Luxuryless

July 28, 2013

Luxuryless. Is this even a word? I don’t have a clue. I think it’s just another Rachelism. I’ve been known to make up words. I define my word luxuryless as “to be without luxuries, lacking in luxurious things.”

I am currently luxuryless living in South Africa. Facials and brows done every month, manicures and pedicures, massages from my masseuse (my mom J), Gold’s Gym membership, Amazon Prime membership, Banana Republic credit card, CAR (yes, this IS a luxury), cable television and internet, to name a few, are all gone. Some will think those aren’t really luxuries. I used to think that too. Taking care of your skin with facials, exercising at the gym to stay in shape, 2^nd day delivery from amazon for teaching supplies and books, and the other stuff were essentials to my life. I had to have them, right? So I thought. Then I move to South Africa and my world was wrecked…but in a wonderful way…

The only thing you will find in my town is a grocery store, a post office, a Chicken Lickin’, a few churches and a few schools (any lots of shacks, sadly). Nowhere to get a pedicure, no spa for a facial and message, no gym (you put your life at risk simply going for a jog in the neighborhood) and no malls or shops. My house does not have internet, cable television or a TV for that matter, and I do not have a car or even the slightest clue how to drive EURO style, on the right side of the car, on the left side of the street. Therefore, I’ve now got dry skin and bushy eyebrows. I’ve gained weight and have been wearing the same few shirts and jeans that I packed for 2 months now. I have no clue what’s going on in the world of television or the news and I have to walk most places. BUT, I have never been more fulfilled, content, satisfied and happy in my entire life! After being here for 2 months, I have learned that those things in my life were not “essentials”. They were luxuries that were eating up my money and my time. They were not necessities for my life; they were simply add-on’s.

I have learned to appreciate different essentials and a life without add-on’s. Buildings and homes in my town do not have central heating and cooling so I’m very appreciative of the small electric space heater in my room. Its winter and that thing allows me to only have to use 2 comforters on my bed instead of 3 at night! I have lots of time at home, afterschool and on weekends. Other than writing blog posts on my computer, I spend time reading. Before I left home I made sure to buy a good amount of iBooks for the long flight here. However, instead of reading on the flight, I ended up sleeping most of the way. That left me with plenty of books to read during my down time here. I really enjoy reading but when I was at home, I had to stop for awhile because I didn’t have much time. The only time I had for reading, I was using to read my grad school books! Now, I am able to read lots more, for enjoyment. I just got done reading a book called Love Does by Bob Goeff. It is a book about doing the love that God created. It’s about putting love into action and reaping the amazing benefits and graces that come from spreading love by DOING THINGS. This week I have finally begun the book, Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis. I have wanted to get to this one since my mom first gave it to me in Janurary, when I found out my mission placement. The book is a real story about the life of Katie Davis. She is young, southern girl who moves to Uganda to volunteer. She ends up staying there instead of going to college. She opens orphanages and adopts children. Most importantly she shares love to all those she meets. She speaks of having her life plans wrecked by God’s call to a life of mission and to serve the poor. She is incredibly moving and inspiring. I can easily make connections with her life and story.

Lastly, I used to blow through my days working, running errands, staying out late (or up late writing a grad paper) and sleeping for only 5-6 hours at night. I had little to no time for rest. I am now appreciative of the down time I have from 3 o’clock until bedtime each day. I don’t have errands to run and certainly no convenient transportation to get there. I have no appointments and no social life or friends for that matter (other than my volunteer roommate). This gives me time for much needed REST. The stress I had from trying to keep up with myself and the lack of sleep and rest, left me constantly tired, irritable, sensitive, and extra emotional and always with headaches. Now, those things have seemed to disappear and I’m thinking it’s mainly due to the rest I’m getting. I find myself happier. I no longer stress and sweat the small stuff. I find it easier to laugh now; easier to laugh at myself and not take myself too seriously. Things that normally frustrated or irritated me make me laugh now. Characteristics of others that used to bother me (yes, I’ve never had a problem admitting that I have no patience for adults); I can handle better, now. God has given me (or I’m just now accepting) wonderful graces of extra patience to deal with adults who I don’t understand. My rested mind helps me to see these graces very clearly.

