The Flores Journey

(One of the small businesses started in Khayelitsha)

Friday I was invited to go to Khayelitsha and visit several of the businesses that have been started through the Income Generating Program or IGP. I have been very excited about this part of the Africa Jam program and had heard some good reports leading up to it. For one, the program has been noticed by some people that can really take this program to the next level. We have been told by the South African Government that if we can raise a certain amount of money in savings then they will give us a very substantial grant. The South African Government wants to invest money in programs that are bringing funds into the poorest communities, and that is exactly what Africa Jam is doing. This is great news for the IGP team because, success from earlier ventures have created much enthusiasm throughout the community.

Like I said we visited several of the businesses that have been created in the community. First, one of the “African Momma’s “ took the money that she was loaned and invested it into purses and wallets as well as sweets and other snacks. She told us that she had completely sold out of all of her purses and was going to stock up on more from the money that she had made. Money is paid back on a monthly basis, with interest and she has been making all of her payments.
Another woman we visited was not there but the son showed us the things that had been purchased with the loan money. We saw some red flags here because there was very little merchandise that she was selling. Whenever there is so little merchandise in the home we need to ask, ”Where is the money that was loaned going?” We told our loan officer to make sure to check back on this house and inquire as to where the money had been invested. Every once in a while a need comes up and the money used there. This is discouraged because they won’t be able to pay back the loan, not to mention lose their ability to purchase other merchandise to sell and actually make themselves a profit.

There were several other businesses that had been started; Women sold aprons, purses, candy and treats, cell phone minutes, chickens, and eggs. I went to the meeting after visiting several of the stores and got to meet the rest of the business ladies. All the women are older. This is the third month of this loan and all of the woman have been able to make most of their payments. There was just one or two who owed a bit more rand and promised to pay it the next day.

I am very impressed with where this program is going and how it is really empowering the “African Mamas” to make a living from home. It’s incredible to see the lengths that these women are going to and the kind of entrepreneurship that is coming out from the townships. We want the IGP to be able to function completely on its own without funding from outside sources and are definitely on the right track.

We are very encouraged by the potential of the government grant which will open up many more loans and businesses. The best thing about this, is that every other meeting we bring in a pastor to have some time with the group. It is a Christian based program so before every meeting is prayer and a little talk. This program is going to have some serious impact, especially because Christ is at the very center.

Bryan

Andy, Leigh, Claire, the two babies and I took a trip into Khayelitsha a couple of days ago to visit some of the young men and women there. We noticed that Mpepe, one of our friends from last year wasn’t anywhere to be seen. We asked about it and were very surprised with the answer.
The Xhosa people along with many of the other tribes of native South Africans in the area have a very interesting tradition that they observe. When a young man turns a certain age (late teens to early twenties) he is given the opportunity to “become a man”. That was exactly what our friend Mpepe was doing.
I asked to hear the story of one of the young men who had already done this, because I was very curious. He said that it was a very celebrated occasion in the community. Before he was taken into the wilderness the community gave him a party. They feasted on meat and other meals and danced and played music. He told me that He was led off into the wilderness by one or two of the elders in the village. They took him to a place in the wilderness where there weren’t any people and they constructed a shelter for him to stay in. He described the shelter as being constructed out of plastic and other makeshift items. During this time they circumcised the young man and left him there where he had to stay until he recovered. I was told that it took some of the young men several weeks, even a month for the healing to take place. The elders of the community would take turns coming out to the isolated location, where the young man was, to bring him small amounts of water and food. They weren’t allowed to eat anything for a few days and some were barely allowed to drink anything at all. This was all part of the tradition of becoming a man. “We were told that there are many poisonous snakes out in the wilderness and I was given a large stick in case anything came into my location.” Said the young man I was questioning. “For the first few nights I didn’t sleep at all. It’s fearful being alone in the wilderness in all that pain. With all the noises in the dark, who could possibly sleep. After I had been out there for so many nights in a row I just got used to it. I was too tired to care what could be out there, I had to sleep.” He continued, “For the first week I could barely get off the ground I was in so much pain. When wind or any sort of weather came in, I had to try and hold the shelter together. ” He smirked at that. I could tell he was reliving the experience that he had had.
When the boy comes back to the village, he is no longer a boy anymore. He is given much more respect in the community. When he speaks, he is listened to. His words carry much more weight in the community. If however, the individual doesn’t participate in this tradition and people in the community find out about it they are not given respect at all. In fact people from your own household, even your own children, don’t have to listen to you. I thought that was very interesting that he mentioned even their own kids will give them less respect if they don’t take part in this experience.
I have always been interested in surviving off the land. I had thought that this is what was required of them. However, it was mainly a circumcision that had taken place. I am very excited to talk with Mpepe when he comes back from the wilderness to get a fresh account of his story. I want to hear from him if he saw any wild animals during his trip or if the rain, which we have had recently, affected him at all. It seems like every day we encounter something new. The Xhosa people are a proud people. I am really enjoying getting to know who they are as a people, though I have only begun to learn. I pray every day that God will give me a love for the people and those I am working with. I don’t want to be a “sounding brass or clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)
(Bryan)

