Helping hands

Yesterday was helping hands day here in South Africa. The Church had asked each unit to go into the community and chose a service project. Since we are not assigned to a ward or branch we always head for one of our favorite branches,this time it was Alexandra. We worked with them last year on helping hands day. That was the beginning of our association with the handicapped day care center. Elder Webb and I continue to provide service to them when we have time. It works out to be about once a month now, but earlier we were able to join them more often.

We went to an orphanage in Alexandra. There are no members of our church in this particular part of Alex. Our job was to clean and paint the place so the authorities would continue to allow the children who live there to stay. There are six boy and four girls who live there full time. During the week there will be as many as 200 children who come for breakfast. They leave for school with a lunch that is provided after school the children return for late afternoon supervision and dinner. It is heart breaking to see the conditions of these places, but the alternatives are streets and possibly darker elements. The people who work in the orphanage, like the handicapped day care, do not get paid. They care and feed these children without governmental assistance and there really does not seem to be any order or restriction in setting up a house for abandoned children Food is donated, much of it from the supplies supermarket's toss out as too old. They do have one corporate sponsor who helps them.

The three orphanages we have worked in are all set up the same way. This home is the most desperate of the three to which we have been. There is a shed and a brick room, one is the kitchen and the girls bedroom, the second is the store room and the boys bedroom. In both rooms large holes in the walls can be found where rats frequently visit, especially during the winter months. There are no beds. Blankets and mats were piled on the things stored in the boys shed. The boys just grabbed them and set up their sleeping area in the space left on the floor when the night calls for sleep.

I sat and talked with these boys, ranging in age from 5 to 12, and enjoyed a wonderful visit. They were darling each one. There is not much for them to do at the orphanage, there are no toys no yard equipment to occupy their time. They taught me a dance they do, slapping legs and stamping feet which they deliver with pride and enthusiasm. It is the coal miners dance. They really are quite remarkable; not a notion of complaint in their speech. They talked of how they take care for each other, because they are family. Family from different mothers.

Lunch was served while I visited with them. They took their sandwich in quiet gratitude and held them while we talked. One took the two pieces of bread apart to investigate it's contents. There we saw about 1 tsp of peanut butter and the same of jam. There was so little on the bread I thought it a mistake, but each sandwich was prepared the same way. They waited patiently while water was heated and a weak tea of herbs and milk was prepared. Then they ate.

I found myself wondering how I could take all five of them home. I reasoned that if we took all five they would have each other and would prosper in an environment of safety and prosperity. Then I paused to observe how very happy they seemed right where they are, in spite of the poor living conditions and food that comes in unpredictable waves. Who is to say what is the best for them. Their faces are bright with hope and they are surrounded by good people who are trying to bring a change to Alexandra. These children were polite, articulate and so charming. They are the hope of Alexandra's future, if they survive.

This is the same neighborhood in which Nelson Mandela lived his younger days. His vision has not yet taken hold here. The schools are suffering from lack of government support. This year they did not even have books from which to teach their lessons. In spite of these set backs my new friends told me of the things they were learning in school. Most had a favorite subject of Natural Science. Living in South Africa one can hardly be surprise that learning about nature, the land and the animals would be a favorite subject. They are working in vegetable gardens on the school grounds.

One of the volunteers at the orphanage told me he insists that the children go to church. He doesn't care where they go just so they have instruction in religion; "so they know God". He said they live in a lawless neighborhood; that religion brings order and boundaries that are so important in children's lives and in society as well; if it would be civil. Without law there is ciaos, there is no safety. He said "that is where we have been, we want to move forward". He went on to say the rule of God's law is the only way to bring peace and motivation to a society that has been without either. He spoke of Aids which has ruined so many lives, murder, rap, drugs and fatherless homes and he equated them with the lack of moral discipline, which he said starts with respect for God's law. Take it away and you leave children unarmed to fight the darkness which is everywhere ready to devour them. He said that is why he is strict with the children and why he wants them to attend church. He said they must have boundaries to survive life here. Any church is better than no church. He is the father figure in their lives. It is very obvious he loves them and they respect him.

