There’s been lots of bad news recently. Stories of murder, violence and xenophobia. Well here’s some good news that casts aside the idea that those from different cultures and backgrounds can’t spontaneously help another out.
Today I met with a friend for tea. She told me of her son and daughter-in-law’s visit to Cape 
Town and how they had decided to stay at a city hotel and spend a couple of days using the MyCiTi transport system to get about.
The way MyCiti transport works is that you get a myconnect card which you load with money and using this you can travel from place to place until the money runs out. Each time you get on the bus, you ‘tap in’ and when you get off, you ‘tap out’ and it calculates how much you’ve used. When your money runs out you can load more at MyCiTi Station kiosks.
So these two climbed on the bus, keen to experience this easy way of travelling around Cape Town. Initially, they were the only two on the coach, but after a short while, three casual- worker Xhosa women climbed aboard. Soon after, the bus stopped to pick up three Japanese tourists. But when they ‘tapped in’, they discovered they didn’t have enough money on their card.
It was then that genuine South African kindness sprang to life. One of the Xhosa ladies jumped up and within moments had ‘tapped’ the Japs in using her credit! The passengers on the bus all cheered and clapped and the community buzz and enthusiasm was contagious.
If it had been able to have been videoed, it would have gone viral, but it all happened so fast that that wasn’t possible. I really believe it’s important that THIS kind of story gets out. We live in uncertain and violent times all over the world and these good news stories need to be told and remembered.
You don’t have to have a lot to make a big difference in someone’s life. Little acts of kindness go a long way. Those Japanese tourists will never forget that one.
It makes me want to go and try out the MyCiTi transport system.
Proverbs 3:3
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Look out for opportunities to help others. It’s not always easy, but it feels good afterwards.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