Yesterday we hopped into Andy & Leigh’s vehicle and made the ten to fifteen minute drive to Khayelitsha for an Africa Jam meeting. This meeting was primarily for us to get our feet wet and kind of know the schedule of events that are coming up with the organization. There are several opportunities that we will be checking out.
1. Men & Woman’s Bible Study/Prayer Meetings (This is held on Friday nights in Khayelitsha where men and women gather in separate groups and have their bible studies and prayer times.) We won’t be able to join them this week but next week we will be there.
2. School Outreach (We will be participating in an event that lasts several days at one of the local schools. We participated in a similar event last year when Andy and I visited the organization. Games are played with the kids, bible stories are acted out as well as discussed in small groups. Music is played and the kids get to dance and sing. We are praying that it is sunny and not rainy so that the kids aren’t stuck inside.
3. Parentless Kids (We will be working with some children that have been abandoned and or orphaned. I am really looking forward to simply loving young kids that have been simply abandoned orphaned or rejected. I can’t imagine what this communicates to a child. We really want to love these children by simply taking time and coming down to their level and hearing what their hearts are desperately crying out. I can’t wait to post some of the experiences we have in this area.
4. IGP (Eventually we are to meet up with the IGP or Income Generating Program to see how this is doing and how we can assist. We don’t have a set time yet but in the next few weeks we should know.)
These are some of the events coming up that will keep us busy in the upcoming weeks. There are also plans in the works for taking out a group of young men and women from the Khayelitsha area that have been coming to the bible studies and going on an outreach into the rural areas surrounding Cape Town. They have done it once before and saw a woman that was lame healed in front of them. They go into these rural areas sing and help out the poor with whatever they need. Cleaning yards, doing laundry etc… I am very excited about this! The kids are going to begin raising funds soon, which I am shocked at, because they live in such a poor community. But somehow they have pulled it off before and will do so again. It seems we have arrived in God’s perfect timing. There have been a handful of the Africa Jam leaders who have just left. One has gone to Minnesota to help out A.J. there and the American, Ryan, will be going to the States to work on getting some bible training. We keep hearing that our arrival is very timely. Though I was very zealous to get here earlier, the Lord had everything lined up perfectly.
(Bryan)

A week has gone by and we have lost the usage of our rental car. Andy and Leigh now have a vehicle and we are relying on them to get us places. Our Aunt Penny’s boyfriend Tim has been very, very helpful to us in helping us to locate a vehicle. He has been online quite a bit searching for vehicles for us and was able to locate one at a good price. Vehicles here are very expensive. We are looking at used vehicles at the low end of the market and they start at 35,000 rand which is about 5,000 US dollars. Whew!!! That’s expensive! We took a look at the vehicle and made an offer on it but it wasn’t what the guy wanted. Tim is still in contact with the guy and trying to work out a deal with him. We would really appreciate your prayers on this. We are asking the Lord for His will. “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. The car that we are making an offer on we are stretching for and God knows! It’s such a privilege to rely on Him for everything! He is a faithful God. I know He can see a vehicle out there for the perfect price that will take care of us and our need to get around.
(Bryan)