He grew up in Alex, on the streets and knows what it can do to people. He said the one thing they can do is chose to be better. He said we have our agency, it is gift from God. He went on to say some people blame others for their lot in life, for pain caused to themselves, to parents or grand parents. They blame their life's situation on the the decisions others made years ago. They refuse to take responsibility for their own actions and decisions. They hurt because of their hate. They chose drugs, they leave their families for sex, they inflict pain on themselves and those who love them and then blame someone else. He said he knows God will expect us to report to him on how we used the agency he has given us. Did we improve things for the better; did we encourage others for good? What did we do with our time? How did we serve our family, or others in need? He said one thing he know for sure is that we must forgive. We must if we are to move forward out of the darkness that holds us hostage. He said he knows this to be true because he has seen it first hand.

We of course know his words are true. We see it over and over as we read the Book of Mormon. Elder Webb and I continue to marvel at God's tenderness in teaching us about this beautiful world, it's people and His love for all of us in the gift of His Son. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a force for good in South Africa.

Nkose and the boys are not the only ones who have touched my life. There are many stories just as compelling, just as dear to my heart. My eyes are open a little wider as to how very blessed we are to live in the United States. To have the Gospel in our lives, to know Christ. But, these people may soon over take us in their devotion to the Lord and his purposes. There are many new pioneers of the church in South Africa. Many have only their faith. They are humble, their prayers are so beautiful they cannot be written.

Our mission to the Area Office here in Johannesburg has afforded us lessons we would not have learned any where else. We have stretched and grown closer together, as we have struggled to know how to complete some of the assignments we have been given. Our prayers have always been answered. We have experienced for ourselves and seen in the lives of others the miracles that come from working humbly and in faith to serve God by serving His Children.

We know the programs of the church are inspired and that the Senior Missionaries are an important part of the Lord's plan to move His gospel forward. We are grateful to have been a very small part of that plan and encourage all who are able to go serve a mission. We are all enlisted.

"When we are in the service of our fellow men we are only in the service of our God."King Benjamin 

Love, Elder and Sister Webb

Hambaka Anyone?

So Elder Webb and I were driving home one day when we came upon a neighborhood hamburger stand. Our office associate had ordered lunch for us one day and we heard her ordering what we thought was a hambegger.  When we drove by this stand we had to take a picture because it help us to understand where Tirhani had picked up the name. It wasn't hambegger, it was hambaka.

I'm not totally sure, but I think we are probably the only white people to have ever stopped in this neighborhood let alone the burger stand.  Just as we pulled up to the stand another car drove in and out hopped two gentlemen.  We started taking pictures from our car and they encouraged, almost insisted we get out, look around and order something.  They said it was very safe because they were there.  The man standing at the stand window pulled out his ID which showed he is a Johannesburg Police Officer.

So we got out and Elder Webb ordered some fries.

Our new friend showed us his official police badge  and assured us we were welcome to walk around and check everything out. He even encouraged us to walk into the kitchen of this little establishment.  We declined the offer but Norriss did walk around back and took a picture of the inner workings of our lunch stop.

The officer order a Russian and Chips which actually was two rather large sausage looking things served sandwich style only the bread was cut extra think.  He poured a special sauce on it and said it was great.

This is actually a very lovely clean neighborhood as you can see from the pictures.  This little stand is something George just built in from of his house and when he has time he opens up the stand and sells his very special brand of fast food.  It's a bit of a tight squeeze but as you can see he has everything he needs to make fries, burgers, bakas and shakes.

We found the fries quite tastey but the catsup is really just tomato sauce. These people were very kind and we enjoyed a totally new kind of dining experience because of their kind welcome.

As you can see this burger stand is quite unique and stands alone in it's dining pleasure even in this neighborhood. Capitalism is alive and well in Johannesburg South Africa.

Life Can Be Harsh

Life in South Africa can be harsh.  Even amid the incredible beauty and the seemingly abundant natural resources there are the elements of cruel reality.  In Medekwa it can be the young male Lyons killing off the male cubs to force the female Lyons into season.

In a township it can be the abandonment of a baby left in a ditch or combi because the mother no longer can care for; or wants her child.  The reasons are as varied as the mothers themselves.. Perhaps one feels she is at the end of her resources, no food, no housing no family. I have heard of cases where a new man comes into her life and he says get rid of the baby.

