national park which claimed to have accomodation. Pulling up to the entrance just after closing time, we hoped that the accomodation would be near. A stunning view met us at the visitors center. Sunset over layer upon layer of mountains took our breath away. So did the 0 degree temperatures. The huts we would stay in were 2 km away. It was getting dark, we were frozen, but had no other options so off we went...a hike to the river to find our huts. The frozen, dark walk was more than worth it when we arrive at our hut which had cots and a propane heater, then there was the kitchen hut with candles, stove top, and all the supplies we needed to cook our potato curry and enjoy it with a bottle of wine and a card game. Next day we did some exploring around the park, hiking all morning then had to head out and make our way back to Pretoria. Of course, such an amazing trip could not go unhitched...while trying to exit the country, a money hungry border patrol decided that we needed to be “an admission of guilt fee” in order to get across the border since we had somehow missed the entry stamp place on the way in. 200R went to this guy for he and his buddies to have a nice lunch. On us. This was the first, and God willing the last bribe I have to pay in Africa. But hey, I guess it is all part of the experience hey?
When we returned to the city. It was both exciting and stifling. Knowing that the next few months would be fairly hectic. Paul and Kellie were going to arrive in the next few days, Aaryn would also be showing up, then Cameron would finish off the house properly. All these new additions along with the beginning of the Soccer World Cup when TLF would start hosting the Better World Village (which I will tell you more about soon).
The outreaches with Lerato House continued and we were still attempting to do outreach in Arcadia, where a lot of women work on the streets. Every week there are challenging conversations and realities to invite God into. We walk away with a new awareness of the depth of pain people in this city are in. Not just the women who are working the streets, by choice or not. But also the men/women who choose to exploit precious women just to satisfy some greedy desire. The loneliness and hurt that motivates this action is tragic. While we are walking the streets, we pray not only for the people trapped in the sex industry but those who are trapped into using people as objects. What does human trafficking look like in this city and why is it a challenge to combat? My friend who lives in one of the buildings in Arcadia saw us a few weeks ago. She grabbed my arm and pulled me around the corner, told us speedily that she only has 4 minutes to talk before her pimp will call her phone, asking why she is not back on the corner. The week before she had stolen 5 laptops and 12 cellphones, as instructed by her pimp. When we asked if the police do anything when they catch her on the corner with stolen goods, she laughed and said that if they do she just tells them who her pimp is and they leave her alone because he pays them off weekly. How did she get here? About 2 years ago, she was living in Durban and met this guy who seemed really nice. They dated for about 6 months then he told her about his company in Pretoria that would be a perfect place for her to work at. She agrees to go with him to Pretoria, but when she arrives, the company isn't what she expected it to be. He traps her in the flat, addicts her to drugs and threatens to hurt her family if she leaves or argues. One and a half years later, she is still working the corner of Pretorious and Johann Street. Stories like these are common here, they are often hidden but all too real.
The Arrivals: Paul and Kellie flew in after their trip to Italy and settled in quickly. It always takes a few days of wandering the city and gathering the essentials to get sorted out in this town. But they got towels, cellphones, and some food. A week later, Aaryn flew in from his travels around Asia. The reunion began! We were given an amazing opportunity to visit a camp south of Pretoria that some friends had previously volunteered with. 4 days of just enjoying nature and the company of each other was exactly what we all needed. Camp Busisa was about a 5 hour drive along the Drakensburg Mountains away. It was a gorgeous drive but as we approached the land where the camp was...we all started to hold our breath at how beautiful the area was. Valleys spread out between lines of hills and mountains covered with evergreens. Rolling hills of tall golden grass broke up the forests perfectly. We were given the chance to do some small projects around the camp to pay for our accommodation which we were all more than happy to do. Paul and Aaryn blazed some trails and cleared out a camping spot. Kellie and I painted window frames, and Siri re-tiled a shower floor. Other than that, days were spent hiking trails, going down zip lines over rivers and valleys, jumping waterfalls (freezing ones!), chatting, playing cards, sitting on balconies and watching the mist fill up the valley. This place was like heaven! The pictures will not do it justice but they'll give it a valiant effort. Four days felt like 2 weeks and it was just enough to re-energize us all to jump into the wildness of the World Cup kick off. Again, the incredible vacation has a frustrating final touch. During the drive back, after we stopped for dinner at a petrol station, Paul realized that the back left tyre was flat. We consulted a few guys at the garage, tried that foamy tyre filler stuff, but eventually had to put the spare on. Driving 300 km with an 80km/hour limit is incredibly defeating. Especially when a 4 hour trip just turned into a 7 hour long trip home on a sunday night. Good friends pulled through though. We swapped off driving, sleeping, and keeping the driver awake. The weekend was still so worth it. We got to see a new part of this beautiful country and soak in the fresh air and open fields.