The first two nights in our home were very testing for us. We had just finished dropping off Andy and Leigh at their home since to this point they didn’t have a vehicle. We only have this car for a few more days and don’t have another one lined up yet. Andy and Leigh do have a car lined up so they will be our only means of transportation until we get a car.
We got back from dropping them off and opened our door into our home. Claire was the first one in the door and from the garage I heard a shriek of terror. I came charging in from the garage ready for a fight and their staring back at us were three sets of beady little eyes. Cockroaches! Being the gallant, knight in shining armor, I gave chase. One darted down the stairs and two ran for the bathroom. I grabbed my sandal, which would be my weapon of choice, and quickly eliminated the one on the stairs. It was a bloody mess, not for the faint of heart. The other two had scurried underneath the bathroom door and I unlocked it, worried that I would find an organized army of bugs awaiting me. I drew the last bit of courage that I had left and flung open the door. I could only find one and disposed of it with one brilliant stroke from my sandal. I returned from my encounter to a very grateful wife and baby daughter. The gratitude in their eyes was all I needed as payment for putting my own life on the line. The next two evening were the same and we have figured out that they are coming under the door from the garage. I have since put a rug against the crack under the door and have not seen any more cockroaches since.
Ants are a real problem, they swarm any bit of food or sugar that is left on the counters. Not your average couple of ants on the counter, we are talking a literal cloud of ants in the thousands. We have since learned that if you spray the entrances of doors and any other area that you see them coming in you won’t have a problem and we have. They are definitely under control now. We have a chemical we spray that kills them on contact and everywhere I have sprayed we haven’t seen the ants anymore.
(Bryan)

Boy, I am very glad that Claire and I decided to take the first two weeks to take time and set everything up. I don’t know how to communicate to all of you how difficult it is for us to figure out everything here. I’ll take a couple of examples. First if you want to go and get groceries where would you go? Back in the U.S., Claire would take Peyton to Walmart or Cub and buy all of our groceries at once. You the reader, have your own routine that you have in place. For groceries there’s Walmart & Cub, You want to buy a vehicle, hop on Craigslist, read the paper, or go to your local dealership. You want to set up internet, no problem call up Comcast or Cox for a monthly plan. Heating, trash and water comes in a bill every month to your door and if had it like us call make a couple of clicks online and you pay your bill that way.
All those things I had figured out in the States. We knew what to do for everything. Here it’s like learning everything all over again. Where do I go for groceries? Wow veggies are expensive at this store! Oh, for veggies and fruits don’t buy it at this market you have to go across town to the Fruit and Veg City where you will find them much cheaper. Don’t buy your meat at the local grocery store. You are paying too much. Drive down the street, take a left and at the end of the road you’ll see a meat shop. Buy it there, it’s much cheaper.
In the States everything is a monthly expense. Phone bills, Electric bills, Internet, Water, everything is paid on a monthly basis. Here everything is prepaid. Andy and I purchased the cheapest cell phones we could buy. The phone cost us 190 rand which turns out to be 30.00 US dollars. In order to get time on the phone we go to your local grocery store called Pick n Pay and purchased “air time”. This will then last us whatever time we purchased. We only pay if we make a call, calls coming in are free. The same goes for our electric, we purchase electricity at the store and come back home and enter in the code which is on our receipt. We then have that much more electricity that we can use at the house. We have found that this is very, very helpful to us in that we can see how much energy we are using. I buy 500 units of energy and in a week we have used 100 units. This helps Claire and I make a very conscious effort to save our energy. We know that every unit used, we pay for.
The biggest cutback for us is internet. We prepay this as well per gig of usage and that’s why we haven’t been online as much as we would like to. We type up our blogs and emails prior to getting online, that way we can just get online and copy and paste our journal entries and emails.
(Bryan)

