Travelling by the Townships in South Africa

With the lush green wine lands, the Franschhoek orange grapevines, the bluish-pink mountain tops, and the fragrant white rose gardens looming ahead, the 45-minute drive outside Cape Town was a colorful rainbow of beauty; ironically, though, the colors which flagged my attention the most, which drove me – no, commanded me -- to pay attention weren’t from the grandeur before us, but from the squalor to our right.

Colors of red and blue and green and yellow and pink sporadically dropped in an ocean of dreary-grey tin and dirty-brown cardboard, poverty-stricken homes whose overall squalor stretched on for infinity. Not colors of decoration or beauty or light, but colors of the only materials that were apparently available for shelter. Coca-cola signs and red barn tin and tan plywood sprayed with orange graffiti paint and propped up next to a lean-to shanty with a green roof and drops of purple hanging from a clothesline even though there was obviously no water or plumbing.  Sudden, sporadic bursts of color peaking from behind a neatly-constructed fence which attempted to block the deprivation from the highway we traveled; but it didn’t. Block my view, that is. And thank you, God, that it didn’t. Otherwise I would have gone home with a skewed sense of reality, an obscured vision from a near-perfect vacation, an unrealistic impression of a part of the world whose beauty is more than surface deep.

South Africa is rich in more than luxury. Rich in history and beauty and tradition and animals, but also rich in people who cannot be kept out of sight merely because a barrier tries to hide their painful poverty. In an era where we lock doors and windows and safes and use dead bolts and pad locks and security systems, keeping others out is an important part of our lives. But the fence along this particular highway did not keep my heart out of the townships of South Africa.

Ian’s repetitive phrase, words he chanted so often it was driving us crazy --  “drive left, drive left, drive left” – made me wonder if the real reason we drove on the left side of the road was so that we wouldn’t look to the right. Yet that would have been a mistake. For looking to the right, even though my senses were assaulted by an embodiment of dashed dreams, the picture I saw still breathed life, life that fights to flourish in the most beautiful of countryside, yet the most impoverished of circumstances. Life where mud huts and thatched roofs and villagers cooking on open stoves look like the Hyatt Regency compared to the poverty-stricken townships that stretched for miles on our right before we turned left, leaving them behind.      

In a luxury-travel business, however, Ker and Downey is doing it right. Aware of what is on the other side of the fence, this company isn’t straddling the fence, but climbing over it, determined to help people who are suffering in many African countries. And seeing the townships outside Cape Town made me appreciate their efforts and their commitment even more.   

On the Ker and Downey philanthropy page, you can see for yourself their dedicated vision. Whether it’s Mosquito Nets for Uganda (providing blood tests,  doctors’ visits, supplies, and clothing in addition to the desperately needed mosquito nets that exponentially reduce diseases), their involvement in the philanthropic outreach of Dresses for Africa, or the Manna of God movement in Botswana and other impoverished nations,  Ker and Downey has climbed the fence and is facing what needs to be done.

I was traveling on a Ker & Downey trip to a luscious land of white roses and orange autumn vines and golf course green mountains, to a country where the path was as exciting and as enriching as the experiences I had, and the townships of South Africa, however brief the moment we shared, were an equally important part of the time we spent in this rainbow country.

For more information on the philanthropic ventures of Ker and Downey, contact: kerdowney.com.

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For the 7^th year, Manna of God presents

A Summer Bible Study for Women of All Denominations.

This year, we’ll explore the lives of three New Testament women whose lives answer the question: “Is Jesus Enough?”

Wednesday, July 11 at 9:00 AM;

Wednesday, July 18 at 9:00 AM;

and Wednesday evening, July 25 at 6:30 PM.

Bellville United Methodist Church in Room 204.

There is no charge for this study, but a love offering to support Mosquito Nets for Uganda and Dresses for Africa will be appreciated. More information on these programs will be presented.

Help us spread the word, and we hope to see you there!

Gana Marek, Donna Riefkohl, Vicki Porter, Becky Bader

Contact Gana at gmarek@kerdowney.com or call Becky at 979-885-9526 if you need more information.

"All roads lead to Johannesburg."

The last trip we took with Reid, he rescued us from missing our DC flight by sending an airline attendant with a wheelchair to help his parents “who needed some help!” And we certainly needed that help, too, making the flight in the nick of time as I stuck my hand through the door as they were closing the gate. Just in case you were wondering, that’s why Ian and I were 4 hours early for this trip. But we do appreciate all the help we can get, and the Ker & Downey people certainly know how to help! So far, fabulous trip! We love those guys with the signs that have our names on them! No worries with them around! No worries at all!

We’re excited that Ian’s rib isn’t hurting, and there were only a few screaming children on our Emirates flight; and even those were really cute kids. I liked the little girl who kept grabbing everyone’s hair when her mother carried her down the aisle.

We flew over Baghdad, which was overwhelming to me because I realized before how Baghdad, in my experiences, was simply a Proper noun. Not so simple really, but not real either. But there it was. On the map, but as close as I’ll probably ever be. And then that might be the closest I’ll ever get to the Holy Land as well. Well, in this earthly life, that is.

And now, after a six-hour layover in Dubai at the Dubai International Hotel -- which took us five minutes to get to once we landed and where I saw the most beautiful woman draped in a shimmery, silver, silk scarf (made me think of Bathsheba for some reason) -- we’re on our way to meet Reid in Johannesburg before continuing our adventure.

“All roads lead to Johannesburg,” Alan Paton wrote in Cry, The Beloved Country. And now mine is leading there, too.

South Africa: Our Adventure Begins!

After three months of anticipation and excitement, of planning and wondering, the day has finally arrived, and we will soon be on our way to South Africa!

Our bags have been packed for days even though we did have to repack after Reid, our son who works for Ker & Downey, the travel company who planned our trip, pointed out a few items that were “ridiculous,” including three packages of gum the size of Africa as he assured me there was gum in the airports. And then there was another large box of band-aids and Benadryl and Dramamine and Zantac and Metamucil (not that we take all of that, just like to be prepared!) and of course, blood pressure medicine and estrogen and….After Reid’s intervention, the prescriptions stayed; the rest unloaded except for a sampling of each.

Ian’s suitcase, however, was totally revamped. And since he has a cracked rib cage, it’s a good thing since I’m going to be the one to lug his stuff around. Well, in and out of the car anyway. Reid assures me Ker & Downey takes over from there.

Getting his pedicure!When Reid told his dad in February that they would charge him for two seats instead of one on the smaller aircrafts, Ian’s banker-instinct surfaced and he’s now lost 50 pounds, thanks to healthy eating. He’s discovered man can live without bread. Not that he likes it, but he certainly likes the benefits. His back is stronger and oh how he struts his stuff, modeling all the new clothes we’ve bought. In fact, every time I’d suggest he pack, he’d walk out of the bedroom in a new outfit! I’ve had the most fun watching Ian model his safari clothes each night. Last night he even fell asleep wearing his new safari jacket! What can I say? My husband of 33 years is darling!

And now that he’s had his pedicure, we’re as prepared as we can possibly be!

So, off we go to the Beloved Country that Alan Paton writes about so beautifully. To the land where the hills are “lovely beyond any singing of it.” To another land God created. To a place where I’m praying He overwhelms as only He can do.

Off we go!

The adventure begins!