Church, or God in general, plays a major role in the lives of the people living in Tambo Village, South Africa. Our group got to see the importance of church as we walked to and attended a local church in the neighborhood. As we walked to church we saw tents pitched as the people gathered to praise their God. Walking pass, we saw strong emotion on the faces of the church goers. It was their place to let loose and be free from whatever struggles they face the other days of the week. The same emotions were emitted from the people at the church we attended. While singing, some would close their eyes and raise their hands letting their struggles be lifted, while others danced and swayed. No one cared about who was looking because it was THEIR place of spiritual, emotional and physical safety.
Even with us there as visitors, everyone seemed to go about their church experience as if it was any other Sunday; hugging and greeting each other in the warmest ways. That warmness was then extended to us as we were greeted and made to feel as though we were at home. A few church members even joined us for lunch, extending their welcome to us and expressing their curiosity as they asked us questions about about our country.
If there is one thing that I noticed about the people of Tambo, it is that their love for God doesn’t stop at the church doors. The love also extended to the homes of the locals whose houses we stayed in and to everyone that comes into their well-knitted community.
The second part of the day continued in the church building with a discussion facilitated by a representative from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee. (TRC). The TRC is a government program created at the end of apartheid with a purpose of finding out what happened to loved ones during apartheid. In exchange for the truth, those that committed the crime were given immunity. For some, the closure was enough, but for others the criminals deserved punishment. The sad fact is that they could not have both. It is still a controversial committee today, but it has apparently been doing its job as many apartheid crimes were dragged from the dark into the light.
Our day ended at the church with a communal dinner prepared by each of our host mamas. It was such a fitting end to the day. We started at church and ended at church, reminding us again of the central role the church as played in their community.
Adonte Y., Eastern High School