We got to Cape Town without a hitch and gathered up all of our bags and belongings. Nothing was missing again, Praise Jesus. We got our vehicle that we would be renting for the first week of our stay and began the twenty minute drive to our new home. Driving is tricky in South Africa, most of the vehicles that a person drives are stick and they are on the wrong side of the car. Instead of driving on the left hand side with the stick on the right, I drove on the right hand side with the stick on the left. Not to mention the roads are opposite each other. Instead of driving on the right hand side of the road, I found myself driving the left hand side with cars merging from on ramps on the left. In my hurry to leave the airport, I had forgotten to pull out our maps that we had printed. Now you have to realize that driving in South Africa is a bit different than in the States. The people here seem to be 5 times more aggressive in their driving. Claire took her seat belt off and began turned around to try and locate the map in one of the suitcases in back. I didn’t want to pull over because we were alone and I didn’t know any of the area. It’s different if I had been alone, but because I had Peyton and Claire in the car and it was our first day here I didn’t want to just stop anywhere. Claire was able to pull out the maps and we made the trip without incident.
As we got closer to the area we would be staying we noticed hundreds of the makeshift tin buildings lining the road. I began to wonder to myself if I had gotten a location that would feel safe to us. We found our road and turned in. We traveled into the “Marina De Gama” and found the house that we would be staying at. Different than anything I had known in the past this home had sharp jagged pieces of metal surrounding it’s walls. The neighborhood of the Marina de Gama felt safe, Claire and I drove around it a bit waiting for our rental agent to show up. It was very quite at twelve noon, South African time and we felt a peace to be home. We want to let everyone know that we feel very safe and comfortable living in this area. We know that just down the street, literally a mile to two miles down the street was the township we had just passed. Welcome to the extremes of South Africa. On one block of the street there are makeshift houses built from tin and whatever else can be found and on the next block are modernly built homes with most of the conveniences that Americans have. What extremes!
(Bryan)

