March 12, 2007

Stephanie Monteiro, Liz Wagner (Rhode Island) and Mércio Langa (Mozambique)

As we woke up (A WHOLE EXTRA HOUR LATER), we started our day on the right side of the bed. We arrived at the 'compound' and had an amazing discussion with Father Mike Lapsley SSM. He told us his inspiring life story including much of the history of South Africa. The main point of his discussion was: life is about the choices we can and cannot make. Father Lapsley was born into greater choice simply because of his skin color. As a resident of South Africa he was deeply upset by the ways of life. He joined the struggle against oppression in order to bring choice to the South African people. All non-Whites were forced into segregation and suffered its abuse for generations. Although Father Lapsley  was a White man, he felt the need to fight for everyone's equality. In his mind there were three groups of people in South Africa; the oppressed, the oppressors and  humans. Because of his race he was forced to be the oppressor, but more than anything he wanted to be a human. In his efforts he was targeted by the South African government as a threat due to his anti-apartheid theology. He eventually was exiled and moved to Lesotho, and later found refuge in Zimbabwe. The movement gained great strength when it became a global agenda in the mid 1980's.

Given that this country limited the choices of its people during apartheid, South Africa is a powerful example of reconciliation. The strength of global action and response, as successfully shown through the end of apartheid, has inspired us to spread awareness to the world. As Father Lapsley says, "healing memories is an issue for the whole world." Through education of HIV/AIDS, a similar global response as that which strengthened the anti-apartheid movement may form. We feel empowered by our strength as messengers of global awareness. As pilgrims we have come to Africa in part to be part of reconciliation and healing processes in the world.