Aug 31,
We did a lesson on the Prodigal Son today at girl’s camp and the girls played all the parts. Then afterwards we put on some music and the girls actually smiled and danced and were giggly like the adolescent girls we are familiar with. They might have actually had a good time today. Praise God for small victories.
Then we went to section 19 for a true life reenactment of the prodigal son. Today was pay day for the sugar cane-cutters. Sugar cane is like bamboo. Cutting cane is tough backbreaking work that most Swazis are unwilling to do; many of the cane workers are from neighboring Mozambique. We were working with the sewing ladies and privileged to get a front row seat to the show. NCamsile and Maria were sitting cracking jokes with an older teen about their neighbors. The first few days after pay day the workers are flush with cash and willing to buy food, alcohol and things they were unable to afford when their money ran out. The rest of the month these men are borrowing everything from their neighbors, a cup of rice here, some beans there, and by the end of the month they have many debts to settle.
The manager came with the pay checks for the men and already there were about 20 women standing in line to collect their debts. Initially, Heather and I thought that this was for prostitution. This is another activity that spikes on payday at section 19. The ladies are wise-cracking again, “These women, they will be chasing down these men into the field with their skirts flying to get their money back.” Visits to Section 19, are better than watching a Nigerian Soapie…….
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