Random Thoughts from Swaziland

Hi Friends & Family,

Its Gail and Mike from Swaziland again, Sat 30 Oct. And believe it or not, we got up today, and this is our first totally free nothing planned day, since we arrived in Swaziland June 28. Sunup is now about 5:10, which means it is getting light around 4:45AM, and still about 6 more weeks until the solstice DEC 21 ..evenings a little longer, but still by about 6:45PM or so, it’s dark, and we are pulling the curtains, and hunkering down for the evening……….so as you understand, seems to us the rhythm of Africa—at least for us, where we live is up EARLY, and to bed early……

Hi from Gail – In addition to the everyday goings on at the farm/children’s home, Peter & Michelle (the owners/directors) are involved in many outreach programs in the community. One of those involves helping a group of home health care women, who deliver care and medicine to those unable to get to clinics. They are paid very little and provide a vital need for many in the rural areas. So, Michelle and another Peace Corps volunteer have helped them organize a cooperative and taught them to make the paper bead necklaces, earrings, and other items for sale. These women are remarkably creative and come up with their own style once a technique is shown to them. I have come into the picture because Michelle had some fabric off-cuts donated to her by a local garment factory. She purchased 3 Singer sewing machines with donated money and I’ve been using one of them to create some purses, and have plans for other items, which these women can also learn how to make. Now, these machines are hand-crank, so as to be used without electricity. They are quite heavy & sturdy (made in China), but it’s taken some getting used to – you guide with only your left hand and crank with your right.
Several of the women have access to sewing machines themselves, and were very excited when I showed them the samples, patterns made out of old newspaper, and partially made items. I’m anxious to go to their next meeting to see what they’ve created.

Peter and Michelle have broken ground on an Education Center here on the farm. I’ll tell you more about that in a future blog, but the plans are to set up the sewing machines in the center, as well as use it for an expanded preschool, computer lab, and study space.
Michelle and Jen (the other PCV), have been marketing the items at various local craft fairs. They planned to go to the nearby South African town of Piet Retief last week, but when Jen was unable to go, I got the opportunity to do so. It was quite an experience crossing the border – first you go through a vehicle check at the Swazi side, then you must park your car and go into a building to have your passport stamped. Then you go to the South African side and must again exit your vehicle and go into a building to have your passport stamped and then go through a vehicle check. The whole process took about 30 min. The landscape of that part of South Africa looked the same, but the town of Piet Retief had a totally different feel – much more modern looking, and many more white people than I’ve been used to seeing. This craft fair was a fund-raiser for a church sponsored orphanage, which houses about 80 children. It was a cold & rainy day, so we didn’t have much success in sales, but had an enjoyable outing nonetheless. It was interesting to note how s