Sunrise, Sunset

South African Sunrise..

One of my favorite Fiddler on the Roof songs is
Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset
Swiftly go the years.

This time in South Africa has gone swiftly.  Four months filled with adventures still comes to an end before you are prepared.  Jim and I leave tomorrow morning at 4:30 a.m.  While we look forward to home, we will miss our new friends and the country of South Africa.
. 

South African Sunset

We will especially miss the amazing views of the sun rising over the Indian Ocean each morning.  Since Jim and I live in a wooded area, seeing the sun rise has been a treat.  The earth's turning is so obvious here.  The sunrise has moved at least 30 degrees during the time we have been here.

To commemorate our love of the sunrises, Jim and I went to the beach to watch the sun rise on the second to last day of PE.  Our picture doesn't do it justice. 

Sunrise, sunset.  This is the last post I will write until I get home, and write about our next ten days at Victoria Falls and Botswana.

Thank you, South Africa!

The ANC turns 100

Choir at ANC centennial

By Saturday night, only a few of us were left at Langerry Holiday Flats.  The students had been leaving since early Friday morning, starting with Tucker on a 9:30 a.m. flight.  Each of the 'good-byes' was tearful.  Those of us left behind needed a diversion.

We attend the ANC Centenary event

We learned from the Mamas at the Red Location Backpackers that there would be an event at the Nelson Mandela Stadium that night to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the ANC.  Formed in 1912, the African National Congress is the oldest liberation party in Africa.  The Centenary Torch was passing through PE this weekend, and the event at the stadium was one of many planned for its appearance here. 

The audience was smaller than we had expected. But the choral music and historical play performed served to occupy our minds on a night that would otherwise have felt quite empty. 

Until We Meet Again

Shelley and Peter Owen

I have mentioned our friends Shelley and Peter Owen several times in past blog postings.  We were fortunate to meet this couple because we happened to sit next to their daughter, Paula, on our original flight in from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth.  They have treated us to meals in their home, played the BONE version of bridge with us, and served as our trip advisors for local trips and restaurants.  For example, early on they recommended the Algoa Yacht Club as a good place to eat in PE.  They were right!  The Yacht Club has served us some of the best meals we have eaten in PE.

On Saturday, May 26th, we treated Peter and Shelley to a "farewell for now" lunch there.  Once again, the day was beautiful - the ocean blue - and the meal great.  I won't say we said, "Good-bye" but rather a 'til we meet again.

The Elephant Whisperer

As Cousin Leon knows, when we were traveling in Turkey in 2010 we heard about a horse whisperer famous for gentling the wild horses of the Turkish plain - often just with his voice and manner.  Jim and he went to visit this horse whisperer while we were there.  

It was probably that experience that helped me decide to read a book that Shelley loaned me, called the Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony.  Lawrence Anthony's game reserve here in South Africa is called the Thula Thula game reserve located in Zulu land, Kwa-Zulu Natal.  (Jim and I never got that far in our travels here.)

The book tells the story of a herd of wild African elephants that was scheduled to be destroyed because they were escape artists, and as such deemed dangerous for the local people.  These elephants would break out of any fencing - taking the electric shock willingly in order to get to freedom.  Because of this trait, however, the herd was scheduled to be shot. Mr. Anthony intervened to try to save their lives, volunteering to take them in on his game preserve.  Before they could be transferred, they broke out once again and the matriarch was shot.

So, Mr. Anthony got the rest of the herd - very wary of humans, traumatized, with no heir apparent for their matriarch.  The book tells about how he won their trust - and learned a lot from them - by literally sleeping next to them for months, talking to them to say they were safe. 

I learned this week that Mr. Anthony died on March 7 this year.  (This was approximately the time I was reading his book.)   What was amazing was an article I recently read.  It said that on the day after Mr. Anthony died, this same elephant herd - which was now living miles away - walked twelve hours to the game reserve main homestead.  There, they walked by in single file, making a silent observance of his death.


The man's rabbi - Rabbi Gal Berner - was quoted in the article as saying, “A good man died suddenly, and from miles and miles away, two herds of elephants, sensing that they had lost a beloved human friend, moved in a solemn, almost ‘funereal’ procession to make a call on the bereaved family at the deceased man’s home.”  Quite amazing testimonial to animal feeling and understanding.

  

If you want to read more, go to: http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2012/03/rescued-wild-elephant-herds-inexplicably-gather-to-mourn-lawrence-anthony-south-africas-elephant-whisperer.php#ixzz1rJYHYJIx

Pendla Family Day

The PBJ crew

Tuna fish, anyone?

