Postcards from Around the Globe
MAY 24, 2007 - SOUTH AFRICA - Brian Bryant
Faith as a Child
Children are not only the future, but they are also manifestations of the truth in the present. Today, we visited the Mohau Children’s Home in Alltridgevile, South Africa, which is a township about 30 minutes from Johannesburg. The Mohau Children’s Home houses children who come from poverty-stricken households, family negligence, and from places that cannot offer a “home” to them. This facility was founded in 1998 and receives help from the federal government for operation; rent, utility bills and funds for food are provided via per capita amount for each child that receives help from the home.
I decided to spend some time with the children and to just give them some attention that they needed and may not usually receive from Black college students from America. I noticed two boys, Ofrenzie and Alani, who were sharing and looking through a small gray book. This small book was actually the Bible written in their native language—Zulu. As they searched through the book despite of their inability to read at their young age, I observed them and saw that they were fascinated with the Bible.
I notified one of the students of the Youth Student Development Program, which trains students to be community leaders, and she started to engage in conversation with Alani to learn more about his fascination. Alani explained to her that he felt comfort when he had the Bible with him, and if for any reason that anyone would take the Bible away from him, he would react by crying. He also explained that his future career goal was to become a priest.
This 5 year old illiterate child found comfort and faith in something that he could not understand. I later discovered that he could not walk and that he was paralyzed from his knees to his feet. With all of the religions that are practiced around the world and in America, this one child showed me the importance of faith and hope which crosses cultural and religious barriers. If Americans and other peoples, with Christianity, Islam, Buddism and even Atheism, would hold on to things that we do have, love and hope, then we can combat the epidemic of HIV/AIDS including violence, rape and other disparities that continue to plague the world and the Black community. If we the people will hold on to that which gives us hope and faith, then like Alani, we can see a brighter future despite the troubles of life that paralyze us and try to make us incapable of seeing the greater end.
More Postcards
JUNE 18, 2007 - SOUTH AFRICA - Richard C. Jones
MAY 29, 2007 - SOUTH AFRICA - Mauri J. Robinson
MAY 29, 2007 - SOUTH AFRICA - Kelechi Kalu
MAY 28, 2007 - SOUTH AFRICA - Kweku Arko-Gilbert
MAY 28, 2007 - SOUTH AFRICA - Freddie Wilkes
