where the Alexander Branch meets. Notice the play equipment, or lack thereof. There is nograss or even sand on which to play. Notice the walls of block and the wire fencing above it. This
school is built in kind of a pit, Alexander township is just above and over the wall. The jungle gym
on the other side of the cars is their climbing structure.
These beautiful little girls are riding seesaws which are the only play equipment except a jungle gym on the other side of the parking structure. The seesaws are not attached to the flagsones and the kids can move them wherever they want -- a tort lawyer's dream!
The Ladies of Killarney (my name for them) each spend a great deal of time during the week knitting and crocheting squares to go into blankets for poor children of Alexandra.
Notice the individual squares. Each of these is made separately and then joined together by another volunteer.
Notice the individual squares. Each of these is made separately and then joined together by another volunteer.
Again you can see the variety and amazing combinations of colors. The children will love their new blankets.
Robin is the woman who had the vision of bringing women together to care for
"children headed homes".
We meet in this hallway in the mall. The mall donates the tables and set up so we can have a good place to work. The Mall even hires a gentleman to play very pleasing music on a key board while we work.
There are tables and tables of work that has been produced over the last couple of weeks. I think it is inspirational.
Below blankets that are ready to go. The group will actually auction off the three nicest blankets to help raise funds to buy clothes and extra yarn for more blankets.
Now for the story of the week.
We went to church in Alexander yesterday. Alexandra is a township about 20 minutes from where we live. I heard about it from a ladies group with whom I work. These are woman who gather on Wednesday morning to knit and crochet the most beautiful blankets for "Children Headed Homes". Here in South Africa the law states that one who is 12 years of age or older can be the head of a home. These ladies are making blankets for those homes run by children. In so many cases, the fathers are absent and the mothers have died of aids and the children are left to themselves. These woman are doing a wonderful thing. Robin, whose brain child " The Alex Project" (I just named it) gathers woman from all over and they meet once a week at Killarney Mall. Some times there are 3 of us sometimes there are 10, but always there are woman working throughout the week crocheting and knitting squares to be added to some blanket made specially for some unseen child. She is also gathering clothes for these children and and shoes and has managed to get the yarn donated for those who want to work but cannot afford the yarn. She is amazing. Her vision is to clean up "Alex" from the inside out. She has asked me to go into Alexandra and work with her on this project. So, Norriss and I decide we better learn all we can about this township.
Our visit to "Alex" was humbling. Alexandra is a township that steps back in time to before Apartheid. It has not received the funds for improvements that other townships have. During the World Cup Soweto was a focal point for tourists. So the government, in order to show how they were helping the poor, poured a great deal of money and resources into that community, including a hug stadium in which the World Cup was played. Alexander, which is located on the edge of one of a wealthier parts of Johannesburg, received no assistance. This is were the aids epidemic thrives. This is where Nelson Mandela lived during the uprising before Apartheid. He moved to Soweto only after he married. This harsh introduction to life is where many of Africa's prized athletes began life. Excelling at something is the only way out.
Back to Church. We had a little trouble finding where we were to attend church. Alexander Branch holds it's services in a grammar school which serves the township. There is no heating, no key board, no sound system, no pictures for class no storage area in which to store church books just the room rented from a very down trodden school. So the Branch President has a large plastic container in which he keeps all his paper work as well as the few hymn book they have. This Branch President, is one of the sweetest, most remarkable men I have met here so far. His manner is dignified and confident, yet he is so humble and so into service that he asked us to call him if we had any trouble getting to church. He said he would personally come and find us. I don't think I have ever had the president of anything take such a personal interest in me and what I might need. He and one of his counsellors have offered to personally escort us through the township of Alex so that we might see with our own eyes the poverty in which these sweet saint live. We asked if there were any children headed families in the branch and he told us of one. A 14 year old boy is the head of his home which has 3 children. He is no longer attending church because he must work on the weekend. He attends school during the week and works weekends just to survive. I asked what kind of work he might get, and how much money he could make. We were told he might work at a grocery story attending carts. President Tladi also told us he would most likely make only enough to buy lunch.
Our visit to "Alex" was humbling. Alexandra is a township that steps back in time to before Apartheid. It has not received the funds for improvements that other townships have. During the World Cup Soweto was a focal point for tourists. So the government, in order to show how they were helping the poor, poured a great deal of money and resources into that community, including a hug stadium in which the World Cup was played. Alexander, which is located on the edge of one of a wealthier parts of Johannesburg, received no assistance. This is were the aids epidemic thrives. This is where Nelson Mandela lived during the uprising before Apartheid. He moved to Soweto only after he married. This harsh introduction to life is where many of Africa's prized athletes began life. Excelling at something is the only way out.