The last stop of the day on Tuesday was Pendla Primary School.  Our students there were hosting an afternoon "family day."

Each of the learners was able to ask two family members to come to the school for a show and a small family celebratory meal.  Even though we kept it very simple - sandwiches, beans, a piece of fruit, a dessert bar, and juice - feeding 800 people is quite the undertaking.

Our students had been making sandwiches since 11:00.  By 3:00, when the first family members arrived, they had made over 1000 sandwiches. 

Kindergarten students led off

Older Pendla students put on a very serious
play about child sexual abuse.

Each of the classrooms had prepared a song, or skit, or dance for their family members.  They were good!  I couldn't help but think that it was a great opportunity for them to do this kind of public performance.

Some of the topics were very adult-themed - with the underlying theme of needing to report child sexual abuse.  (The plays certainly weren't "Billy Goats Gruff" like I performed in second grade.)  I wondered if the family members thought we had chosen the plays (we hadn't), as they were quite "preachy" about the failure of family attention to the matter. 

But, the family members seemed to like everything.  They really gave a round of applause when our students presented the new book for the library that Kathy Bassett had produced.  It is a story book, with Pendla students as the main characters.

Family members cheer for the storybook
with Pendla learners' pictures!
(prepared by Kathy Bassett and donated to their library)

We also recognized the years of service of Mrs. Peter, the principal.  Retiring in June, she has been at Pendla since St. John's and St. Ben's first starting volunteering there 14 years ago.

I think the following pictures will tell more of the story of the Pendla family afternoon than my words.

The teachers liked their pictures, too!

Just know that after Missionvale's morning staff appreciation, after House's story telling to the pre-schoolers, and after the Pendla family day, both Jim and I fell into bed Tuesday night with our clothes on! 

Many kudos to our students for pulling it all off!

Acknowledging Mrs. Peter's
years of service as principal

Family members enjoy the program
put on by their children

Mrs. Peter likes to garden.
We bought her two plants to remember us by.

House Parting - With a Story

The second of our "good-byes" on Tuesday was at House of Resurrection/AIDS Haven Children's Home.

Joe, Isaac, and the compost station

When Jim and I arrived that morning, we first went to the garden area.  There, Joe and Isaac were putting the finishing touches on the composting station they had built.  The garden was looking green and tasty.  These were some of the visible signs that we had been here.

Fresh spinach, anyone?

But the invisible signs were all around too.  The children of House were - as always - being carried or hugged by our students.

Because of the background of neglect and abandonment of these children, our students were especially concerned about our leaving House.  They had spent four months there, coming every week - and then suddenly, we would no longer come.  They wanted to let the children know somehow that it was no reflection on them nor the result of anything they had done.

Michelle read the story Sydney had written

Reverend Nicolette had suggested that they write a story, explaining why they had to leave.  Sydney took the lead on writing and illustrating the story, and Michelle narrated it to the children.  In essence, it said that they had come from another country far away.  (She showed a picture of an airplane flying across the ocean.)  They came to South Africa - and had met them.  They had seen many things while they were in South Africa - like lions! and elephants! (more illustrations) - but they liked them best.  And, now they had to go back home to their mothers and fathers, but that they were leaving them in good hands, and would think of them every day.

I am not sure if the pre-schoolers understood or not, but all of us had tears in our eyes.

Everyone who volunteered at House - making a funny face, rather than tears

Missionvale Staff Appreciation

Trang and Donovan.  He maintains the school.

All the Missionvale volunteers - with Sister Ethel and Bishop

All of us with Russell

The poster

Tuesday, May 22nd, dawned early.  The students were saying good-bye at each of their service sites this day.  Jim and I started out at Missionvale Care Center.  Because Missionvale interacts and supports so many people of Missionvale Township, our students decided they couldn't support a good-bye that included all the people served.  Instead, they decided to celebrate the staff who work there every single day.  They bought donuts and juice - for an early morning celebration.

People were so excited to see themselves

Our students also prepared a letter of thanks, and centered it in a large poster with pictures of many of the staff.  Sister Ethel and Russell were on it, of course.  But, they also included pictures of the health caregivers, the maintenance people, and nutrition staff.

The people almost ran past the food to get to the poster with their pictures.  It again reminded me that many people do not have the opportunity to see themselves in photographs. They said they were going to frame the poster!  Several people mentioned to us that this was the first time they had been recognized and thanked as staff by volunteers.

