Lizzie’s reflection after SA
When I first applied for the pilgrimage to South Africa I imagined a trip filled with hard labor, rural communities, and lots and lots of elephants. The trip, however, did not contain any of these images. We did not build houses, we were not living in huts, and no, sadly we did not trade in our van for an elephant. Instead, this pilgrimage was filled with fun people, harsh realities, and lasting memories. Many of my experiences were not what I expected, but to be honest none of us could have anticipated what we were about to see and feel.
My very first experience in Cape Town was not what I imagined at all. It began when the group finally arrived at St. Claire’s church after traveling for 48 hours. We were standing outside of the church when we kept hearing people screaming and cheering. As we got ready to walk in, no one wanted to enter first into the room of unfamiliar voices, but lucky for me I got pushed into the room first. In the room there was a group of about 20 kids standing, clapping their hands and cheering as loudly as they could. It was louder than any concert I have ever been to. I felt like I was a celebrity walking on the red carpet getting followed by 1000 screaming fans. It was probably the most awkward yet most memorable part of the trip for me. I didn’t know whom to look at or if I should wave or if I should go around introducing myself. All of us walked in the same way with our faces beaming red from stage fright and smiling as big as we could. Thankfully, once we all got into the room, we were introduced and began playing games that allowed for us to mingle and get to know one and other. The awkward stage of my journey was over. From the moment that we stepped into the church we were welcomed with hugs and kindness and that continued throughout the whole two weeks we were in South Africa.
Shortly after our welcoming, we were grouped into hostess families for our first night in Cape Town. Emily and I stayed with Barry and Heather Stevens. We got to know the Stevens very well, well at least we got to know Barry because Heather could not get a word in. Barry was energetic, funny, and by the end of the first hour he was calling Emily and me “his girls” or “his daughters”. We ate and laughed for hours that night. Barry asked us what we had expected of South Africa that was not true so far and without thinking I blurted out “well there are no elephants here”. I immediately regretted saying that because for the rest of the trip when Barry would introduce us to his friends he would kindly tell them the apparently hilarious story of me expecting to see elephants. I had expected this night with the host families to be uncomfortable and weird. As you can see, however, none of this was true. I felt more at home than I have ever felt before. The Stevens offered us anything that we would like and they served Emily and me the best pie ever. If you ever go to Cape Town, go to Barry’s house for some pie- trust me. I was not expecting Barry to be so open and honest with us. We spent most of the night talking about Apartheid and the issues of Cape Town. I had learned about Apartheid in 9th grade but to hear the story first hand from an actual witness of it was a completely different experience. It amazed me that the Stevens could be so welcoming and open to complete strangers after having been treated so inhumanely for their whole lives. Emily and I had created a great friendship with the Stevens and enjoyed every second of our stay at their house.
The last thing that I had not expected to experience in South Africa was the reality of the living conditions for millions of people. I had read about the harsh conditions of the poor and seen many pictures of the townships that were a result of Apartheid. However, one can never really understand the reality of life in South Africa until one sees it in person, but I know that not everyone has the opportunity to do so. The first time I saw a township I was in complete shock. It was mile after mile of shacks built within a meter of one and other. When we rounded a turn going up the mountain there was a clear view of the whole town. I honestly don’t have a word to describe what I saw but to put it in perspective it was about 20 by 20 miles of shacks housing approximately 2 million people. I was so nervous when Sam and Kate told us that we would be going to that township later that week. When the day finally arrived, we were greeted with stares at first but then welcomed by everyone we walked past. All the kids would wave and sometimes follow the group. It amazed me that even though these people were sleeping on the dirt floor and could hardly afford a meal; they were still able to smile. They held their heads high and treated us with the greatest kindness anyone could offer.
I had many experiences that were unexpected throughout the whole trip. I couldn’t have asked for more, though. Every person I met, every place I ventured, and every friendship I made allowed me to realize how lucky I was to be there. I know that it is cliché to say, but it gave me a whole new perspective on life. Every day I think about my experiences in South Africa and how great the country is. Nothing that I had anticipated in the beginning held true, and I am so glad that it didn’t. I wouldn’t trade anything for the memories I have and the friendships I made.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Sam Broer's reflections after we got home
Sam Broer
My Experience in South Africa
My pilgrimage to South Africa was, in short, incredible. It’s extremely hard, probably impossible, to convey my experience to you. I can’t really explain the way people like Grant, Keith, Duran, Pat, and Vivian have impacted me, when those names mean very little to you who haven’t met them. But I will do my best to share with you a very short portion of my life that has reshaped my perspective permanently.
When I was writing my application for this trip to South Africa, I really didn’t know just what I was getting into. I wrote, “To me, people, especially the relationships between them, are the most interesting and influential things in our lives. When we meet a person, although we may not know it, we make a huge impact on their life, and they on ours. My hope is that I can impact the people I meet in Africa for the better, but also that I may be impacted by them, that I can learn and grow.” Little did I know just how much the people I met in False Bay would impact me.
Right from the beginning we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, even though we had kept them waiting an extra twenty four hours for us. Immediately we were plunged into a flurry of activity, and it was a bit awkward and overwhelming, but was made easy and fun by the excitement and energy of the kids and youth leaders. The very first night we stayed with a host family, which was kind of a scary prospect—staying the first night on a different continent with an unknown family. I can only really speak for myself, but even though there were a couple awkward moments, my family was amazing. I was sad that we spent so little time with them; we managed to have a lot of fun and good food in the less than 24-hour period we spent with them. But this is only one example—almost everyone we even came in contact with was genuinely interested in us, and treated us like family.
Another incredible example of the loving people we met was when we visited the orphanages. Here were kids who had no parents, many of who had probably dies of AIDS; many kids had AIDS themselves, and who knows what else they had been through living in extreme poverty. Yet, somehow, they had a huge capacity for love; I don’t think any of us expected the kids to attach themselves to us the way they did. At both orphanages they scrambled all over us, demanded to have their pictures taken, and playing with these kids it was easy to forget their situation. At the second orphanage, there was one girl who was especially outgoing and energetic; she sang songs for us and clambered all over everyone. It was really powerful when one of the women who helps run the orphanage told us that she had been returned to the orphanage because the foster family she stayed with for two years was not taking care of her. It was amazing to me that she could show much love for us: complete strangers who spent a few hours with her then left her life probably forever. That was especially notable to me as well. At both orphanages the kids became so attached in such a short period of time, only to never see us again.
However, we weren’t greeted with hugs and smiles by everyone everywhere we went. For example, when we first visited Masiphumelele, the black settlement, we were taken on a tour of an area that had been burned in a massive shack fire several days earlier that destroyed over 200 homes. As we walked through I felt extremely invasive. As she took us through, Pat told us about the action the government took when shack fires such as this one happened, which is fairly frequently. She said the government provided only five sheets of scrap metal for each home in order to rebuild. So we saw people rebuilding shacks out of the old burned out pieces of their homes that had been destroyed in the fire. Though we got some dark looks, not everybody was grim: pat stopped and talked to several people, and, although I couldn’t understand what they were saying, the tones were light and happy. And many people would smile and return a wave if given one. But it was enormously sad to see such good people living in such poor conditions.
We also toured the Masiphumelele high school—attending classes with some of the girls we had met earlier on our trip. It was incredible to see how put together these girls were: to be able to keep a spotless uniform, and keep up with schoolwork while living in a shack with a dirt floor, or perhaps a piece of plastic on the ground is something that people should never have to do, yet it was something these girls did.
This is church, so I suppose I should give some spiritual perspective on our pilgrimage. For me, faith has always been based on people. It was incredible to be able to expand and redefine my faith through the many people I was able to meet in South Africa. Just being with them has changed my perspective on the people and situation right here at home. To be able to be shaped by experiencing a new culture is an incredible experience, and I think it would be a shame to not provide the people who hosted us so graciously an opportunity to come and experience our culture. I believe that this is the next step in the relationship we have begun with the diocese of False Bay, to share our lives with them and they shared theirs with us.
My Experience in South Africa
My pilgrimage to South Africa was, in short, incredible. It’s extremely hard, probably impossible, to convey my experience to you. I can’t really explain the way people like Grant, Keith, Duran, Pat, and Vivian have impacted me, when those names mean very little to you who haven’t met them. But I will do my best to share with you a very short portion of my life that has reshaped my perspective permanently.
When I was writing my application for this trip to South Africa, I really didn’t know just what I was getting into. I wrote, “To me, people, especially the relationships between them, are the most interesting and influential things in our lives. When we meet a person, although we may not know it, we make a huge impact on their life, and they on ours. My hope is that I can impact the people I meet in Africa for the better, but also that I may be impacted by them, that I can learn and grow.” Little did I know just how much the people I met in False Bay would impact me.
Right from the beginning we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, even though we had kept them waiting an extra twenty four hours for us. Immediately we were plunged into a flurry of activity, and it was a bit awkward and overwhelming, but was made easy and fun by the excitement and energy of the kids and youth leaders. The very first night we stayed with a host family, which was kind of a scary prospect—staying the first night on a different continent with an unknown family. I can only really speak for myself, but even though there were a couple awkward moments, my family was amazing. I was sad that we spent so little time with them; we managed to have a lot of fun and good food in the less than 24-hour period we spent with them. But this is only one example—almost everyone we even came in contact with was genuinely interested in us, and treated us like family.
Another incredible example of the loving people we met was when we visited the orphanages. Here were kids who had no parents, many of who had probably dies of AIDS; many kids had AIDS themselves, and who knows what else they had been through living in extreme poverty. Yet, somehow, they had a huge capacity for love; I don’t think any of us expected the kids to attach themselves to us the way they did. At both orphanages they scrambled all over us, demanded to have their pictures taken, and playing with these kids it was easy to forget their situation. At the second orphanage, there was one girl who was especially outgoing and energetic; she sang songs for us and clambered all over everyone. It was really powerful when one of the women who helps run the orphanage told us that she had been returned to the orphanage because the foster family she stayed with for two years was not taking care of her. It was amazing to me that she could show much love for us: complete strangers who spent a few hours with her then left her life probably forever. That was especially notable to me as well. At both orphanages the kids became so attached in such a short period of time, only to never see us again.
