"white people are just like us"

Arm in Arm in Africa: Sunday, February 23rd, 2003

Bringing forth money in song and dance.

Have you ever been caught up in a whirlwind? If so, you may have some idea of how our morning went. The church service today at the J.L. Zwane Memorial Church was an uplifting and exciting and exhausting experience, particularly so because the church was wrapping up their year long fundraising effort. The church is composed of 18 "zones" - actually 19, since the Americans were granted official status last year as "Zone 19." Each zone has been working since this time last year to raise more money than any of the others. The competition is quite intense.

The service began at 9:00 with each zone bringing forward their money in a demonstration of song and dance. It seems as if every woman was out on the floor at one time or another, mingling with other zones to help them sing. Several of us joined them as they danced up. As soon as you were alongside someone, you had an arm around your waist, or someone holding your hand. As you moved up the aisle with them, it felt as if you were part of a single organism, moving and breathing as one. The service culminated with the awarding of prizes for the zones that raised the greatest funds. In a community of dire poverty, these women had collectively raised 153,000 rand - an impossibly large sum if you knew how little these people have. Finally at 1:30 pm, the service wrapped up. Reverend Spiwo acknowledged the hard work of his congregation.

Outside the church, we encountered a large number of young people arriving to take part in a support group for HIV Positive youngsters. A year ago, this program did not exist. This is just one of the many services the J.L. Zwane is able to offer because of the assistance we can provide. This is a huge step in helping people to recognize the health crisis and getting young people to accept responsibility.

Head, shoulders, knees and ...

After church, we visited several other townships, handing out stickers and toys as we went. We could get out of the van with three children standing around, and within minutes, we would be surrounded. Kate and Becky tried to teach a group of children how to sing "head and shoulders knees and toes." The children thought it was great fun to give it a try. Then one of the mothers came out to organize the children into singing "Happy Birthday" - that universal song.

This evening at dinner, Rev. Spiwo acknowledged our assistance (financial and otherwise). He said, "you are the strength of my hands". There are members of his congregation who are actually very fearful of white people. One parishioner recently admitted that she is no longer afraid. She sees that, "white people are just like us". There are so many bridges to be crossed, but we must build them first. We're getting a start at it.

Tomorrow the clinic and more. Until then, goodnight.

Jeff and Rita Nohner have volunteered to act as scribe and shutterbug for this journey to South Africa. Jeff is also the designer of the www.ArmInArmInAfrica.org website which we encourage you to visit.