You’re probably thinking, “Electric heaters, books and rest. Those are the only essentials you’re appreciative of now”? No, I have many other things to be appreciative of having here, but those are the essentials that have become luxuries to me in the first 2 months. I mean, look at what they have done for me, especially the rest!!

So, I can say now that life goes on and in my case life is even better without the pedicures and facials and all that other stuff, the add-on’s. I suggest that you try it, too. Try to spend less time running around, less money on exterior things, less stress on things that are luxuries and most importantly, spend MORE time resting and accepting the graces God has put in your life. He gives them to all of us each day. It’s just a matter of if we chose to use them or not.  So use God’s graces to plow through your day instead of large doses of Starbucks and a long to-do list to motivate you (that’s what I used to do). His graces will give you all the motivation and strength to get through your days with ease. Not to mention the rest will also give you the energy you need. I’ve said this before, but it sure is crazy to think that it took me moving 9,000 miles away from home to learn such simple but profound lessons.

I thank God for my new luxuries and for slowing me down. Most importantly, I thank Him for opening my eyes to the graces given to me so I can conquer each day.

 

~Today is my sweet Mamaw’s birthday! I love and miss her very much but I know she is thinking of me and most importantly, praying for me. I received a letter in the mail from her yesterday. She made sure to let me know that the Braves are winning and that they are #1 in their division! Oh how I love my Mamaw and her thoughtful letter to keep my posted on everything going on at home. She is a woman to admire with amazing love and strength. I hope and pray that she stays healthy and happy while I’m gone. Happy Birthday, old lady!! J

67 Minutes

July 20, 2013

67 Minutes of Service

 

On his birthday, to celebrate Nelson Mandela and his 67 years of service to South Africa, my 7^th grade class decided to sacrifice their daily loaf of bread and to use it to spend 67 minutes making sandwiches to give to the “poor kids and the orphans in Finetown.” The irony is, THEY ARE the poor kids of Finetown, and they just don’t see themselves as that. They see themselves as young adults who, for most, are the ones raising those poor children and see the injustices around them and want to make a difference for their community. I’d say I’m one proud teacher.

Not only my class, but our whole school and many people throughout South Africa, spent July 18 participating in 67 minutes of service to their community. Their participation and service was to honor Mandela and what he did for this country. He saved the black people from any more oppression by ending the appartide. To the people of South Africa, Mandela represents freedom, future, hope, love and so much more. Most importantly, to me, he represents FORGIVENESS. Mandela was imprisoned for 20 years on Robin Island and was released only to forgive all of those who mistreated, disliked and imprisoned him for all those years. He was able to forgive his own people by the love he had. He had so much love for South Africa and such high hopes and dreams for this country, that he ran and become their president. I taught this lesson on forgiveness to my 7^th graders on this special day.

Not only did we serve the community that day by sacrificing and feeding the poor, we took time to reflect on the courage and love it took for Mandela to FORGIVE his oppressors. They think of Mandela as an idol because he ended the appartide and now the blacks are free. Yet the freedom he represents is not a freedom to be abused. Not a freedom that lets you do as you choose, when you choose. It’s a freedom to choose right from wrong. It’s a freedom to better you. It’s a freedom to take all of the graces God has given you and use them for the good of your country and yourself. This starts with forgiveness. Blacks are now free to begin accepting what has happened to their people and to FORGIVE those people and to move on! They are no longer holding you back. They are available, now, to work with you, in union as one country. They must be forgiven in order for this union and peace to succeed.

