Our first day

Wow.  Where to begin?  How about the beginning of our day.  We met with Marc Lubner, the CEO of MaAfrika Tikkun.  He shared with us how the charity began, with his father, Bertie Lubner, who was horrified at the post-apartheid poverty in the poorest of the poor communities in South Africa.  He told us personal story of how, in 1976, he and 9 other people, made cardboard coffins, painted black, and marched to the steps of the government to protest apartheid.  As they were traveling to the steps of the government offices, 4,000 to 5,000 people spontaneously joined them in the protest.  He described it as "remarkable".  He was detained by police and then released.  The police changed into plain clothes, found him and beat him.  Upon his return home, the police were waiting for him.  They said the he failed to report for his military obligations, made him get into uniform, flew him by helicopter to the very communites oppressed by apartheid, and was told the suppress the riots--suppress the very people he was seeking to protect in the protests.  He refused.  This small story gave me a peek into the heart and soul of the charity's current CEO, Marc Lubner.

I simply can't do justice to the history of the charity, so please visit http://www.maafrikatikkun.org.za/  Mark, his family and all of those associates with MaAfrika Tikkun have a passion for helping the most disadvantaged on this planet--poverty that most only read about.  So, we're here to emmerse ourselves into the charity, learn from it, offer whatever help we can offer, and bring back the personal message to our friends, families and co-workers.  Nelson Mandela is the Patron-In-Chief of MaAfrika Tikkun--that'll grab your attention...

Mark and his team briefed us on the various aspects of the charity, but I know we were anxious to go to the communities to see for ourselves the difference we have made as we support this charity with our time, talent and treasure.

We arrived at Orange Township  Here is a map to see where on the globe we were today...

http://maps.BlackBerry.com?lat=-26.45829&lon=27.85147&z=0&label=Near+Golden+Highway,+South+Africa&address=Golden+Highway&country=South+Africa

So driving through Orange Township, it was unspeakable poverty--shacks made of corrugated aluminum and/or wood.  Many had no water or electricity, dirt floors and filth and garbage strewn about.  The first picture below can't do justice to the overall picture of the poverty.  The charity builds and operates  "centers" which are gated areas that have buildings for child care, hot meals, eductional activitites, health care, computers, a library, life skills training, athletics, etc.  They serve children from 6 to 18 years old, many of who have had both parents die of Aids.  The center is not a living facility, so all children go back to their "homes" in the evening.  In some "homes", it's kids raising kids.  You may have an 11 year old, both parents dead, living in a shack, raising her 4 year old and 18-month old siblings.  These centers built and operated by MaAfrika Tikkun provide the only "hope" to a seemingly hopeless situation.

I'm trying not to bore you, and words don't come close to explaining the horrific poverty, nor the wonderful blessings that this charity bestows upon those children who use it. 

However, despite the conditions outside the MaAfrika Tikkun community centers, the children inside had so many smiles to give.  They would run up to us, waive hello, sing us songs.  Many were amazed at my skin color--a color they may have never seen before.  The employees of the center were passionate and committed to helping the least fortunate on this planet.  These children taught me more in a few hours than I could have imagined. 

We made our way to a different center called Hillbrow which was in an urban area of Johannesburg.   Less obvious poverty b/c we were in an urban area, but children equally challenged with no parent households and poverty inflicted upon them by simply being born.

...We're all looking forward to digging in deeper tomorrow.  We have 4 more centers to visit in the next 4-5 days.  We're heading to Cape Town Thursday. 

Thank the good Lord for your blessings....More to come...