Day Three: Mfuleni

Our third day was spent in the Township of  Mfuleni.  I think the M is slient.  Interestinly, each township has it's own feel.  The center at Mfuleni was smaller than the others, but wonderful.  This was the first time that we left the gated confines of the MaAfrika Tikkun centre and ventured into the streets of the township.  Part of the services MaAfrika provides is delivering services to the homes of the aged, sick or others that cannot get to the centre.  I can tell you that these streets can be very scary.  We, as you can imagine, cannot blend in.  People will stare at us, wondering why we are here.  Some associate us "whites" as people who are here to help.  They smile and wave.  Others do not.  Rather, they simply stare and wonder whether we are here to take advantage of them, as in the apartheid era.  We visited the home (it was a shack) of a lady who had two children, a boy who was 18 and a girl who was 16.  The girl dropped out of school in the 7th grade when she had her baby.  She does not know where life will take her because she has HIV/Aids.  She thinks she would like to be a nurse.  We talked for a bit, then played with 4 children.  One was the  child of the daughter, the others were other "clients" of MaAfrika Tikkun.  As a side note, the word "client", to me, denotes respect which I find really neat given the socio-economic status they hold.  We brough toys and played with the children--leggos, a Disney puzzle (Belle).  What's the chance that any of these children go to the real Disney World?  Zero. 

As we were walking back to the centre, the director told me that's in unfortunate that we have to take the toys away--they never really get a chance to learn from them, solve the puzzles, grow in their motor skills, etc. b/c there are not enough toys to give away.  So, for about 30 mintues, these kids got to play with some simple toys before we left.  I told the lady that I wish I could box up all the unused toys in our playroom and send them to these children.

As we walked through the streets, I  saw a lady charring sheep heads and feet.  What may seem grotesque and incomprehensivle, they call survival. 

As we walked back to the centre, we  saw day care facilities with kids beaming with smiles and waving to me.  On the front of the day care facility, there is a Bible inscription:  Matt  25: 34-37.  These people are a people of faith, praying to God, thanking Him for the little they have, and relying on Him and His grace in the most seemingly insurmountable of circumstances.  The verse is right next to the lady in the doorway.

We got back to the centre.  Mike Hooper and I helped ladies, well over their fifties, in the garden. We tilled the soil and raked it.  The "soil" is mostly sand, and the compost needed to grow food is very expensive.  The ladies were VERY proud of the garden and worked SO hard.  They kept a keen eye on us, making sure that we did it right. :)

We hepled kids in the computer lab.  We were told that unless kids can get to the MaAfrika Tikkun centres, they may never see a computer until they finish high school and then, only if they go to college.  Can you imagine any child in the US not touching a computer until they are 18?  As a side note, the girls were looking up High School Musical, giggling and whispering, just like any other girl their age. 

We washed dishes, played sports with the kids, and really tried to connect with the kids.  It was a great day. Thanks to the team at Mfuleni for such a warm welcome and allowing us to be part of your day.

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