My lesson that day on freedom and forgiveness seemed to touch most of my students. I think they understood the message and the meaning behind my portrayal of Mandela and his life. They appreciated such a lesson coming from their white, American, volunteer, teacher. I think this because after that lesson, they gave me an African name: Rethabile. It means grateful. Giving me this new name was their way of showing their acceptance and gratitude for me. Instead of Rachel, now they call me “Teacha Rethabile.” Now im officially an African American! I feel that I am really a part of this country now!

I have a sense of pride living in and working in a country with such inspirational leaders who have done amazing things for this country.  I have accepted their life. It is now my life, my home and my people. I felt this connection the most when my students and I were walking the streets of Finetown that afternoon handing out the sandwiches to the children. Strangers and people on the street looked at me as if I was one of their own. They have seen me around with the children. They know that I am here for them, to help them and to love them through my work with their children. What was even more special was that all 12 of my students walked right beside me every step of the way. They weren’t embarrassed to be seen with their white teacher, they weren’t eager to ditch me for their other friends and they weren’t ready to go home until we had handed out all of the sandwiches AND until they had all walked me home safety. Each one of them knows the realities that are the dangers of their community. They refused to leave my side until I was at my doorstep. We walked miles that day. They walked even more as they had to take the long trek back home. Their protection for me and their dedication for the project that day was the most moving thing I have ever seen young people their age do before. I have found, yet another, new love in Africa and that is 7^th grade.

I spent 4 years of undergrad and 2 years of graduate studies purposely steering clear of middle school and high school education. A bachelor’s and master’s degree in EARLY childhood education says enough about my love and interest for younger children. However, Jennifer, Jill and Nicole, my teacher friends, have always told me how wonderful the upper elementary, middle school and high school age students are. I have just never believed them. Now I do. God sure does have a wonderful way of opening your eyes to new things. He just took me 9,000 miles away from home to do it. Either way, I am thankful and grateful. I am incredibly blessed and fortunate to be a teacher. Education fascinates me. It inspires me. I have found a profession that makes me want to move mountains. How many people can say that about their jobs? I thank the Lord for giving me this gift.

I heard a quote from Kerri Washington (a black actress, ironic enough) a few years ago and it has always stuck with me. If perfectly fits my feelings this week…

 “I never want to imagine myself at the top of any climb, because I want to be climbing for the rest of my career.”

For me this quote says it all. Being here in South Africa, teaching 7^th grade and working with the least of God’s people, is just another step in my climb. I am nowhere near the peak. I am just strenghtned and little further ahead on my amazing journey. Thank you Lord for this climb and this journey, may it continue as long as you allow.

** This post is dedicated to all of my teacher-friends (you know who you are) who I love and miss so much. Thank you for being the incredible, dedicated teachers that you are. Thank you for teaching me new things and for inspiring me to be better. Thank you for supporting me and loving me, even when you want to shut me off for the night after I’ve spent hours venting about my students, coworkers or the many other things that I can’t fix overnight (or that I can’t fix at all!)…you all know how hard it is to “leave work problems at work”. When you’re a teacher, it’s your life, it’s who you are. It’s not just a day job.

Thank you, God for blessing me with THE BEST teacher-friends.

Mission Video

Hi!

For some reason, this blogger website is VERY SLOW with uploading pictures. That is why I have not posted any yet. But I want everyone to see where I am working, the children I am working with and the town I am living so I created this YouTube video! I added music but it doesn't sound very good. I have just muted the music as I watch.

Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/ZTGtNBDNHwY

L-O-V-E, Love

July 11, 2013

L-O-V-E, Love

Those of us with iPhones have a little Notes app that came with our phones. I use that app every day to jot down things to remember for later. Well today, as I was lying in bed sick and (yes, apparently I’ve got the flu??? or just a really bad cough), I was looking through my notes and I found one with this quote:

“The kind of LOVE God created and demonstrated to us, is a costly one because it    involves          sacrifice and presence.”

