Catching up Part 18

Saturday February 23
I went to an auction with Nadiem (the owner of the guesthouse) today.  There was a lot of stuff!  Things from estate sales and... reminded me of all the stuff I had to go through and let go of.  So I saw another part of town and a whole different group of people and activities.  Also a sadder place, the mortuary that is caring for the remains of his friend.  I was glad to be on the journey, with you, thanks Nadiem.

Sunday February 24
Today I went to Westbury Congregational Church with Rev. Dr. Prince, the General Secretary of the UCCSA, his wife Rev. Cheryl and my fellow missionary Ayana.  The congregation is in the search process and so the Secretary (Moderator/President) preached.  The children sang for us and there was a choir as well.  It was a warm and welcoming place.

Then we journeyed to Soweto. (South Western Townships).  This is the area where the Apartheid Government forced the removal of the native (black) Africans.  The government had taken over all the schools and changed the curriculum so that black students were given an inferior education.  They then changed all the curriculum to use only Afrikaans- no matter what grade the students were in, where they were in their education, or what their home language was.  The students began to march and peacefully demonstrate.

 Hector Peterson was the first student killed, and the memorial and museum are named for him but there were many more...

 The picture is infamous of Mbuyisa carrying Hector.

Ayana, Cheryl and Prince in foreground.

 A quote from Mbuyisa's mother.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...My understanding is Mbuyisa spirit was broken by the event and he left and was never heard from again...it happened to many survivors, they just disappeared- out of fear of reprisals for the demonstration... anguish over being survivors... disgust over what had happened... hopelessness????

 We had lunch later and rested, around the corner from the memorial and down the street from Mandela's house (now a museum) and Bishop Tutu's house (he still visits it on occasion).