11.17.11 Faith in Brokenness

After a wonderfully relaxing long weekend in the Midlands with dear family friends, I am now in Stellenbosch for a week of research here. In the midst of my research today I came across interesting case study results. The South African government published its first comprehensive report on human trafficking last year (2010). In one section of the report, 13 cases of trafficking in children were analyzed. The following was a reoccurring theme: “The children placed faith in a significant higher power such as God: Many drawings included a higher power that will be able to rescue him/her, suggesting that limited trust is placed in human beings and in any other close relationships” (NPA 2010, 87). The authors of the report interpret this faith in God as indicative of little trust in human beings . . . but maybe it suggests they are looking to and clinging to the One in whom we live and move and have our being . . . the Only One who has the power to heal each child’s heart, mind, and soul after experiencing such exploitation, abuse, and brokenness.

11.09.11 Acting out of an overflow of grace . . .

This has been a wonderful first week of independent research! I feel as if I am on ‘Career Exploration for Addie in Anti-Trafficking Work!!!’ Each interview I have, I wonder ‘could I see myself working in this capacity? Or on that side?’ So far I’ve had five interviews with four different anti-trafficking organizations. One interviewer even said I could come back as a 6-month intern whenever! O dearie – I still have to finish school!!

The realities of trafficking here are just like most places in the world: traffickers exploiting vulnerable people for a profit, supplying the demand for cheap to free labor in sexual exploitation, domestic work, and other types of forced labor . . . the buying and selling of human beings. The deprivation of humanity at its epitome. O One who loves justice, let justice roll down, hear the cry of the oppressed, bring freedom to the captives, call upon Your people to be Your hands and feet, clean me out to listen and respond out of the overflow of grace and love You’ve poured into my life.

My two shadows for the week : )

View from balcony of my Bo Kaap homestay

Bo Kaap's famous colorful houses

funny story : )

On Tuesday when I moved in with Gogo, I spent the afternoon hanging out with kids in her crèche (preschool). Dithembe [a chubby 3-yr old I fell in love with during September] was very excited to see me again. However, at one point when about 12 other kids were crowding around me playing, he went off by himself to the side and pouted – quite clearly peeved that he couldn’t get close to get my attention. After I made eye-contact with him, he pouted all the more. And then a few minutes later he came over, full-out smacked one of the girls closest to me, and then returned to his pouting position. Gogo and I laughed so hard later when I told her this story later that night!!! I missed laughing with her . . . truly am thankful to be back in Langa!

11.03.11 The Month of Research & Independence Begins!

Classes officially ended on October 31^st and on November 1^st our month of independent research began! As we decide where to live this month, I am back in Langa with my amazing hostmother Gogo (and the adorable kids of her crèche)!! I moved back in on Tuesday for the month. My research project is about human trafficking broadly, and specifically: the realities of child trafficking in South Africa – its root causes and the innovative prevention initiatives of anti-trafficking organizations in Cape Town and Stellenbosch. As such, I am traveling around Cape Town interviewing NGO staff workers and observing prevention programs for the month! I am only two days in but I am loving the independence and research-aspect!! Each day I commute to different interview locations with the public transportation (mainly bus-taxi’s and the train), and then I come back in the evening to hang out with Gogo and see the lingering kids at the crèche! As I rode the bus-taxi (called a ‘combi’) today I thought about all the people in the combi with me who make this commute daily year-round to get to work from the township (about 45 minutes at minimum) – and Langa is one of the closest townships to downtown Cape Town. I felt like I was experiencing the legacy of Apartheid in a small way. (Under the 1966 Group Areas Act, all non-whites were forcibly removed from living in central Cape Town – hence most people who were removed still live in townships to this day).

10.30.11 21st BIRTHDAY!!!

I had a fantastic 21^st birthday that I will never forget!!! On Saturday evening I went out with friends for burgers at the Royal Eatery on Long Street, which we followed up with a fun evening in the city! At midnight the six friends with me at that point sang happy birthday in Xhosa on the street! On Sunday (my actual birthday) I slept in, had a great lunch with my host family in Bo Kaap, enjoyed cake/chips/soda with host family + friends in the afternoon, and then attended an amazingly refreshing church service in the evening (Shofar Christian Church). The highlight of the day was the worship time at the church . . . I truly felt so blessed to be in a body of believers – I wanted to shake everyone and tell them: DO NOT TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED!! The body of Christ is SO beautiful and so powerful! Once you go without it (or go from having awesome fellowship 4x’s a week to once a month) it becomes so much more precious! And somehow being around my Muslim family all week and having good but somewhat frustrating discussions with them about religion made singing There is none like Jesus so much more important and necessary and sweet. All in all it was a wonderful birthday abroad!!!

10.29.11 ~ 2 memorable conversations from Bo Kaap!!

(1) One day I got into a religious discussion after someone commented that I should embrace Islam. I couldn’t do that! I love my religion too much! I replied. He began asking questions as to why I believe in Christianity. I clarified that I love Jesus and base my life upon following him. He asked again why I love Jesus, wanting to know if I have any reasons for loving him. (His tone was not curious but nonchalant and a bit challenging.) I went on to explain my need for a Savior, Jesus coming as God in the flesh – the Perfect Sacrifice, dying and rising for the sins of broken people like me, and my love in response to Him offering me new life. He just sat quietly and then said that he cannot criticize my religion. To criticize another religion is a sin in Islam . . .

(2) On another evening I had a conversation with a Muslim father in the neighborhood where I am staying which was a much lighter discussion and yet a bit shocking. This man turned to me and asked jokingly, “who’s the boss around here?!” I just laughed, but he said to his son, “son, you tell her who’s boss around here!” I continued to laugh and quickly questioned back: “have you seen the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding?” Neither father nor son had seen the movie, but I proceeded anyway: “well, there’s a line in the movie that says ‘the father is the head of the house, but the wife is the neck and she can turn the head any way she wants.’” The man turned to me and, without a smile, replied: “I can break the neck.” I continued in a joking manner: “but then the head would have no place to be!” His reply shocked a part of me: “I’ll get a new neck!” I simply laughed it off because I was too offended to take what he said serious or indicative of the patriarchal society many families here in Bo Kaap seem to be steeped in.