Whatever the reason the result is a precious child is left helpless and at the mercy of the elements or those who find her or him. Yesterday we were introduced to the reality of this harsh side of life. Elder Webb and I traveled, with our Area Office Security Specialist, Rob, to the far side of Johannesburg where we were introduced to an Orphanage he has been supporting for about five years. He had received a message that they were in desperate need of diapers.  We tagged along to see first hand  the inside of another world. Each township is a new county filled with it's own laws and enforcing council.   

On the drive we heard about the Orphanage and the "Mama" that runs it.  I will call her Mama Teressa. Mama Teressa was herself an Orphan and has had no formal education.  Instead of acting out in anger and resentment and looking for someone to blame for her life situation and lack of opportunity she decided to help as many little people as she could to have a better life than she has. She wants to help them over come the disadvantage of being alone and without resources.

After years of struggle and hardship she now has the reputation, in her township and surrounding area, of the mother of all lost and unfortunate. Her heart is as big as the floor space in her 4 bedroom home. She has the respect of all her know her. Some how she manages to feed all who enter her home.  She did this for years by begging on the street corner.  Since Rob has been visiting her she has not had to do that as much.  He has been supplying her diapers and wholemeal as well as some fresh fruits and veggies and a little meat.

Yesterday when we showed up we learned that a new baby had arrived the days previous. This precious little girl had been left in a Combi.  The Combi driver brought her to Teressa. 

"Mama" was not there when we arrived and all the children were in school or at a Creche.  Mama had farmed out the little ones so she could clean the house and run some errands.  The new baby was the only young child there.  She was being cared for by her new big sister.  A young woman who has been at this home for 5 years.  She was probably 18. This darling care giver told us that her new little sister was having a very hard time and had cried all night long. 

We were taken to a small room that was wall to wall cribs. I think there were 5 cribs in the room.  I looked down at this sweet little person. Rob picked her up and handed her to me.  She is a perfectly beautiful little girl with no evidence of neglect or the residual effects from lack of nutrition. When they said she was a difficult little one because she cried too much, the thought came to me and out of my mouth.   "She is sad"  I would be crying too if my mother left me in a Combi".  The reader may remember that a Combi is a 15 passenger van which transports locals around town.

I held this darling little person as long as I was allowed, while Elder Webb and Rob visit with Mama Teressa; (that was until Rob said we needed to go).  I spoke to her and told her what a good little girl she is and that  I would be crying to.  At first she did not look at me. She looked all around the room at other people and things.  Then slowly she began to focus on my face and seemed interested in what I was saying. At times it seemed as if she was actually trying to tell me of her heartache.  Little sounds came from her mouth and throat, mournful coos if that is possible.  We were told that she is 2 month old, but I think she is closer to 3 months.  She is strong, prefers to sit up and pulls herself to a sitting position if I lean her back.

Here we are with one of the other children from the home.  This young lady speaks very little English and is very shy.  She wanted to be close but but not touch too much.  She seemed to have a few issues that are part of her life. I think she is much slower or behind for her age (perhaps autistic) , but she already loves this little angel that has come to share her home.

The woman with the long hair ( a wig that Rob did not like) is Mama Teressa.  She had just come from the school her children attend; a parents meeting of sorts.  The lovely girl at the left is the young woman that has been there for the past 5 years.  She told me she has graduated from high school and has taken one year of accounting.  She works for Mama during the day for room and board and works doing cleaning at night to earn money to continue her schooling.

Mama is a persistent woman who speaks with passion.  She is very good at communicating her needs and the needs of the Orphanage.  She has had to be in order to survive.  Her business runs on the sympathy and charity of others.  She is a good organizer and her home is a clean and tidy place in spite of the fact that she cares for about 35 children of varying ages. She has chosen to be a warm and caring person in spite of harsh hand life dealt her as a young child. She is happy and trusts that Jesus will send good people her way to help her as he has in the past.  

She believes she has been saved from a life of misery by following in the footsteps of the Saviour.

