Celebrating food

Probably the best part of our experience below the line was the experience of handing out food to people around our neighborhood at the conclusion of our challenge - a new tradition we added this year. Being able to give people a whole container of freshly prepared food that was made especially for them brought smiles to many faces. It wasn't just the feeling of helping, but the knowledge of knowing how good something tastes when you have been without it for some time. 

Miri and I decided to prepare a tray that went beyond the basics of what people might be able to access through their regular networks. We cooked up brown rice with lentils to go with a homemade beef and potato curry, along with a healthy portion of papaya topped off with a chocolate covered biscuit; all things we couldn't afford on our R10 a day diet. 

Miri and I prepare the papayas for the food packets                                                

While we mostly received warm responses, there were also heart wrenching moments, like the elderly gentlemen who appeared to have Parkinson's. He was alone on a side street with a jacket but no shirt. He looked incredibly wasted and could barely make his way to us on his own. Miri and I looked at each other is stunned silence after meeting him. Later she said thoughtfully, "Imagine if that were your father or your grandfather out there alone on the street." 

The contents of the 40 meals we hand delivered to
people on the streets of Cape Town

At another moment we handed out food to some street hawkers and a large group came and rushed the car in fear that we wouldn't have enough for all of them. Although we were glad to help, it was a bit overwhelming, and some of the people complained that clothes we handed out in a bag to the group did not get properly distributed.

At another corner, a man selling iron art works stopped rolling a joint so he could come get some food, while at another corner a weathered woman asked with delight if it was Mother's Day when we handed her a scarf and some food. We went through so many emotions as we encountered people in in a variety of difficult circumstances. It was rewarding and heart-wrenching at the same time. 

The final product that we delivered to 40 less fortunate people in the
southern suburbs of Cape Town last Sunday

Overall, Miri and I were very happy with the end result, and have agreed to do it again for our 67 minutes of community service on July 18 to commemorate the 67 years of Nelson Mandela's service. We hope friends in Cape Town will join us to do the same. We also want to take up living below the line for a longer period, perhaps two weeks, or with more frequency, to test our own resolve and make sure we hold near the lessons that we rediscover each time.