Back to Church. We had a little trouble finding where we were to attend church. Alexander Branch holds it's services in a grammar school which serves the township. There is no heating, no key board, no sound system, no pictures for class no storage area in which to store church books just the room rented from a very down trodden school. So the Branch President has a large plastic container in which he keeps all his paper work as well as the few hymn book they have. This Branch President, is one of the sweetest, most remarkable men I have met here so far. His manner is dignified and confident, yet he is so humble and so into service that he asked us to call him if we had any trouble getting to church. He said he would personally come and find us. I don't think I have ever had the president of anything take such a personal interest in me and what I might need. He and one of his counsellors have offered to personally escort us through the township of Alex so that we might see with our own eyes the poverty in which these sweet saint live. We asked if there were any children headed families in the branch and he told us of one. A 14 year old boy is the head of his home which has 3 children. He is no longer attending church because he must work on the weekend. He attends school during the week and works weekends just to survive. I asked what kind of work he might get, and how much money he could make. We were told he might work at a grocery story attending carts. President Tladi also told us he would most likely make only enough to buy lunch.
The Perpetual Education Fund is an inspiration, a revelation given to President Hinckley to help these young people rise up out of this poverty. There are plenty of jobs available, but only to those who are educated in the different trades or businesses. These people could never qualify for loans for school from a bank. And their families don't make enough money to live on let alone send them to school. The Loans from the PEF offer a way for them to rise up, prove their integrity to themselves and the communities of Johannesburg and change the direction of their lives and the lives of the children they will have. I wish you could see the faces of the Young Adults as we speak of the love God has for them. That he has heard their prayers and the prayers of many others who ask for help to end this cycle of death and dying in poverty. He has answered prayers, if we are willing to work hard. He does not give hand outs very often (manna being one time) but does provide a way through hard work. The Ark was not delivered in a prefabricated kit, nor were the barges the Brother of Jared, Jared and his friends rode in to their promised land delivered per built. They all received answered which involved heavy participation. No sitting on the side lines while others did the work. I often feel overwhelmed with the love which is so evident as I study the issues with which these people deal daily, and then examine the possible solutions to their problems if they will but engage. God always allows us to choose to believe or not. He tells us what we can do to change things, or live in peace, or be happy. He also tell us the consequences of not following His direction. And so we bring this message to Alexandra. The lowest of the low places here in Johannesburg proper.
The school yard we stood in as we visited had no grass. It was a small area enclosed by 20-30 fences with brick pavers on the ground. There we saw a few yard toys, 2 seesaws one small swing and a climbing structure that would never be allowed in an area where children play in the U.S.. We parked our car in that area as did the Branch President. They were the only cars to be seen.
As we approached the school yard we hear rock music blaring from the other side of the street. The base was so loud it made the window of our car vibrate. It was coming from a church across the street. We listen to that for much of the first half of church. The second half we listen to the choir of drums coming from another hall in the same school. It seems the Apostolic Church meets at the same time in the same building. They come dressed in their robes of green and white. Many churches, like school, have uniforms. It is a perk they offer to their people because it cuts way down on the expense of a wardrobe. Any way, the the men Apostolic members carry a staff and when we asked what it was for we were told it was to beat off evil spirits. Norriss asked the gentleman with whom we were speaking, to beat a few evil spirits for him. They were a very pleasant group of people if not a little noisy.
It is hard to feel much hope when one lives in Alex, yet these people are searching for ways to worship, and they know that some how Jesus Christ will save them. They are a faithful group living in the middle of filth and the pain of everyday life. They know that Jesus Christ is their hope, their only hope.
We in the U.S. are so blessed. I feel to thank and praise God for the chance we have to be here: to reflect on the many blessing we have especially our family.
The school yard we stood in as we visited had no grass. It was a small area enclosed by 20-30 fences with brick pavers on the ground. There we saw a few yard toys, 2 seesaws one small swing and a climbing structure that would never be allowed in an area where children play in the U.S.. We parked our car in that area as did the Branch President. They were the only cars to be seen.
As we approached the school yard we hear rock music blaring from the other side of the street. The base was so loud it made the window of our car vibrate. It was coming from a church across the street. We listen to that for much of the first half of church. The second half we listen to the choir of drums coming from another hall in the same school. It seems the Apostolic Church meets at the same time in the same building. They come dressed in their robes of green and white. Many churches, like school, have uniforms. It is a perk they offer to their people because it cuts way down on the expense of a wardrobe. Any way, the the men Apostolic members carry a staff and when we asked what it was for we were told it was to beat off evil spirits. Norriss asked the gentleman with whom we were speaking, to beat a few evil spirits for him. They were a very pleasant group of people if not a little noisy.
It is hard to feel much hope when one lives in Alex, yet these people are searching for ways to worship, and they know that some how Jesus Christ will save them. They are a faithful group living in the middle of filth and the pain of everyday life. They know that Jesus Christ is their hope, their only hope.
We in the U.S. are so blessed. I feel to thank and praise God for the chance we have to be here: to reflect on the many blessing we have especially our family.
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