Cape Town, Day 2

Do you know those rare moments when you feel indescribably alive? I had one of those today. Today I did a SAS tour called Operation Hunger. Operation Hunger aims at feeding malnourished children and adults, as well as providing education on how to better their situations. A bus of 44 of us left the dock and drove about a half hour to our first Township. Townships were set up during Apartheid, when blacks were forced into poverty. These individuals have been unable to pick themselves back up and remain unbearable situations. The first Township that we went to was shocking. None of us knew how to react as we stepped off of our air conditioned bus into a community with no electricity and inadequate shelter. Then, it happened. Before we say it, we heard it. Children, laughing and playing. After an introduction to the head of the community we had some time in the newborn – 3 year old play area. It was set up in what used to be the school, a single room with no electricity and tin walls and roof. Blankets covered the floor. In this small township there were 30 babies in this room! This township also has a system where everyone takes care of everyone else and their children as well. Every child is looked after. If a child’s parents leave to find work in a nearby town, other families will take this child in and share what little they have. It is inspiring. The unemployment rate there is 80%. The dilapidated houses were pieces of scraps held together with a few nails. Our job here with Operation Hunger was to weigh and measure the children. These measurements are then used to compare to previous months measurements in order to assess the progress being made. There were so many children of all ages, and we got to play with them for hours. I jumped between the infant/toddler room and outside, where the other children were playing and running. These children loved us. They wouldn’t let go of us as they jumped on our backs or just sat in silence and held them. Some spoke some English, some did not, but that didn’t matter. A smile and a laugh are universal. I have never seen such well behaved children. They were all angels. Each distinctive face told such a story. And to look into the eyes of one of these child was to discover the real truth, the poverty. But on the outside these were the happiest children I have ever seen. These children seriously have nothing material value, but their smiles were more valuable than the biggest diamond. All 44 of us fell in love right then. As the bus pulled away we waved at the innocent kids, hopeful that someday a generation will succeed in ending this poverty. We all donated a little money and collected over $200 US to help buy school and craft supplies. The second township we went to is the site of a soup kitchen which is ran 2 times a week. As we pulled up it looked much like the first township, except the houses were a little bit more stable and the Township was set up much more like a neighborhood you would see at home. Everyone came out to greet us. As we rounded the corner to the soup kitchen I just saw throngs of kids, sitting on the ground with an empty bowl in their hands. They were waiting for their meal. Before we came to this second Township the bus stopped at a store and most of us bought a few loaves of bread. One loaf only cost one dollar US, and it just goes to show how seriously impoverished these individuals are. A line was formed outside of the soup kitchen. Children were first, and then adults behind them. After they collected their meals we interacted with the children. We also talked to the adults here, a lot more than we had at the other Township. I met a fourteen year old who wants to be a doctor. He says he wants to practice in Durbin. He told me that they get free education through grade 12, which is excellent for a Township. After I took a few pictures, it started. Every child wanted to have his/her picture taken, and also wanted to take pictures. The children were absolutely fascinated with cameras! As we left this township an elderly couple came up to me and asked me to take pictures of their faces. They were so happy when I said sure. It was almost like they wanted their faces, their existence to live on to be shown to others. They wanted to be someone. The elderly women gave me a blessing and said thank you thank you. She told me that not only did we come, but that we came and helped them to live another week. I told her “you are all our inspiration,” but she just nodded her head no and said, “no, you’re an angel.”

Word do not describe today. The smiling faces and the laughter and joy of these children cannot be written. Wealth should not be defined by the number of things you have, but by the number of things you give . . . happiness is never superficial.