Jesus Christ taught: To find true joy and happiness we must "lose our selves in order to find ourselves". Mama, once in pain, has chosen to serve other and make their lives better.  In doing so her own life has purpose and meaning and she has the angels attending her. With no education, no visible resources, and with all odds against her she had come to be admired by her neighbors and loved by all the children whose lives she has blessed.

It was time to leave far too soon for me.  I did not want to hand this little girl back.  I wanted to to take her home, to do something to make her life better.  I wanted her to know that she was loved.  I have since spent hours thinking of her plight and wondering what her life will be like.  It kept me awake last night and I awoke thinking of her still.  Elder Webb felt the same way when we left.  He offered to help Rob in his efforts.  We have never felt more the need to share the rich blessings we have in our lives.  We are presented daily with opportunities to lift and encourage others.

This is the nicer section of the township.  This is the way we drove out.  There are sections in this township that Rob said he would not go into.  He mentioned that babies are occasionally found here in plastic bags, in dumpsters and along the side of the road.  He said one was found two weeks ago on the side of a dirt road in between two dumpster.  That little person did not survive.

For some there is no sanctity of life. Immediate gratification and self preservation are the thoughts which motivate a few.  Most are good honorable people working hard to raise their children up out of the poverty they have known all their lives; with advantages they did not have themselves like education, and religion, music and art. It is making a difference for their children.

The Bridge to Zimbabwe

The bridge from Zambia to Zimbabwe is filled with interesting sights and people.  Foot traffic moves freely once one passes the security check and Pass Port - Visa station..  It is a little more involved for vehicles and can take several hours to process..

 

One way traffic makes rather slow going and lines are backed up for miles.  The fee for foreigners is quite high so we just walked the bridge.  Now we can say we have been in Zimbabwe.

 Travelers who walk back and forth between countries are usually loaded down with all sorts of things to sell, or trade or take home.

                      Bikes are used for transporting merchandise and are frequently seen on the overpass.

 The bridge has a couple interesting enterprises going as well.  One is a Bungee Jump above the deep gorge. Travelers and the curious gather to encourage one another to jump.  The other is a Zip Line that spans the gorge.  While I have participated in Zip Lines before, and loved them, I felt less than secure looking at the set up off of this bridge.

 Here Elder Webb congratulates a man who successfully made the jump.  He did a swan dive off of the platform shown above.  The next participant was all set to go when his legs began to buckled; no doubt from fear.  He backed away to find his courage.  Then had to sit down.  He kept saying he had his son with him and wanted to prove his bravery.  We don't know if he ever made the jump.

         Above a large trucks passes slowly as traffic going the opposite direction waits it's turn.

               The spray from Victoria Falls can be seen in the background of this picture. and the one below.

 Below in the middle right one can barely see a bridge which spans the a break in the topography.  It is the one we walked along when visiting the Falls on the Zambia .  You can see it in the blog on Victoria Falls.

 The side of the bridge is reinforced with steel beams which contrast the green of the gorge.  Still the spray reaches us and we see rainbows in the mist.

 This is the old security stop for the border on the Zimbabwe side.  A new Pass Port office has been built further down the road and just recently opened to service the traffic back and forth between borders.  There doesn't seem to be any effort to coordinate the process so people can move more freely.

We enjoyed our afternoon here and had a nice time visiting with people we met along the way.  We even met one woman  ( a teacher) who had traveled 6 hours to bring her student to see the Falls and then let them watch the Bungee Jumpers.  As we walked by her she looked at me and in a surprised voice said.  " I AM ONE OF YOU"!   She meant she is a member of our church.  She was so please to see us. After talking a bit and explaining what our mission is about she told us she has been trying to get information on PEF ( The Perpetual Education Fund) but it has not been available to her.  I was able to get her name and personal information and then hook her up with the Shields who are serving in Zambia.  We will be able to get her signed up for the program before she is 30, the cut off age for the program.  It was a little miracle we met at this spot and this time. God does provide.

Victoria Falls, Zambia, Africa

There are few places on earth were one can feel the shear power of God's greatness and view it in His creation more than at Victoria Falls, in Zambia.  I know these pictures do not do the Falls justice but one  may get a glimpse of the majesty of the moments we enjoyed. The size of the Falls cannot really be captured from the ground. So, if you are really interested, I suggest you Google it.  For now our small camera is on stage.

