Gambling

People everywhere in the world have problems. Addictions, unhealthy habits, broken relationships.   In other words SIN.  me too.  Today i'm speaking of gambling. 

Recently i was in someone's home and the tv had an over-the-broadcast algorithm for finding 'winning numbers'.  

Young men gamble using a board and stones.



teen boys gambling




their environment

Women stand in groups, paper in hand, waiting for the 'China' truck to pull up. Called China cuz those who provide this gambling are most often of far-eastern descent.  Players use a paper with numbers.  Some rely on dreams to produce the numbers.  This is one of the papers, not sure if there are other china games.  If the China pick-up parks near a home or buisness those are given some 'rent'.  A mother of a church member spends 1/2 of her money on China. 

The government sponsors a lottery.  Betting parlours are busy on the weekends with people betting on most any sporting event.

Spring Day

Spring Day, celebrated September first marks the beginning of ,,,spring in South Africa. At Ben's school all the staff wore pink shirts on Friday. The kids' enjoyed picnic lunches and special activities.Also celebrating on Friday was Melissa's school. Parents and staff brought plants and the kids dug and planted them to beautify the school.

In Soweto teens and young adults throw water. At each other. (Alan said it looked like a lot of boys chasing girls. At passing motorists. Even with or maybe especially with opened windows. And anyone with in range. With buckets, water guns and hose pipes (water hoses). A good time was had by all.