The next day I was heading to the airport to pick up Cameron. After 10 months of writing back and forth, buying phone cards, and sending songs and letters across the sea, we could finally be in the same country! My friends here would see that my boyfriend was not imaginary. :) His flight came in late to the jo'burg airport and I ended up going there a few hours early because I didn't know what else to do with myself and I was so excited. Everything went smooth and he came walking through the gate, the last one off the plane. For a few minutes I was nervous that for some reason he had decided not to come. A wonderful reunion, and pretty much instantly comfortable, it has been fantastic having him here. Getting a chance to experience this interesting, challenging, and beautiful combination of cultures. He has been an amazing support in the work going on through TLF and we are trying to find the precious little free time to steal away and just chill. Again, pictures to come soon.
June 11th, 2010. The long awaited opening ceremony of the Soccer World Cup. South Africa vs. Mexico. TLF, as I've mentioned before has had plans to host a month long, city wide, free festival in Burgers Park. Today was the first day. As is the African tradition, the day must be kicked off with a parade. And how does TLF do parades? Does anyone remember the second blog I posted? Yes, TLF does parades dressed as clowns! So about 70-80 of us dressed up, made ourselves up, and hyped up the city dressed like clowns. We joined bands, schools, traditional dance groups, fans, and all sorts of vehicles to draw the crowd from Sunnyside to Pretoria Central. 3 hours of running, jumping, smiling, goofing, handing out flyers, and blowing on vuvuzelas is a lot. But the crowds came. That night at Burgers Park, about 10,000 people showed up to watch the Bafana Bafana take on the world! We had planned on about 3,000 and were legally only allowed 5,000 in the park at a time. All of us saw people start streaming in, vuvuzelas and children in hand. People kept coming, and we all started praying. Pleading with God for positive energy and miraculous peace in a crowd that size. There were 40 security officers and about 60 staff members. Thankfully, people enjoyed the game with a lot of enthusiasm and a kindness with each other that I have not seen often here in town. It was a blast to watch the sea of yellow and green get pumped up and cheer on their nation. Thankfully, the game ended in a draw and people went as quickly as they had come.
Since then, everyday in the park there are stage performances, dramas, advocacy information tables, a sports village, arts village, children's village, and an environmental village. People come and set up picnics, play small games of soccer, and watch the soccer games on our big screens. It has been a great success to have a new bright spot in the city. The park seems to have been reclaimed as a safe and beautiful place for families to enjoy. I hope that this continues after the games are over. That the drug usage, and dirtiness that used to be common there, has decreased and I hope can disappear altogether. God has done a miracle with the success of this daunting feat, and we can continue to hope for miracles daily in this space.
The Counter Trafficking Coalition has an information table up every day in the park. Volunteers stay at the table and hand out info about what human trafficking is, what it looks like in this community and how people can protect themselves. It has been an interesting place to be everyday, people have great questions and very true stories of what they have experienced. Groups of children will come up (maybe just to get a sticker) but we snag the opportunity to tell them a story with pictures about how people are lied to, taken from their home, and trapped somewhere and hurt. They are quick to pick up ways to stay safe. People come up and say they've heard about the “issue” but claim that it doesn't happen here in their town or that it couldn't happen to them. A few questions later, they see it in a new way. Here is a poem that someone was inspired to write about the issue, after they had heard a little bit about it:
Greediness intertwined by lust of money
humans turn to be object of sale
in the eyes of God tears run forth
while in the earth it turns to be cursed
tilling it came forth nothing
people watching while monsters roam the earth
Children become victims of money making schemes
They watch and do nothing
They hear but act not
WAKE UP people
WAKE UP nation
it is time to stop it
it is time to end it.