However, we weren’t greeted with hugs and smiles by everyone everywhere we went. For example, when we first visited Masiphumelele, the black settlement, we were taken on a tour of an area that had been burned in a massive shack fire several days earlier that destroyed over 200 homes. As we walked through I felt extremely invasive. As she took us through, Pat told us about the action the government took when shack fires such as this one happened, which is fairly frequently. She said the government provided only five sheets of scrap metal for each home in order to rebuild. So we saw people rebuilding shacks out of the old burned out pieces of their homes that had been destroyed in the fire. Though we got some dark looks, not everybody was grim: pat stopped and talked to several people, and, although I couldn’t understand what they were saying, the tones were light and happy. And many people would smile and return a wave if given one. But it was enormously sad to see such good people living in such poor conditions.
We also toured the Masiphumelele high school—attending classes with some of the girls we had met earlier on our trip. It was incredible to see how put together these girls were: to be able to keep a spotless uniform, and keep up with schoolwork while living in a shack with a dirt floor, or perhaps a piece of plastic on the ground is something that people should never have to do, yet it was something these girls did.
This is church, so I suppose I should give some spiritual perspective on our pilgrimage. For me, faith has always been based on people. It was incredible to be able to expand and redefine my faith through the many people I was able to meet in South Africa. Just being with them has changed my perspective on the people and situation right here at home. To be able to be shaped by experiencing a new culture is an incredible experience, and I think it would be a shame to not provide the people who hosted us so graciously an opportunity to come and experience our culture. I believe that this is the next step in the relationship we have begun with the diocese of False Bay, to share our lives with them and they shared theirs with us.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Safely Home
All of us are safely home. I think none of us was ready for how strange it would feel to be in familiar surroundings. Our last 2 days were full of goodbyes. Wednesday evening we hosted a braii (BBQ) at the cottage for our new friends - host families and leaders from St. Clare's, Oceanview, and some of our drivers, hosts, and youth leader friends. Everyone had a great time. It was a nice way to say thank you and goodbye to those who had worked so hard to make our Pilgrimage so wonderful. Thursday we went to the Library in Masi for the last time to play games with the schoolchildren. Then we attended worship with the people of St. Matthew's Chapelry in Masi -- almost the entire service was in Xhosa, but friendly people were on hand to help us find our way through the service. Sam preached a great sermon on being present (and gifts!) to one another, and claimed that we came to Holy Ground on our Pilgrimage because the people of Masi make it holy. They treated us to a traditional supper afterwards - samp (smashed corn) and beans, a spice/sweet relish, and sheep's stomach (which Fr. Brian warned us might not be clean enough for our palates!). Singing, dancing, lots of pictures and goodbye hugs filled out the evening.
Friday morning we were up early to pack and clean. We headed for the airport, said some more goodbyes, and went through security. Sam and the 8 teenagers flew South Africa Air through Johannesburg to Dakar and then from DC to Cleveland. Kate and the Nodar's flew Delta from Cape Town through Dakar and New York City to Cleveland. The two planes left separately, but met in Dakar, and ended up in Cleveland within minutes of each other. Family members of the pilgrims and chaperones were at the airport to greet us when we all arrived, tired but happy to be home.
Already, many of the pilgrims have posted pictures on their Facebook pages. Feel free to contact Kate Gillooly at kgillooly@stpauls-church.org or Sam McDonald at SamEpisco@aol.com for more information about the Pilgrimage or our developing partnerships with the people of False Bay, South Africa.
Friday morning we were up early to pack and clean. We headed for the airport, said some more goodbyes, and went through security. Sam and the 8 teenagers flew South Africa Air through Johannesburg to Dakar and then from DC to Cleveland. Kate and the Nodar's flew Delta from Cape Town through Dakar and New York City to Cleveland. The two planes left separately, but met in Dakar, and ended up in Cleveland within minutes of each other. Family members of the pilgrims and chaperones were at the airport to greet us when we all arrived, tired but happy to be home.
Already, many of the pilgrims have posted pictures on their Facebook pages. Feel free to contact Kate Gillooly at kgillooly@stpauls-church.org or Sam McDonald at SamEpisco@aol.com for more information about the Pilgrimage or our developing partnerships with the people of False Bay, South Africa.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
"Dwights Labyrinth" by Dwight
As I arrived at camp, greeting, making my amends.
I had unknowingly entered my labyrinth and my journey begins.
When entering the labyrinth I was unprpared.
And at the very beginning I looked back because I was scared.
I had expected too much, to do this and do that.
And in the maze of my labyrinth that was the trap.
To get through it I had to let go to all that I knew.
In order to experience aomething that was brand new.
And to do this i had to move away from the troop.
Move away from the troop and form a new group.
At times I felt lonely as if I had no friends.
And the kids I did not know would show up and let that feeling end.
And as the journey continued I ran into a wall.
A wall so tall that to see the top I would have to fall.
But this wall was a stack of children higher than I could see.
As they stood there waiting they were waiting on me.
To give them more of who I am more than my name.
And after that I received a gift in Sam's game.
In the game you had to tell the group something bad someone has said to you.
Something that still today makes you feel blue.
They told me things they probably have never told another.
They grew as a family with me and I felt like their brother.
I watched the wall of my family come tombling down.
But it was not over yet I had to cover more ground.
There was this task where I had to go undercover.
To put on a mask and become another.
This was the most difficult move and made me step back.
But a force of divine strength put me back on track.
And that night when my troop was asleep.
A part of me was touched that ran oh so deep.
This night was topped off by ingredients easy to find.
Crackers, chocolate, marshmellows, and a lot of spare time.
And if you know what this is listen no more.
But if you don't this is the one and only smore.
I prepared thses smores in a flame that seemed to roar.
I made smores for all who asked and that was smores galore.
And with every smore I made the center of the labyrinth grew close.
Then I took a sip of my own medecine, the wake up dose.
As we stood in front of the fire talking, laughing, freezing, staying up real late.
The truth blind sided me with an applausible fate.
As these kids blossomed like flowers, I became the stem.
I was no longer an american I was one of them.
And when i completed my journey I felt so alive.
As the center of my labyrinth was the campfire and boy I had arrived.
I had unknowingly entered my labyrinth and my journey begins.
When entering the labyrinth I was unprpared.
And at the very beginning I looked back because I was scared.
I had expected too much, to do this and do that.
And in the maze of my labyrinth that was the trap.
To get through it I had to let go to all that I knew.
In order to experience aomething that was brand new.
And to do this i had to move away from the troop.
Move away from the troop and form a new group.
At times I felt lonely as if I had no friends.
And the kids I did not know would show up and let that feeling end.
And as the journey continued I ran into a wall.
A wall so tall that to see the top I would have to fall.
But this wall was a stack of children higher than I could see.
As they stood there waiting they were waiting on me.
To give them more of who I am more than my name.
And after that I received a gift in Sam's game.
In the game you had to tell the group something bad someone has said to you.
Something that still today makes you feel blue.
They told me things they probably have never told another.
They grew as a family with me and I felt like their brother.
I watched the wall of my family come tombling down.
But it was not over yet I had to cover more ground.
There was this task where I had to go undercover.
To put on a mask and become another.
This was the most difficult move and made me step back.
But a force of divine strength put me back on track.
And that night when my troop was asleep.
A part of me was touched that ran oh so deep.
This night was topped off by ingredients easy to find.
Crackers, chocolate, marshmellows, and a lot of spare time.
And if you know what this is listen no more.
But if you don't this is the one and only smore.
I prepared thses smores in a flame that seemed to roar.
I made smores for all who asked and that was smores galore.
And with every smore I made the center of the labyrinth grew close.
Then I took a sip of my own medecine, the wake up dose.
As we stood in front of the fire talking, laughing, freezing, staying up real late.
The truth blind sided me with an applausible fate.
As these kids blossomed like flowers, I became the stem.
I was no longer an american I was one of them.
And when i completed my journey I felt so alive.
As the center of my labyrinth was the campfire and boy I had arrived.
Robin Island and a night out for dinner by Matthew
Yesterday we spent the day at Robbin Island, the prions wehre Nelson Mandela and other Anti-Aparthied leaders were kept. It was quite the experience walking through the halls of the prison. They call it a museum, but I don't think that quite describes the feeling you get there.
Unlike the Slave Lodge in Cape Town, for instance, Robin Island was a prison until just about 15 years ago. You get an eerie feeling being there and thinking about it. It really puts everything in perspective.
What really helped was watching "Goodbye Bofana" on the plane ride over. This movie is based on the book by one of the prison gaurds assigned to censor Nelson Mandela's mail while he was a political prisoner at Robin Island, and how this guard was transformed during his time with Mandela. Many of the scenes in the movie are based and shot at this maximum securtiy prison.
It was very powerful to see the Quarry where Mandela and others labored for years as well as the very cell where Mandela was kept in captivity. It was just a small stone cell with only blankets, to keep warm. It struck me that a man would preach forgivness after such inhumain treatment.
I was a little dissapointed to walk the halls and smell the smell of fresh paint. They are in the middle of restoring the prison for preservation so that it continues to appear "as it would have looked." It's the same building and the same walls, but I think an element of its historica value was lost in th process.
After Robin Island we spent the rest of the day on the Cape Town waterfron. They had a little mall there and some little shops. We looked around but only stoped for dinner at an Italian resturant overlooking the harbor. Very picturesque as you could imagine.
For one of our last days here, it was nice and relaxing. Only two more full days here, I think I'm missing it already.
Peace,
Matt
Unlike the Slave Lodge in Cape Town, for instance, Robin Island was a prison until just about 15 years ago. You get an eerie feeling being there and thinking about it. It really puts everything in perspective.
What really helped was watching "Goodbye Bofana" on the plane ride over. This movie is based on the book by one of the prison gaurds assigned to censor Nelson Mandela's mail while he was a political prisoner at Robin Island, and how this guard was transformed during his time with Mandela. Many of the scenes in the movie are based and shot at this maximum securtiy prison.
