Monday, January 11, 2010

Photos from Central America & South Africa


Muizenberg, South Africa
Not many years ago this beach was only for white people. However, now in a post Apartheid world, government sanctioned segregation, it can be used by all. Despite a reversal of Apartheid rule in 1994 millions of black and colored South Africans still find themselves suffering in the townships they were forced to live in by the previous government with no hope of finding their way out. The smaller township of Capricorn is just a short 15 minute walk from this world renowned surf beach.


Fish Hoek, South Africa
Nestled in a small cove to the southeast of Cape Town is the town of Fish Hoek. This predominately white community is known for being a dry town; meaning they do not sell alcohol from retail locations. In a country plagued by alcoholism and its effects this is very unusual. As a whole South Africa has one of the highest rates of alcoholism in the world which leads to a myriad of problems including homelessness, domestic abuse, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, increased crime, high incidence of motor vehicle accidents, and unsafe sexual practices which increase the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS & other STD’s



Fish Hoek, South Africa
With the sun setting in the western sky over the Cape it is hard to not feel hope for a country that is constantly changing. Hope for a future free from the impact of government mandated segregation, the devastation of HIV/AIDS, hunger, extreme poverty and war.  South Africa is known as the rainbow nation for its rainbow of people from around the globe but what does the rainbow truly represent? The rainbow in Genesis 9 is a symbol of God’s covenant to never flood the entire earth – to preserve life. I encourage you to join us in praying for Hope, Life and the Goodness of the Lord God Almighty to be known in the land of South Africa.



Panama City, Panama
A blend of old and new – looking at the skyline of innovation and money. But what is this economy built on? A large amount of Panama’s infrastructure is built on the income it generates from the Panama Canal which it has had full control of since 1999 when the United States turned it over to the Panamanian government. What does the canal really represent? It is a passage way for large container ships hauling cars, machinery, clothing, food and sometimes people from one ocean to another. Panama is a hotbed for government corruption, trafficking of persons, drug smuggling and a myriad of other issues.


San Jose, Costa Rica
In the square where this pillar stands is on of the main centers of San Jose. During the day shoppers, business people, vendors and tourists pass by on their way. Some may stop to feed the pigeons, rest or enjoy a smoke with friends. However, once the sun has set the profile of downtown San Jose changes drastically. It is a city plagued with prostitutes, both men and women, who offer themselves to whomever is willing to pay. Often, many of the same tourists who passed by during the day snapping shots of this same unique pillar are those who are waiting to pay for 10 minutes or an evening of self gratification and cheap pleasure. Of all the sex tourists who travel to Costa Rica each year 80% are from the United States.




Khayelitsha, South Africa
In the Xhosa language Khayelitsha means, New Home. It is estimated that over 1 million black and colored South African’s live in this informal township. As we drove through the township we didn’t dare get out of the car as crime and theft are part of the profile of every day life here. Driving along the outskirts of the township we kept seeing these improvised and personalized billboards on the walls; messages of hope, change and truth. Spousal abuse, drug addiction, poverty, unclean living conditions, lack of education, violence, rape, incest, teen pregnancy, abortion, HIV/AIDS, death – these are all issues that the residents of Khayelitsha face everyday. Not exactly the kind of New Home you would be longing for when imagining a better future.


Khayelitsha, South Africa
It is hard to imagine, but this is the view you see for miles and miles. It is estimated that over 1 million people live in the township of Khayelitsha, which means New Home in the Xhosa language.  This is a place where the impact of HIV/AIDS is just a part of the day to day life. It is a place where it is not unheard of for both parents in a home to be deceased and the children are left with an aunt, uncle or grandparent and even sometimes left to raise themselves and younger siblings. Africa alone has over 12 million AIDS orphans.


San Jose, Costa Rica
In Costa Rica drug abuse, prostitution and trafficking of persons are all real everyday issues. Many individuals immigrate to Costa Rica looking for a better future than the one they left behind but often find themselves living on the outskirts of society, rejected and without hope. In an effort to provide for their basic needs such as food and shelter, they often turn to drug dealing and prostitution. These are desperate measures that they have taken in desperate times in order to stay off the streets. Even then they do not always escape the harsh realities of homelessness, hunger, and disease.


San Jose, Costa Rica
In San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, it is estimated that there are at least 2,000 child prostitutes. The majority of these young girls are forced into the trade by family and pimps that benefit financially in some way from the girls work. Costa Rica is quickly becoming the Thailand of the America’s with 80% of all sex tourists visiting the country coming from the United States of America. The impact of internet pornography and sexual promiscuity in the US reaches far beyond its own borders and impacts the lives of innocent girls with no hope of escaping from its grasps.
 

Colon, Panama
The indigenous communities of Panama have been fighting to maintain their traditional way of life for centuries. As early back as the 1500’s the Kuna people migrated to the San Blas region of Panama to escape the Spanish. They were able to live in the San Blas region on the Caribbean coast relatively free from outside influence until the early part of the 1900’s. Since then they have been fighting to maintain the rights to their land and living in a traditional way. New communities of Kuna now exist within the large Panamanian cities of Colon and Panama City as some have moved into the city looking for decent wages, better healthcare, education and sanitation. Many find themselves instead living in poverty and without the opportunities they sought in the first place.



Fish Hoek, South Africa
1st Class & 3rd Class…which would you choose. We chose 3rd class because it was less expensive and a comfortable train ride was not our priority. We were often the only white family in this section of the train which was hard not to notice. Once we were even asked if we were in the wrong car.  The segregation that one still finds in South Africa is a sign that although Apartheid ended in 1994 the attitudes and racism of that time still exist today. And yet God created us all equal, all in his image, man and woman. Join is praying for a South Africa and world free from racism and a world in which the diversity of our skin tone is seen as part of the beauty of our creator.


Fish Hoek, South Africa
The Cape area is known for the rugged beauty of its landscape and indeed it is beautiful. But within the beauty are communities and people who don’t have enough to eat. The ocean is teaming with fish and yet all they can afford is rice. Who will feed the hungry and cloth the naked? Who will answer the cries of the child waiting for its next meal?



Masiphumelele, South Africa
A short 10 minute taxi ride from the famously safe and predominately white town of Fish Hoek is the township of Masiphumelele. Violence and crime are part of the culture of this community as witnessed in the play of its children. We all know that children mimic the actions of the adults in their lives. How easily this small child holds his toy gun as he hugs on his friends. It is attitudes of acceptance towards violence that continue to shape the ideas and opinions of South Africa being unsafe and the idea that all people of color are violent and will rob you given the chance. It is a stereotype that of course is only true of a few and we hope that this small boy will not become the next perpetrator of violence in this community.

 Errebache, Panama 1-5

The Embera people are a vibrant and ancient South and Central American people group.  Originally from the Darien province a small community of Embera now lives on the Caribbean coast north of Colon in a private village called Errebache.


They hope that they will be able to preserve their natural history and dying culture within the borders of their village by choosing to live in a sustainable and ancient way.

Because of the hardships faced in many Embera communities face the inhabitants often choose to leave for the larger cities in the hopes of finding a better life but are often met with a different reality.

Young girls often find themselves in prostitution or working in menial jobs that in no way honor the traditions of their past while young men are lured into alcohol and drug abuse.

The community of Errebache hopes to preserve the innocence and honor of its youth by providing them with a life where the opportunities found in the city are not something that they have to look to for a better life.







No comments:

Post a Comment