Soweto

Southeast of Johannesburg lies the city of Soweto, where the people come up to you and eagerly say, “Shoot me, shoot me,” which means take my picture! Two days ago I had the wonderful opportunity of touring this city on a bus with a comical and informative tour guide. She showed us historical places such as the gated home of Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, as well as the touring house of Nelson Mandela, and the tower of the ten foundations, which the African constitution was written. We walked around certain areas to take pictures and eat lunch, interacting with the natives. Once they discovered we were American, they curiously asked about Beyonce, assuming we knew celebrities. Our guide instructed us to play along and pretend to know her because it carried conversation, thus creating a sense of pride in the people because they were able to speak English and have a connection with an American to share with family and friends.

We stopped at a place for lunch called, “Chez Alina Restaurant.” We were warmly greeted by a man who offered us lemon scented sanitizing towels to wipe our hands with before eating our meal. There were several food choices and so I put a tiny serving of each item on my plate, resulting in vibrant bursts of new flavor and delicious treats. From lamb, chicken, and rice, to cabbage, yams, and salad, the meal was fit for royalty. For dessert, they served cake and ice cream, which was just as delicious. The guide explained that the restaurant was part of a home and so the family worked and lived in the same area.

The population of Soweto is 4 million, the unemployment rate is 40%, the lifespan average ages 40 to 45 because of AIDS, and yet the people still have a bright smile on their face and hope in their hearts. Throughout the entire trip we saw poverty stricken shacks right next door to wealth. There was trash everywhere and yet the guide said that the city looks so much better than previous years. While I sat on the bus looking out at the living conditions, I felt as though I was an onlooker in the zoo, peering at the exhibits and watching the people like they were animals. The guide warned not to give money because it disables the community, she illustrated, "You do not give a hungry man a fish, you teach him how to fish.” This wise woman knew her city and how much they needed one another’s hard work and toil to continue towards making a better place. She explained that the people are not bitter about their situation; they graciously help one another, supporting the community together. She explained that they enjoy having Americans come because they are proud of their city and desire to show us their improvements, rather than just allow us to believe what the media portrays.

Soweto opened my eyes to a community that treated everyone as a neighbor and it revealed to me the importance of being united with others under a shared hope. This caused me to reflect on the hope I have in Christ and my responsibility and great delight to share it with others.

All my love,
Gennavieve