We have a long way to go in actually combating this tragic reality but there are steps being taken forward and a movement for many organizations to come together and really start speaking with one loud, unified voice.
Honestly, most of my time in the last 3 weeks have revolved around the Better World Village but some other fun things have been happening (somehow), woven into long days at the park. Some of the pictures will be from this stuff:
Going to a baby shower at Mandla's aunts house in a township south of Johannesburg
Kellie's birthday braii, Praying Mantis pinata included
Being inspired by Cameron to find some decent coffee shops in town
playing cards almost every night with 6 of my favorite people
Cheering on the South African and AMERICAN soccer teams. (sorry but we really have to loose that guy Altidore!)
Now, with just less than a month to go before returning home, there is so much on my mind and on my plate. I am confident though that just as God has been walking with me and providing for this time here, He will only continue to do that in the journey home. It will be such a joy to see everyone and to get a glimpse of what's next. The next blog will talk about this a little more, since I'm sure by this point you are all finished reading my blurting. Thanks for reading on, and again my apogies for leaving this for 2 months. Please know that I am alive and happy here and that you are each so precious to me. Thank you as always for your prayers and support. I will be home on July 26th. We'll talk soon.
Stay well!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
50 days and counting
Let the countdown begin: 50 DAYS until kickoff!
Since the last time…I’ve been to Botswana and back for a much needed break from the city. My cousins, Pete and Shelley and their kids Caleb and Malena recently moved to Gaborone (the capital of Botswana and conveniently only 4 hours away), so for the Easter weekend Siri and I traveled north via Mini-bus. There were plans to tour the Okovango Delta…world famous for something…and the salt flats, where all the tour books warned you can get disoriented, lost, and die. But once we arrived and were kindly escorted by Pete to their home…we stayed put. It was so refreshing to be in a home, to wake up and chat over a cup of coffee with family from home. Mornings were spent playing legos or building some construction in the back yard with mud and sticks. We found some local adventures in the termite mound down the path, which apparently makes a good snack to the trained tongue. To me, it tasted like mud. One afternoon we explored the “mountain” just outside of town but were more captivated by some Baboons. By “some” I mean hundreds jumping, rummaging, climbing, and fighting. And on all their rears were strange growths…think nuclear power plant accident. We all got some good, immature laughs in about that! The hike was nice and gave us a sprawling view of the overgrown village of Gaborone. Botswana is so different than South Africa. The atmosphere is calm, safe, and friendly. There are goats and donkeys sharing the road with cars and mini–taxis. It’s nice and I hope to go back. Siri and I both had a great time and it was difficult to return to the city. The time did provide a good chance to reflect and re-energize for this next season here in Pretoria. It will be a busy one and a tough one, no doubt.
As far as the Human Trafficking Campaign goes, things are really moving forward. We have done a few more trainings for outreach workers and people in the Potters House womens shelter, and all the TLF housing units. People’s responses are incredible…they want to start spreading the word. There are plans to do outreaches in more of the communities here in Pretoria, to work with the children so they can tell the story too, and to train the building caretakers of City Property, the largest property management company in the city. God is moving! Our new outreach to Sunnyside is proving to be a challenge as the crime is much more organized in that part of town. Many of the prostitutes there work out of brothels that are hidden in flats. These are often run by Nigerian pimps who are also wrapped up in the drug trade. The last few weeks have been nerve racking to say the least as we are constantly being watched and the intimidation factor is huge. The pimps keep an eye on us at all times as we are talking with the ladies and the women also constantly glance around to see if they are being watched. Seeing the fear in these women’s eyes and at the same time watch the guy across the street stare at us and keep us in his peripheral vision makes me reconsider our time there. Personally, I am being so challenged to really look at how we do outreach and why. Please pray that God would lead us, not the other way around. Not sure I am in a place to say more than this yet but it has been a very difficult area for me to sort through.
