Having begun our missionary training on November 14th, it is really hard to believe that we have been on our mission for 5 months already. One of the most poignant aspects of our learning and our giving, is to see how the majority of the people live in these developing countries of Africa. We have had the opportunity to visit the nations of Botswana, Lesotho, Kenya and the Republic of South Africa, and with the exception of a slowly emerging middle class in SA, the people live a very difficult existence. So much of what we have grown to accept as normal, and almost a right of life, is totally unknown to vast numbers of God's children over here. Child mortality is very high, longevity of life is very low. Electricity is a luxury and running water in living quarters most unusual. Because of the abject poverty in many areas, the crime rate is very high. I would not try to defend it or excuse it...just add that the daily struggle for food and survival will often bring out the base side of humanity. Most people eek out a subsistence living of about $1000 per year. Real employment opportunities are very limited and only the skilled or educated even get a shot at these. Few get the chance at attaining these skills and formal training, which is why we are so glad to be part of the Perpetual Education Fund and become agents of opportunity to these young folks who can then get that training and certification to step up and out of these grave living conditions.
As rough as the economic conditions are in the US at this time, ie having to cancel family vacations, postpone retirements, dig into ever shrinking savings and even downsize housing, people in North America need to realize how wonderful their lifestyle is and appreciate all of the advantages they live with daily, but probably take for granted. We have seen first hand what living without any modern medicine, sanitation and technologies can be like, and it means that these people struggle every single day just to keep on living.
I have many favorite hymns, but surely one of them is 'Count Your Blessings', and the first verse reads: "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost, count your many blessings name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done."
...or to put it a little less poetically, 'What a grand world this would be if we could forget our troubles as easily as we forget our blessings.'
It was emotionally difficult traveling through these areas and even more difficult photographing them at the risk of seeming the American tourist wanting pictures of the 'have nots', but we felt it important to share these pictures with those we know and love as a reminder of how good you really have it.
Please take about 10 seconds on each of these pictures to help you better realize how three quarters of the population of Africa lives. All men are created equal...they just don't all get the same opportunities after that.
This is lower, but still considered middle class housing in the heavily populated outer townships of Johannesburg, South Africa. For the most part they enjoy indoor plumbing and electricity.
...a local meat market on the outskirts.
Standard housing for the masses in Maseru, Lesotho
Primary school with three-to-a-seat, in Maseru. They don't complain about this because it is all they know. They don't complain of recess being too short because there is none.
This is a High School classroom in Lesotho. This class will accommodate 35-45 HS students...if they can personally afford to buy the books required for the classes.
Here is the downtown shopping district of Maseru
This is the famous Kibera slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Note the man with the cart full of jugs. He will sell tap water, gotten from a city hose, door to door through the three square mile slums, since there is no running water in the dwellings there.
The Kibera Road, where on any given day 1 million Kenyans walk 9km from the slums into Nairobi looking for a way to literally earn their daily bread.
Homes made of anything available. Double clicking to enlarge this picture will reveal: metal, wood, plastic and mud
The road most traveled...but it seems to make no difference.
Here is one of three Pharmacies serving the population of Kibera.
Sewage and trash meander in the same place as children at play.
Whenever there is a new building put up in the city, the old material is never taken to the land fill, for there are no land fills in Kenya. It just means additional housing will be added on to the slums of Kibera.
Here is an example of the housing for 1.5 million Kenyans, and the government's meager attempt at street lighting in an effort to try and reduce assaults and theft.
Having seen all this in person, and having had the opportunity to look into the sad yet determined faces of these fellow travelers in this mortal sojourn, we know we will never be the same.
Compassion fills my soul and gratitude fills my heart that, for whatever reason, I was dealt the better hand than they.
Stay well.