 The native tribes of the area gave this place the name of Thunder Falls and thunder they do.  The noise simply adds to the adventure and the sensations experienced by our bodily and spiritual senses.

 The Falls border two counties. Zambia and Zimbabwe. The distance the falls cover is 1700 meter which as you know is over a mile.

 Half way through the falls on the Zambia side one can cross the gorge on a bridge seen in the picture below. The Falls are so big and powerful that they create their own weather system. The water level is high at the moment, not flood stage but high enough that we had tremendous spray, rain and wind periodically throughout our walk.  The bridge is covered with a green slim from the constant moisture which made for a fun slip and slide for the young at heart.  We choose our steps more carefully.  Many umbrella has been turned inside out by the wind force coming up from under the bridge and meeting the turbulence from above. The river water rages hundreds of feet below.

 In the distance one can make out the bridge we traveled to Zimbabwe.  Unfortunately the border crossing was $70 U.S. per person just to walk the falls on the other side and then one was to pay $50 U.S. to enter back into Zambia; we only walked the bridge.  The border crossing was another 100 yards beyond the bridge.  We watched the Bungee Jumpers jump from the middle of that bridge.  We also watched a few would be jumpers think better of their decision once they were standing on the edge.  The drop seemed a mile. 

If you ever travel this direction be sure to pick up a muliple entry VISA.  We purchased a double entry which limited our ability to travel back and forth between the two countries.

 The hotel gave us rain coats and umbrella and we still got wet.  I never opened my umbrella preferring to enjoy the warm rain from the falls on my face.

 I've included some pictures of the people we met on our walk through the Falls

Most of the beautiful babies we saw rode out the trip along the path of the Falls in peaceful slumber.  The mist and rain didn't seem to disturb them in the least.

 Lot's of rainbows can be seen as the sun reflects off the mist in the air.

 This weekend we saw many family share the beauty of the area.  Lots of babies were tied to their mothers backs or sides; a common view here in Africa.  Seeing them in the rain fall in this particular setting seemed a little unusual.  Many were without protection as they slept through the weather changes. When it's nap time it's generally on the go.

 The next couple of picture are taken from the end of the Zambezi River just as the River flows over the edge becoming Victoria Falls.  The cloud you see is the spray shooting up from the floor of the gorge.

The above picture is sun rise at the falls.  The mist was so thick the morning of our departure that it made things look like creation was beginning anew.  We went to the falls at 6:30 in the morning just to get another look before we left.  Below the view that caused me to stand in quiet awe.

 Steam from the Falls rises above the trees and hotel rooms in the picture immediately below. 

Our last morning at the Zambezi Sun Hotel follows. Here we are with the Elder and Sister Lewis our traveling companions.  Elder Lewis serves as the Secretary to the Area Presidency.  Sister Lewis processes the papers for all the new young missionaries serving in Africa.

Every time we visited Victoria Falls we walk in quiet reverence, being reminded of God's power.  If He made Victoria Falls, which He has, He would have no trouble parting the Red Sea.

 This is a statue of the famous Dr. Livingstone.  It is here that Mr. Stanly found him after years of searching.  Dr. Livingstone I presume?

Mist from the falls can be seen above the trees.

We have found Africa, with it abundance of natural resources and wonders to be perfect evidence that there is enough and more on this earth to sustain life. Unfortunately, some countries which were the bread baskets of the region now grow little.  Resources have been and continue to be  plundered and mismanaged by their leaders, leaving the people once again with little to sustain them. Those in power right now are selling mineral rights to China. This does nothing to benefit the people of the area. They won't even benefit from employment because China brings it's own workers.  A sad state indeed. 

We feel so blessed to be able to serve the Lord as missionaries in Africa.  He has opened our eyes to see the most incredible evidence of His love and wittness His willingness to help all his children. 

 We believe He is the only way to find true peace and happiness in this life. We have seen evidence that when countries and leaders truly live by the precepts that Christ taught it's people and lands prosper. Where God's laws are not known or have been abandoned there is lawlessness, chaos, corruption, suffering, famine, good land that is left unproductive and tremendous waste.

He would gather us all under His loving wings, as a Hen gathereth her chickens, if we but would be gathered.