Sue Johnson, a Habitat staff member in South Africa, moved out of her house to research sustainable farming, gaining a new understanding of the challenges of substandard shousing in the process.

Sacrifices of a Working Vacation

Q&A with Jimmy Carter

New Way of Life Brings Challenges, Enlightenment

by Sue Johnson

Editor's note: This essay is Part 2 in a series written by Sue Johnson, a Habitat staff member in South Africa. Following a call to develop land for researching sustainable farming, she and her husband committed to living on the land in conditions similar to those experienced by poor working families in the area. From this change in location have flowed new insights into the issues surrounding substandard housing.

The lessons I have learned
Four months have passed since moving out of our comfortable middle-class home in Pinetown to a place in the rolling hills and valleys of KwaZulu Natal.

Our new surrounds are typical of the type of landscape inhabited by the majority of our poorer families in South Africa: steep cliffs, valleys, no municipal infrastructure or services. The land is very prone to mudslides; hence so many families lose all they have in the heavy summer downpours.

Settling into our new way of life has been both challenging and very enlightening. We have grown in our understanding of the hardships and trials experienced by millions of families living in poverty housing. How could we ever truly understand what poverty housing is really all about unless we have walked in the shoes of those less fortunate than ourselves?

Thinking back over our first few months, I can still picture the first time we experienced torrential rain and high winds, which during the night tore at the corrugated roof over the kitchen area, driving muddy water through the rusting holes onto everything below, soaking pots, pans, cutlery and even the vegetables I had in a rack. The next morning, trails of leaves and branches were left strewn across the floor, and I had to clear the mess up before work. I still remember lying in bed that night and hearing the noise of the downpour, praying to God, "Please send the rain away." How many families pray that same prayer each time we have heavy downpours?

My time here has allowed me to experience what it feels like to put on damp clothes each time it rains or to first have to check for spiders and other insects that decide to make their home in my clothing. I am becoming accustomed to continually checking for snakes and crabs, which love to share our ablution area. I learned from our African staff that the way to deal with the snake problem is to surround your living area with strong-smelling plants and herbs. Apparently, snakes dislike strong smells, so I now have an abundance of wild garlic and geraniums around the outside areas. I have also learned how important it is to keep the firewood dry. Have you ever tried to light a fire with wet wood?

Lack of privacy and space has to be the other learning curve we have experienced. Living in cramped conditions and trying to fit our belongings into a much smaller place have been quite a challenge. How families with four or five children manage to store clothing, food and all their personal belongings in their cramped and crowded shacks is a mystery.

The poor in the world today are in a very dark place. Families lack the basics many of us accept as given: decent housing, access to clean water and electricity. Their lives are engulfed in darkness and plain misery. The poor are trapped in a world where hope is scarce and life is very hard.

I am witnessing that God has a plan, and throughout the world the ministry of Habitat for Humanity shines a light into the darkness of the poor, a light that grows stronger and stronger each year. We who are blessed, can we ignore that light when we have resources and abilities to share?