On a more positive note, a few women have really taken some steps into changing their lives. Sibongile, who we see at least once a week down-town has been coming to Lerato House to get her ID and Resume updated and is registering for a training course through another organization here. She has a very hopeful attitude and is putting a lot of effort into stepping out of her current situation. My friend Petunia, the woman who had the injured finger a few months ago, is also starting to ask more questions about what Lerato House can help her with. She previously worked at Woolworths and Shopright but now has had difficulty finding work. My hope is that she will keep asking questions, and trusting us to walk with her in her journey off the streets. Both of these women said that they are not looking forward to the World Cup because they don’t think anything will change for them. “It changes for them” Petunia said as she waves her hand towards the Union Buildings. “But not for us down here,” and looks around at the broken building, abandoned field, and junk yard. She’s right. When I asked what they would most like to see change, one woman said she would like a job, a home, and a community. Those are not extreme requests. The simplicity and attitude of that answer silenced me. Those things would keep her from having to sleep with 50 men a day (not an exaggeration) to earn her 200R ($30) to send to her family for survival. Still lots of work to do here.
It’s been a smelly few weeks here in the city. The garbage workers have been striking in very creative way. Each day, there have been garbage bins dumped in the street, trucks tossing rubbish all over the roads, people tipping the garbage cans on the sidewalk over as they walk, and all the cars driving over the whole mess. Just in the last few days have the workers gotten busy again. I really hope they got their raise.
An update on the people coming to help out here…Paul and Kellie are on their way from Italy probably this weekend to join us here and start work on the Better World! Aaryn is coming on May 24th from Vietnam also to jump into the action and dun dun dun…Cameron, my incredible boyfriend will be coming on June 1st for a long awaited visit. He’ll be working on an art project for TLF’s new building TAU building to tell the story of ashes to beauty. It was formerly a budget hotel housing many young girls and keeping them to work as prostitutes. Now it will be the new Lerato House, our shelter for at-risk girls. It is beautiful story of redemption and I know that Cameron will create a perfect piece for the entrance. Thank God that He has paved the way and provided for this time.
Celebrating the small things;
Siri and I will have a refrigerator starting next week
The basil and wildflowers are coming up
Dinner last night was tomato, pumpkin basil curry and pasta sauce
I love you all. Enjoy the pics from Botswana and of the flyers/poster we are spreading around town.
Since the last time…I’ve been to Botswana and back for a much needed break from the city. My cousins, Pete and Shelley and their kids Caleb and Malena recently moved to Gaborone (the capital of Botswana and conveniently only 4 hours away), so for the Easter weekend Siri and I traveled north via Mini-bus. There were plans to tour the Okovango Delta…world famous for something…and the salt flats, where all the tour books warned you can get disoriented, lost, and die. But once we arrived and were kindly escorted by Pete to their home…we stayed put. It was so refreshing to be in a home, to wake up and chat over a cup of coffee with family from home. Mornings were spent playing legos or building some construction in the back yard with mud and sticks. We found some local adventures in the termite mound down the path, which apparently makes a good snack to the trained tongue. To me, it tasted like mud. One afternoon we explored the “mountain” just outside of town but were more captivated by some Baboons. By “some” I mean hundreds jumping, rummaging, climbing, and fighting. And on all their rears were strange growths…think nuclear power plant accident. We all got some good, immature laughs in about that! The hike was nice and gave us a sprawling view of the overgrown village of Gaborone. Botswana is so different than South Africa. The atmosphere is calm, safe, and friendly. There are goats and donkeys sharing the road with cars and mini–taxis. It’s nice and I hope to go back. Siri and I both had a great time and it was difficult to return to the city. The time did provide a good chance to reflect and re-energize for this next season here in Pretoria. It will be a busy one and a tough one, no doubt.
