Nelspruit and Church
Trip Start
Feb 05, 2007
1
8
25
Trip End
Apr 28, 2007
Nelspruit,
South Africa
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
On Saturday I went to Nelspruit, which is the capitol of Mpumalanga. I went with the only other person in the house to watch the big "athletics" event, which was a track meet. They were all primary school age, so middle school and a little younger. The volunteer I was with teaches some of the students that were participating. It was a pretty big event I heard it only happens once a year. Almost all the kids ran barefoot, and the students from our area didn't have any preparation, they just sign up and go to the big day. A little different in comparison to all the organized sports events I was involved in at that age. It made me realize what a luxury an organized after school sports programs can be for kids.
We got a ride from the stadium to the center of Nelspruit, I'm trying to think of an equivalent in the US, but nothing is coming to me. It's a pretty big city, and we were just walking around trying to find the main market area. Few white people walk anywhere, so as usual we were conspicuously out of place. While we were walking down a crowded street a man opened up my backpack, he didn't get anything and it was nothing more than startling but I suppose it was a good reminder that I am clearly marked as an outsider. Right after that happened a man came up to us, and talking to the male volunteer I was with if we were lost... it wasn't until he asked us that I realized in fact we were lost. We didn't have a destination and instead had wondered down an unfriendly street. He told us to cross the street and go back the other way. I was pretty much done with Nelspruit, there wasn't much more to do than shop and I wasn't in the mood for it, so I insisted on leaving.
The taxi station at Nelspruit was really crazy it was completely packed with cars coming and going everywhere. It's a beautiful one hour drive from Nelspruit to Barberton, but I didn't enjoy this one so much because I was sitting in the back corner with three rows of people between me and the door. I don't have a lot of trust in the driving out here particularly on winding highways, so it felt like coming home when I got out of the car in Barberton. I would also like to mention how kind all the taxi drivers have been. Again, all white people have their own cars, and its almost unheard of for white people to take taxis. But everyone one of my taxi drivers might have stared a little longer, but they charge me the same amount and always ask me where I am from.
Sunday I went to church, and over here church feels actually is a celebration. I got there a little earlier and the pastor greeted me and took me over to his house, offered me a drink and just talked about his work and asked me a lot of questions about the US, my faith, and what I was doing in South Africa. He muct be one of the most passionate and humble person I have ever met. I really enjoyed talking with him, it also qualified my work here once again. As an outsider coming to Barberton in two months there is little lasting impact I can really make, I really am the one getting the most out of this experience. It was good to talk to a man who devotes himself to the poor and his people because we often hold assumptions about Africa that they can't do things on their own, that they need help from the outside. Well, I already know from the two weeks I have been here that an understanding of the culture and language are key parts to identifying the problems and their solutions.
If church were like this at home I would have never tried to get out of it. It's just this small cement building, but during the service it felt like the whole room was alive, and I suppose it was. Everyone was signing and dancing, yes, and I mean dancing, getting up and dancing together around the stage. I'm not sure I should blame for this, but my inferiority at moving my body to the rhythm was apparent... maybe next week I will get the moves down. The pastor did his speech in English, which was thoughtful but made me a little uncomfortable that he changed the whole service for just me. When other people were talking Binki would translate for me.
It was clear to me that this Sunday service is an important part in the lives of these people. People would stand up and talking about being sick, or their family being sick, and struggling to find work. There are funerals all the time here, and death is no stranger to these people. AIDS has taken a devastating blow, not everyone is willing to talk about it out in the open, but some people. Church is the time where people go to sing and celebrate the life that they do have and find a meaning in their suffering.
After church I went to Binki's house with her daughter Charmane. From there we walked to her "sister's" house which confused me because I thought I knew all her sisters, but this sister is what we would call her cousin. the need to differentiate between sibling and cousin doesn't exist here, extended family is just as much your family as your immediate one. They gave me a huge Sunday lunch, I haven't eaten that well for my entire stay here. There was this sauce with fresh veggies, chicken breast, beets, some pasta, and they just hand it to you with a spoon, so you eat most of it with your hands. I felt a little sick that night and the next day, I'm not sure if that's because it was the most protein I've had in awhile or the different food. I sat around with Binki and her sister and talked about everything from soccer, to 9/11 to AIDS, why the heck I'm over here... it was a great day, and I am already looking forward to next Sunday. I've made plans with the pastor to help out with the church Bri (BBQ) that is happening on the 10th of March.
Alright, there is always more to write, but my time has run out. I hope everyone is well at home.
Comments
WOW
sure beats going to the beach! Uli