People we've met...

So I'm aware that recent posts have been about the tourist things we've done and not so much about our volunteer service. I'm not allowed to post photos of the kids online and since I link this to Facebook, I've not shared any of those photos here. So I thought I'd share about some people we've met recently.

Otto - On Thursdays we go to the township of Gugulethu. First we go to Vukuhambe, a community center for disabled adults to go to so they have somewhere to go and something to do during the days. The center is a long hallway with 5 or so rooms off it. By our standards we'd say it is filthy, run down, hot and cramped. There are two rooms the size of small classrooms where the people sit around tables "working." You know the plastic hangers that clothes from Target or KMart are on? Well, these folk spend their days scraping stickers off of them so they can go to recycling. They get paid a few dollars for every kilo which they must share between then (20 or so people). We spend 30 minutes or so with them, to encourage them and to simply be a bright spot in their day.

Today I sat scraping hangers with Otto. It's wasn't clear to me what his disability is, it didn't seem physical, and with his accented English, I couldn't tell what cognitive/developmental disability he might have. Otto has lived in Gugulethu since he was 11 years old. Before that he lived with his family in Simon's Town - a LOVELY beach community down Cape Point (where the penguins are). At that time it was a mixed community - whites, blacks and coloreds all lived there. Then in 1967 the government decided that Simon's Town was to be a white town and so his family (mom, dad, sister, Otto) was "relocated" to Gugulethu. His father could no longer keep his job (a clerk in an office) in Simon's Town and was given a new job in Gugulethu. When I asked him what it was like to be moved like that, he simply drew tears down his cheeks with his fingers.

Baby Lisa - On Mondays, we go to Miracle Kids safe house in Constantia, where Elsie and her daughter, Nadine (25 years old) care for 13 children (mostly between 2-4 years old). Last Thursday they received a newborn who was born that day. Her mother is in prison for 7 years; she had abused another one of her children who had then died. So when she gave birth on Thursday, the social workers were waiting to take the baby immediately to Elsie. They think the mother has family in the Eastern Cape and so they will see if they can find someone there to take her in. (They always seek to keep children in their own extended families.) If they can't find family, they will seek a foster home for her. Until then, she will live at Miracle Kids.

Lisa has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. You know that vertical dip in our upper lip? FAS children don't have it (and won't ever have it.) They also have puffiness under their eyes, sometimes resulting in folds of skin there. There is also something about their ears that I don't remember. Those are just the outward signs. There will also be accompanying brain damage which manifests as they grow up.

They gave her the English name - Lisa - and a Xhosa name (she is black and black children also get a Xhosa name and learn to speak Xhosa) which means gift (which I can't remember or pronounce!). I got to hold Lisa for an hour and a half while she slept on me. While holding her, two white women came to drop off donations. One of them was carrying her 6 month old son. I was struck by the difference between these two beloved children of God already in their short lives.

At devotions before going out to Gugulethu today, we were encouraged to see the kids around us as God sees them - not defined or destined by their environment. "See them as future lawyers, doctors and teachers." Hard to do! When looking closely into their beautiful black faces it is easier; but I confess that when the view expands, it's hard to see what a path out of poverty might look like for someone like Lisa.

400 Children at Kids Club - Two weeks ago, Sophia gave the Valentine's message to 250+ kids. Last week there were 400 or so kids and Sophia taught them a song she learned at Grandparent Camp. I wonder how many will be there tomorrow!

We are blessed to be with these beautiful people. 

Our typical week:
Monday - afternoon at Miracle Kids safe house in Constantia - playing with the kids and helping with bath time
Tuesday - free day - we do something touristy
Wednesday - afternoon at Mitchell's Plain (big suburb with a township feel) - after school program
Thursday - afternoon at Gugulethu - Community Center and after school program at Tembelatu school for handicapped kids
Friday - early Mass at St. George's Anglican Cathedral; afternoon at Westlake Kids Club
Saturday - free day
Sunday - morning at Hillsong Church; afternoon free

Our time is going quickly as I knew it would; we're feeling quite at home here and I'm trying to cherish every minute.