Monday, June 15 - S.O.S. Children's Village

The Township
Today is our first day in Mamelodi. As we near the township, everyone is quiet in anticipation of what we are about to see. Just before the township limits, you literally have to ‘cross a bridge’ as you go into Mamelodi. On one side of street is Mamelodi west – a developed city with infrastructure and decent housing with middle class occupants. On the other – the township. As far as the eye can see lie squatter houses and makeshift shacks made of every imaginable building material. The mosaic stretches ahead of us and next to us on vast, flat land for at least two miles to the foothills of the mountain.

I expected only to see houses in the township, but it has its own little ‘infrastructure.’ Shops and services thrown up in makeshift cubbies and storefronts offer the township people haircuts, a car wash, a shoe repair shack, used tires stacked up in towers, as well as many odds 'n ends and crafts. Some people sold their wares on a blanket on the sidewalk, working their craft while waiting for a customer. Just as on Sunday, barefoot young men were hawking oranges. A health 'clinic' hung a shingle offering ‘surgery’. Both the structure and the sign resembled something young children would construct in their backyard during summer vacation. Chickens stacked in cages sat near the edge of the road awaiting their unknown fate.





There is garbage strewn everywhere, barbed wire fences protect properties and businesses whose owners are most likely not citizens of the township. Hundreds of people also walk in the street, next to the street and across the street. Women are washing clothes in tubs. Perhaps most surprising - cars in the township, as well as a legitimate gas station and pharmacy at one intersection. A muffler shop, motor mechanic and driving school were set up in tiny shacks near the gas station. One could also purchase cell phone air time - a real shocker. A small shop with a sign offering 'prepaid electricity' had me wondering how that might work. On one corner a man decided he couldn’t wait to ‘go’ in private, but was considerate enough to turn his back to the street.

Children roamed everywhere; with other kids, alone or with their mother and siblings. Many women carried small babies on their backs, secured within a large blanket fastened at their bosom. The strewn garbage is piled up in large amounts on some corners, lining curbs at other points and stuck within fences. It is both old and new; a lot of decaying trash with a fresh layer on top. No one seemed to care, notice or be bothered by it. I am dumbstruck at the irony of an old man using a wisk broom to sweep out the dirt floor of his ‘shop’; a structure looking something more like a portico. Exactly what he was selling was not obvious. One small shack stood out like a beacon of hope and example to others with three thriving colorful rose bushes in front and a neatly kept entrance. Most dwelling spaces are no bigger than a common-sized public restroom. The township has no heat, no electricity and no running water. We did pass evidence of progress, mostly structures built by Crossroads Community Church in Cincinnati. There is a hospice, orphanage and a school. All are well kept with the the recent addition of a newly laid parking lot.

On the initial approach, random women and men are making the trek into the township as far as a mile outside of it. They carry mostly firewood in their arms, or bags with a few necessities. Some women carry enormous twined branches precariously balanced on their head, their backs low with the weight, with arms reaching above supporting the load. They still have far to go. Yesterday, on the return from the game drive, we saw a wide track of thick black smoke slowly traveling low across the highway. Jennifer told us that someone was burning a tire; a common form of heat and a gathering place on a cold night. Today, we see tires stacked 5 or 6 high in rows of two or three for sale by the side of the road.

SOS Children's Village
Two men in uniform open the gates for us as we approach our destination in the township for the day: SOS Children’s Village. Some of the children are orphans, others have been abandoned by their parents; sometimes due to their inability to care for their children, others left their children there because they just didn’t care. SOS Children's Village runs many orphanages throughout the world.

Our 6-car caravan of Omnis and Volkswagon Golfs quickly park as the guards close the entrance to the gated community. First sights of the kids include many of the boys playing soccer with bare feet on a very small dirt field flanked by two metal makeshift net-less goals. Many children are running around the yard. Some run up to the soccer players who scoop them up and put them on their shoulders. I am amazed at how comfortable they seem to be with the children. As we settled in one area of the yard, I feel a nudge on my shoulder and someone grabbed my hand. I turn to see a girl of about 16, who then put my arm around her shoulder and nuzzled in. It was easy to recognize that she was a little slow. Shy and quiet, she does not look me in the eye, and will only quietly answer questions I asked her. Together, we walk to a room where everyone was gathering. She holds my hand even tighter, shyly taking a couple of glances at me. We walk into the ‘auditorium’ and sit down together.

There are times when I don’t easily start a conversation with someone, and this was one of them. As I’ve been praying in the mornings this week (and prior to the visit), I’ve been asking God to prepare my heart for what I would see, and open my mind to what He wants me to learn. Over the past month, and especially this week, I have heard God’s simple reply; 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' When seeking to make a difference, help or facilitate change, we tend to want to see big and immediate results. The work in Mamelodi will not provide anyone such satisfaction. The change will be small and slow, but the impact on each child we connect with them is immediate and enormous. As I sat with this young girl, who so desperately just wants to be loved, I strongly feel the prompting of God’s message.


