Weekend

I experienced an interesting weekend again with many interesting people. After I cleaned my room and went shopping for the week I went to my friend, David to Claremont (I thought some of you might like this sign). Together we drove an hour to Paarl. This is where his adoptive parents live in a township*. It was one of those typical African experiences again. Everyone looked at me when we went through the streets. They are just not used to a white person walking through their town. One lady asked me if I wasn't afraid. A drunk man came to me to tell me that we are one country – black and white are one. It was an invitation for me to feel welcome.

I got to know Davids extended family. Three ladies introduced themselves as his mother, a couple as his step grandparents, he has many brothers and sisters and everyone in town are his neighbors. They welcomed me as part of their family and surely next time I will be introduced as a grandson or brother, too.

Sunday morning I was encouraged by the sermon of pastor Brian. The leadership of the church put a vision in words to make more of a difference in the community. Muizenberg needs a lot of help, so I felt like getting to know more new people today. It started with Janny. The man that sat next to me in church. He is homeless.

Janny comes to church every now and then. He obviously has an alcohol problem for which he wanted me to pray. He also wants to go back to his family that lives a few hours drive away. He does not have the money and he told me so I could give him some. What if I give him money? Will he really use it for the journey or on drinks? I told him that if he can save a Rand every day he can travel home in half a year. If he stops drinking even much sooner. I also said that I will gladly help him if he can prove to me that he has started saving some money in two weeks from now. What would Jesus do?

After the service a man rang on our door bell. He had a piece of paper which he asked me to read. It had written a whole story of why he was in Cape Town due to sad circumstances and that he too needed money to get back to his home further out in the country. I asked him many question to find out if his story is really true. I don't think it is. Still I gave him something. I hope they wont all come knocking on my door tomorrow.

After being on the road the rest of the day, I stopped at the drive thru at McDonalds in Tokai. While I order, a teenager on his bike drives along and hold his hand in begging pose. I ask the cashier what I should do? Does this boy really need help (his facial expression makes him seems very needy in deed)? "No", he says "he can find a job. He looks healthy." So true. Andrew (the McDonlads guy) and I get into a conversation of how he is trying his best to finance his studies at university. His father does not have the money to pay the fees. He used to go to church (in fact his father is a pastor), but he doesn't go to church anymore, he said. Maybe if I meet him again I will invite him to our church. I gave the begger my cheeseburger.


*Maybe you remember in an earlier post that David's family lives in a different place, called Guguletu. The reason for this is that Davis grew up in several families and places. I must admit his past is pretty complicated, but it is fairly common amongst the Africans to grow up with their grandparents or other family members.