I am not sure who said it or where I read it or when I added it as a note. The few months leading up to my departure for Africa, I would often jot down notes and things that inspired me or strengthened my peace about my choice to give up my life at home to mission around the world. I am guessing that that wonderful quote came during that time. It sure makes even more sense to me now as I am actually DOING that LOVE, God created. I am sacrificing my comforts, lifestyle, relationships and job to be fully present with people who need LOVE the most. When I read that quote in my Notes I knew it was meant to be that I stumbled across it now, this week, as I am feeling, experiencing and sharing LOVE in a different way...let me explain…

Every weekday either the sisters or one of us volunteers goes to the bread factory 15 down the road. The factory manager is a gracious man as he gives us the left over bread from the trucks. He has men waiting for us every day at 11:30 to unload the bread from their trucks and help us load the little bed of our truck with at least 12 crates. The manager knows the sister’s work for the children so he kindly supports our efforts in feeding them. This is something that I love (and have mentioned before) about the people of South Africa: their willingness to support those who love and care for their people.

On normal weekdays, we take the bread back to the schools for part of the children’s lunches and to pass out as they go home. But we have been out of school for winter break for 3 weeks. The sisters know that when the children are out of school, they probably aren’t getting fed.  The sisters are going to feed the children whether they are in school or not!!

 I got the pleasure of joining Sr. Theresa for this week’s daily bread runs. Once we got the bread we would take it to Finetown. Finetown is the worst slum neighborhood around. The living conditions and the crime out-do all the others. However, as our schools and programs only cater to the poorest of the poor, most of our school children come from this town. The kids knew we would come around lunch time so they would all gather outside of the cresh (our preschool in Finetown) and play games until we arrived with the bread. Once they saw us coming they would start shouting in their sweet little voices, “Seesta, seesta, borroto!!” They would line up single file behind our little truck, pushing and shoving each other to be at the front. It was no surprise to me because after all, they are starving and they will do whatever they have to for food even if that means tackling their best friend to the ground. We would hand one loaf out to each child. “Thank you, seesta, thank you” they would say.

This is love: taking time during your “vacation” and “off” days to drive 15 minutes to a bread factory to get bread to feed the starving children you teach, knowing that if you didn’t feed them, they wouldn’t get fed at all. The sisters are a living example and witness of God’s love, the sacrificing and present love that God demands of us.

But it gets even better!! Once we were done passing out loaves to the children, we would have some left over. We decided to drive up and down the streets of the local dump to give the bread to the people who were there digging in the trash. Since I was shotgun, I got the pleasure (not kidding, it was an absolute pleasure) of jumping in and out of the car handing out the bread to the starving, homeless people going through the rubbish at the dump. Watching their eyes light up as I, a complete stranger (a white one for that matter) who comes offering bread to them while they are in search of any spec of food they can find, was completely and utterly the best feeling I have every felt in my life. That’s love.

But, wait, it gets even BETTER than that!! We still had bread left after giving some away at the dump. Sr. Theresa and I thought, “where else could we go where children are starving and in need of the rest of this bread?” Easy answer: right up the road of course, or up the mountain I should say. Mountain View is the slum community that sits on a small mountain. This community sits on the side of the mountain and overlooks our primary school. I had always looked up at it while at the school but never knew how to get to it and neither did Sr. Theresa. We knew though that Mt. View children would need this bread as much as the ones in Finetown. So we went back to the nearby dump to ask the people there how to get up to Mt. View. Most of the people rummaging through the dump were from Mt. View so they could easily help us with directions.