As far as the Human Trafficking Campaign goes, things are really moving forward. We have done a few more trainings for outreach workers and people in the Potters House womens shelter, and all the TLF housing units. People’s responses are incredible…they want to start spreading the word. There are plans to do outreaches in more of the communities here in Pretoria, to work with the children so they can tell the story too, and to train the building caretakers of City Property, the largest property management company in the city. God is moving! Our new outreach to Sunnyside is proving to be a challenge as the crime is much more organized in that part of town. Many of the prostitutes there work out of brothels that are hidden in flats. These are often run by Nigerian pimps who are also wrapped up in the drug trade. The last few weeks have been nerve racking to say the least as we are constantly being watched and the intimidation factor is huge. The pimps keep an eye on us at all times as we are talking with the ladies and the women also constantly glance around to see if they are being watched. Seeing the fear in these women’s eyes and at the same time watch the guy across the street stare at us and keep us in his peripheral vision makes me reconsider our time there. Personally, I am being so challenged to really look at how we do outreach and why. Please pray that God would lead us, not the other way around. Not sure I am in a place to say more than this yet but it has been a very difficult area for me to sort through.
On a more positive note, a few women have really taken some steps into changing their lives. Sibongile, who we see at least once a week down-town has been coming to Lerato House to get her ID and Resume updated and is registering for a training course through another organization here. She has a very hopeful attitude and is putting a lot of effort into stepping out of her current situation. My friend Petunia, the woman who had the injured finger a few months ago, is also starting to ask more questions about what Lerato House can help her with. She previously worked at Woolworths and Shopright but now has had difficulty finding work. My hope is that she will keep asking questions, and trusting us to walk with her in her journey off the streets. Both of these women said that they are not looking forward to the World Cup because they don’t think anything will change for them. “It changes for them” Petunia said as she waves her hand towards the Union Buildings. “But not for us down here,” and looks around at the broken building, abandoned field, and junk yard. She’s right. When I asked what they would most like to see change, one woman said she would like a job, a home, and a community. Those are not extreme requests. The simplicity and attitude of that answer silenced me. Those things would keep her from having to sleep with 50 men a day (not an exaggeration) to earn her 200R ($30) to send to her family for survival. Still lots of work to do here.
It’s been a smelly few weeks here in the city. The garbage workers have been striking in very creative way. Each day, there have been garbage bins dumped in the street, trucks tossing rubbish all over the roads, people tipping the garbage cans on the sidewalk over as they walk, and all the cars driving over the whole mess. Just in the last few days have the workers gotten busy again. I really hope they got their raise.
An update on the people coming to help out here…Paul and Kellie are on their way from Italy probably this weekend to join us here and start work on the Better World! Aaryn is coming on May 24th from Vietnam also to jump into the action and dun dun dun…Cameron, my incredible boyfriend will be coming on June 1st for a long awaited visit. He’ll be working on an art project for TLF’s new building TAU building to tell the story of ashes to beauty. It was formerly a budget hotel housing many young girls and keeping them to work as prostitutes. Now it will be the new Lerato House, our shelter for at-risk girls. It is beautiful story of redemption and I know that Cameron will create a perfect piece for the entrance. Thank God that He has paved the way and provided for this time.
Celebrating the small things;
Siri and I will have a refrigerator starting next week
The basil and wildflowers are coming up
Dinner last night was tomato, pumpkin basil curry and pasta sauce
I love you all. Enjoy the pics from Botswana and of the flyers/poster we are spreading around town.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
day to day
“Hello nice, can I burn you?”
