Weary Travelers Arrive in South Africa

After 27 hours of flying, one long layover, and passing through several time zones we made it safely to Pretoria this morning.

We were graciously greeted by Johan and Christa Combrink at the Afnet headquarters ( a 10 acre compound in a suburban area). After getting settled in a comfortable guest apartment, grabbing a coat because it is actually COLD here, we went to the township of Soshanguve.

Soshanguve is about 45 minutes from Pretoria. Over 2 million people live in this township of 50 square miles. The unemployment rate is over 80%. Some areas are similar to what we in California would classify as poor (i.e., Watsonville) and other areas are heart-wrenching, dirty, uncomfortable poverty that we do not often encounter in the first world. The township developed as society changed after the end of apartheid. Blacks no longer had to be segregated in the very rural townships, but could - in theory - live wherever they wanted.However most blacks could not afford to live in the white areas of Johannesburg or Pretoria so they started a squatters camp that eventually turned into this sprawling area.

Afnet runs several orphan centers in this township. These centers provide food,school fees, school supplies, and homework help to children orphaned by AIDs that would otherwise be forgotten. Sadly, Afnet's programs in Soshanguve used to have almost 400 children. Now due to reduced donationsover the last few years, only about 125 are receiving food and support.