The following post is from a series of emails I wrote to my girlfriend at the time, whilst on a trip to Africa. She is now my wife, so I did something right.
Today I started reading that book I keep going on about, the Irresistible Revolution one. You need to read it too, before we have any more arguments lol. But a book about poverty really makes you think when you’re out here, for two reasons.
One: there is a lot of it, all around. People living in rubbish dumps, people who literally live on maize meal every day, and sometimes can’t even afford that. People whose biggest dream is to one day live in a shack with brick walls, rather than corrugated iron.
Secondly: many white people here have it so wrong. There are a lot of problems, but I’ve repeatedly heard statements like “black people have no respect”. One thing I love about black culture is how full of respect it is. I want to challenge all these people.
There was an interesting story in that book. A little boy arrives at some houses, holding a water pistol. He realises all the houses are on fire. He is about to start the nearly impossible task of tackling this with his tiny water pistol, when he realises that parked all round the houses are loads of fire engines. But all the drivers are asleep, obviously to what’s happening right under their noses. The little boy has a choice. Does he try to put out the fire with his water pistols, or does he use it to wake up the firemen, so they can put it out together?
Interesting.
I’m writing this with a cat between my arms, walking all over my body lol. It’s quite cute hehe. I’d rather have a kat tho, although if she was walking all over my body I’d probably end up paralysed.
Today, I’ve been working on the video for Tshwaranang, and the website, which is why you haven’t had any pictures for a couple of days. Should be finished soon my lovely bum,
xC
PS.
“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”
Acts 6:2