Wednesday 7th March 2012- The cost of compassion

Mr Mothupi, Rsoe, Andrew and Sam & Chickens too

Our final day in the area around Delareyville began with a visit to the village of Middleton C, where we went to see Mr Mothupi who has turned his village home and plot into a chicken farm and small holding.  His energy and enthusiasm were infectious as he told us about how he uses his small plot for good.  He buys chicks at one day old, and then feeds them up until they are 5 weeks and then sells them in the local rural villages to people on limited income.  Mr Mothupi has had an eventful life.  He was a freedom fighter during the apartheid era and ended up having to live in exile from South Africa in Uganda… where he picked up farming skills and met his wife.  He was saddened though at the current state of South Africa, how many young people seem content to rely on state grants – or want and easy life, rather than being prepared to work for their income.  There was a sense for me that, though he was proud of his part in the struggle for freedom- that he was said at the way that freedom was being used by some.

We moved on to Sannieshof, about 30km away and met Father Hendrik Mpolokeng one of the priests in the parish of St Justin’s Sannieshof.  He took us, along with Archdeacon Guma to see three different projects which the Anglican Church has, or is developing, links with.

Senior Ladies who sew school uniform

First was a senior citizen’s sewing project… the ladies who gather have a cottage industry which makes school uniform for the local schools.  We were impressed by the design and quality of the clothes they made.  The ladies were proud of their work and the income helps to add something to their state pension.  Once again, there was a note of regret that younger members of the community were not involved , as there was no promise of income – until the clothes were sold- and the work is detailed, skilled and hard- the ladies come every weekday to do their sewing work on high quality machines.

Members of the Boineelo Drop In Home Based Care Team

A few yards around the corner- and we met the Home Based Care Volunteers at Boineelo Drop in Centre.  A  team of 10 unpaid volunteers (men and women) work in partnership with a local clinic to give support to orphaned and vulnerable children, support those affected by HIV/AIDS & other chronic conditions, supporting 305 people. They carry out basic tasks such as cleaning for those who are too sick to help themselves.  The team need equipment such as gloves to be able to do these tasks safely.  Bringing older people to the clinic is a challenge, when there is no wheelchair – sometimes the seniors have to be brought in a wheelbarrow.  A wheelchair is on their wish list. We heard about some situations where vulnerable older people were imposed upon by younger members of the community to give them some of their pension.  Disturbing though this is, we thought of situations in the UK where older people are vulnerable to others in the community.  We realised that social problems which have their root in the selfishness of the human heart, sadly,  will show themselves in every culture.
The team of volunteers are keen to start a community food garden and a hospice… ambitious plans They were encouraged to hear that the Diocese of Matlosane has funds set aside for community gardens and Archdeacon Guma offered to help them work through the process of becoming a Non Profit Organisation (the South African equivalent of a registered charity) so that raising funds could be less hard– we prayed together before we left- asking that God would give them what they needed. 

Emily and Father Hendrik wih the
children who come every day for food

Our final visit was both deeply disturbing and also very moving.  We pulled up outside a regular 4 roomed village house, the home of Emily Badula.  Emily is a primary school teacher- but school had finished by the time we arrived.  There were lots of children in her garden and yard as she came out to meet us.  We heard how since 2006 she has been feeding he vulnerable and neglected children in her neighbourhood, some of whom would otherise go to look for food at the local dump (which we passed on our way to the area).  It started when she noticed children at her school who fainted because of hunger

Emily in her kitchen

– she started giving food to the neediest once a week, from her won pocket- and it has grown to a meal every day for more than 30 children.  Often she does not have money to buy food and will ask, “God, let me get food to feed these children!”… she is known in the local stores who will sometimes give her food when she asks as she is known for the work she does.  Many of the children are at risk and some have been abused by others in the community.  Emily’s work and love stand out as a beacon of light for these children.  All this is remarkable – and Emily was excited and encouraged to see us, welcoming us warmly into her home.  But the strain and of the compassion and need which she feels is great.  When we thanked and encouraged her for the great work of love she does… the cost of her compassion could be seen in her eyes.  She does all this single handed.  Friends have helped, but drop out when there no payment for them.

Father Hendrik and Archdeacon Guma encouraged her to ask the parish council for funding for the next year, and Rose and I encouraged her to believe that this was God’s work and that we would be able to find people who would support the local churches help for her.  Surely this is true religion, to feed orphans and vulnerable children.  We felt sad that though there are many churches of many denominations in the area, that up until now it does not seem that there has been much support for Emily’s costly care.  Perhaps we don’t know the whole story, perhaps there will be more help forthcoming.  Whatever, we were glad that at least now the Anglican Church will be able to encourage its members to be involved in this kind of care- and we are grateful to Father Kendrik and Archdeacon Guma for bringing us to meet Emily and the children she feeds.  We hope thatour promise to Emily to find some support for her in the UK will not be empty… if you are reading this… could you help please?

There was an uncomfortable feeling as we drove away and headed back to Klerksdorp to stay at Bishop Steve’s home… the feeling that we had seen some very sad aspects of South African life today.  South Africa is a beautiful country and it is hard not to love it....Certainly we have met some courageous and faithful people, working at great personal cost – but to only look at these acts of love and courage, would be like focusing on the sticking plaster, when there is a serious wound underneath.

The disturbing questions will not go away – Why are children sometimes treated as a means to a social grant, and then left neglected?  Why do some people prey on vulnerable people?  Why do men act with violence against innocent children?  Why do people (like us) who say we love God, sometimes shy away from the loving acts and involvement to which God calls us. And the questions keep tumbling hrough our minds.  Like all the big questions, the answers to these are not easy or comfortable.  And they are not questions only for people who live in South Africa –

A visit to South Africa holds up a large mirror to our own life and culture… and sometimes what we see is not what we would like to.  I can’t help wondering what I will think and feel about the needs of my own community in Great Wyrley (and the communities I have visited here) when I return home.... And whether  those thoughts and feelings will lead to action.

Compassion is costly.  But if we call ourselves Christians then we are to follow the Lord Jesus and I believe that we will, like Emily in her efforts to feed the children, be given what we need to do the work God calls us to.

Richard