6 year old Angel.
“Why are your arms so white?” asked 6 year-old Angel. Her legs dangled toward the floor as she sat on my lap. An entire church service was going on behind her but she was more interested in touching the pasty white stuff I call my skin.
“That’s just the way I was made.”
“Oh, I know, I know. Because that’s the way God made you. He made some people white and some people black and some people brown. And you’re perfect just the way you are.”
Pretty intuitive for a 6 year old.
We sat in silent for a bit while the pastor was giving the message. Angel continued to rub my arms, touch my hair and look at my eyes with a hint of curiosity. Breaking the silence, she blurted out, “I want to be white…like you.”
“Oh really? How does that work?”
“I don’t know…”
“Maybe if you rub hard enough, my skin will rub off on you.”
Clearly a good option, Angel vigorously rubbed my arms for about 10 seconds. She pulled her hands away for inspection.
“Bummer, didn’t work did it?”
“Nope.”
She sighed in defeat and then schlumped back against my chest. As the service continued, Angel continued to inspect my hands as she moved my fingers back and forth. Within 10 minutes, I could feel her body completely relax as she fell asleep in my arms.
When the final worship song ended, Angel woke from her slumber and quickly bounced to her feet as if she had never fallen asleep. She looked up at me with a big grin and we walked hand in hand all the way back to the truck. As we walked, I pried a little bit deeper in to her thinking.
“Angel, why do you want to be white?”
“Because white people have money.”
Whoa, stop the bus! I thought. This little girl wants to be white so she can ‘have a lot of money?’ Then again, that makes sense given her upbringing and culture.
Since my arrival in here, I’ve learned a bit more about the history of South Africa and why Angel’s comment would make sense. Most people have heard of Nelson Mandela and associate him with freedom in South Africa after many years of imprisonment. I’ve recently learned that since the early 1900’s, the legislature passed legally institutionalized segregation, later known as apartheid. The government established three racial classes: white, colored (people of Asian or mixed racial ancestry), and black, with rights and restrictions for each.
During apartheid, the white majority controlled the black minority economically and politically. It wasn’t until 1993 that Mandela negotiated for a transition of policies and government. Though apartheid officially ended, racial segregation continued. While middle to upper class whites resided in apartments or houses in cities, the poor black population continued to gather together in townships.
Townships refer to the underdeveloped urban living areas that were (and socially still are) reserved for non-whites; they are typically built on the periphery of towns and cities and lack proper sewage, water and electricity.
Tyler and Lunga, best friends. Two peas in a pod, even if it's not "socially acceptable."
Angel lives in Capricorn Township, about 2 miles from downtown Muizenberg. She’s got extensions just like every other little girl. She can shuffle just like every other kid in Capricorn. In her 6 years of life, she’s been exposed to the reality that the white people around her have more money than she does.
This month’s ministry has been incredibly enjoyable but not with it’s share of difficulties. Every afternoon we would walk through the township to collect kids to play soccer. I loved that kids would run down the street to give me a hug or high five but many would ask for food or money or clothes.
Of course…we’re white. White people have money. If I were a kid looking for some bread or juice, I’d pick the white person too. Odds are better.
How do you decide what needs to meet?
Norma, one of my girls!
We spent a brief time assisting in a day care in the township. 15+ kids crammed into a small room with no running water, dirty toys and 1 adult to supervise them. The kids were cute but they were naughty. Discipline was not enforced in their homes.
How do you show love to disobedient children that may never receive attention at home…if they have a home?
Face painting day at the daycare.
While at soccer one afternoon, I was holding a little boy that loved to snuggle up in my arms. As we sat in the shade, he picked up a stick and attempted to give me a “tattoo” by digging the stick into my skin. Clearly I won’t have that, so I took the stick away and told him to stop. Two minutes later he was back at it, attempting to dig into my skin. I put him on his feet, told him I wouldn’t hold him if he treated me like that and walked to another group of kids. I later found out that he comes from an incredibly abusive home in the township.
How do you give “tough love” to a kid who so desperately needs love and attention? Is it even my place to discipline?
The "field" where we play soccer every afternoon.
Don’t get me wrong, I have absolutely loved our ministry location this month but it has forced me to ponder such questions. Sometimes I feel like I’m not doing anything or that I could do more or that I’m not doing enough.
But then I realize that the attention I gave the kids at the day care is more than they would have received if I weren’t there. The love that I could show the kids at soccer could be the only affection they get. The 3 hours they spend with us might be the safest place they can go, an escape from the hardships in their lives.
We’re bringing hope to the next generation in Capricorn Township. Hope for a bright future. Hope for a life lived abundantly, a place to belong. And all of this is happening less than 20 years after racial segregation ended. That alone needs to be celebrated.
On of my "new" favorite tshirts is from my teammate Jamie. Ironically, it's message has held true as we give kids a place to belong.
Here’s to bringing hope to the next generation!
I'd like to entitle this picture "Oreo"
The following video is a recap of our ministries this month. Enjoy!