It was very powerful to see the Quarry where Mandela and others labored for years as well as the very cell where Mandela was kept in captivity. It was just a small stone cell with only blankets, to keep warm. It struck me that a man would preach forgivness after such inhumain treatment.
I was a little dissapointed to walk the halls and smell the smell of fresh paint. They are in the middle of restoring the prison for preservation so that it continues to appear "as it would have looked." It's the same building and the same walls, but I think an element of its historica value was lost in th process.
After Robin Island we spent the rest of the day on the Cape Town waterfron. They had a little mall there and some little shops. We looked around but only stoped for dinner at an Italian resturant overlooking the harbor. Very picturesque as you could imagine.
For one of our last days here, it was nice and relaxing. Only two more full days here, I think I'm missing it already.
Peace,
Matt
"Villian of relentless work" a poem by Dwight
Oh how you work diminisher of the peace
With everyday you work your powers increase
With everyday you work you increase the deceased
Oh how you work so vast so quick
With every day you work your skin grows thick
With every day you work it sickens the sick
Oh how you work as you brainwash the mind
With every day you work touching all mankind
With every day you work, invisible to those who see and the blind
Oh how you work thou art so cold
With every day you work your intentions grow bold
With every day you work you travel from the young to the old
Oh how you work destroyer of the land
How you can desolate the land with one stroke of your hand
How you can sell another for a couple of rand
Oh how you work through the government to the leaders elite
How you have found yourself a seat that allows you to speak
How you contains the trap door under the nations feet
Oh how you work and contain no guilt
How you can knock down good things built
Oh how you work stripping us naked
So you can see right through us we are unable to fake it
We have given you all that we are cause you decided to take it
You have married this land and you need a divorce
Forcing it to engage in this unsafe intercourse
All vulnerable to your unbeatable force
Oh how you work flowing with the ocean through the cape
You ravage you kill you beat you rape
Forcing anyone into a corner unable to escape
Oh you villian how I hate you so
You have us on puppet strings and you won't let go
You villian you bandit why do you live in the place
Why do you cover yourself while we know your face
Why are you still here, are you not amused
All the pain you have caused all the hearts you've abused
Will you continue to travel till there's noone left
But realize then you will only put yourself to death
So the villian here or at least the one I see
Is the dictator of South Africa, AIDS and HIV
With everyday you work your powers increase
With everyday you work you increase the deceased
Oh how you work so vast so quick
With every day you work your skin grows thick
With every day you work it sickens the sick
Oh how you work as you brainwash the mind
With every day you work touching all mankind
With every day you work, invisible to those who see and the blind
Oh how you work thou art so cold
With every day you work your intentions grow bold
With every day you work you travel from the young to the old
Oh how you work destroyer of the land
How you can desolate the land with one stroke of your hand
How you can sell another for a couple of rand
Oh how you work through the government to the leaders elite
How you have found yourself a seat that allows you to speak
How you contains the trap door under the nations feet
Oh how you work and contain no guilt
How you can knock down good things built
Oh how you work stripping us naked
So you can see right through us we are unable to fake it
We have given you all that we are cause you decided to take it
You have married this land and you need a divorce
Forcing it to engage in this unsafe intercourse
All vulnerable to your unbeatable force
Oh how you work flowing with the ocean through the cape
You ravage you kill you beat you rape
Forcing anyone into a corner unable to escape
Oh you villian how I hate you so
You have us on puppet strings and you won't let go
You villian you bandit why do you live in the place
Why do you cover yourself while we know your face
Why are you still here, are you not amused
All the pain you have caused all the hearts you've abused
Will you continue to travel till there's noone left
But realize then you will only put yourself to death
So the villian here or at least the one I see
Is the dictator of South Africa, AIDS and HIV
"Bold" a poem by Dwight
Having no fear in attacking all in the night
Infiltrating the system even in broad daylight
Virtually unseeable nearly impossible to detect
And yet with the lack of respect it decides to infect
Inhumane as it cuts human flesh with its blades
Destroying everthing in broad range raids
So as you the bold this alone is . . . .
Infiltrating the system even in broad daylight
Virtually unseeable nearly impossible to detect
And yet with the lack of respect it decides to infect
Inhumane as it cuts human flesh with its blades
Destroying everthing in broad range raids
So as you the bold this alone is . . . .
Brit takes a turn blogging
So its finally my turn to write the blog. Well yesterday (7/28/08) we woke up late after our sleep deprived weekend at camp. Our itinerary for yesterday was to visit Masi High School and shadow some of students for two periods. We go to the classes, and Dwight and I were in the class Economics, but there was a slight twist; the class was entirely taught in Xhosa (their native language.) So that was a different experience. After school was over we visited the Masi library and played games with the children there. After we were done at the library we met up with the students that we shadowed during the day. It was then that it really struck me that these teenagers live in shacks. But you would never have known that from the way they looked at school. All their unifoms were immaculate and they looked incredibly pulled together. Last night we said goodbye to Mary deBoer who left at like 4am to her flight to Tanzania! W will miss her and her sense of humor. Today we're going the the historically significant site of Robbin Island. Miss you all back in Ohio!
Sam Broer reflects on hitting the halfway point
Monday July 28, 2008
This past week has been a busy one. We have been carted from church to church, museum to museum, activity to activity. We have been exposed to a lot of South African culture and history, and we have now hit our halfway point. My impression of our trip is that our two weeks here our somewhat disconnected. In our first week we have spent most of our time connecting with predominately colored youth groups, and learning about South Africa’s history. In the coming week, most of our time is scheduled in the mostly black township, Masiphumelele. This past weekend was a good way to divide these weeks. We attended a diocesan youth leader training camp, and many people we had already met from visiting youth groups were there. I felt a sense of conclusion as we were able to play games, watch presentations, and spend free time with the people we had been acquainted with during the week. When we left I felt I was ready to move on to the next part of pilgrimage. We have already been to Masi once, so I have some idea of what we will be doing there, and I think I will enjoy the hands on way we will be helping the kids there. This first week we have done a lot of learning, observing, and meeting people, and I have been somewhat frustrated with lack of action. We have seen hardship and poverty, and I will be happy when we begin to help the people we have seen living in such conditions.
This past week has been a busy one. We have been carted from church to church, museum to museum, activity to activity. We have been exposed to a lot of South African culture and history, and we have now hit our halfway point. My impression of our trip is that our two weeks here our somewhat disconnected. In our first week we have spent most of our time connecting with predominately colored youth groups, and learning about South Africa’s history. In the coming week, most of our time is scheduled in the mostly black township, Masiphumelele. This past weekend was a good way to divide these weeks. We attended a diocesan youth leader training camp, and many people we had already met from visiting youth groups were there. I felt a sense of conclusion as we were able to play games, watch presentations, and spend free time with the people we had been acquainted with during the week. When we left I felt I was ready to move on to the next part of pilgrimage. We have already been to Masi once, so I have some idea of what we will be doing there, and I think I will enjoy the hands on way we will be helping the kids there. This first week we have done a lot of learning, observing, and meeting people, and I have been somewhat frustrated with lack of action. We have seen hardship and poverty, and I will be happy when we begin to help the people we have seen living in such conditions.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Andy's Thursday Breakfast, Penguins and Masi
Waking up, I was treated to a lovely breakfast made by Matt and Dwight. Matt was the head chef and made everyone any type of egg that each person wanted. Evidently, Dwight was our waiter and made the food look elegant like a top notch restaurant. I personally had ham, scrambled eggs, and toast. It was delicious. My compliments to the chef.
So my sister Kate will be extremely jealous when I tell her about our visit to Boulders Beach. Yes, there were boulders, but on those boulders there were also penguins. Thousands of them! No, not Emperor Penguins, but the African Penguins. Even though not as prestige as the Emperor Penguin, the African Penguin was a sight to see. No worries, I have numerous pictures of the penguins. Oh, I also climbed a mountain there. Well, it was a few boulders but when you’re on top of them, one does feel pretty high.
After visiting Boulders Beach, we took a road trip to Masiphmelele. As many know, this is an impoverished township. We started off by going to the local health clinic and took a brief tour by one of its three nurses. After our tour, the group headed across the road to the Children’s Library/Community Center. Another tour was in store for us there also. A local elderly lady named Pat took us around Masi and showed us where a massive fire took place a few nights before.
That night we had some soup prepared by Mary Nodar and then went off to a youth group meeting at the Church of the Good Sheppard. Here, we had discussions about cultural differences in the World and how to overcome them.
Ok, so that was just a brief overview of what happened on Thursday. Now it is time for me to tell you how I felt during selected portions of the day. Boulder Beach was nothing short of magnificent. Clear light blue water splashed against massive smooth boulders sticking out of the beach. These boulders reached thirty feet in height and many of them had numerous penguins sprawled on top. We watched penguins dive into the water and their bodies slickly glide through the water. I’ve never seen any creature use their natural habitat like these penguins.
It was hard to comprehend anything in Masi. The township was made mostly of metal shacks and it was hard to find anything positive about anything there. The clinic and library were the only positive things that we could find. The clinic provides free care for numerous diseases. However, it is often overcrowded because there are only three full time nurses and the community is devastated with all types of diseases including HIV/AIDS. The nurse that toured us told us about how three year old boys were being used for sex and they were contracting HIV/AIDS through it. Though I never saw any of these boys, I could only imagine their faces and the pain they were going through. It is common for girls (mostly young teens) to get pregnant. When these girls go into labor, they have to be sent to the hospital five minutes away. Because many families here have no mean of transportation, they are forced to take a taxi. The Taxi drivers know the dire situation of the girls and they usually do not feel remorse for them. Many will charge the girls 300 to 400 Rand to drive the girl five minutes away. That is around fifty dollars. The nurse told=2 0us about a particular girl who was a peer leader at a local center. She taught younger kids to abstain from sex. She however, has come in recently for her seventh STI. Talk about hypocritical. Although the health clinic is physically in good shape, it has a lot of work ahead of it that will never cease.
