Today (Tuesday)
Susan, Terri, and I spent the entire day in Soweto. We had an amazing day. We
began our morning with the Soweto nurses and community care workers. We had 27
people all together in one room. Terri facilitated the auto bio poem activity
with them. We've done this activity previously with the leadership team and the
clinical staff in Joburg. We learned a lot about each other. Some of us really
like chocolate (what's not to like...). Others described themselves as loving
caring people (they are). Many stated they want to be remembered as making a
difference in other people's lives (absolutely no doubt about that).
After that
activity they presented us with a lovely tea. Tea time is very important here.
The staff brought in tea, coffee, and many different sandwiches-along with a
tablecloth. It was quite lovely. After tea we each left to make
home visits with a different sister. As a surprise to the three of us we all
met at the shopping mall in Soweto for a late lunch together at Nando's!
David, Deb, and Gayle (the 2011 trip members who were introduced to Nando's
together) are you jealous? The food was delicious.
My day was quite
spectacular. I did something I've never done before... I was spending the day
with Maria. She has been employed by Hospice Wits and working in Soweto for 27
years. She is an amazing nurse. She told me we were going to an NGO (non
governmental organization) meeting. I figured we were meeting with other not
for profit organizations. Maria said that someone from Hospice Wits had
attended previous meetings. Well, when we got there and went inside Maria
showed me the agenda. I saw that we were attending a meeting of the ANC
Women's Auxiliary! The ANC is the ruling party of Jacob Zuma, president
of South Africa. Needless to say I wasn't quite sure what to expect! I
must say it was an amazing meeting. The attendees are very respectful of the
chairperson and everyone follows proper protocol. I think we could learn a
thing or two from them about how to run a meeting. Anyhow the meeting was about
encouraging women to stand up against substance abuse as most cases of violence
against women (of which there is much) involves substance abuse. They will be
marching peacefully to the police station to deliver a petition and then ending
with a prayer service. Hospice Wits will participate. The chairperson said she
was humbled to have someone from America at their meeting and directed some
very nice comments to me. It was a once in a lifetime experience.
We will post
additional blogs about our patient visits. I wish everyone could witness the
amazing work this staff does.
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