Sr. Theresa and I followed the dirt path leading up the Mountain toward the shacks. At bottom of the dirt road is a large water tank. This tank and others around the community like it are open at the top so it can collect rain water. This is the people’s only water source. It hasn’t rained since I’ve been here. You can only imagine how low the tanks are. As we are about to start driving up the mountain, I see two small children (they later told me they are 5 and 6 years old), one dragging a large jug and there other pushing a wheelbarrow with a large jug inside of it, up the mountain. Really, though, they weren’t moving at all. They would take a step and then sit. Take a step and then sit. The sun was blazing and they looked defeated and they were only a few yards from the water tank. I made sister stop the car and I hopped out. I first was going to offer them some bread when I realized what they were doing. They were filling those jugs up with water and carrying them to their shack at the top of the mountain. They hardly understood my English when I asked them what they were doing, but it didn’t matter because it was obvious what they were doing. I lifted one of the jugs and my arm about ripped out of socket. I couldn’t even life it with one hand. How in the world were these 5 year olds going to get it up the mountain? Not sure, but they were making a valiant effort. They looked sad and tired and dirty and they definitely didn’t have the strength to drag those jugs up the mountain. It’s like they were sent to fetch water and given a wheelbarrow as if it were to help?? I told sister to keep going up and that I’d meet her in a few minutes at the top. I grabbed the jugs and put them both in to the wheelbarrow and began to push. I thought my back was going to give out. I was slipping on the rocks and dirt on the ground and the wheelbarrow was moving at a snail’s pace. But that didn’t matter. The fact that those two children were not killing themselves and enduring the child abuse that their mother inflicted on them is what gave me the strength to make it up the mountain. The children guided me to their house and I stopped outside of their shack (about ready to pass out). A few adults were standing around outside. They looked at me like I was from space, like I had appeared from thin air. I gave the kids a hug and looked at the adults with a smile (although I should’ve screamed CHILD ABUSE at them instead) but I didn’t because of peace. When you’re sharing love, God gives you a sense of peace that puts you at ease. It’s a type of peace that makes anger and frustration easily subside. I think this is why I didn’t let my thoughts on this injustice come hurdling out, as they normally would.

Now the best part has come!!!! Before our bread run on Wednesday (my wheelbarrow adventure happened Monday), I went with Sister Giovanna to see the twins and their brother at their new home! These are the “little angels on earth” from a few posts ago. Since they were taken from their shack and their parents, they stayed only a week with us and were then arranged to live with their aunt in Orange Farm, a small up-scale squatter neighborhood. It started as an informal, squatter settlement but I say up-scale because the people living there started replacing their shacks with mud or brick houses. They still have dirt roads but they are nicely kept. Some homes have grass yards but most don’t. Either way, this community environment is a world of difference then the Finetown shack community that the children came from.

The children were given to their aunt as she is the next suitable family member to take care of the children. When we arrived the aunt was very welcoming. She had a sweet and comforting smile. Her house was very small but it seemed well kept. We talked to her for a bit until the twins came walking in from outside. They second I saw them I couldn’t help but to cry. I had missed their faces and smiles and laughter. I had thought about them every day since they stayed with us. I grabbed Sebongile and hugged her and kissed her chubby little face. She had gotten chubbier then before which is good. She looked like she has been eating well. Bongiwe looked a bit chubbier as well. Both of them had haircuts and were holding their hats in their hands as if they were told to take them off when we got their so we could see their new do’s! The love I have for these little girls is unreal. I have worked with many children and have loved each and every one. But these two little girls are different. I have a love for them that I can’t even explain. Just holding them while they eat, because there was a time when they hardly ate at all, makes me cry. When I’m with them all I want to do it hug and kiss them and talk to them and tickle their fat little bellies.

They weren’t the same though. They weren’t as happy today as they were when we left them a few weeks ago. They hardly smiled this time and they didn’t even try and talk to each other or me. We had taught them how to say bye bye to us before, but this time they wouldn’t do it for me. I was sad to see them this way because they were always laughing and giggling and smiling when they lived with us. Sandile smiled often when I talked to him. He is always quite though. He has been through a lot in his short 8 years. I would imagine he’s got a lot on his mind.

The social worker told me that I could have the girls stay with me one weekend. Maybe that will turn into one week. I told sister G that I’d keep those three at my house with me until I left in January. I wanted to make that my mission. But I know that’s easier said than done. I just know what hell they have gone through I want to wipe that all away. I want to make sure that never happens to them ever again. I want to love them the way they should be loved. I just hope and pray that their aunt has good intentions and they she keep them fed and clean and most importantly, loved.

