This weekend was really nice, but yesterday I realised that it was also a weekend which summed up much of the situation in rural South Africa. You see I am part of a multi-cultural church. The vision of Dihlabeng Christian Church is to example what it means to be 'one new man in Christ'. Sadly, living in the shadow of apartheid, this is not an easy task. Clarens is still a very segregated community. I live in comfort in the white part of town, while many of my friends live in much poorer circumstances down the road in the township. When I walk through the township I am greeted by a constant cry from every child I pass of 'lekgoa' (white person). Some children are so unused to seeing white people that they literally hide from me.
I spent Friday evening at our 20s meeting - I was the only white person there. On Saturday I was invited to a braii - there were no black people there. Then on Saturday night I went to our youth meeting - again I was the only white person there. So it would seem that we are still living very separate lives. Coming from a nation where, although there is undoubtably racism, I am used to sharing my life with people from all sorts of different cultures and backgrounds, I find this aspect of living in Clarens incredibly difficult.
God has been very gracious towards South Africa. It is a miracle of His mercy that these post-apartheid years have been peaceful in this nation. But rural South Africa is still living with the consequences of generations brought up through apartheid. We need Christ's healing in our prejudiced hearts. We need His power to break the bonds of poverty. We need His strength to stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We need His grace to understand one another's cultures. And we need His love to truly become 'one new man in Christ'.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Friday, 21 August 2009
African Heads
I am always amazed by the ability of African ladies to carry things on their heads. The one time I tried to carry a box of clothes on my head it fell off and the clothes scattered all over the road, much to the amusement of my Basotho friends.
Yesterday I saw the most bizarre thing yet though - an old lady going to collect wood had a full size axe balanced on her head. As my sister later said - 'that's just silly'. I did wonder quite what would happen if the axe slipped even just a centimetre - not a pretty thought. Sadly I didn't have my camera with me to capture the moment.
Yesterday I saw the most bizarre thing yet though - an old lady going to collect wood had a full size axe balanced on her head. As my sister later said - 'that's just silly'. I did wonder quite what would happen if the axe slipped even just a centimetre - not a pretty thought. Sadly I didn't have my camera with me to capture the moment.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
A day of two halves
Today started off pretty badly - I heard 2 very sad pieces of news in quick succession. My friend Laura in the UK is pregnant with twins who are due in about 4 weeks time. They've known since the beginning that one of the babies may be poorly, but today she has been admitted to hospital as the doctors are very concerned about the baby's health. They are deciding whether they need to deliver the twins this week. It's obviously a huge worry for Graham and Laura as the doctors are unable to tell what's actually wrong with the baby or how serious it is.
After Laura text to let me know, I found out that a good friend here lost her mum yesterday. Anna's mum has had a long battle against a brain tumour and at times God has brought significant healing to her. But in the early hours yesterday Anna's mum passed away in the hospital. It's so hard to know how to be a comfort to someone in this situation. I visited Anna at work this morning and managed to hug her and pray with her. There's little more I can do, and Anna is Basotho so I don't even fully understand what happens now. Her dad, who works away, has come home to sort out the funeral. There are a lot of traditions associated with death in the Basotho culture, and I am still quite ignorant of them. As with all cultures, some are harmless traditions and some are not so harmless. The grieving process is influenced by culture, but we can all take comfort in knowing that Anna's mum knew Jesus and so is now with Him in glory.
So this morning my day was feeling quite overshadowed by these sad situations. I was struggling to lift my eyes above the here and now. But then I went to Mapheo.
This term we are looking at 'God's Plan for Us'. The idea is to show the children that God has good plans for each of us. We're also teaching them about different kinds of jobs so that they can begin to grasp an idea of what they could do for a living in the future. So last week we looked at being a builder and between us built a brick wall. But I'll blog about that another time. Right now I want to tell you about today.
