Faith Adventures: Sweet Home Farm

What an idyllic name, one would think…but Sweet Home Farm is one of the many ‘informal settlements’ that weave their way in and around this vast city. The informal settlements are unlike the many townships…for these settlements never started with city planning or basic infrastructure…they consist of shack dwellings made with wood, metal and other found objects, not brick and mortar. In this way people can up and move when they need to (or are forced to). Generally, there is no running water or electricity, however some settlements, like Sweet Home, are slowing gaining basic commodities.

Due to many relationships, The Warehouse and a couple of its key staff members started to get involved in the Sweet Home community around 2004. It was also in this year that I visited Sweet Home Farm for the first time with my family. We spent the day there walking around, meeting people and playing with children. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit once again, with a group of new trustees and their families from The Warehouse. We had the privilege of eating lunch at a new restaurant in a shack…just started by a woman named Christine. We were honored to support her new entrepreneurial business and eat her fantastic food! We had roast chicken, rice, beets, sweet potatoes, bean salad, green salad and lots of fizzy drinks.

Despite the daily hardships these families face…there is a great sense of overcoming difficulties and an immense spirit of joy, that is not only evident on their faces, but also in the way they cherish community and the life around them. Women take pride in their shacks, sweeping debris away from their entryways and creating ‘homes’ out of others rubbish. I was blessed that day to witness children of different colors and backgrounds playing together, a new business sprouting up, and heartfelt programs that are actually working and bringing hope into people’s lives! I have little to teach these brothers and sisters, but so much to learn from them in the days and months ahead…