Done. I sum up my week of love and another realization that has unfolded for me…

Through the smiles and laughter of the children, through the excruciating stories that are their lives, God reminds me every day that I have one purpose, in South Africa and in life, and that is to LOVE. Being here, in their element and out of my own, I realize just how much love I have to give and how it comes pouring out like a waterfall these days.

Leading or Following?

July 7, 2013

How does one do right when the rest of their world is telling them to do wrong? How does one become a leader in a sea of followers? Is leadership a born gift? Are good morals learned and acquired over time or are they innate from within?

 I have been thinking about these questions this week as we (the sisters and volunteers) have begun our winter sports camp. The first day of camp, all of us volunteers were surprised to see a set of young boys and a set of young girls, about 13 or 14 years old, who had arrived early at the community center, rallied up the children and began organizing the games and sports. The way the younger children listen to these leaders was shocking. When these leaders spoke the kids listened. The kids waited so patiently for the leaders to give directions and group everyone up. This sounds like no big deal, right? Well, to me, it is a big deal. The norm for teenagers in this area is not leading a sports camp for kids during their time off of school. Their norm is mischief and things that will lead to trouble. I was in awe of the teenage leaders because they didn’t care whether they were with their friends doing God knows what around town, they were playing with children. I know the younger children look up to them. I am thankful for those young leaders as they will be the ones to make a difference in their community and country someday.

There is one more boy or man I should say, who has come from the community to work at the sports camp with us. He is 26 and used to be a grade 2 teacher and a skills teacher at the school as well as a teacher of the faith at church every Sunday. He had also been a camp leader for the past 6 years. When he showed up Sister Margaret about started to cry. She was so happy to see this guy. She said, “I prayed this morning that he would show up.”  She prayed this because he missed last year’s camp. His brother is part of a gang and is a notorious drugie in the community. After years of being part of the community, teaching children and the faith, he got caught into his brothers net and started doing drugs. He basically fell off the face of the earth for about a year. The sisters put him in their house (my house now) to help him quit and to keep him away from the drugs and his brother. After a year battle, he is off drugs and showed to our camp this week. This is why Sister was so happy to see him.

He called all the volunteers and teen leaders together and held a meeting. He led our conversation about ways to meet the needs of these children, games to play and other organizational topics. He initiated a prayer at the beginning and end. Soon after he begins playing with the kids and organizing the games and sports outside and inside the community center. He was delegating tasks to us and leading our group as if it was his paid job. The interactions he had with us and the children were the best part of all. He had the most easy, gentle way of interacting with everyone he talks to. He engages with the children and he can get them to listen to him, effortlessly. All of the other volunteers and I were thinking, “Who is this shabby looking guy who came out of the woodworks to singlehandedly run the sports camp?” Then we heard his story. His story about begin a leader in the community and then falling into a spell of drugs. That is what has me thinking about leadership and morals. How hard must it have been for him to deny his brother for so many years? How hard must it have been for him to not do what was cool and do what is good? It must have been very tough because when the world around you is telling you and pressuring you in the wrong direction; it’s no cake walk to get around it. I admire this guy’s courage. I admire his born leadership skills to step up and set an example for other guys within the community.

A Whole New Prayer Life

July 7, 2013

Before my life here begun, prayer was something I may have done before bed, before meals, with the students in my class, and in church when I went to mass on Sundays (and other church related holidays/events). Those prayers consisted of thoughtful, meaningful connections with Christ. Most of the time those prayers would be traditional prayers like the Lord's Prayer or the Hail Mary or sometimes a decade of the rosary. In church I would meet Jesus in mass and thoughtfully reflect on the words in gospel readings and the words of the priests during homilies and opening/closing prayers. Many times, I’d talk to God before bed, asking him for help and forgiveness, peace and solace about situations in my life or from that day. All that sounds good, right? Nope, wrong. All that is called the bare minimum, or at least for me it was the bare minimum. And I realized that when I got to Africa. After a few weeks in, I realized that my relationship with God had become a little more personal and that’s exactly what needed to happen. If I was going to live 9,000 miles away from home in the crime ridden slums of Africa, I was seriously going to need God on my right shoulder helping me through each day. I was going to need more than a few traditional, robotic prayers and a feel-good weekly Sunday mass to get me through the first few transitional weeks and then the long months to come.