What!? As I jog past a group of workers heading home after a day at the construction site, they holler in my direction…something that I still cannot decipher. I can guess what it means to be called nice, but I don’t know what that second part means. And I don’t have much interest in figuring it out. So I toss a casual , “hello” back to them and keep on running. Along the highway that passes central prison, through the Salvakop field which has just recently been cut down and burned, around the neighborhood, back past the fruit vendors, through a few patches of mealies growing and people chatting or chilling in the streets, over the bridge, through the bus station and down the hill back to Museums Park. This is my evening run. All this while the air is getting crisper as autumn approaches and the sun turns the sky neon pinks, purples, and oranges. It highlights the tin roofs of the shacks and glistens in the eyes of the kids that run with me for a block or two. They are fast, and usually win any impromptu race that gets started. That light makes this city a new place.
In the past month, I have been trying to find some islands in my day. A friend gave me this analogy and it has really helped my sanity. We need times to sit still, to have some comfort of familiarity, and to settle into routine when everything else around us is new and constantly changing. I bought some Earl Grey tea for the mornings, planted basil and wildflowers to watch grow, got a new pen to write with, and have started going on evening runs. All of these things have really contributed to a new peace, necessary after realizing that I am still very much adjusting to life here in South Africa, but more, life in a city. It has been nearly 8 months now and the transition is still in process. This probably won’t finish by the time I board the plane to come home. We are constantly adjusting and learning and changing and everything here is new still. South Africa is a place of paradoxes, of strange combination of realities and to reconcile these in my mind is difficult. This schizophrenic reality is even revealed in how my time is spent here. There is time to take vacations and do some exploring of this beautiful country. And I am so thankful for these opportunities to see places like the Blyde River Canyon, Durban, Mozambique, Nature Reserves, and soon Botswana. Hopefully, in this last season here, there will be a chance to do some backpacking in Lesotho (check out the pictures…it’s ridiculous) and take a visit to Cape Town. Trips like this are full of wandering, laughter, eating strange food, navigating bumpy roads on public transportation, resting, and breathing clean air. On the flip side however, other days are full of work. Busy schedules of meetings and emails; organizing outreaches and gathering materials; making plans, and walking the city streets. The weight of the lives that people are living here is a lot and to manage it in such a hectic, cluttered, and rushed environment just increases the challenge. God has been faithful to remind me though, that this is not my job…to carry that weight. These arms are not strong enough. He has also been good to remind me that the islands I’m finding have been allowed and provided by Him and for His Glory.
Finally, here are some photos from Margit’s visit here last month as well as from Siri’s birthday party. The other volunteers have been so generous and helpful and will compile some of their photos from this year for me so there will be lots to show when I get home. I need to get better at taking pictures of the everyday things…as I’m sure those will be some of the things I miss the most.
Thank you to everyone as always for your thoughts and prayers for the work and the people here. It is really working. My friend is recovering very well and is planning on staying to finish her time here, our work with the Counter-Trafficking Coalition is moving forward. We have most of the resources we need and have begun outreaches. There are some new girls at Lerato House and people really use the services there, often referring cases to us. Work has been slow for the ladies of the night and they are surprised at this, unsure of what it will be like during the World Cup. Our hope is that this will create a curiosity in other options for employment and training…which is available.
Some of the things we’ve been cooking around here:
Malva pudding, Butternut and tomato sauce for pasta, Curried eggs with onions and toast, South African Tiramisu, Gem squash stuffed with creamed corn, and chakalaka pancakes.
It’s much more difficult to cook properly with only a 2 burner stove top, 1 pot and 1 pan, no oven and no refrigerator. But we get by and have gotten much more creative. Siri and I are both essentially vegetarians now. It’s avocado, mango, and orange season now though…so I’m happy!
South African fun fact of the day: You can buy anything you want on the street. Literally.
Just a few of the things I’ve seen for sale on the streets: fruit, shoes, dvds, cds, candy, corn, phone charges, sun glasses, flags, hats, juice, mirrors, earings, bags, car stickers, watermelon, vuvuzelas, soccer balls, HUGE inflatable soccer balls, brooms, fatcakes (donuts), cell phones, nail clippers, and finally, a big classroom diagram of the human body!