We boarded our flight from Phoenix on May 30, 2010 at noon. We had packed most of our belongings into 5 large suitcases which we were going to check. We also had Peyton’s stroller and car seat in which Peyton was fast asleep. My dad dropped us off at the airport and I ran inside to search for some sort of cart to help transport all of our items. We also had our laptops, two backpacks and Peyton’s diaper bag. I was able to find a lone flatbed that was parked against one of the elevators. I brought it back to our mound of suitcases and began to load them up. We finally got everything loaded and I’m sure we looked like a couple of mules hauling everything to get the bags checked. I had taken a gamble and not insured the bags to cut back on costs. It was definitely a gamble as this was all of our life’s possessions that we could fit into the suitcases. We covered the bags with prayer, knowing that God knew what we really needed anyways.
We got to our plane without incident and boarded our 2 hour flight to Dallas. From Dallas we flew to Washington Dulles where we spent the night at a hotel there. We had to pick up our bags and haul them to the hotel via shuttle. It was about 10:00 in the evening when we arrived at Washington Dulles. One of the men who worked for the airport saw that we had a mound of luggage and offered to help us figure out where we were going. I told him the name of the hotel and he helped us get to the place where the shuttles came to pick people up. It was very dark outside on the street as we waited for the shuttle. We gave the man a tip for helping us and he said he would wait with us until our ride arrived. Claire and I were a bit on edge because it was very dark and we had all of our luggage on the side of the street. There were several other people in the shadows and I was very happy when the shuttle did show up. We got to our hotel and settled in for a very restful sleep.
Our alarm went off at 5:00 in the morning and we sprang into action. We fed Peyton some breakfast and poured ourselves two cups of coffee. We had showered the night before and were very excited for the day. We had to recheck our bags at the airport, but this time they would be able to go all the way to Cape Town, South Africa. The previous day we couldn’t check the bags all the way to South Africa because according to airport policy, they can’t have bags sitting at an airport overnight…. Because of this, we had to spend quite a bit extra for checking the bags. We spent 200.00 for our bags from Arizona to Washington Dulles. From Washington Dulles to South Africa the cost was 400.00. In total we spent 600.00 to get all of our stuff to South Africa. We had received an email the day before from Andy and Leigh, our teammates on this adventure, that someone they knew had offered them money for bags. Because they were set they referred them to us. So this individual decided to send us the hundred dollars that they were going to send Andy and Leigh. We are so grateful. God is good!
We boarded our flight from Washington Dulles to New York which took about an hour and a half. We had a couple hours at New York and finally boarded our SA flight nonstop to Johannesburg, South Africa. We were very happy to see that on this flight, there were small television’s mounted to the back of the seats in front of us. On this very long flight, Peyton slept for several hours but she definitely got a bit restless. I can’t blame here she was stuck on our laps for 14 hours and she didn’t know why. Claire changed all the diapers in the plane’s small bathroom. I have an amazing wife. (Please readers, don’t stone me for not changing any of the diapers.) Our seat partner was a young German girl who was very friendly with Peyton and understanding. There was one point that this German girl was sound asleep and Peyton was wide awake. Peyton was sitting in Claire’s arms and was determined to reach out and touch the girls face. With a coo, Peyton squirmed and lunged at the girl almost waking her up. Claire quickly grabbed Peyton and handed her off to me. Claire and I took turns taking walks with Peyton to the back of the airplane and fetching her apple juice. I’m not sure why but she drank more apple juice on that flight than she has in a week. Her diapers were loaded to the max and we were afraid that we might run out. I don’t know if it was boredom or what. We did offer her drinks a lot because she would get a little fussy and apple juice helped to settle her down.
Claire and I were able to catch some sleep while Peyton slept. I personally got two solid hours of sleep, but really didn’t feel like I was too exhausted when we arrived in SA. I remember thinking to myself how good I felt even though I had barely slept. I could just hear the prayers of my parents and friends. “Lord please keep Bryan and Claire alert as they travel, especially when they have to drive from the airport to their home in after such a long three days of travel.” Thank you very much!
We arrived at Johannesburg and had a couple hours until our next flight which would take us to Cape Town. We were directed by someone to a certain gate and began to wait for the flight. I sat real close to the gate not wanting to miss the flight at all. We were sitting with three other people who were also making the flight to Cape Town. Claire was in the bathroom freshening up and one of the girls commented, that she thought she heard our flight for a different gate. I shrugged it off and said that the screen showed us departing from this gate. When Claire came out I walked over to the woman who was standing at the gate next to us and she informed us that the flight was already boarding but at a different gate. We all hurried to that gate and were the last to board. I hate walking on to a plane as everyone is sitting staring at us with accusing eyes for holding up their plane. Praise the Lord that we didn’t miss that flight. That would have been horrible.
(Bryan)

We boarded our flight from Phoenix, Arizona at noon on May 30’th, 2010. Claire and I had just said goodbye to my side of the family. They had flown to Arizona for a Flores family reunion. That morning the twelve of us gathered together inside the living room to ask the Lord for His hand to be upon us as we began this life changing adventure. As family members took turns praying for us, tears began to fill my eyes and roll down my cheeks. Each one of these individuals, I had such a deep love and appreciation for. It was love that bound us all together in such a deep connection and it was love that allowed them to give us up. There was no resentment in their prayers, no angry bitterness towards the God who had called us to a distant land. As I stop and consider, I am impressed by what level of real love fills both Claire and my families. Through the willingness to give up their son’s and daughters, brother’s and sisters, and precious grandchildren their actions speak in similitude with Job’s. “The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. I’m awed. Their pure love for God runs deeper even than their love for their most precious children.
(by Bryan)