bus burning

A corner in Soweto sits near a bus business and the mall. It boasts a traffic light and lots of traffic. Just recently an event took place there that i didn't witness, but later saw the evidence. And several people told me about it. Bus prices went up about R60 ($ 8.80) to a distant place and people were unhappy. That unhappiness was expressed by burning the bus.

Guess the evidence doesn't show too well in these photos. What shows on the pavement is crushed glass, bits of black flat pieces and dark burned places.

Sharing ,,, to the max

(((( Some of the darlings from church. Not naming names to protect me.))))

This morning in church, 2 cousins shared a chair in front of me. The youngest a girl brought a sucker (lolly) to church with her. She took off the paper then handed to her cousin for the first lick. He and she shared.

Then her realized there was a friend behind them and he offered her a lick too. I say lick but the whole things goes in the mouth the cheeks pull in a full taste is discovered. He also offered it to Ben who declined as he doesn't like candy. The older girl beside me also declined.

The sucker was shared to the stick. One of the cousins getting the last 'big' piece of candy and the other getting the bits left on the stick.

They were helped in the sharing of other things by the woman sitting beside them. The mother of neither, she realized they need their noses wiped. She took her tissue and wiped each of their noses, sticking the tissue back in her pocket.

All this sharing is culturally accepted.

blanket

It has been cold in recent days. Yes, it is winter, but cold and i don't agree... on anything. And sometimes when it is colder inside the house than out, I wonder what is going on.

And for this reason when i go to Soweto in the winter, I go for warmth. A skirt cuz i am a gogo (grandma/older woman) and a mamfundis (pastor's wife) but then i layer. Tights underneath, shorts also if it is really cold. 2 pair of socks, t-shirt, turtle neck, sweater, then a fuzzy jacket and a hooded windbreaker. Top this with a scarf, gloves, and when it is really cold a small blanket wrapped around my legs. This blanket is universal attire for women in Soweto. Women carrying babies on their back also have a large, very heavy blanket held in front covering their baby.

When i asked my daughter to take my picture, she said WHY? who knows? Maybe you needed a laugh today.

hello, goodbye,,,the life of a missionary.

'bye Zach, go well

'Bye Rachel, go well

g'bye Lori, go well

'bye Steph, go well

The last two months we have been saying good bye again. We haven't had to do that in a while. Well except for volunteer teams. That is hello, work intensely then good bye. and temporary goodbyes.

Enjoy your stateside, guys.