Sunday, September 13, 2009

On the Road Again


Yesterday, in Soweto, I had two interesting encounters both involving the drivers of vehicles. Both reminded me that "truth is in fact stranger than fiction."

As soon as we arrived in Soweto a small car pulled up where we were standing. Seems like a small group of white folks stand out and are fun to chat with. Anyway the car was decorated with stickers announcing that it was used to teach students how to drive. It is a very common sight in Joburg. The car had a big red L stuck on the back window. The reason I share this story is because we chatted for several minutes and eventually the driver got out to chat. When the driver (teacher) got out of his car at 9:30 a.m. he was holding a large bottle of beer in his hand.
I think JK and I will use a different teacher to help RAH get her license.


After an hour or so of handing out Challenge Newspapers and sharing the Gospel we came upon a young man being pushed in a wheel chair. We chatted to him and his group for several minutes. A half hour later - several blocks away - we saw several folks from this group fighting as they walked down the street. Another long story! When our day was done - as we waited by the car for a few of our team to finish - another car pulled up and stopped to chat. The man in the drivers seat (Sibosiso) was fairly antagonistic. He demanded to make an appointment with me. He wanted me to come by and discuss his religion. He promised me that once I understood his religion I would run from mine to his. AINT GONNA HAPPEN CAPT'N. As we exchanged phone numbers I suddenly realized that the three folks in the back seat were the 3 people who were fighting a few minutes earlier. Then- and to to my great surprise I realized that the driver was the very same young man they were pushing in the wheel chair an hour before.
I have seen so many things in Soweto that I am usually not surprised - but, yesterday I was shocked not once but twice!