January 17, 2007
January 17, 2007
Greetings again from Johannesburg, South Africa. Today was yet another day of interesting and memorable experiences. We started the morning off with a drive to Pretoria and the Voortrekker Monument. The monument, besides being an architectural beauty, stands as a memorial to the Boer Afrikaners that once dominated the interior of South Africa. In the Battle of Blood River, on December 16, 1838 the Boers defeated the Zulus, killing 3,000 people. The monument is a place of gathering every year on December 16 to celebrate this victory and the history of the Afrikaner people.
After eating lunch on the monument grounds (and after thoroughly enjoying some wonderful South African sun) we traveled back to Johannesburg to the Apartheid Museum. We met our guide Lynn upon our arrival at the museum. Our Calvin group was the first group to also have an ex-political prisoner along for the tour, named Thandi Chezi. The museum focuses strongly on educating people about the development of the idea of segregation. Apartheid did not just fall out of the air. Near Johannesburg in 1886 gold was first discovered. This changed the history of South Africa and increased the struggle between black and white. Gold mine owners needed cheap labor and looked to black people to provide it. The museum had an interesting flow and structure, each exhibit distinct and specialized to help educate about different aspects of the struggle against Apartheid.
There was a moment in the museum when our guide Lynn gave the floor to Thandi Chezi. We had just walked through a room with 131 nooses hanging from the ceiling representing the 131 documented political executions that took place during Apartheid. We then went into a room that had replicas of three isolation cells used in jails for political prisoners during Apartheid. Thandi described, with emotion and fervor, her experience in jail. She was a member of the MK and was captured in 1988. She was taken from her family and held in prison for a year in solitary confinement. While standing in front of the replicas of isolation cells, Thandi described being brutally beaten for not giving information, being given electric shock and experiencing many other forms of torture that I will not go into here. She described how God reached out to her and gave her the strength to survive. She realized that all she had to do to keep herself strong was remove her soul from her body. These men could hurt her body but she had the power to protect her soul from their wickedness.
After Apartheid ended Thandi testified before of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. She does not know to this day if the men that hurt her during those years were ever granted amnesty or not, and it doesn’t really matter to her. She realized that she needed to reconcile these things within herself. That would be the only way she could move on, keep living and prevent herself from becoming a bitter old woman. The amount of strength, faith and wisdom Thandi revealed within this short 15 minute talk was enough to overwhelm the strongest of us. South Africa is about reconciliation. South African blacks are about forgiveness and strength. These people have shown me the depth of human strength. I have never known or seen such forgiveness, open hearts, smiling faces, strength, love and pure and utter respect for all of humanity, whether white or black. These words do little justice to the emotions we all felt sitting in that room today with Thandi. Apartheid came alive and reconciliation was personified.
We drove back to our accommodations after the museum visit, had a wonderful dinner, celebrated Grandma Heun’s birthday (which is actually on the 23rd, but we will be traveling that day so we thought we would celebrate tonight), and had a meeting in which Laura Vogelzang gave a wonderful presentation on poverty in South Africa. Now we are all in our rooms relaxing and watching yet another South African lightning storm. Please know that you all are in our prayers and we look forward to seeing you soon! We covet your prayers for the next few days as we head into totally unknown territory in a rural village and also in Kruger National Park. God bless!
Dear Jeremy,
Was the picture of the thatched hut a home?
It souds like you are really having quite the
experiences down there. I could tell how interested
you were in the gold mine experience. Any samples?
Love,
MomPosted by jeremy Schut on 01/17 at 07:59 PMHey Ange,
Your trip continues to amaze us. It seems to be one that lets you all experience every aspect of the culture of South Africa. You and your group are continually in our prayers. We miss you.
Love,
Mom, Dad, Jac, Rach, Hannah, and XenaPosted by Evonne Ludema on 01/17 at 09:41 PMAnother amazing experience. Glad you had a little sunshine. Amanda, it was good to hear your voice yesterday. Phone calls are still better the web sites. We’ll be praying for you and the group over the next few days. Love, Dad.
Posted by Stek family on 01/17 at 10:20 PMBen,
I was so glad that Ashley shared your website with me! It sounds like you are certainly getting immersed in African culture. The markets sound like fun. Have you found any Goodwill stores there? How about Lacoste shirts for sale? Haha. Maybe you will come back with some new favorite brands. We can’t wait for you to get back to the U.S. Ashley has handled the distance well but I know her heart is with you in Africa. Be safe and happy Pony Boy!Lots of love from Charlotte,
Mommy Davis, Jake and Sam
Posted by Mommy Davis on 01/18 at 12:06 AMDear Christina and pals: I am enjoying the daily descriptions of your experiences so much. It is wonderful to see how each day is filled with new experiences. Thanks to your professors for organizing and planning so well. Thanks also to the writers who are doing a fantastic job of helping us experience a little of your trip from home. Thanks also to the photographers as I love seeing Christina’s picture and seeing what new clothes she has purchased (save those receipts for British air). I also use the pictures to try to see if she is healthy. I’ll be looking forward to the chronicles of the next part of your trip!
Love to Tiny- MomPosted by carol overbeck on 01/18 at 03:01 AMHi Justin! Now that your mom finally figured out this email..I may have to get my own! It’s been so great to communicate this way and see your experiences each day rather than after you’re home (though I imagine there will be alot of pictures to see!) We do want to see you “front and center” in one of the pictures rather than you hiding in the back row) I’m glad to see the sun in most pictures-you can work on that african tan! (just think of your brother at FSU @-6 degrees the other morning.) Grandma Boldt says to tell you she is thinking of you and she enjoyed seeing you on the weblogs. We will continue to pray for health and safety. Love, mom (p.s. How’s “Socks”??)
Posted by Justin's mom on 01/18 at 04:30 PMGood Job on your presentation Laura!
Looks like a great trip!
Weather always looks wonderful. Quite a tour guide at the museum… it sounds like. Wow Calvin does a great job!
Love ya lots!
Can’t waith to have my girls home! But enjoy the Safari!
Mom
Posted by jvogelzang on 01/19 at 11:32 PMAmanda—it was great to hear more about your trip and the amazing experiences you guys have been having. You guys are always in our thoughts and prayers. Franklin and Benjamin miss you!
Jer
Posted by Jeremy Veenema on 01/22 at 11:05 PM
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