Our walk though Masi was hard for all of us. We walked the streets of this township and our skin color was on all of our minds. I have never felt so vulnerable being white. We walked down a “main” road and saw a quick glance at how these people live their lives. Everybody stared at us and thankfully we had two locals taking us. I felt like these people perceived us as tourists viewing a must see. Though many were personally nice to us, I could tell many despised us. Pat (the local elderly lady) took us through the heart of the township. We went off of the main road and into a winding alley like path that took us between numerous shacks that were all burned down by the fire. When one shack catches on fire, because of the close proximity of shacks, they all catch. The government provides shack building kits to the destroyed shacks. In this particular case, 200 shacks were destroyed and 800 people were left homeless. One of the most awful thing about t his situation is that the government only provides five pieces of metal for their new homes. It is hard to comprehend that the government provides so little. It is even harder to comprehend that the government encourages these living conditions. The government does not attempt to give its people better building materials for a better home, but maintains the inhumane living conditions that are already in place. I stayed in the back of the group as we walked through the mud around the shacks. Beside me was Mary Nodar, who attempted to greet almost every person that we passed. She has been around this area for numerous years and even she felt uneasy. She told me that as long as we keep on talking and wishing them the best of luck, we should have a safe journey. Without Pat or the other local walking with us, we would have been very insecure. I watched the people rebuild their lives over again as if it was a normal occurrence. Actually, fires in Masi are almost normal to the locals. Every few weeks a fire burns down hundreds of shacks then the people rebuild them in a number of days.
Life here is just impossible to fully understand without living it. The hardships that these people go through on a daily basis is more than anyone should ever go through. One family’s shack burned down, and all it had left was the school books for one of its boys. Everything else was destroyed.
(Received for posting 7/25/2000)
So my sister Kate will be extremely jealous when I tell her about our visit to Boulders Beach. Yes, there were boulders, but on those boulders there were also penguins. Thousands of them! No, not Emperor Penguins, but the African Penguins. Even though not as prestige as the Emperor Penguin, the African Penguin was a sight to see. No worries, I have numerous pictures of the penguins. Oh, I also climbed a mountain there. Well, it was a few boulders but when you’re on top of them, one does feel pretty high.
After visiting Boulders Beach, we took a road trip to Masiphmelele. As many know, this is an impoverished township. We started off by going to the local health clinic and took a brief tour by one of its three nurses. After our tour, the group headed across the road to the Children’s Library/Community Center. Another tour was in store for us there also. A local elderly lady named Pat took us around Masi and showed us where a massive fire took place a few nights before.
That night we had some soup prepared by Mary Nodar and then went off to a youth group meeting at the Church of the Good Sheppard. Here, we had discussions about cultural differences in the World and how to overcome them.
Ok, so that was just a brief overview of what happened on Thursday. Now it is time for me to tell you how I felt during selected portions of the day. Boulder Beach was nothing short of magnificent. Clear light blue water splashed against massive smooth boulders sticking out of the beach. These boulders reached thirty feet in height and many of them had numerous penguins sprawled on top. We watched penguins dive into the water and their bodies slickly glide through the water. I’ve never seen any creature use their natural habitat like these penguins.
It was hard to comprehend anything in Masi. The township was made mostly of metal shacks and it was hard to find anything positive about anything there. The clinic and library were the only positive things that we could find. The clinic provides free care for numerous diseases. However, it is often overcrowded because there are only three full time nurses and the community is devastated with all types of diseases including HIV/AIDS. The nurse that toured us told us about how three year old boys were being used for sex and they were contracting HIV/AIDS through it. Though I never saw any of these boys, I could only imagine their faces and the pain they were going through. It is common for girls (mostly young teens) to get pregnant. When these girls go into labor, they have to be sent to the hospital five minutes away. Because many families here have no mean of transportation, they are forced to take a taxi. The Taxi drivers know the dire situation of the girls and they usually do not feel remorse for them. Many will charge the girls 300 to 400 Rand to drive the girl five minutes away. That is around fifty dollars. The nurse told=2 0us about a particular girl who was a peer leader at a local center. She taught younger kids to abstain from sex. She however, has come in recently for her seventh STI. Talk about hypocritical. Although the health clinic is physically in good shape, it has a lot of work ahead of it that will never cease.
Our walk though Masi was hard for all of us. We walked the streets of this township and our skin color was on all of our minds. I have never felt so vulnerable being white. We walked down a “main” road and saw a quick glance at how these people live their lives. Everybody stared at us and thankfully we had two locals taking us. I felt like these people perceived us as tourists viewing a must see. Though many were personally nice to us, I could tell many despised us. Pat (the local elderly lady) took us through the heart of the township. We went off of the main road and into a winding alley like path that took us between numerous shacks that were all burned down by the fire. When one shack catches on fire, because of the close proximity of shacks, they all catch. The government provides shack building kits to the destroyed shacks. In this particular case, 200 shacks were destroyed and 800 people were left homeless. One of the most awful thing about t his situation is that the government only provides five pieces of metal for their new homes. It is hard to comprehend that the government provides so little. It is even harder to comprehend that the government encourages these living conditions. The government does not attempt to give its people better building materials for a better home, but maintains the inhumane living conditions that are already in place. I stayed in the back of the group as we walked through the mud around the shacks. Beside me was Mary Nodar, who attempted to greet almost every person that we passed. She has been around this area for numerous years and even she felt uneasy. She told me that as long as we keep on talking and wishing them the best of luck, we should have a safe journey. Without Pat or the other local walking with us, we would have been very insecure. I watched the people rebuild their lives over again as if it was a normal occurrence. Actually, fires in Masi are almost normal to the locals. Every few weeks a fire burns down hundreds of shacks then the people rebuild them in a number of days.
Life here is just impossible to fully understand without living it. The hardships that these people go through on a daily basis is more than anyone should ever go through. One family’s shack burned down, and all it had left was the school books for one of its boys. Everything else was destroyed.
(Received for posting 7/25/2000)
Lizzie's Wednesday Starts with a Whale
Wednesday morning began with excitement. We saw a pod of dolphins in the bay as we were writing in our journals. They swam off together jumping into sun. After several days of wishing to see a whale, a humpback popped his nose up out of the water to say hello. We all sprinted out to the porch to take a look through the binoculars. Although all we could see was a tiny black spot, it was still satisfying to finally see one! As we began our drive into Cape Town, we spotted the whale again as it splashed its tale out of the water. Relieved and excited, we continued on with our journey for the day.
We arrived at the District Six Museum in the morning. District Six was originally a colored town where every religion and culture was prevalent. The man giving the tour said he was originally from District Six, and he said that everyone was accepting of each other’s religion and background. He told us how everyone was forced out of their homes by the white people and were left with nothing. Not only did the white people kick them out of their homes, but they also destroyed all the homes in order to build new and better ones. The museum was filled with stories and pictures of the lives of those who were forced out of their life in District Six. It was hard for me to even imagine that happening to anyone. It was disheartening to know that people could treat others with such inhumane and cruel acts.
After visiting the museum, we proceeded to St. George’s Cathedral where the Archbishop worships. It was the most beautiful place I have ever seen. It was filled with large, stained- glassed windows and crossed. The Archbishop had a chair that was similar to that of a King’s. We all went outside to walk to the labyrinth. It took us all about ten minutes to walk, and we sat together in the middle to be with each other and talk. Fortunately, there was a service that we were allowed to go to. It was very short, but still an amazing experience to be praying in the Cathedral. Everyone was welcoming to us even if they didn’t speak English.
When the service was over we walked to what is known as the Slave House. The Slave House was originally where all the slaves lived. They did not have windows, and there was little room for moving around. The house had then been renovated into a court house, and again renovated to be a museum. We learned about how South African slaves were treated. Again, it struck me as disturbing how one could treat another human being with such hatred.
It was an interesting day filled with listening and learning. A pilgrim must listen in order to grow, and that is exactly what we all did. We finished our day with a delicious dinner that Mrs. Nodar had made for all of us, and sang together before bed. It was a tiring day, but we were all appreciative for the opportunity to listen to and learn about the history and people of South Africa.
We arrived at the District Six Museum in the morning. District Six was originally a colored town where every religion and culture was prevalent. The man giving the tour said he was originally from District Six, and he said that everyone was accepting of each other’s religion and background. He told us how everyone was forced out of their homes by the white people and were left with nothing. Not only did the white people kick them out of their homes, but they also destroyed all the homes in order to build new and better ones. The museum was filled with stories and pictures of the lives of those who were forced out of their life in District Six. It was hard for me to even imagine that happening to anyone. It was disheartening to know that people could treat others with such inhumane and cruel acts.
After visiting the museum, we proceeded to St. George’s Cathedral where the Archbishop worships. It was the most beautiful place I have ever seen. It was filled with large, stained- glassed windows and crossed. The Archbishop had a chair that was similar to that of a King’s. We all went outside to walk to the labyrinth. It took us all about ten minutes to walk, and we sat together in the middle to be with each other and talk. Fortunately, there was a service that we were allowed to go to. It was very short, but still an amazing experience to be praying in the Cathedral. Everyone was welcoming to us even if they didn’t speak English.
When the service was over we walked to what is known as the Slave House. The Slave House was originally where all the slaves lived. They did not have windows, and there was little room for moving around. The house had then been renovated into a court house, and again renovated to be a museum. We learned about how South African slaves were treated. Again, it struck me as disturbing how one could treat another human being with such hatred.
It was an interesting day filled with listening and learning. A pilgrim must listen in order to grow, and that is exactly what we all did. We finished our day with a delicious dinner that Mrs. Nodar had made for all of us, and sang together before bed. It was a tiring day, but we were all appreciative for the opportunity to listen to and learn about the history and people of South Africa.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Emily on Orphanages, Tuesday night, 7/23
We visited two orphanages today, Fikelele Children's Center and Heaven's Nest Recreational Center. Neither one was what I expected, in a good way. My image of orphanages was similar to the movie Annie, though worse since we're in Africa.
Fikelele turned out to be a ratio of about 16 children for 2 or 3 caregivers, in a relatively clean and put together place. The children were much more receptive than I thought they would be. I imagined them being shy and afraid, but they were open and playful almost immediately.
Soon after we walked in, one of the boys got up and ran over to me and threw his arms around my legs. Other children started getting up and walking over as well, some crawling all over us, some introducing themselves (in Xhosa) and a few being very shy. One of the girls clung to me, and when I would try to put her down or play with her in such a way that made her think I was going to put her down, she'd grab harder and start crying. The leader got her to get down and play a few times, but each time she'd run right back over and ask to be picked up again.
