Tsotsi - Xhosa for gangster, thug

When I think of school the pictures I typically visualize are of chalkboards, an apple on a teacher’s desk, children being herded into line, yellow school buses, caring teachers, neutral colored paint, bright florescent lights, the sterile smell of cleaning products and neatly rowed desks.

What I do not typically picture is a shootout between tsotsis (gangsters) and the police.

Pelsrus Primary is one of two schools in the townships of Jeffreys Bay. To say that the education given its pupils is subpar is like saying; the education given at your local elementary school is subpar to Harvard, it grossly approximates two categorically incomparable things. But I digress.

Imagine the day shootout happened if you will. Two worlds converge and collide.  Inside, school children are “learning,”* sitting under the authority of their teachers, and the structure of their school.  Outside, tsotsis are stealing underground cable to sell, sitting under no ones authority, save the lawless, chaos of their own mind.  What an ironic dichotomy, the very children the school had failed sitting outside its walls, thieving thugs, as if to tauntingly say, “look at what has become of us, your systemic failures.”

A phone call is made and the police respond.  However, desperate men cannot be reasoned with and the conflict escalates.  Yelling ensues, and both parties have their weapons drawn.  Inside, everything is clam.  Children learn basic arithmetic and practice reading unaware of the mercury rising.

And then worlds collide.  Hot lead screams and explodes through a classroom window.  Glass fragments fall to the floor, and panicked screams reverberate inside the small room.  “Everyone, to the ground,” the teacher commands.  Heartbeats punch in solid rhythm, as giant doses of adrenaline are injected into their blood streams.  Teeth clench and eyes squint with each shot.  The air smells like fear.

Outside bullets whiz by as each side exchanges a barrage of gunfire.  The police have superior gun power, but he tsotsis have nothing to lose.  After what seems to be an eternity to those inside the school, the gunshots seem to slowly move away from the epicenter.  The police have gotten the best of the volleys and the tsotsis retreat into a maze of nearby homes.

Teachers survey their classes.  Thank God, no one is hurt.  Classes resume and the day continues.  Unfortunately, no one is too surprised by the day’s events.  When some Pelsrus Primary children show up at Ithemba and tell me the story, I’m blown away as much by how nonchalantly they tell the story, as the story itself.  But for these children, it’s just another day in the life of the dysfunction they call normalcy.  For me, it’s another reason to keep diligently working with and in this community to see life change happen in order that the chains of poverty may be loosed.

So may we continue to remember those who live in the horror of such a reality.  May we spend our energy and resources on fighting along side with, and on their behalf.  After all “Injustice anywhere is a treat to freedom everywhere.” (MLK Jr.)

Proverbs 29:7 “The righteous care about justice for the poor but the wicked have no such concern.”

Love. Joy. Peace.

Zach

* Not wanting to be negative, but also wanting to be real; “learning” hardly describes what does or more aptly does not, go on inside the walls of Pelsrus Primary.

This was originally sent to my Valentine, my Mama, but I wanted to share the love.

Happy Valentines Day

I love you

This much!!!

Hugs & Kisses- Zach

I love this… Keep asking questions and keep exploring.

“We must rapidly begin the shift from a ‘thing-oriented’ society to a ‘person-oriented’ society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

My new niece, Harper Lily Smith ::  What a precious gift :: My soul magnifies the LORD.

Psalm 145:1-8

I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
² Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴ One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵ They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
⁶ They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.