African Money Issues

Recently some of us whities have been having chats about money. You see- being the hungry season and all, the number of people we don't know knocking on the gate hoping for some assistance and the frequency of people we do know asking for 'loans' has significantly increased...and it's frustrating feeling like an ATM.

So the questions of how do I respond? and who am I obligated to? and for how much? are all pretty pertinent at the moment.

I decided one day to bring up the topic with my friend Mama J and the farm manager on the way to work. They both have incomes and are also on the giving end of the social security system here. How do they respond? Well, they give to their families, relatives and if someone is really in need. I asked how they ascertained 'real need' and they answered that you look to see whether they are able to work, or find out if they have parents who can help them and if not- then you help.

Mama J said that even though she doesn't give materially to everyone- she always recieves people and at least listens to their story even if she can't help. She reminded us of the part in the Bible where at the final judgement Jesus welcomes the righteous and says:

'Come, you who have the blessing of my Father, into the kingdom made ready for you before the world was:
For I was in need of food, and you gave it to me:
I was in need of drink, and you gave it to me:
was wandering, and you took me in;
I had no clothing, and you gave it to me:
when I was ill, or in prison, you came to me.
and the righteous respond and say 'Lord, when did we see you in need of food, and give it to you? or in need of drink, and give it to you? And when did we see you wandering, and take you in? or without clothing, and give it to you? And when did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to you?'
And Jesus answers them ' Truly I say to you, Because you did it to the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

Well, feeling very encouraged, with all the answers worked out, we pulled up at the farm, got out of the car and were greeted by a lady mumbling insitantly about my chitenje (cloth wrap). I only had the one I was wearing with me and I wasn't about to give it to her. She had burn scars all down one side of her face and was wearing a 'national disibilities day' chitenje herself. Then she started saying something about money. We all recoiled. The others told her in no uncertain terms to go away and I left them to it...well, actually I only got about 3 steps before my hipocrisy slapped me in the face and made me turn around. I said to the others- 'stop! this is our test- are we really going to send her away with nothing AND treat her with disrespect?!'

Someone said something about her always asking for things and never being satisfied. Meanwhile she was getting quite agitated and talking loudly and incomprehensibly. The workers were jeering at her. The other two stood silently. I prayed.

'What about we offer her some work? she can come and harvest beans with us, then I'll pay her.' The farm manager offered an emphatic 'No', and that was the end of my ideas, so I suggested we start work (sending off the workers), said a respectful goodbye and followed them. Fail

A few minutes later she showed up again and quietly started harvesting beans with us. We all worked together. She seemed to enjoy the company. After an hour or so the farm manager finally greeted her and asked her name. Then she started talking with Mama J and said she wasn't working for money. She wanted to say thank you to her friend (pointing at me) who had given her the chitenje at the Natioanl Disibilities Day held a few months earlier in the area. A colleague of mine had organised it all and this lady had got us mixed up (apparently all whities look the same). I suddenly felt really bad aboout the whole misunderstanding at the car. I said that I would pass on her thanks to my colleague but that I was a different white person who worked on this farm. She looked really bewildered so I introduced my self.

When the harvesting was finished she said good bye and I paid her a small amount and she left. 'Now your friend will come back looking for you every day' the farm manger said reproachfully. 'That's ok' I thought. I pray that she left not only with a little cash, but also the gift of acceptance.

You know what I realise more and more every day here? My 'true colours' are ugly. Giving freely, sticking up for and identifying with the poor, the disabled, the needy, the dirty, the hungry and desperate- are not my instinctive reactions. Theoreticising it and walking away is my first instinct. Love feels un-natural. Just as the pharisees asked Jesus 'who is my neighbour?' I see that often the reason I ask questions about who to give to isn't so I can be more generous- but rather less generous. These 'African money issues' are actually MY money issues.