When we left, it was really hard, since many children began to cry. I also had to struggle with the idea that we would leave and continue on with our trip, and then continue on with our lives once we get home, while they will stay there with limited love, support, and resources, and have a future with few opportunities that would likely turn out like so many of the ones we've seen, with tiny shacks in often dangerous areas. It makes our lives seem extravagent in comparison.
The second orphanage, Heaven's Nest, was much nicer. There were 3 caregivers for about 9 children, in a well organized, clean, relatively spacious place. The children were well cared for, with individual attention for each of them. We were shocked at how well behaved they were. They ate quietly and neatly, and waited for permission to get up from the table to come play with us. Hanging out with them was a lot of fun, and personally, less emotionally difficult. While we've heard a lot about orphanages and how many orphan children there are, it didn't completely click for me until I saw and met them. This experience was hard for me to handle, but stretched me in a positive way.
After the orphanages, we had some time to ourselves. We came home for lunch, and then went out to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. It put in perspective how far away we are when we saw signs with distances for many major cities, and New York was 12 000 km away.
Afterwards, we came back to the cabins for some chill time and to get ready for the barbeque with many youth leaders from the diocese. It was really nice to have some time to relax and unwind, since it feels like we've been going nonstop since we arrived. I'm excited for the rest of the week, and especially for next week when we'll be able to spend more time with the youth in Masiphumelele.
(Received for posting 23 July 2008)
Fikelele turned out to be a ratio of about 16 children for 2 or 3 caregivers, in a relatively clean and put together place. The children were much more receptive than I thought they would be. I imagined them being shy and afraid, but they were open and playful almost immediately.
Soon after we walked in, one of the boys got up and ran over to me and threw his arms around my legs. Other children started getting up and walking over as well, some crawling all over us, some introducing themselves (in Xhosa) and a few being very shy. One of the girls clung to me, and when I would try to put her down or play with her in such a way that made her think I was going to put her down, she'd grab harder and start crying. The leader got her to get down and play a few times, but each time she'd run right back over and ask to be picked up again.
When we left, it was really hard, since many children began to cry. I also had to struggle with the idea that we would leave and continue on with our trip, and then continue on with our lives once we get home, while they will stay there with limited love, support, and resources, and have a future with few opportunities that would likely turn out like so many of the ones we've seen, with tiny shacks in often dangerous areas. It makes our lives seem extravagent in comparison.
The second orphanage, Heaven's Nest, was much nicer. There were 3 caregivers for about 9 children, in a well organized, clean, relatively spacious place. The children were well cared for, with individual attention for each of them. We were shocked at how well behaved they were. They ate quietly and neatly, and waited for permission to get up from the table to come play with us. Hanging out with them was a lot of fun, and personally, less emotionally difficult. While we've heard a lot about orphanages and how many orphan children there are, it didn't completely click for me until I saw and met them. This experience was hard for me to handle, but stretched me in a positive way.
After the orphanages, we had some time to ourselves. We came home for lunch, and then went out to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. It put in perspective how far away we are when we saw signs with distances for many major cities, and New York was 12 000 km away.
Afterwards, we came back to the cabins for some chill time and to get ready for the barbeque with many youth leaders from the diocese. It was really nice to have some time to relax and unwind, since it feels like we've been going nonstop since we arrived. I'm excited for the rest of the week, and especially for next week when we'll be able to spend more time with the youth in Masiphumelele.
(Received for posting 23 July 2008)
Carolyn on Khayelitsha, the Mall and Agents of Change (7/22)
Yesterday was very busy. We started out by going to the diocesan office and meeting with some people who work there. They were really nice. They talked about their work towards HIV/AIDS prevention. After giving us a tour of the building, Father Xola -- the priest at St Francis in Khayelitsha -- took us into the township of Khayelitsha where we saw some toddlers at daycare.
One of the most powerful points in the day was hearing Father Xola speak while we were waiting for the Nodars outside of the church. He spoke of when Jesus turned a few pieces of bread and fish into enough to feed thousands. He told us he did not care about the miracle in the story. What he did care about was the little boy who offered all that he had to help. He didn't have much to offer, but he was gracious in his offerings.
He also explained how some communities in South Africa are like caged lions, now being freed and going wild. Seeing the homes Khayelitsha was hard. They are made out of scrap metal with roofs that are sometimes just tarps held down with anything they can find. It's one thing to see pictures and hear about it, but it becomes more of a reality and you actually see the shacks lined up nearly on top of each other literally as far as you can see. We didn't spend much time there. I wish we could have stayed longer.
Right after we left we went to the largest mall in the Southern Hemisphere. That was hard. It just frustrated me that a mall so nice and so large was less than half-an-hour away from a township that holds over 2 million. I was almost angry. Someone pointed out that some of the people working there probably live in Khayelitsha and can't afford to purchase the items in the mall that they are working in. It was very frustrating going from one extreme to another.
After the mall we went to an Agents of Change meeting. This is a program in the diocese here, made to educate teenagers about HIV/AIDS. One of the statistics said that in South Africa the AIDS rate is nearly one-third of the population. It surprised all of us how open all the kids were to talking about it and how involved with the activities they became. We were all very moved by what we saw and what we did.
It feels like we've been here for so long. I'm so grateful for this opportunity, with the experiences that I know will affect who I am as a person for the rest of my life.
(Received for posting 23 July 2008)
One of the most powerful points in the day was hearing Father Xola speak while we were waiting for the Nodars outside of the church. He spoke of when Jesus turned a few pieces of bread and fish into enough to feed thousands. He told us he did not care about the miracle in the story. What he did care about was the little boy who offered all that he had to help. He didn't have much to offer, but he was gracious in his offerings.
He also explained how some communities in South Africa are like caged lions, now being freed and going wild. Seeing the homes Khayelitsha was hard. They are made out of scrap metal with roofs that are sometimes just tarps held down with anything they can find. It's one thing to see pictures and hear about it, but it becomes more of a reality and you actually see the shacks lined up nearly on top of each other literally as far as you can see. We didn't spend much time there. I wish we could have stayed longer.
Right after we left we went to the largest mall in the Southern Hemisphere. That was hard. It just frustrated me that a mall so nice and so large was less than half-an-hour away from a township that holds over 2 million. I was almost angry. Someone pointed out that some of the people working there probably live in Khayelitsha and can't afford to purchase the items in the mall that they are working in. It was very frustrating going from one extreme to another.
After the mall we went to an Agents of Change meeting. This is a program in the diocese here, made to educate teenagers about HIV/AIDS. One of the statistics said that in South Africa the AIDS rate is nearly one-third of the population. It surprised all of us how open all the kids were to talking about it and how involved with the activities they became. We were all very moved by what we saw and what we did.
It feels like we've been here for so long. I'm so grateful for this opportunity, with the experiences that I know will affect who I am as a person for the rest of my life.
(Received for posting 23 July 2008)
Lost Children a poem by Dwight
Here the bundles of kids with no place to live,
Abandoned no family with no love to give.
All that they know fades off in the mist.
The affection thet need and miss, cut iff by an infection that they don't know exists.
So they swing on the swings and slide down the slides.
On the foster care rollercoaster,a never ending ride.
They are trapped in an ocean unable to swim.
Drownining in a fate that seems oh so grim.
From the outside it seems they will never win.
You don't know where they start but you will know where they'll end.
But that's because you are on the outside looking in.
It's so much different when you are on the inside looking within.
Suddenly you notice something is right.
The kids begin to ride a funicular of light.
In the mountains hopes and dreams so hard to reach.
Yet they have a gift that no human soul can teach,
The gift that they have with any confrontation:
To care for the unknown of no known relationship.
They have the gift of love all the way to the core.
And boy do they love, till they can't love no more.
A love stronger than any that I've known before.
Its like an unlimted supply of love,
That thay contain and store.
And this gets to me and sends me out of control.
How the children skip the body,
And reach into the soul.
And as they rise, in a way like the sun,
You begin to realize they aleady won.
And as all the kids take their love and combine them,
I realize they're not lost,
We just can't find them.
Abandoned no family with no love to give.
All that they know fades off in the mist.
The affection thet need and miss, cut iff by an infection that they don't know exists.
So they swing on the swings and slide down the slides.
On the foster care rollercoaster,a never ending ride.
They are trapped in an ocean unable to swim.
Drownining in a fate that seems oh so grim.
From the outside it seems they will never win.
You don't know where they start but you will know where they'll end.
But that's because you are on the outside looking in.
It's so much different when you are on the inside looking within.
Suddenly you notice something is right.
The kids begin to ride a funicular of light.
In the mountains hopes and dreams so hard to reach.
Yet they have a gift that no human soul can teach,
The gift that they have with any confrontation:
To care for the unknown of no known relationship.
They have the gift of love all the way to the core.
And boy do they love, till they can't love no more.
A love stronger than any that I've known before.
Its like an unlimted supply of love,
That thay contain and store.
And this gets to me and sends me out of control.
How the children skip the body,
And reach into the soul.
And as they rise, in a way like the sun,
You begin to realize they aleady won.
And as all the kids take their love and combine them,
I realize they're not lost,
We just can't find them.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Reflections from Dwight
Today was possibly, not possibly, was the most mentally challenging day of the week. I was placed in a numerous amount of scenarios where I wasn’t used to and will explain in different ways.
Transitions
An up and down state of extremes is what you call South Africa. Due to the rise and fall of apartheid it has caused a lot of waiting issues to occur, one in particular to me. When you look at Simon’s Town you see nice houses, cars, a beautiful beach, like upper class, you stroll like 1 mile doesn’t you will be in average two bedroom homes usually orange, green yellow or white. Kinda
middle class but in poverty. Then you go next door to that and the true effects of apartheid kick in. You see 10 ft high 10 ft wide houses made of scrap metal and no electricity. Scrap metal houses which from far away look like giant garbage dumps. Now imagine that there are 2 million people living in these scrap metal houses 10 ft by 10 ft, now imagine that 1 million is only in
Kheyalitsha. One of the hundreds of others like itself in South Africa. Now imagine a mansion right next to it. You know who lives in the mansion and who lives in the scrap. And its just unreal to see this is a giant spread of these shacks then you approach the biggest mall in the southern hemisphere. And just a mile back people were going into big garbage dumps to get supplies and live off what they can. And further down you notice that as stated by Sam that for the workers that work at the mall and can’t afford to buy anything in the entire mall. I was told about a girl who chose to buy a pair of shoes and then she couldn’t afford to go to school. Man it shocks me to know that this goes on every day and I complain about crap. There is no easy transition there is just what you see is what you get.
