This airport is pretty dark. Electricity is at a premium in SA. Many places you go it is darker than what one would grow to expect in the West. In fact it is easier to lower the screen brightness to conserve battery because of this. I learned two days ago that the government is jacking up the price of electricity by 31%. This is on top of the fact that electricity is limited in availability as well. Several times I saw a warning message come on the TV screen urging viewers to conserve electricity. The had a meter that showed the level of use from across the country. This happened on the colder days that I have whinned about before. I think what happens on the colder days is that people pull electric heaters out of the closets to warm up their cold rooms. Then usage spikes and the warning comes on.
As I write this at 13:45, I have flown to Jo’burg, thankfully I got on an earlier flight this morning, because the afternoon flight would have been late I have discovered and I might have been too late for my flight north tonight. So I’m hanging out at the airport, bags ready to be checked waiting for my ticket counter to open so I can get rid of my checked luggage. Then I can hang out without the luggage. Another thing I learned is that Internet is at premium price. When you go to an Internet ‘cafe’ or buy wireless time, you not only pay for time but you also pay for the amount of MB you download. So you better get your important work done first before you start checking on your Fb friends. Twitter is okay, way less pix, thus less download, thus the fixed price that I paid for time and usage will not expire as soon.
Experiencing Africa for a second time and for a longer time has been good for me. I had my intro course last summer so I was able to experience things at a different level. I had a better idea what I would see, so I could look deeper and see things better. But I also realize that what I’ve seen and heard will require a good deal of processing before I can begin any real planning. There was one day for example that I remember seeing several worthy projects and when we drove away, I asked my self aloud, its not really if we should help, but which one should we help. That will require processing and a great deal of prayer to discern the answer to, for its not just about who you knnow best, but who seems to be in the best place to make the most difference.
Yesterday I was talking with the owner of the guest house I’ve been staying in and he asked me what the one answer is for the myriad of problems in the townshipsa and squatter camps. Education I told him. But that is one word answer that is multi-layered. Its about starting early enough with good care for the children when the mom goes to work, its about nutricious food for the children at preschool, in primary school and at home. Its about teaching them to eat healthy, practice good hygene, to understand the truth about HIV, sexuality and their own value. It is this word that triggers some thought, ‘value.’ You see, I know that God made humans in His own image and that alone gives all of the people in the townships and squatter camps value, that is what makes helping those who are trying to help them important.
As I wrote the above thoughts, I noticed that the early check in for my flight began. I was blessed. I discovered that I was only allowed one bag that could only weigh 20 kilos (44 lb.). I had two bags that I had put stuff in to even out the load for the trip north including my back pack. They were going to charge me $240 for the second bag. So I took out my back pack and made sure I could carry it in addition to my brief case on and prepared to start throwing stuff away including the monster duffel bag. But the ticket guy came over told me to try to put my bag INSIDE the duffel and weigh it, he helped me fit it in, it fit, it went on the scale. It was 21 kilos, he let it go. That was a shocker. I am yet again glad I came up here early. If I had been in a long line, I might not have gotten that help. Lesson learned: make sure abouut baggage allowance ahead of time.
kingdom travelin' 