#7

Be honest with yourself and think about how much time and effort you have put into picking just the right paint colors for your home, just the right furniture, just the right picture frames, dishes, tablecloths, and so on. Now imagine that every single item including the bricks to build your home have to be found or stolen and must be collected and carried a long way back to where you live. That's what it would be like if you lived at #7. It's unbelievable. #7 is a squatter's camp that's right up the road from The Pines. We visited there yesterday and brought some candy and toys for the children. Many of the people who live there are from another part of Africa and are not allowed government support or access to live in the villages because they are not South African citizens. They have basically formed their own community (or campsite) and have built semi-permanent structures for homes. There is NO running water (which means no sink and no toilet), NO electricity, NO heat or air conditioning, NO lights. They are mostly brick or metal shanties, some nicer ones with beds and carpet squares on the floor, some with not much of anything. It all depends on how ambitious the owner is to go out and collect things.

Since they are not allowed to get jobs in town or government assistance because they are not from South Africa, it's understandable how they wound up living there. But it's frustrating to see how dirty the children are and see that they need more to eat and all the while we see their parents drinking alcohol and not doing much other than sitting around. How do they get money to buy alcohol or food you ask... They return plastic like the people from the dump or they steal copper wire from all over the countryside near where they live and sell it for money, they may have an odd job here or there, or who knows what else. They are able to survive somehow. But let us stress, it's surviving, not thriving. Some of the children do attend school, which is very good. Hopefully they'll be able to find a way out of this environment one day, but until then please pray for their safety and their health. It's vitally important. We're trying to share as much of our experience as we can with you and in as much detail as possible so that you'll feel what we feel when we see these places. When you see #7 how can you not feel thankful for all that you've been given. In the US, even the people who are living in poverty are among the wealthiest people in the world. Until you come here and see it for yourself it doesn't seem true, but it is. I know that each one of us on this team, feel like millionaires compared to these people and it has given us a whole new appreciation for all that we have and it reminds us that everything belongs to God and he's trusting us to make most of His resources.

Blessings From Welkom - South Africa,

Team 8