Father Xola inspired me on what and how the lives of the people in Khayelitscha. How they do what they can and it made me realize.
Crime.
When talk of crime in the US you think we got it bad and are people so violent but most of it is premeditated. But in South Africa oh they are crazy. You just dies and die and die and they just have incotrolled random violence. And this is not the case at all. But to start I will say I saw my first dead body covered up but I did see it. And on the cover of the newspaper it said 21 people were killed. It makes you nervous til you see and hear the truth. There may be a lot of different kinds of crime but not necessarily without cause. Like Father Xola said after apartheid they are in the stafe of wild and crazy but it will die down. But the crime here is survival of the fittest. They can only do what they need to to survive. They don’t randomly rob you. They are
poor and need money. Im, actually mad at myself for thinking of the people as untamed animals. It is only a small percent of the population commits crime. And again it is last resort. When a child has to steal, like literally roob their own parents there is a problem and it just doesn’t randomly happen. When a parent sells a kid to sex for a few rand and that’s not crime that is just a sign that the system is not working and something needs to be done. Numerous amounts of people have talked about the biggest problem in South Africa. AIDS/HIV which is stronger here than anywhere in the world. I learned the facts and here is the reflection.
Dialogue.
You constantly hear on the radio people talking about preventing the spread of AIDS because it is high in America. After being here that is almost tame. In American 1.28[%] of the populations. Try multiplying that by 30 and here that is just about 1 in 3 people have HIV/AIDS. And it is said that by 23010 when the FIFA world cupcomes it will be 1 in 2 people. Its just unbelievable
that if you come here in 2010 and counted 1, 2, 1, 2 that every second person would already be infected with a disease that is undetectable unseeable and unvincable. I questioned to myself that why and how could this happen there are many groups now to prevent aids through teaching the kids but why not 10 years ago. Then I found out that the government does not acknowledge AIDS as a disease and said it was a white mans trick to run apartheid. It almost like are you out of your mind. It doesn’t exist. Well explain why 1 in 3 people have aids, explain why kids have lost their parents to this plague and have been thrown in foster homes. Explain how you are so stupid that you can believe that be true. When I heard it almost brought me to tears. How could something so devastating to your country not exist. And then I realized it. AIDS has went to the source. Its smart. It knew that it could brainwash the government into believing it wasn’t real they would tell the people and it could spread like butter on bread. And it is succeeding. But thank God for the church who has put it on itself to prevent the spread of aids. Through workshops and the Agents of Change who teach young adults and teenagers about the disease. Let you know that you don’t have to have sex because you have nothing to do, or to follow the trend. Because now with the trend, is the disease. Tell them that it is all right to not have sex that the trend can change to not having sex. And if you do have sex make it with one you care for and one who is willing to wear a condom. Because after all if you don’t have sex how could the disease spread. Yes I know that it comes from the blood and breast milk but you have to have sex to breast feed. And by 2010 you could be enjoying the world cup cheering for your South Africa Team.
And to end for today I have a little something which is important.
Why Are We Here?
I am constantly hit with why are you here
And of this group this question affects every single peer.
We could all say we were on vacation.
Or we are all here to help foreign relations.
We could say we are here to see the beautiful land.
Or say we are here to gain knowledge as a country and where we stand.
We could say we are here to change their lives.
But in my eyes they are changing our lives.
We did not know but I do know today.
And here’s what I say in this rhyming way
We are here to be together and also with Christ
We are here to build as one but still breaking the ice
We are here to see each other’s faces
We are here to learn of each others places
We are here in partnership as one big family
And if we are not that then what can we be
We are here in a way that might seem visionary
In a way that may seem missionary
We are really here to build a bridge all the way across the map
And when that is completed we have closed the gap.
(Received for posting 22 July 2008)
(Editor's note: in line 8 in the above poem, I corrected "our loves" to "our lives". I hope I corrected a typo.)
Transitions
An up and down state of extremes is what you call South Africa. Due to the rise and fall of apartheid it has caused a lot of waiting issues to occur, one in particular to me. When you look at Simon’s Town you see nice houses, cars, a beautiful beach, like upper class, you stroll like 1 mile doesn’t you will be in average two bedroom homes usually orange, green yellow or white. Kinda
middle class but in poverty. Then you go next door to that and the true effects of apartheid kick in. You see 10 ft high 10 ft wide houses made of scrap metal and no electricity. Scrap metal houses which from far away look like giant garbage dumps. Now imagine that there are 2 million people living in these scrap metal houses 10 ft by 10 ft, now imagine that 1 million is only in
Kheyalitsha. One of the hundreds of others like itself in South Africa. Now imagine a mansion right next to it. You know who lives in the mansion and who lives in the scrap. And its just unreal to see this is a giant spread of these shacks then you approach the biggest mall in the southern hemisphere. And just a mile back people were going into big garbage dumps to get supplies and live off what they can. And further down you notice that as stated by Sam that for the workers that work at the mall and can’t afford to buy anything in the entire mall. I was told about a girl who chose to buy a pair of shoes and then she couldn’t afford to go to school. Man it shocks me to know that this goes on every day and I complain about crap. There is no easy transition there is just what you see is what you get.
Father Xola inspired me on what and how the lives of the people in Khayelitscha. How they do what they can and it made me realize.
Crime.
When talk of crime in the US you think we got it bad and are people so violent but most of it is premeditated. But in South Africa oh they are crazy. You just dies and die and die and they just have incotrolled random violence. And this is not the case at all. But to start I will say I saw my first dead body covered up but I did see it. And on the cover of the newspaper it said 21 people were killed. It makes you nervous til you see and hear the truth. There may be a lot of different kinds of crime but not necessarily without cause. Like Father Xola said after apartheid they are in the stafe of wild and crazy but it will die down. But the crime here is survival of the fittest. They can only do what they need to to survive. They don’t randomly rob you. They are
poor and need money. Im, actually mad at myself for thinking of the people as untamed animals. It is only a small percent of the population commits crime. And again it is last resort. When a child has to steal, like literally roob their own parents there is a problem and it just doesn’t randomly happen. When a parent sells a kid to sex for a few rand and that’s not crime that is just a sign that the system is not working and something needs to be done. Numerous amounts of people have talked about the biggest problem in South Africa. AIDS/HIV which is stronger here than anywhere in the world. I learned the facts and here is the reflection.
Dialogue.
You constantly hear on the radio people talking about preventing the spread of AIDS because it is high in America. After being here that is almost tame. In American 1.28[%] of the populations. Try multiplying that by 30 and here that is just about 1 in 3 people have HIV/AIDS. And it is said that by 23010 when the FIFA world cupcomes it will be 1 in 2 people. Its just unbelievable
that if you come here in 2010 and counted 1, 2, 1, 2 that every second person would already be infected with a disease that is undetectable unseeable and unvincable. I questioned to myself that why and how could this happen there are many groups now to prevent aids through teaching the kids but why not 10 years ago. Then I found out that the government does not acknowledge AIDS as a disease and said it was a white mans trick to run apartheid. It almost like are you out of your mind. It doesn’t exist. Well explain why 1 in 3 people have aids, explain why kids have lost their parents to this plague and have been thrown in foster homes. Explain how you are so stupid that you can believe that be true. When I heard it almost brought me to tears. How could something so devastating to your country not exist. And then I realized it. AIDS has went to the source. Its smart. It knew that it could brainwash the government into believing it wasn’t real they would tell the people and it could spread like butter on bread. And it is succeeding. But thank God for the church who has put it on itself to prevent the spread of aids. Through workshops and the Agents of Change who teach young adults and teenagers about the disease. Let you know that you don’t have to have sex because you have nothing to do, or to follow the trend. Because now with the trend, is the disease. Tell them that it is all right to not have sex that the trend can change to not having sex. And if you do have sex make it with one you care for and one who is willing to wear a condom. Because after all if you don’t have sex how could the disease spread. Yes I know that it comes from the blood and breast milk but you have to have sex to breast feed. And by 2010 you could be enjoying the world cup cheering for your South Africa Team.
And to end for today I have a little something which is important.
Why Are We Here?
I am constantly hit with why are you here
And of this group this question affects every single peer.
We could all say we were on vacation.
Or we are all here to help foreign relations.
We could say we are here to see the beautiful land.
Or say we are here to gain knowledge as a country and where we stand.
We could say we are here to change their lives.
But in my eyes they are changing our lives.
We did not know but I do know today.
And here’s what I say in this rhyming way
We are here to be together and also with Christ
We are here to build as one but still breaking the ice
We are here to see each other’s faces
We are here to learn of each others places
We are here in partnership as one big family
And if we are not that then what can we be
We are here in a way that might seem visionary
In a way that may seem missionary
We are really here to build a bridge all the way across the map
And when that is completed we have closed the gap.
(Received for posting 22 July 2008)
(Editor's note: in line 8 in the above poem, I corrected "our loves" to "our lives". I hope I corrected a typo.)
Monday, July 21, 2008
Matt Reflects on the First Three Days
So... Africa...
We've been here for three days now, but it feels like weeks. Not in a drawn out, we've been here doing nothing sort of way, but only because we've done so much.
Already I've met way more people than I can remember, been to two vastly different church services, and seen more than I've ever seen... all in three days.
So far, a little update on what's happened so far: On Thursday we flew from Hopkins in Cleveland to Dulles in D.C. WE spent our afternoon lay over visiting the sushi bar, news stands, and watching in longing as fellow passengers enjoyed the massage bar inches away from our gate. We boarded our flight and two movies, one game, one Tylenol PM, one stop in Dakar and 19 hours later, we landed in Johannesburg.