Me and Swahelia

I ask her simple questions about her daily life. Swahelia has one sister with whom she shares a room three other girls as well. I ask Swahelia to point her out, and then motioned her sister to come over to say hello. Jennifer, who was more outgoing and lively than her sister said 'hello' and sat down. But didn’t really want to be there, and sadly didn’t want to be near her sister. She quickly got up and went back to her friends; a group that Swahelia obviously didn’t belong to.

Our purpose here today is to just be with the children, love on them and watch several skits and songs prepared for us. Like the other kids we saw as we entered the township, they all had decent, yet uncoordinated clothing; a dress from the 80’s, someone’s old t-shirt, very worn tennis shoes, old flip flops. There are two very cute little boys wearing a doctor’s coat and carrying a house call kit – props for the play about to be performed.

The soccer crew makes some new friends

They have been preparing for this day for quite a few weeks. Nkele, who runs the music program for Bridge to Cross, guided her group of kids from the township to the stage first. These children attend a nearby school and do not live in the orphanage. They proceed to put on a play and beautifully sing some gospel songs. However; throughout the play performance and songs, the kids in the audience did not pay full attnetion, and talked the entire time. A group from the orphanage then performed a nice song and dance. The talking continued. Lastly a group of girls from the township of Umlazi (which is on the east coast of South Africa), performed an extremely coordinated and somewhat provocative chant/song and stomp dance. Both the boys from the Umlazi and US Bridge to Cross teams watched with intense interest.

The seriousness with which all the children performed was admirable, and their ability to continue despite the lack of quiet was amazing. Most impressive, however, is the joy and talent with which they all sang, particularly the first two groups. I am so touched by their determination and presentations. During the three acts, small children, from toddler to about age 6, sought out a lap to sit on. They are adorable. Many were eagerly scooped up and watched the performance with their new friend. Carol Ryan took two on her lap, Mark Kirk has a sweet child by her, and Amy Crockett sat crouched on the floor for an eternity with a little one on her lap. An overwhelming feeling of sadness, wanting to help, endearment and sympathy worked through me as I sat and watched.

The talking is making it next to impossible to hear the children sing or act their part, yet no authority figure from the orphanage steps in to help bring order. I am baffled by this. Through the last act the chatter continues and I was incredulous and frustrated about it. Then, David Kisor took the stage.

David has an amazing ability and talent to connect with children through music. His work helps young children in early developmental stages as well as youth with disabilities, and empowers children with self-confidence. As he walks on stage, a tall presence with wildly curly black hair, he raises his arms a bit and gives a gesture to indicate ‘quiet down and sit down.’ The noise level noticeably drops. Then he took out his keyboard. After telling the children he is going to teach them a song to sing with him, it was finally quiet. It was incredible.

They immediately pick up the lyrics and hand movements, joining in with great enthusiasm – young and older children alike. The magnitude of what was going on here, what Bridge to Cross is doing for these children, just being in South Africa, and in Mamelodi envelopes me all at once. Dave then taught the children a new and awesome song he had written about Bridge to Cross. I am so overcome at this point with the mission, its affect, the children and our group of volunteers that I completely ‘lost it’, and had to leave for a good cry and breather. A very kind woman from the orphanage sweetly hugged me. Her words were comforting yet sad at the same time. Gathering my composure I return to the 'auditorium', only to leave again for the same reason. Composure finally in tact, I return and visit with Swahelia before our group meets for lunch.

Tina prepared a lunch which we all ate in a separate room without the children. It felt so contrary; one moment we were empathizing and impacting, and the next we shut ourselves off from them to eat a nice meal. Shortly after we begin our way around the buffet, two women from the orphanage bring in fried chicken, mashed potatoes, a common and local dish called ‘pop’ and made from corn meal, and some salads. I was humbled and embarrassed. He we were supposed to be ministering to them, and they were serving us. True that we do all have to eat, but I felt especially awkward when some of the children came to the door of our room and were told that the lunch was for us. I know our mission is not to feed the children, but I couldn't help feeling we were excluding them.

After lunch, Matthew and I venture to a thatched roof pavilion where David sits with his keyboard surrounded by curious children. He sang to the children and also let them play on the keys a bit. One small boy reached up and touched his hair quite a few times, obviously amazed by the different texture unfamiliar to him. The children are lined up on the outside of the pavilion for a lunch that had been prepared for them. It was not near equal to our feast, and left me thinking about the incredible disparity.