There's a lovely lady in our church called Jeanette who owns a restaurant in Clarens called Valley Cats. Jeanette saves all her bashed up cakes in her freezer for us and periodically the kids at Mapheo get to feast on them for their snack. So she's well loved! Today Jeanette had the whole of Mapheo to her restaurant to teach them about the different jobs you can do.
It's hard to describe just how big a deal this was. First of all it meant getting to go in a car up to town as it's too far for them to walk in the time available. That's a massive treat all by itself. Then it also meant being in town, again a massive treat. Top that off with getting to go to a restaurant - a first for the kids - and you begin to understand how exciting it all was.
Word had obviously got out about our trip as when we got to Mapheo at 3pm, an hour before it starts, there were already quite a number of very excited kids waiting. As we prayed together, this number grew and grew, and the kids became uber hyper outside. Which was probably a good thing as it's FREEZING today so all the excitement kept them warm although also inevitably led to a few tears.
We got the kids through registration and the rules and then started ferrying them up to town in the cars. They waited playing games on the village green until we were all there, then formed a 'snake' to walk to the restaurant.
Jeanette was all ready for them so after listening to a story about a cake baker, she chatted about what you need to run a restaurant and all the different jobs you can do.
Then came the really exciting bit. Jeanette had prepared it so that the kids could be her customers! She had set out long tables outside and all the kids sat down. Then she gave each one a special menu:
Polony roll - 5c
Scone and jam - 5c
Milo and marshmellow - 5c
She gave every child a little packet that had 20c in it - enough to pay for one of everything on the menu and leave a tip. So as the waiters handed them plates with the food on they were able to pay for it. Needless to say the kids absolutely loved it! They got to be real customers and enjoy good food. They also got to take their menus home along with a little packet of homemade sweets from Jeanette.
The kids were so well behaved, and had an amazing time. It was a privilege to be a part of such a wonderful experience. And it totally made my week and probably my month :-)
Puleng and Zodwa enjoy their food
Matsamai enjoys his milo
Paying for food
Jeanette hands out packets of money while the kids look at the menu
Walking in a snake to the restaurant
After Laura text to let me know, I found out that a good friend here lost her mum yesterday. Anna's mum has had a long battle against a brain tumour and at times God has brought significant healing to her. But in the early hours yesterday Anna's mum passed away in the hospital. It's so hard to know how to be a comfort to someone in this situation. I visited Anna at work this morning and managed to hug her and pray with her. There's little more I can do, and Anna is Basotho so I don't even fully understand what happens now. Her dad, who works away, has come home to sort out the funeral. There are a lot of traditions associated with death in the Basotho culture, and I am still quite ignorant of them. As with all cultures, some are harmless traditions and some are not so harmless. The grieving process is influenced by culture, but we can all take comfort in knowing that Anna's mum knew Jesus and so is now with Him in glory.
So this morning my day was feeling quite overshadowed by these sad situations. I was struggling to lift my eyes above the here and now. But then I went to Mapheo.
This term we are looking at 'God's Plan for Us'. The idea is to show the children that God has good plans for each of us. We're also teaching them about different kinds of jobs so that they can begin to grasp an idea of what they could do for a living in the future. So last week we looked at being a builder and between us built a brick wall. But I'll blog about that another time. Right now I want to tell you about today.
There's a lovely lady in our church called Jeanette who owns a restaurant in Clarens called Valley Cats. Jeanette saves all her bashed up cakes in her freezer for us and periodically the kids at Mapheo get to feast on them for their snack. So she's well loved! Today Jeanette had the whole of Mapheo to her restaurant to teach them about the different jobs you can do.
It's hard to describe just how big a deal this was. First of all it meant getting to go in a car up to town as it's too far for them to walk in the time available. That's a massive treat all by itself. Then it also meant being in town, again a massive treat. Top that off with getting to go to a restaurant - a first for the kids - and you begin to understand how exciting it all was.