From there, we had to rush out of the international gates, get our luggage, and rush over to our domestic flight to Cape Town. As we were running fown the last flight of stairs, "final boarding call for all passengers going to Cape Town" rang out, and we all broke out into an all-out run.
We ran up to the gate, and were greeted with: "Sorry, sir, flight's closed" Buzz kill.. we had made it all the way here only to fail at the last moment!
After and hour with Sam and Mary negotiating, the airline put us up at a local hotel for the night.
The next morning,we woke up at the crack of dawn to make a 9 am flight. No luck, all full. After almost missing the next flght out, we were all finally able to board. Oh yeah, in first class, courtesy of SAA!
We got our bags and met the Nodars and Kate outside of baggage claim, along with Keith, the head of the youth program for the diocese, and Vivian, his assistant.
As we drove along with Keith, Vivian and us cracking jokes, listening to the music on the radio, all was well. Then I saw it: Khayeltisha, one of the largest black townships. I had heard about it, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw. It was rows and rows of scrap metal shacks as far as the eye could see. I almost didn't realize what it was until I saw people playing on roofs of the shacks. It has been the only time where I have been genuinely speechless.
(received for posting 21 July 2008)
We've been here for three days now, but it feels like weeks. Not in a drawn out, we've been here doing nothing sort of way, but only because we've done so much.
Already I've met way more people than I can remember, been to two vastly different church services, and seen more than I've ever seen... all in three days.
So far, a little update on what's happened so far: On Thursday we flew from Hopkins in Cleveland to Dulles in D.C. WE spent our afternoon lay over visiting the sushi bar, news stands, and watching in longing as fellow passengers enjoyed the massage bar inches away from our gate. We boarded our flight and two movies, one game, one Tylenol PM, one stop in Dakar and 19 hours later, we landed in Johannesburg.
From there, we had to rush out of the international gates, get our luggage, and rush over to our domestic flight to Cape Town. As we were running fown the last flight of stairs, "final boarding call for all passengers going to Cape Town" rang out, and we all broke out into an all-out run.
We ran up to the gate, and were greeted with: "Sorry, sir, flight's closed" Buzz kill.. we had made it all the way here only to fail at the last moment!
After and hour with Sam and Mary negotiating, the airline put us up at a local hotel for the night.
The next morning,we woke up at the crack of dawn to make a 9 am flight. No luck, all full. After almost missing the next flght out, we were all finally able to board. Oh yeah, in first class, courtesy of SAA!
We got our bags and met the Nodars and Kate outside of baggage claim, along with Keith, the head of the youth program for the diocese, and Vivian, his assistant.
As we drove along with Keith, Vivian and us cracking jokes, listening to the music on the radio, all was well. Then I saw it: Khayeltisha, one of the largest black townships. I had heard about it, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw. It was rows and rows of scrap metal shacks as far as the eye could see. I almost didn't realize what it was until I saw people playing on roofs of the shacks. It has been the only time where I have been genuinely speechless.
(received for posting 21 July 2008)
Friday, July 18, 2008
Times of Hello’s and Goodbye’s
July 18, 2008
Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday
It has been a busy week of offering workshops and seminars around the Diocese of False Bay! I haven’t even had time (or internet access) to post a blog. Here’s a re-cap of how I spent my time. I don’t think I will be able to articulate all that I have taken in and learned this week – at least for a long time.
Monday morning Ruth and I drove from Wolseley to Ceres for Morning Prayer with other clergy of the area. Then Ruth, Victor, Jonathon (all area priests) drove to Robertson to meet with Aiden Knight and his wife Patricia. Aiden had just gotten back from sabbatical in London and was full of reflections about the differences in the Church in England. He showed us the churches in his parish (white, colored and black) and fed us a nice lunch. Then we went to Jonathon’s parish so I could meet with their confirmation students (over 100 of them!). After tea at Jonathon’s home, we went back to Ceres so I could meet with the Lay Ministers there. We enjoyed a bible study on Colossians. Aiden says his Xhosa congregation wants a new church building, instead of the shack they currently worship in. He has told them, “First we must be the church. Then God wil help us build one.”
On Tuesday, we left the house at 6:00 am to drive back to Stellenbosch so I could meet with the clergy of the diocese. I led them through a process of crafting a congregationally owned vision for Christian Formation in their parishes, using appreciative inquiry and asset-mapping. Although some were intrigued, others complained that their lack of resources and committed lay persons made it impossible to contemplate such matters. They did present me with a gift of Desmond Tutu’s authorized biography, which I am looking forward to reading. Afterwards, Fr. Clarence, Archdeacon of the Helderberg Archdeaconry along the Strand, showed me many of the parishes in the area. He pointed out areas where settlements have grown up right next to very wealthy homes. He toured me through the diocesan offices, and explained that he had stewardship of them because they fell in his archdeaconry. Then he took me to Deacon Roberta’s apartment for soup and supper before another presentation to the Lay Minister’s of their Archdeaconry. This one was on the Liturgical Year and Program Planning. When Roberta took be back to her place we had a nice time for silent meditation before bed.
On Wednesday, Roberta drove me to Muizenberg, along the coast, where Cliff Felix met me to take me to Simon’s Town. He brought along Marim, a Pentecostal pastor, who works with him on Church Based Community Organizing. When we got to Simon’s Town, the caretake was not around to let me into the cottage, so we went to Jubilee Square for coffee and scones. We were hoping that Father Bolton would meet up with us, and he came along about the same time as the caretaker. After a few moments of greeting and touring the cottages, the others left me to settle in. I enjoyed a chance to rest, but also prepared for my evening presentation. At 5:00Fr. Leslie picked me up and took me to supper at Dixie’s before showing me his archdeaconry: Mitchell’s Plain. Then I led a Lay Minister’s workshop on Age Level Characteristics and Stages of Faith Development. Fr. Leslie took me back to the cottage about 10 pm. I knew that Rich and Mary Nodar were due in, but it was too late to connect.
Thursday morning the Nodar’s called me and I walked up the way to have breakfast with them. They seemed so excited to have someone from home here in their other home! We planned preparations for the arrival of the rest of the team, and then they let me get back to preparation for my final workshop. At 4 pm Fr. Wilfred picked me up to show me around his archdeaconry: Blue Downs. He showed me Delft, an area that includes people who were kicked out of new homes by the government. They now live in shacks right on the edge of the development. There is a settlement with tin shacks nearby, but they refuse to go there because they say the government will just leave them there. It doesn’t not seem to be getting resolved in the courts. Then we met with more confirmation students and I asked for messages to take back to our kids at home. They were shy, but did mention that kids everywhere should remember that God created them unique and one should not try to conform to the world around them. Then we went to Fr. Connie’s parish in Kleinvlie for a meeting with all the leaders of the archdeaconry. We enjoyed soup and bread first, then spirited singing of praise songs. There must have been 250 people there! I spoke to them about the power and process of small group ministry, and they seemed eager to put the information to use right away. They wanted my contact information and I gave away all my business cards! Afterwards, Fr. Wilfred had arranged to take me to dinner with some area clergy, but the restaurant was closed, so after driving around, we ended up at Fr. Robert’s home for cheese sandwiches.
Today (Friday) I have had a chance to sleep late, wander around Simon’s Town, visit with the Nodar’s, and prepare for the Pilgrimage Team who arrives tonight. I am so looking forward to seeing my friends!
Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday
It has been a busy week of offering workshops and seminars around the Diocese of False Bay! I haven’t even had time (or internet access) to post a blog. Here’s a re-cap of how I spent my time. I don’t think I will be able to articulate all that I have taken in and learned this week – at least for a long time.
Monday morning Ruth and I drove from Wolseley to Ceres for Morning Prayer with other clergy of the area. Then Ruth, Victor, Jonathon (all area priests) drove to Robertson to meet with Aiden Knight and his wife Patricia. Aiden had just gotten back from sabbatical in London and was full of reflections about the differences in the Church in England. He showed us the churches in his parish (white, colored and black) and fed us a nice lunch. Then we went to Jonathon’s parish so I could meet with their confirmation students (over 100 of them!). After tea at Jonathon’s home, we went back to Ceres so I could meet with the Lay Ministers there. We enjoyed a bible study on Colossians. Aiden says his Xhosa congregation wants a new church building, instead of the shack they currently worship in. He has told them, “First we must be the church. Then God wil help us build one.”
On Tuesday, we left the house at 6:00 am to drive back to Stellenbosch so I could meet with the clergy of the diocese. I led them through a process of crafting a congregationally owned vision for Christian Formation in their parishes, using appreciative inquiry and asset-mapping. Although some were intrigued, others complained that their lack of resources and committed lay persons made it impossible to contemplate such matters. They did present me with a gift of Desmond Tutu’s authorized biography, which I am looking forward to reading. Afterwards, Fr. Clarence, Archdeacon of the Helderberg Archdeaconry along the Strand, showed me many of the parishes in the area. He pointed out areas where settlements have grown up right next to very wealthy homes. He toured me through the diocesan offices, and explained that he had stewardship of them because they fell in his archdeaconry. Then he took me to Deacon Roberta’s apartment for soup and supper before another presentation to the Lay Minister’s of their Archdeaconry. This one was on the Liturgical Year and Program Planning. When Roberta took be back to her place we had a nice time for silent meditation before bed.
On Wednesday, Roberta drove me to Muizenberg, along the coast, where Cliff Felix met me to take me to Simon’s Town. He brought along Marim, a Pentecostal pastor, who works with him on Church Based Community Organizing. When we got to Simon’s Town, the caretake was not around to let me into the cottage, so we went to Jubilee Square for coffee and scones. We were hoping that Father Bolton would meet up with us, and he came along about the same time as the caretaker. After a few moments of greeting and touring the cottages, the others left me to settle in. I enjoyed a chance to rest, but also prepared for my evening presentation. At 5:00Fr. Leslie picked me up and took me to supper at Dixie’s before showing me his archdeaconry: Mitchell’s Plain. Then I led a Lay Minister’s workshop on Age Level Characteristics and Stages of Faith Development. Fr. Leslie took me back to the cottage about 10 pm. I knew that Rich and Mary Nodar were due in, but it was too late to connect.