What!? As I jog past a group of workers heading home after a day at the construction site, they holler in my direction…something that I still cannot decipher. I can guess what it means to be called nice, but I don’t know what that second part means. And I don’t have much interest in figuring it out. So I toss a casual , “hello” back to them and keep on running. Along the highway that passes central prison, through the Salvakop field which has just recently been cut down and burned, around the neighborhood, back past the fruit vendors, through a few patches of mealies growing and people chatting or chilling in the streets, over the bridge, through the bus station and down the hill back to Museums Park. This is my evening run. All this while the air is getting crisper as autumn approaches and the sun turns the sky neon pinks, purples, and oranges. It highlights the tin roofs of the shacks and glistens in the eyes of the kids that run with me for a block or two. They are fast, and usually win any impromptu race that gets started. That light makes this city a new place.
In the past month, I have been trying to find some islands in my day. A friend gave me this analogy and it has really helped my sanity. We need times to sit still, to have some comfort of familiarity, and to settle into routine when everything else around us is new and constantly changing. I bought some Earl Grey tea for the mornings, planted basil and wildflowers to watch grow, got a new pen to write with, and have started going on evening runs. All of these things have really contributed to a new peace, necessary after realizing that I am still very much adjusting to life here in South Africa, but more, life in a city. It has been nearly 8 months now and the transition is still in process. This probably won’t finish by the time I board the plane to come home. We are constantly adjusting and learning and changing and everything here is new still. South Africa is a place of paradoxes, of strange combination of realities and to reconcile these in my mind is difficult. This schizophrenic reality is even revealed in how my time is spent here. There is time to take vacations and do some exploring of this beautiful country. And I am so thankful for these opportunities to see places like the Blyde River Canyon, Durban, Mozambique, Nature Reserves, and soon Botswana. Hopefully, in this last season here, there will be a chance to do some backpacking in Lesotho (check out the pictures…it’s ridiculous) and take a visit to Cape Town. Trips like this are full of wandering, laughter, eating strange food, navigating bumpy roads on public transportation, resting, and breathing clean air. On the flip side however, other days are full of work. Busy schedules of meetings and emails; organizing outreaches and gathering materials; making plans, and walking the city streets. The weight of the lives that people are living here is a lot and to manage it in such a hectic, cluttered, and rushed environment just increases the challenge. God has been faithful to remind me though, that this is not my job…to carry that weight. These arms are not strong enough. He has also been good to remind me that the islands I’m finding have been allowed and provided by Him and for His Glory.
Finally, here are some photos from Margit’s visit here last month as well as from Siri’s birthday party. The other volunteers have been so generous and helpful and will compile some of their photos from this year for me so there will be lots to show when I get home. I need to get better at taking pictures of the everyday things…as I’m sure those will be some of the things I miss the most.
Thank you to everyone as always for your thoughts and prayers for the work and the people here. It is really working. My friend is recovering very well and is planning on staying to finish her time here, our work with the Counter-Trafficking Coalition is moving forward. We have most of the resources we need and have begun outreaches. There are some new girls at Lerato House and people really use the services there, often referring cases to us. Work has been slow for the ladies of the night and they are surprised at this, unsure of what it will be like during the World Cup. Our hope is that this will create a curiosity in other options for employment and training…which is available.
Some of the things we’ve been cooking around here:
Malva pudding, Butternut and tomato sauce for pasta, Curried eggs with onions and toast, South African Tiramisu, Gem squash stuffed with creamed corn, and chakalaka pancakes.
It’s much more difficult to cook properly with only a 2 burner stove top, 1 pot and 1 pan, no oven and no refrigerator. But we get by and have gotten much more creative. Siri and I are both essentially vegetarians now. It’s avocado, mango, and orange season now though…so I’m happy!
South African fun fact of the day: You can buy anything you want on the street. Literally.
Just a few of the things I’ve seen for sale on the streets: fruit, shoes, dvds, cds, candy, corn, phone charges, sun glasses, flags, hats, juice, mirrors, earings, bags, car stickers, watermelon, vuvuzelas, soccer balls, HUGE inflatable soccer balls, brooms, fatcakes (donuts), cell phones, nail clippers, and finally, a big classroom diagram of the human body!
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