Isaak Jones and Jim gave thank you speeches.  They did not emphasize what the students had given to Missionvale.  They both emphasized what Missionvale had given to all of us.  Hearing the story of Sister Ethel - and getting to know each of the staff - showed us once again that one person can indeed make a difference.   

We were thanked with "Allelujah"

Jim ended his talk with an acknowledgment to the Bishop.  When we first arrived at Missionvale, we would ask about something, and the answer was ALWAYS, "We will have to talk with Bishop."  After about the fifth time of hearing this, we said, "The Bishop seems to be really hands-on with this organization."  It was only then that we learned that Bishop was the general maintenance man who does indeed take care of most of the daily problems.  He is especially proud of his small gardens.  So, the last present I presented was a rose for Bishop to plant in the Missionvale garden.  I said that we hope every time they see a rose blooming, they imagine one of our faces smiling back at them.

Once again, we were thanked with song.  The acoustics in the room we were in were fantastic, and the entire room was filled with sound.

A gate, size 8 shoes, and a soccer ball

This is an update on an earlier post entitled "Muffy."

This little guy kept a wary eye on Jim
the whole time!

Last week, I took Jim out to meet Muffy.  We visited her at her preschool near Addo, to which children as young as 2 years old walk every day.  As you recall, Muffy is the small dynamo who has been working in the Langbos community since 1994.

The promising news this visit is that an American friend named Martha is coming.  Martha is working with a non-profit in the States called Universal Promise, that Muffy understands may start trying to locate sponsors who would agree to support the education of each of "her" pre-school kids.  Muffy's eyes shine as she talks about the possibility.

This woman was in the middle of washing clothes

This visit, we went along with Muffy on visits to a few people's houses.  What I haven't mentioned before is that Muffy speaks perfect Xhosa.  Xhosa was actually her first language as a child.  Just observing her respectful intimacy with the people as we walked, reminded me so much of the old saying:

Speak to a man in your language, and reach his head

Speak to a man in his language, and reach his heart.

As has been the case each time I've visited people in the townships, we went unannounced.  Once again, we were welcomed.  As we met with people, some would shyly ask for an item that they needed.  Muffy never over-promised, but she would say, "I'll see what I can do."  

A typical Langbos home

Remember, these people have no running water, no electricity, no sewer systems.  But, the list Muffy was asked for was fairly short.  At one house:  "The goats are coming in to eat my garden.  Can you find me some wire to make a gate?"  Another: "Do you have any size 8 shoes?"  The last came when Muffy saw a man walking, and said:  "Oh, no.  I promised to try to find a soccer ball for you." 

She kept repeating her mental list as we walked -- a gate, size 8 shoes, and a soccer ball.  Once again, Muffy will try to see what she can do.

Size 8 shoes, please

Pendla Surprise!

Cooking samp

Monday, May 21, was the second to the last service day for all of us.  While we were planning special "good-byes" at each of the sites for Tuesday, the students viewed Monday as bittersweet. It would be a 'regular' volunteer day, yet their hearts were filled with sadness at the prospect of leaving.

Jim and I had planned to spend most of our morning at Missionvale and House.  Our service learning coordinator from NMMU was visiting those two sites that morning, and we were planning to accompany her.

All the teachers wore traditional Xhosa clothing!

We stopped briefly at Pendla to drop off a few items for Tuesday's event.  One of the teachers was in the small shed cooking samp in a huge pot!  "Oh!" she said.  "You have done so much for our school.  We have planned a surprise for you.  You were not to see this yet!"


Needless to say, Jim and I came back to Pendla later in the morning for our "surprise."

It turns out the Pendla teachers and learners had planned the surprise party for us and our students for over a week.  Every one of the learners had kept it a complete secret!

Our students were still in the classrooms volunteering.  When they saw Jim and me, they said: "It's Xhosa day.  Many of the students are wearing Xhosa outfits."  We said, "It's not Xhosa day.  They are doing this for all of you."

Our students were surprised!

We were so touched by all they did.  During the morning, the children and teachers sang.  They danced.  And, gave lots of hugs!

The learners sang and danced

They then took us all into another room where they had laid out the traditional African meal they had just cooked.  Being the good teachers that they are, they had written the Xhosa word for each of the dishes so that we could learn!

Roasted buns

A yummy pumpkin dish

I love this spinach dish!

I passed up the tripe! (stomach lining)

The Pendla learners wearing
traditional white and black Xhosa clothing

Beads actually came later historically,
but Oh! are they pretty now.

I get a beaded bracelet, too.

Mrs. Peter presented both Jim and me with an African bracelet. She said, "Please remember us."  How could we ever forget?