Thursday morning the Nodar’s called me and I walked up the way to have breakfast with them. They seemed so excited to have someone from home here in their other home! We planned preparations for the arrival of the rest of the team, and then they let me get back to preparation for my final workshop. At 4 pm Fr. Wilfred picked me up to show me around his archdeaconry: Blue Downs. He showed me Delft, an area that includes people who were kicked out of new homes by the government. They now live in shacks right on the edge of the development. There is a settlement with tin shacks nearby, but they refuse to go there because they say the government will just leave them there. It doesn’t not seem to be getting resolved in the courts. Then we met with more confirmation students and I asked for messages to take back to our kids at home. They were shy, but did mention that kids everywhere should remember that God created them unique and one should not try to conform to the world around them. Then we went to Fr. Connie’s parish in Kleinvlie for a meeting with all the leaders of the archdeaconry. We enjoyed soup and bread first, then spirited singing of praise songs. There must have been 250 people there! I spoke to them about the power and process of small group ministry, and they seemed eager to put the information to use right away. They wanted my contact information and I gave away all my business cards! Afterwards, Fr. Wilfred had arranged to take me to dinner with some area clergy, but the restaurant was closed, so after driving around, we ended up at Fr. Robert’s home for cheese sandwiches.
Today (Friday) I have had a chance to sleep late, wander around Simon’s Town, visit with the Nodar’s, and prepare for the Pilgrimage Team who arrives tonight. I am so looking forward to seeing my friends!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
The Many Faces of Anglicanism
July 13, 2008
This morning Ruth, my host and the assistant priest for this parish, and I left the house at 7:00 to drive to Ceres for 8:00 worship. Last night Victor, the rector, had asked me to preach. So we arrive, greet the lay leaders, and search for the key to the vestry to get ready. St. Andrew's is an upperimiddle class church with traditional tastes. There were about 220 people in worship and we sang old hymns and lots of service music. At the announcements, the warden welcomed me and led the congregation in a song for me: God bless You Today, to the tune of Happy Birthday. It was a wonderfully warm welcome, which took the chill off the freezing temperature. After the service we drove quickly to Wolseley where about 60 people greeted us and sang praise music a capella in their tiny chapel. We came home for lunch and I worked on my presentations while Ruth did one more service for farm workers at one of their mission chapels. We enjoyed afternoon tea with Rose, the warden at Wolseley,and a couple who have recently moved up here from Cape Town. The sermons seemed to go well, although it was hard to tell how much some understood, since Afrikanse is their first language.
A pilgrim makes an offering of self.
Back to capetown and beyond
July 12
Yesterday I left reading camp and flew back to capetown. I did not want to leave the children and the warm community we all had built up. But I had to go. I spent the night at cliff felixes home again and then got up early to go to the university at stellembausch to present a workshop for sunday school teachers and confirmation teachers. Over 200 people came from all over the diocese. We spent the day learning and sharing ideas about how to use the lectionary to create curriculum. It was an energizing day and I left with gratitude for the passion I saw and hope for the church. Now I will spend a few days in a more rural area - visiting with lay ministers, confirmands, and preaching at 2 churches tomorrow. I am so grateful for people's hospitality and warmth. There have been a few times already when I have wished for a chance to not me on the move-to settle down in one place for a while. But I am tryong to remember that the journey is the destination. I can choose to feel settled anywhere.
A pilgrim depends upon the hospitality of others.
Friday, July 11, 2008
July 10
Reading camp rocks
Today we had a different schedule. Usually the kids visit 6 learning centers each morning to work on specific reading skills. They spend 30 minutes in each so it takes up the entire morning. Today we were going to a game reserve to see the animals so everything had to be rearranged. At breakfast, brother timothy asked one young boy if he was excited to go to the game park. Yes, he said, but would they still do the centers? Well, said brother timothy, they would shorten them and do half beforehand and perhaps the other half after lunch. For a moment no one at the table spoke. Then the boy said he would rather do centers than see the animals!
The kids are having so much fun wilth everything they are doing. From learning to read to singing. Journals, soccer and crafts and hikes, they are having a blast. It's about the reading. But it is also about new worlds being opened up through new friends, books, bedtime stories, wild animals close up, and people who care for you and care about you and show it in lots of ways. Brother timothy says part of the reason reading camp matters in south africa is because we have a generation that went from illiteracy to television. this is still an oral/aural culture but now they get their information from tv. So there is no felt need to learn to read. May this week change that for a few.
www.readingcamprocks.blogspot.com
Reading camp rocks
Today we had a different schedule. Usually the kids visit 6 learning centers each morning to work on specific reading skills. They spend 30 minutes in each so it takes up the entire morning. Today we were going to a game reserve to see the animals so everything had to be rearranged. At breakfast, brother timothy asked one young boy if he was excited to go to the game park. Yes, he said, but would they still do the centers? Well, said brother timothy, they would shorten them and do half beforehand and perhaps the other half after lunch. For a moment no one at the table spoke. Then the boy said he would rather do centers than see the animals!
The kids are having so much fun wilth everything they are doing. From learning to read to singing. Journals, soccer and crafts and hikes, they are having a blast. It's about the reading. But it is also about new worlds being opened up through new friends, books, bedtime stories, wild animals close up, and people who care for you and care about you and show it in lots of ways. Brother timothy says part of the reason reading camp matters in south africa is because we have a generation that went from illiteracy to television. this is still an oral/aural culture but now they get their information from tv. So there is no felt need to learn to read. May this week change that for a few.
www.readingcamprocks.blogspot.com
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Reading camp makes a difference
(July 9)
Today is the third full day of reading camp and my second day here at assegai trails retreat center. We have 18 children campers, several teen and young adult counselors, and 6 teachers. All is going well, and the folks who have worked so hard to make this happen are beginning to talk about next year. We had several observers who wondered about how effective this really is - what happens when these kids go home? Who follows up with them? Is there long term progress? Kari, the coordinator, said with passion that if we make a difference in these kids lives even for just a week, then its worth it. Too often we get paralyzed by the fear that it is not enough- that it doesn't erase poverty or end abuse or change the nation overnight. But as kari reminds us, it doesn't need to do everything to do something. There is gratification in a child's smile - in a hug or glance or new word learned. That has to be enough to make it worth it. We can make a world of difference in the lives of these 18 children. Sometimes that has to be the measuring stick.
Today is the third full day of reading camp and my second day here at assegai trails retreat center. We have 18 children campers, several teen and young adult counselors, and 6 teachers. All is going well, and the folks who have worked so hard to make this happen are beginning to talk about next year. We had several observers who wondered about how effective this really is - what happens when these kids go home? Who follows up with them? Is there long term progress? Kari, the coordinator, said with passion that if we make a difference in these kids lives even for just a week, then its worth it. Too often we get paralyzed by the fear that it is not enough- that it doesn't erase poverty or end abuse or change the nation overnight. But as kari reminds us, it doesn't need to do everything to do something. There is gratification in a child's smile - in a hug or glance or new word learned. That has to be enough to make it worth it. We can make a world of difference in the lives of these 18 children. Sometimes that has to be the measuring stick.
Sights and sounds in cape town airport
After spending the night at the felixes home cliff took me to the airport. He pointed out the proximity of shanty towns and better off suburbs. I think that is true everywhere-the rich and poor live close together. Cliff showed me several spots where people are planting gardens only a few feet from where someone has dumped trash. He see hope amidst despair in this-people making a better world wherever they are.
I had time in the airport to watch people coming and going before my flight to port elizabeth. I heard so many different languages etc. Airports are always centers for diversity but south africa is certainly the rainbow nation - almost from its beginning it has been home to a multitude of races and ethnicities. There are 9 official langugaes and I could hear snippets of several that morning.
I had a chance to visit with peter, a retired priest in port elizabeth and friends with nick and diana white before I got to reading camp. Through the network of the church I am making new friends and depending on their hospitality and good will. I find myself wondering how to repay such kindness and realize the best I can do now is to be open to the blessings and grateful for whatever comes my way.
A pilgrim is hopeful.
I had time in the airport to watch people coming and going before my flight to port elizabeth. I heard so many different languages etc. Airports are always centers for diversity but south africa is certainly the rainbow nation - almost from its beginning it has been home to a multitude of races and ethnicities. There are 9 official langugaes and I could hear snippets of several that morning.
I had a chance to visit with peter, a retired priest in port elizabeth and friends with nick and diana white before I got to reading camp. Through the network of the church I am making new friends and depending on their hospitality and good will. I find myself wondering how to repay such kindness and realize the best I can do now is to be open to the blessings and grateful for whatever comes my way.
A pilgrim is hopeful.
Monday, July 7, 2008
arrival in country
After a very long flight (18 hours from New York to Cape Town!) I have arrived in South Africa. The Rev. Cliff Felix and his wife, Whillemina, picked me up and drove me to their house where I will spend the night. They are cooking lentil curry and it smells so good! I will spend the night here then travel to Port Elizabeth, be met by a friend of Nick and Diana White's who will take me to the Order of the Holy Cross Monastery to observe Reading Camp. I feel fortunate to be here, to be warmly welcomed by so many, and to have the opportunity to make new friendships, and learn about the country. Tonight I get to hear stories from the Felixes about growing up in South Africa and the changes they have witnessed during their lives and ministries here.
"A pilgrim listens."
"A pilgrim listens."
Monday, June 30, 2008
Preparing for Pilgrimage
We believe that a pilgrimage is different from other kinds of trips because it is intentional, and has a spiritual component. We also believe that the pilgrimage begins before we step on the plane, or land in the new place. Preparation is part of pilgrimage, and that is what we are doing now. I (Kate) leave this Sunday, July 6 for South Africa. I have such a long To Do list to complete before then! And I am so excited about all that awaits me in South Africa. The other pilgrims (8 teenagers, two more adult chaperons and two host liaisons) will fly over mid-July. We will have two weeks to get to know the people of South Africa in the Anglican Diocese of False Bay, and in the process, get to know ourselves and our God better also. Please keep us in your prayers!
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