I noticed my prayer life changing the moment I stepped off the airplane in the Joburg airport. I instantly stopped, checked my swollen ankles, looked around at the herd of people around and I thanked God for landing me here safely. I thanked him for getting me to at least that point on my journey. Then as I went through the customs checkpoint and the man spoke the welcoming words that he did (see my first June blog), I knew it was God saying, "Your Welcome. You're in the right plac. Now keep going". That was the beginning of my new prayer life. From that moment on, I began talking to God all throughout the day. The first few days, our conversations were mostly me saying, "Thank you" and He saying, "Your welcome. Now keep going". And the first few nights our conversations were me asking Him to, "Please let me make it through this night alive". Each bright, sunny morning was His way of saying, "You've got another day, now go get at it!" However, through the past month, there has been a constant each and every day. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't say to God, "Wow, this is amazing." Whether it's my amazement with the wonderful children I meet or the incredible landscapes I see on vacations or the peacefulness of a new simple life, everyday there are things that I find myself telling God, "Wow, this is amazing and you're amazing for creating it."

At night I still try and say some of our traditional prayers, especially the Guardian Angel prayer. I need that guy on my side too, to help God in keeping me safe. This place is scary with a capital S! But at night is when I spend time thinking about my family and friends. As I drift off to sleep, I like to look through pictures on my phone of family and friends. I like to re-read text or email messages between us all. I think about what they would be doing at that point, since its mid-day for them as its bedtime for me. Doing all of that is what keeps me feeling close to them. God gives me peace when I do this. It's like his way of saying, "You're loved, supported and thought about. Now go to sleep because tomorrow, like every other, is a whole new can of worms and you need to get rest!"

Then, the icing on the cake is weekly Sunday mass. Every word the priest says has become more meaningful as I know it is God speaking to me. I have found myself singing louder and prouder with each song with a feeling of "I don't care who can hear my terrible voice!"

So, am I spitting out bibles versus and always glowing and only thinking and saying spiritual things and healing the world now that I'm in Africa and I've got this wonderful new prayer life and closeness to God!! No way, Jose. I am far from that stuff. I still have some of those same struggles and flaws as before. I am imperfect. However, I am also aspirational, with big goals and ambitions. My hope (one of many hopes actually) is that, through my work and mission here and through my new relationship with Christ, I can be the best version of me and be at peace with it. Because once you’re at peace with yourself, you can be at peace with everything else. How wonderful that would be!

Things I Love About South Africa

July 1, 2013

Things I love about South Africa…

1.       The singing and dance of SA are unbelievable. The people’s innate passion for singing and dancing is music to my ears. The singing and dancing is part of many cultures present here. It is like they are born with rhythm that only JLo can imagine! Their singing and dancing is part of their everyday lives. The children at school begin there day with song and dance outside of their classrooms. The teachers lead and the students participate in what looks and sound like a gospel choir yet they don’t rehearse and much of the lyrics are made up by the teachers as they go. The Zulu and Sutoo cultures have the most wonderful traditional song and dance that they do at special ceremonies and events. Church is the best place to hear their glorious music. When they are singing and dancing for the Lord, it gives you goose bumps and makes you want to move mountains (and join in on the fun!).

