Getting to know Durban.

My first day in Durban the local coordinator provided a tour in the area. She wanted us to become familiar with the effects of the apartheid and what poverty looked like in the country.

This building is where the black factory workers used to live during the apartheid. Now they are analogous to the “Projects”.  The rooms are very small and do not have any private bathrooms or running water in them.

Do you see the railroad? This was literally the line that separated the white factory  workers from the black factory workers. The houses beyond the railroad tracks are where the white workers used to live. Now the area is no longer segregated. 

This is from a town called Umzali. The land is owned by the government. The buildings were built by people from whatever material they could find. Umzali is a large town that houses over 1000 people. They area has very little crime because the elders of the town handle crime the old fashioned way. The next few pics are from the area.

 

Within Umzali I visited this orphanage. The orphanage houses 40 +/- 5 children. There are only two bedrooms designated for boys and girls and one small playing area. All of the children lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. Some of them have the disease themselves. The orphanage was started by a couple that lives in Umzali because they felt a need for it in the community. Many households in South Africa are run by the eldest child and often those children are unable to receive an education. This orphanage gives those children an opportunity to go to school. 

This is the boys room in the orphanage. 

Babies everywhere!

Sorry I still haven't posted pics. I keep forgetting to bring my USB to the computer lab at the medical school. I can't believe I've almost been here a week. I'm going to be honest, it feels longer.

The hospital at times can be very draining. I have been working in the Pediatric Unit for the last week. There are more malnourished children than I can count. It is really frustrating to see so many malnourished children, I know it's Africa and unfortunately it is kind of known for it, but still is heartbreaking. Many of the problems associated with malnourished children stems from social issues. There are organizations here that provide mothers with food and formula for their babies, however not all of them take advantage of it.  So, in the city the issue is not about a lack of resources it is a lack of education in knowing those resources are available or an understanding of how much food a child needs.

Many of the children here have been infected with HIV/AIDS. There is a steady decline in exposure and with adequate treatment hopefully the trend with continue. The country has the resources to have no children born with HIV but many mothers do not know they are infected or refuse to have a HIV/AIDS test. I did see many babies with HIV who were on treatment and they were fairly healthy and very cute. It shows the resilience in children and the power of modern medicine.

I promise next time I post I will have pics. Also, I just booked next weekend to go to Cape Town! I’m so excited!!!!!!

Sawubona!

Sawubona! It means "Hello" in Zulu. It is one of the 4 phrases that I know in Zulu. I guess it's better than nothing. I'm so excited to finally get internet access and be able to update the blog! I was getting mad internet withdrawal; I was starting to get tremors.

I have been learning so much since I got off the plane. Today was the first day of clinics. I began in the pediatric unit of King Edward hospital. I already saw cases of malnourishment and HIV positive patients.

I just wanted to let you know that I arrived safely. I will update tomorrow more with pics.

FIRST BLOG ENTRY EVER!!!!!!!

 As some of you know, I’ve been obsessing about starting a blog for the last two months. Today, I finally did it!

There are less than two days left before I leave for South Africa. Honestly, it doesn’t feel like I am going, expect for the occasional adrenaline rush of excitement. I have been waiting years to go to South Africa and can’t believe that it’s actually happening.

For me there are two things that have come to represent my trip. 

The first is Archbishop Oscar Romero’s prayer. Each time I read this prayer I learn something. It represents the person I strive to be.

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view. 

The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise

that is God’s work. Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said.

No prayer fully expresses our faith.

No confession brings perfection.

No pastoral visit brings wholeness.

No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.

No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow.

We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.

We lay foundations that will need further development.

We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.

This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.

It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.

We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.

We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.

We are prophets of a future not our own.

The second is: 

 I hope you enjoyed them :)