Word had obviously got out about our trip as when we got to Mapheo at 3pm, an hour before it starts, there were already quite a number of very excited kids waiting. As we prayed together, this number grew and grew, and the kids became uber hyper outside. Which was probably a good thing as it's FREEZING today so all the excitement kept them warm although also inevitably led to a few tears.
We got the kids through registration and the rules and then started ferrying them up to town in the cars. They waited playing games on the village green until we were all there, then formed a 'snake' to walk to the restaurant.
Jeanette was all ready for them so after listening to a story about a cake baker, she chatted about what you need to run a restaurant and all the different jobs you can do.
Then came the really exciting bit. Jeanette had prepared it so that the kids could be her customers! She had set out long tables outside and all the kids sat down. Then she gave each one a special menu:
Polony roll - 5c
Scone and jam - 5c
Milo and marshmellow - 5c
She gave every child a little packet that had 20c in it - enough to pay for one of everything on the menu and leave a tip. So as the waiters handed them plates with the food on they were able to pay for it. Needless to say the kids absolutely loved it! They got to be real customers and enjoy good food. They also got to take their menus home along with a little packet of homemade sweets from Jeanette.
The kids were so well behaved, and had an amazing time. It was a privilege to be a part of such a wonderful experience. And it totally made my week and probably my month :-)
Puleng and Zodwa enjoy their food
Matsamai enjoys his milo
Paying for food
Jeanette hands out packets of money while the kids look at the menu
Walking in a snake to the restaurant
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Back in Clarens
I spent the whole of July back in the UK. It was lovely to be home for a few weeks and spend time with family and friends, go to the Newfrontiers Leaders Conference and watch a whole load of Grey's Anatomy. I also got to go to 2 friends weddings - congrats to Alex & Emily and Mike & Vic!!
Just before I left Clarens I did manage a day 'bumboarding' at Afriski - the ski resort in Lesotho. It was a lot of fun. The resort is at 3,300 metres which is the highest I've ever been and the air is defintely thinner there! It was my first time at a ski resort, but Miriana who practically grew up on skis assured me it was a very 'african' version. Here are a couple of pics to explain:
The cable supplying electricity to the ski lift - we sledged over it a few times!
The interesting apartments which have been built with balconies with no walls!
I've been back in Clarens for a week now and it almost feels like I've never been away....almost. But not completely as while I was gone Pippa, another English volunteer, left to go back to the UK to start her studies. Then 2 days after I got back, my neighbour, Miriana, also left to return to Germany to start her studies. Over the past few months Miriana and Pippa had become good friends, and Clarens and my flat are much quieter without them.
I thought I would share the stories of the kids I visit with you over the next few posts. I'm gonna change their names so that any confidential information is protected.
I'll start with Sam.
Sam is 6 we think, but we can't be sure as we've never seen a birth certificate. His mum died about 2 years ago of a 'heart problem'. I suspect this is code for 'AIDS' but can't be sure. There's no dad. So now Sam lives with his grandma. Grandma is a lovely old lady. She takes good care of Sam and the others who live in her home. There's her son and daughter, and various others depending on who happens to be staying there at any particular time.
The problem is that Grandma is HIV positive. She's beginning to look pretty haggard and she can't work. Thankfully because Sam's paperwork is in order she does receive a state child grant for him. But as yet I haven't plucked up the courage to ask her if she's made any plans for Sam when she dies. Because she will die, maybe not next week, maybe not next year, but it's looking unlikely that Sam will reach adulthood before she passes away. Her son who lives in the house is the father of another child I visit but has taken absolutely no responsibility for him so I very much doubt he would take Sam on. Her daughter is too young to care for Sam. So what will happen to him?
I'm also concerned about Sam's health as he has had a cold for the last few months - his nose is always running. This is not a good sign. But this week when we visited we were told that they had all had the flu but were now recovered. So at some point I also need to ask if I can do an HIV test on Sam. Apart from the cold he seems pretty healthy, so it could just be caused by malnutrition.