2.       The many different cultures that make up South Africa are what give it its nickname: the Rainbow Nation. On the outside looking in, you see black and white (and few other colors). But from the inside you see Zulu, Sutoo, Afrikaans, Colored, Black, White, Dutch and many more. Each of these cultures and its people contribute to the fascinating and diverse place that is SA. Although there are divides between many, the people of these different cultures are open to each other’s ways and traditions. It was evident when I walked through the customs line at the airport and the customs police told me to “keep up the good work” after he read my job title and what I’d be doing in his country. It was like his way of saying, “welcome to my country, we are happy to have you here. “

3.       No matter what culture or background they come from, the people of SA have a deep and inspiring pride for their country. The history of this country is rich with leaders who have changed the face of the country (Mandela), sports that lead many of the other countries in the world (football) and a landscape that is beautiful beyond words (CapeTown). I already have pride in this country and I have only been living here for a month.

4.       The children of South Africa are obviously one of my favorite aspects of this country. Where I live, most of the children come from poverty and despair. Yet you would meet them and never know the horror stories behind their amazing smiles and laughter. These children are happy to just be living. They don’t need stuff or entertainment to be happy. They are happy to have another day with their friends and their school.

The children who come from the middle class neighborhood are bright and vivacious. All of these children both rich and poor are the future of this country. I believe a child’s future starts with their education, no matter what their home life is like. Schools here are vital and a positive experience can change the life of a child. Who knows, I could be teaching another Mandela some day!

 

5.       The Salesian Religious Congregation is made up of priests, brothers, sisters and novitiates. The Salesian sisters, specifically, are the largest Catholic religious order of women in the world. They have 16,000 members in 96 different countries. These women dedicate their lives to the service of women and children. They make no wage or income. Their service to their community comes from the love in their hearts and their love for the Lord and His call for us to mission the least of His people.

The 4 sisters that are here in Ennerdale, South Africa are gifts to this community and the surrounding neighborhoods (slums). These women have opened schools and preschools for the poorest of the poor. They work tirelessly every day to make sure they provide the children with the best possible education. However, their schools not only provide education, they provide shelter for the children; they get the children off the streets and into a clean, safe environment. Most importantly, these women make it their job to feed, year-round, the starving children in the community. While the children are out of school for winter and summer breaks, the sisters hold week-long sports camps and they provide them with 2 meals a day. For most of the children, if they were not participating in an event with the sisters or in their school, they would not eat at all. We even drive to the bread factory every day to get the left over bread to give to the children before they go home. These women are like celebrities in the community. They drive through town and people would yell, “sista!” or “don bosco!” The people know what these women do for their community and they look up to them and thank them.

Sister Margaret, Sister Giovanna, Sister Theresa and Sister Caroline have dedicated their lives to feeding, education and loving the poorest children in the country. I feel honored, blessed, inspired, moved and humbled to be working with these Salesian sisters. What a wonderful life they lead. What incredible role models they are for me, the other volunteers and for the rest of the world. I am beyond blessed to be part of their “team”.

 

6.       Cape Town! What a breathtaking place, Cape Town, South Africa. I was fortunate enough to spend a whole week in the Cape. CT is the most southern tip of Africa. It is where the explorers called the Cape of Good Hope. It is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean. The sites to see here are incredible. Table Mountain sits in the middle of CT. The city blankets the bottom of the mountain. It’s called Table Mountain because it’s flat at the top and looks like a table. The volunteers and I spent a day hiking up the mountain. After 2 hours, we had climbed to the top and witnessed the most beautiful view I have ever seen in my life. It’s like we were on top of the world! You could see on top of all the other mountains and the ocean that stretched for days. It’s like we could see all of South Africa’s shore line. My words really do not do it justice (check out Facebook pics!). At the top is a little restaurant, store and cable car lift. We took it down. If I tried to walk down the mountain, I could imagine my Jell-O-like legs would let me go falling forward down the mountain. I wasn’t ready to die that day!

Other days we spent time shopping at the local craft markets, walking the streets to see the beautiful architecture of the buildings, walking the waterfront harbor (yachts and sailboats and ships galore), eating at some authentic South African restaurants (I ate ostrich) and a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium. The week was wonderful because the volunteers and I got to see the beauty of South Africa. We got to get out of the slums and into civilization.

7.       And much more! I will add to this list so keep checking!