Oh to be young agin...

Remember when you were a kid and on the weekends all you had to do was wake up and the biggest decision you faced was whether to play basketball or video games? Yea those were the good ‘ol days and thanks to Pearnel, our awesome driver who takes us everywhere, I was reminded of such good memories. Ironically, this joy was not discovered on the beach or in the car but rather in an environment where struggle and oppression are its foundation: District 6 museum. Here you will find artifacts, documents, pictures and appliances that symbolize the lives of colored and black people during the years of apartheid. In short, District 6 was a very lively and friendly black and colored community and during apartheid people were forced out of their homes and relocated in order to make room for more white people as well as allow the government to make money off of the land. Pearnel was 7 years old when he and his family were forced out of their home and left everything behind; his friends, his neighbored, his life as he knew it.

Watching him explain how he and his siblings used to cut up newspaper to make a table runner for the kitchen cabinet or showing us how his family used an old fashioned stove pot hit me hard; although I’ve only known this man for only a week now, I saw more passion in his stories and expressions than I have from people I have known for years. Not only was he alive during such a dark time for this country but he experienced it. He, and everyone like him, was oppressed and yet here he was, sharing inspiring stories with a bunch of white kids with no sign of hostility or resentment. My favorite part was watching him demonstrate what games he used to play as a child and trust me, there was nothing like a gameboy or television available. Rocks, sticks, bricks and chalk were a child’s best friend. It made me realize how “needy” I am at 21 years old. I find myself saying I need the internet, I need to bring my camera everywhere, I need to do this or that when in truth I don’t “need” any of that. Back then, all I actually needed was an open mind, a joyful spirit, a willingness to fall down and learn from my mistakes, God's mercy and grace, and a yearning to love. Fourteen years later, that’s still all I need. 

This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

Exodus 16:16-18

Simply yours,

Janelle