Baseco really is an incredible world. Early in the morning while I am praying, reading or having my coffe, I get to learn how the place really works….
You might sit there as the day unfolds and mothers are the first ones up, gathering some fire wood, boiling water, preparing for when the kids wake up. Then a few men appear, some will come and collect water from us for bathing and cooking, but alot of women cart water as well. Some smaller children will wake up crying, as mum is already out doing stuff, older children will try to look after them.
Lots of older children will come out and squat somewhere for their morning ablutions. I watched Barnie and Jimboy (couple of cute, but wild little boys), as there eyes opened, all they saw was some small ducks, so the chase immediatley began. Two little fellas, no clothes running through the stagnant water harrasing ducks. Bugoy (a smaller child) just looked on as he sat in his doorway waiting for mum (Precy) to come back. Danica wanted to chase the ducks as well, but there was a frog near her doorway and she is afraid of frogs, so she was stuck in her house. An older boy will walk by selling tinapy “fresh bread”, another passes with a large bundle of sticks…they all say “morning pastor”, as we are getting to know more and more of the children and adults.
An old lady comes along, all hunched over, using a piece of blue conduit for a cane, she prods the puddles to see how deep the water is before she attempts to cross it, she is wearing a short gumboot on one foot and an old thong on the other…today she decides that it is too deep and so she goes another way.
An adult might appear outside to wash themselves. They will just stand there with maybe a bucket of water and a cup, and wash themselves with their clothes on, being as modest as they can.
We have two guests staying with us for a good chunk of time – Michael Holton will be here until decmber, and Sarah Harrison will be with us perhaps until April, both are a real blessing and very well liked by the locals. Michael is living with me out in the slum, whilst Sarah gets a nicer house all to herself.
It might seem a bit odd to get excited about a slum, but this is our world and will be our world for a long time to come – you are all welcome to come for a visit sometime…