Well that's the beginning of Sam's story. Without the hope of the Gospel he's in for a pretty tough life. Even with Jesus his life is unlikely to be easy - like most people around here, he will have to survive day to day. But the Basotho people are a joyful nation. Even in the midst of her suffering his grandma always wants to know how I am, how my trip home was. If she comprehends that my life is much nicer than hers, she doesn't show it or make me feel guilty.
I pray that Sam grows up knowing God, knowing that He has good plans for his life, plans to prosper him in some way. I pray that even if he lives his whole life in Clarens, struggling through poverty, that Sam will know that he has a hope and a future through the grace of Jesus. And I pray that God will allow me to be a part of Sam's story.
Just before I left Clarens I did manage a day 'bumboarding' at Afriski - the ski resort in Lesotho. It was a lot of fun. The resort is at 3,300 metres which is the highest I've ever been and the air is defintely thinner there! It was my first time at a ski resort, but Miriana who practically grew up on skis assured me it was a very 'african' version. Here are a couple of pics to explain:
The cable supplying electricity to the ski lift - we sledged over it a few times!
The interesting apartments which have been built with balconies with no walls!
I've been back in Clarens for a week now and it almost feels like I've never been away....almost. But not completely as while I was gone Pippa, another English volunteer, left to go back to the UK to start her studies. Then 2 days after I got back, my neighbour, Miriana, also left to return to Germany to start her studies. Over the past few months Miriana and Pippa had become good friends, and Clarens and my flat are much quieter without them.
I thought I would share the stories of the kids I visit with you over the next few posts. I'm gonna change their names so that any confidential information is protected.
I'll start with Sam.
Sam is 6 we think, but we can't be sure as we've never seen a birth certificate. His mum died about 2 years ago of a 'heart problem'. I suspect this is code for 'AIDS' but can't be sure. There's no dad. So now Sam lives with his grandma. Grandma is a lovely old lady. She takes good care of Sam and the others who live in her home. There's her son and daughter, and various others depending on who happens to be staying there at any particular time.
The problem is that Grandma is HIV positive. She's beginning to look pretty haggard and she can't work. Thankfully because Sam's paperwork is in order she does receive a state child grant for him. But as yet I haven't plucked up the courage to ask her if she's made any plans for Sam when she dies. Because she will die, maybe not next week, maybe not next year, but it's looking unlikely that Sam will reach adulthood before she passes away. Her son who lives in the house is the father of another child I visit but has taken absolutely no responsibility for him so I very much doubt he would take Sam on. Her daughter is too young to care for Sam. So what will happen to him?
I'm also concerned about Sam's health as he has had a cold for the last few months - his nose is always running. This is not a good sign. But this week when we visited we were told that they had all had the flu but were now recovered. So at some point I also need to ask if I can do an HIV test on Sam. Apart from the cold he seems pretty healthy, so it could just be caused by malnutrition.
Well that's the beginning of Sam's story. Without the hope of the Gospel he's in for a pretty tough life. Even with Jesus his life is unlikely to be easy - like most people around here, he will have to survive day to day. But the Basotho people are a joyful nation. Even in the midst of her suffering his grandma always wants to know how I am, how my trip home was. If she comprehends that my life is much nicer than hers, she doesn't show it or make me feel guilty.
I pray that Sam grows up knowing God, knowing that He has good plans for his life, plans to prosper him in some way. I pray that even if he lives his whole life in Clarens, struggling through poverty, that Sam will know that he has a hope and a future through the grace of Jesus. And I pray that God will allow me to be a part of Sam's story.
Back online and an end to facebook importing...
Well after my beloved mac decided to die a few months ago I've been offline so not able to blog. But during my trip back to the UK in July I was able to pick up a cheap laptop so, hurray, I'm back online in my flat. So blogging will begin again in earnest. But I have decided to stop my blog from automatically importing into Facebook as notes, so, if you want to keep upto date you'll have to actually visit the site....http://rachrigby.blogspot.com.
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