Chatham Hall in South Africa

If you are reading the blogs in order, we are sure that by this time you have read about the schools we have visited, the children, etc. However, while that is one part of the trip, the other part is the townships and disease. In addition to school children, we have visited several communities that are fighting the AIDS epidemic. On these trips we met with them, heard their stories, and distributed food and Care Kits that consist of ordinary things such as a towel, toothpaste, and basic vitamins. We also visited a hospice center, which was described by the manager as a place for people too sick to stay at home, and not sick enough to be at the hospital. After the manager finished his introduction of the hospice center, we were allowed to walk around and visit with the patients.

It is our belief that it is one thing to read about people with AIDS, and to be able to recognize the numbers, and a completely different thing to sit in a room that has 10 people with the disease. Seeing firsthand what these people were going through, and seeing how they still managed to smile at all of us when we walked into the room was enough to help us understand that it is really happening and it is really a problem. While some people were saddened by this experience, others were uplifted and inspired. It gave us a feeling that we can help if we just open our eyes and put forth the energy needed.

When walking through the townships, we felt as though there was a difference between seeing these lean-tos on Google and actually walking down the street. Seeing what these people had made us all realize just how much we have. Simple toiletries were rare in the township, alongside running water and food. However, something that these townships were rich in was energy. It seems weird to say, but that is the only way that we know how to describe it. When you were walking down the street, there was music playing, and people dancing in the streets. Everyone shared a smile as we walked down the street. It is amazing how these people seem to us to have so little, but they can still be happy and dancing.

                                                                                    Victoria and Mason