TUESDAY
The day started with a trip to the local hardware store in the morning. Apparently we had to return a couple wooden boards purchased from the afternoon before; not knowing that it would delay our building plans for the rest of the week. There was no pick-up truck available, so we had to create a contraption to hold our boards to the store. Which looked a little like this…
Yes, those are two bags and one backpack stabilizing our (oversized) product.
…And yes, we did make it to the store, without any serious injuries or accidents along the way. If you could imagine a sedan cruising through town on a sunny afternoon as though there was no problem at all.
Later that evening, the Peace Embassy had invited us to a small wedding ceremony. There was music, delicious traditional food, and nonstop butt-shaking music. The team and I had attended to merely observe and be respectful to the host; yet the night had ended with sweaty dancing and singing together to music in every language besides English.
The night was one filled with delight and a deeper connection of happiness. It didn’t matter whether we could dance or not, everyone simply wanted to have fun with each other. There were mothers carrying babies on their backs and still dancing with passion. A circle was formed, giving enough space for the room to be filled with dancers. The sound of everyone clapping to the music together brought a higher energy throughout the hallways, and ending with shrieks of laughter from the younger children…
Looking around, I realized that this was a moment shared between families and friends to celebrate the virtues of marriage, feast like kings, and spread the utmost of joy. This was a part of the culture in South Africa that the team was honored to be a part of, and we could have never passed up for the world.
WEDNESDAY
There is no life like this that is similar to another. Why stay at home, or play video games all day when we can have the opportunity to be accepted into a new culture? To invest in relationships with locals and traveling friends? To reconnect families and communities? To grow for the better or for the worse as we move along this journey…We face challenges that may hurt and burden us, but also realize that the very downfalls lead us to the greatest of triumphs. The records we keep from this path are one of a kind.
The team is searching for the core intention of this trip… Something that may possibly inspire the youth, or spark an idea that has never been challenged before. An idea or commitment that we all were afraid of…but know that it’s the right thing to do.
What is our purpose here? Are we even making a difference? What can we do to truly help others, and to grow the hearts of the people and even ourselves?
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THURSDAY
To be honest with you all, dear readers, this week felt like a blur to me. With hardly any down-time to think for myself and relax, we have been on the move since we got here…However, as promised, here are some photos of what the team and I have been pleasurably exposed to for the past week.
Food, food, food!
The backyard in the late afternoon.
It’s beautiful, ne?
Remember the “base” from the previous post? Here’s some progress!
Nicole & Nicholas aka “Junior”
Junior with the ladies!
I constantly think about what I can do more for the community and to help their lives. We are not frail… We are powerful. We are invigorating. We are influential.
Understanding that these points are a fact, I do not fear the physical labor and emotional drainage throughout the days.
We will continue on our journey as a team, to learning, growing & loving Johannesburg unconditionally.
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Taken downtown.