Precious on Matthew's lap
A little boy named Precious approaches me and Matthew and showing us a little plastic figure toy. We start playing with him and he is immediately our buddy. He reached to remove my sunglasses and put them on his own face. He laughs wildly at this. Settling in on Matthew's lap, Precious continues his game of putting the sunglasses on his face, then mine. Each time he dons them, he lets out a belly laugh that has me and Matthew cracking up. Many of the other kids want to play the game too. Such a simple thing. It's not the game, but the attention. We take many pictures of the kids and they can't wait to see their image on the screen. Cameras are not common, nor are mirrors, so it's not often they see themselves. How many times do I look in a mirror each day?

As the day draws to an end, we head to the gym for a singing contest. Matthew and I head in, passing a line of contestants anxiously awaiting their turn. The gym is not quite as full as earlier. One by one, singers, most of them girls, belted out their best. Matthew is making paper airplanes out of a ‘say no to sex’ flyer, many of which had been left on the floor or strewn across the grass outside. I’m sure neither the littering nor the airplane making were the original intent of the pamphlets, however; the children are quite pleased. About six little boys gather around Matthew waiting their turn. Between the paper airplanes and the boys checking out Matthew’s guitar, he doesn't know which way to turn. I inherit the airplane making duties so Matthew can show the boys his guitar. They are mesmerized. The contest continues and many of the performers are amazing.

Matthew showing some of the boys his guitar
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Matthew then made a friend named Angelo who looked like he was about eight. They talked a bit and he asked Matthew for an American quarter. He was so thrilled when we gave him one. He couldn’t spend it in the Township, he was just thrilled to have a piece of American money. We hung out with Angelo, who had quite a personality and sense of humor. When we left, he gave us both hugs good-bye and asked us when we were coming back, making me cry. I told him that I wasn’t sure we were, but that I would send him the pictures we took together. He asked me to send two, so he could share one with his friend. Awww. Topping off the end of the visit, Marnus shared the news that the Pretoria News called about our news release and would most likely be at the Bridge to Cross Hope Cup the next day.

We make our way out of the township as it is growing dark. It was a little scary, people were everywhere, some men drinking beer out in the open; random fires set here and there, another man ‘putting out a fire’ like earlier, and a very long line of vehicles making their way into the township. Adults from Mamelodi are returning from a day’s work outside the township, each car and van packed to capacity. As they return to the Township, we make our way to Johannesburg for the first game of the Confederation Cup; US vs. Italy.

We arrive at the Pretoria Sports Arena; a park and ride lot where a nice cookout is waiting for us – set up and prepared by Marnus’ wife Julia. When we arrive, we realize we were one less car than we started out with. David Kisor and his car of passengers were lost – again. He did not have a cell phone, or know where we were meeting, so we were quite worried.

Amidst the eating, the soccer team, Dave Woeste and Coach Terry are disrobing. Their chests were about to become a paint canvas for Bryan Welage. In blue and red, he painted ‘United*States’. They also painted their faces in red, white and blue. They were quite a spectacle on the walk to the game, with a lot of good–humored exchange with the Italy fans. Still; no David and crew.

http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/photogallery/gallery=1072110.html#1072049


Upon entrance to the stadium, our entire group – 32 or so of us, are shouting U-S-A, U-S-A and waving an enormous America flag. Camera men numbering in the 20s gathered around from the press area and took photos of the guys for about five minutes. TV cameras also shoot the action. Shortly after sitting down, Stephanie Woeste sent a text message from the U.S. saying: “tell Dave to put his shirt back on.” She had seen it on TV from the US. During the middle of the first half, the US team scored the first point. Our shirtless, spirited spectacle got up in formation, ran down to the main floor, and began to circle the ring around the field chanting, U-S-A, U-S-A. Heading the group was Bryan with the flag. Russ trailed behind them, capturing the action on video. Half way around the stadium, the FIFA police intercepted the guys, guiding them up the stairs and out of the stadium. They were almost ejected! The police told them they must wear a shirt and stay in their seats. Most of the guys had their jackets around their waist and were OK. Dave and Terry had to purchase a t-shirt on the spot. They were then escorted back into the stadium the same way they were ushered out. As they started to run back to their seats, the FIFA police ran in front of them waving their fingers in their faces. When the guys started coming back again, they were walking. You could almost see the tail between their legs. The police told them to get dressed and walk, not run – too funny. Tough regulations.

We found David Kisor and group shortly after we arrived at the stadium. Unfortunately, they missed the walk in. We feared the mothers of the lost travelers would be watching, see the ‘painted boys’ and question the whereabouts of their sons. Thank God they arrived safely. They actually were there the entire time, had just parked in a different lot, and needed to find us for the tickets. Marnus spotted them just outside the stadium – no small miracle, as there were thousands of people there.

We found out the next day that our boys were on MSNBC and ESPN. Their photo made numerous websites, and ESPN showcased their picture in the show opening. They also made the paper the next day! The second page of the Pretoria News sports section showed Mattie Koen front and center in an enormous full color picture in the sports section. He made the point that over the last three days, he had been on the radio and TV and in the newspaper. Mattie, you’re the man.