BACK IN SWAZILAND

Hi everyone,

It’s been 3 weeks since we left the US after a delightful, but busy 4 weeks stateside.  I’ll have to admit, I was a bit slow getting readjusted to the pace here, as I think I was grieving with knowledge that I won’t be seeing our kids, grandkids, parents, family & friends for yet another year.  Yet, I know we made the right decision to remain here for another year.  We’ll all just have to be better communicators, knowing that this year will go quickly.  It was so great to see everyone, reacquaint with the twins, hold baby Ben for the first time.  Thanks to all for making the effort to see us, despite our crazy travelling schedule – Columbus, Sarasota, Berkeley, D.C., Columbus.  As always, we cherish your support and prayers.

As we expected, we hit the ground running after arrival back.  Two return visitors were staying at the farm: a former peace corps, Justine, back for a holiday and to visit her former host family as well as a gentleman from Texas, Dennis, who comes annually to help support projects at the Methodist schools in the region. We always enjoy sharing stories and having their help with events happening here.

The kids are on school holiday, so the holiday program is in full swing.  Each morning we have a shortened preschool, as well as a planned 1 ½ hr. program for the gradeschool kids.  During these last 4 weeks, we’ve done everything from building individual boats from wood to writing essays and poems to first aid to building leadership skills to playing the recorder and learning to read music.  Yesterday we asked them to find a picture of living thing in a book or magazine – animal, bird, flower, etc. and then draw it on a big piece of paper.  Most found the idea overwhelming, as creativity is virtually non-existent in the schools. They have no special classes for art or music, so we try to give them that experience here.  After lots of complaining, quite a few finally settled down and drew some wonderful pictures.  We also alternate 1 hr. of math or reading each day.  In the afternoon we do various sports – again, trying to broaden their skills beyond the endless soccer games.  We’ve introduced volleyball, run cross country, relay races, sack races, etc. 

Winter is behind us, although we’re still getting the occasional cold day.  What I love about the landscape here is that in the dead of winter (which is also the dry season) when we haven’t had any rain for 6 mos. And the ground is brown and trees are bare, a lovely tree called the Sacred Coral Tree blooms a beautiful coral-red flower which remains for almost a month. As that flower was fading, other flowering trees bloomed, again without the benefit of rain. We finally got our first rain and it was abundant:  6 inches in 2 days.  Immediately, the grass is greening up and leaves are emerging from the trees. No one complained yet about slogging about in the mud.  Generally everything just gets put on hold during a heavy rain, so any meetings scheduled got cancelled til next week.  However, we kept up our schedule with kids programming, substituting movies & indoor activities for the sports.

Two female volunteers, Alicia and Tarah, arrived a week ago and plan to be here for 4 mos.  It’s so nice to have long-term help.  One of them was here on a short term mission trip last summer & managed to incorporate this trip into her master’s degree program.  They are taking over the preschool, thus freeing me up to focus on the Bambanani income generating projects.  Now that there are 3 groups, it takes more time than I had before to run them properly.  Naturally, as each group gains success, more individuals want to join.  We also have plans to incorporate some individuals who are being supported at home by another orphanage in town.  I’m so grateful to have this project to get me out into the rural areas and work with the women there.  Empowering them to create and gain self-worth has been so rewarding.  I know I cannot give each of them viable jobs, but even the relatively small amounts I am able to pay out to each of them for their handiwork has paid off in changing their attitudes towards themselves in what they are capable of achieving.  Over time, true leaders are emerging. 

Earlier this week we slaughtered a cow.  She was getting old and not producing much milk anymore, so she’ll provide meat for the children and staff for a few weeks.  The event happens right out in the pasture – skinning and dividing every part of the cow.  No special care is taken to secure certain cuts of meat, but the Swazis savor the intestines, organ meats, head, eyeballs, everything.  The next day, I saw several boys each holding a hoof and scooping out the marrow from the inside with a spoon.  Then, later there were a few sitting around the fire with a pot simmering.  They smiled and lifted the lid to reveal the udder boiling for a later treat.  Yum, yum.  Thankfully, we aren’t expected to eat it with them.

Tomorrow is a group baptism for the 14 children who have arrived over the 18 months.  I find it interesting to note that none of the 36 children were previously baptised before coming to the children’s home here. Yes, these children were the forgotten, neglected and abused, but for a country that statistically is 85% Christian, it seems rather odd to me that not one had received that sacrament.  Because there are so many, the pastor will come out to the farm.  We’ll have a regular service and then a celebration afterwards. 

We’re off for a Saturday outing – Since volunteer Dennis has a car, he has graciously offered to drive us out and about for some exploring.  Hopefully not too many roads will be washed out from the rain.  If we stick to the main ones, which are paved, we’ll be OK.  By for now, Gail &

 Mike