Fathers' Day Update...Savouring the Moments

Today I (Dan) was able to start the day my favourite way...waking up before the rest of the family and sneaking outside to enjoy some quiet time as the sun came up.  I sat and read a psalm, then watched and listened to the birds as they darted from tree to tree or rummaged through the 3m high Banna grass in front of our home.  I stopped by the office to check email before being called home to enjoy a cup of coffee and breakfast with my family.  The kitchen was decorated with my favourite kinds of cards and decorations... hand-made!  The presents I received were perfect, all ones that will remind me of Africa for a long time.  We spent much of the day working at Ingcindezi Preschool, but the transformation in that place is already so amazing (more about that in a later blog entry when we are done) that it hardly feels like work.  On our way home, we drove the back roads through the valley of Kwa Ximba, the valley of a Thousand Hills.  Every bend in the corner (and there are many!) would take your breath away, either with stunning beauty or heartache, and often both.  We took lots of pictures, and even had our video camera with us, trying to savour some last looks at the area.   When we got back to the farm, Micayla and I picked a big bag of oranges...there's something I can bet none of my friends will get to do this Fathers Day!  Then I made myself a cup of real filter coffee (what luxury!) to enjoy while I watched the sunset (which is at about 4:20 these days, since we are almost at the winter solstice).  Finally, after supper, I got to enjoy a delicious chocolate cake that Jessica had made; how did I get so lucky to have a daughter who loves to bake?!

 

Fathers Day 2006 isn't even over yet, and already I'm looking back on it with that fondness that weighs on my heart like an anchor.  Every moment was a unique occasion!  With only a week left before we leave GGA, we are often caught savouring the moments.  With great nostalgia, Micayla said to me today, "What will I do when I can't run across a cow field on my way home?!!"  

 

Today's "recharge" was much needed, as our busy-ness has increased as we approached our final week.  Here's what the previous week looked like:

 

Sunday, June 11

After tending to some farm duties in the morning, we (along with some friends from Lily of the Valley, another NGO in the area) attended a church service in the community of Mophela.  It was our first rural Zulu church service...what an experience!  The highlights were...

• The friendliness!  Even though we arrived a few minutes late and had to leave early, everyone was so kind.  One of the church members spoke English well, and translated almost everything into English for us.  The pastor also spoke English, and at the start of his sermon expressed his appreciation directly for our work in their community.
• The dancing!  This was not an optional part of the service...it was the main part.  The "worship leader" is more like an aerobics dance instructor, and the congregation follows his or her every move.  Even "rhythmically challenged" people like me can't help but get caught up in it. 
• The volume!  This congregation of 50-60 people have their own sound system, and they turn it up loud enough for the entire community to hear!  Six of the men in the congregation have formed a musical group (The Mophela Brothers).
• The joy & hope!  Even though they live in a community stricken by HIV/AIDS (over 40%), unemployment (about 97%...honestly!), poverty (must be 97% as well), these people come together to sing, to worship, to pray, and give testimony of God's goodness.

After church, we visited the home of Rosetta, our manager here at GGA Outreach, and enjoyed getting to know her and her children better.

 

Monday, June 12

While I went to preschool, Cathy and the girls went to the community of Sankontshe to deliver a "food drop".  They unloaded a large truck full of rice and beans and other dry foods, made piles in long rows, and then each family who gets a food parcel came to stand beside their pile.  These families get a food parcel once each month, and without it they would certainly starve. Unlike some food drops in other areas that are just 1-3 families at a time, this one is a big event that takes place at the Community Centre.  Dozens of families come together for much needed assistance on that day.  

 

Tuesday, June 13

After preschool, I conducted our weekly Teachers' Meeting.  This week, Cathy came along, and gave an excellent first aid refresher course to the teachers.  They can often be the first line of defense in the community, when it comes to health care, immunizations, and first aid, so it is important for the teachers to be able to recognize infection and rashes and bandage basic wounds. 

 

Wednesday, June 14

A day to try to get organized for the next two days...ordering supplies, buying groceries, making phone calls.

 

Thursday, June 15

One of those days where we seemed to start running the moment we got out of bed, and didn't stop until we crawled back in.  In the morning, while I went to preschool with the girls, Cathy traveled in a big truck to Durban to pick up all the supplies that we ordered for Ingcindezi Preschool.  It sounded like a relatively easy task, but nothing in Africa is easy.  She arrived home 1.5 hours late and exhausted, but by then our afternoon plans were well underway. 

 

I had arranged to pickup all the teachers from the three local preschools that we are helping, and to bring them here to the farm for a braai (BBQ).  First, I took them all on a tour of an excellent preschool that I found about 1km from our farm.  It is a school that has been running since 1977, and while it would seem ill-equipped by North American standards, it is run by local women with excellent organization and efficiency.  The principal is a woman who started as a teacher at the school 29 years ago.  

 

By the time we got back, Cathy & the girls had the food ready; fortunately, she had prepared most it the night before.  The biggest treat for the teachers is meat, since it is a bit of a luxury item.  Knowing this, we bought lots and lots, and oh boy, did they ever eat!  After the meal they sang beautifully for us and were so thankful!   They are sad to be seeing us go after only 6 months, and I realize that the constant turnover of volunteers must be quite difficult for them too. 

 

Friday, June 16

June 16 is Youth Day, a national holiday in South Africa commemorating the tragic student-led uprising in Soweto thirty years ago.  Here in the province of KZN, it is also Comrades Day, the 86th annual running of a famous ultra-marathon between Durban and Pietermaritzburg (see www.comradesmarathon.com).  As Cathy mentioned in our last blog entry, she played a big role in organizing this day as an outing for 220 disadvantaged kids. 

 

We all got up at 4:45 a.m. (you can imagine how difficult that was!) because we needed to be loaded and bused to our viewing station before the road closed.  We were split into two groups, and our family went with two bus loads to a field by the side of the highway at km 71.  The municipality was supposed to have port-a-potties there, but alas we got valley toilets instead (i.e. find a bush).  In spite of it all, we had a great time together.  All the kids (including ours!) were well-behaved, appreciative, and so enthusiastic as they cheered and sang for the runners.  They somehow managed to keep up the energy for hours and hours.  We didn't get home until after 5:00 p.m. 

 

Again, it was one of those days we won't ever forget.  The highlight was when our neighbour and friend Baba Elliot Mbatha ran by, looking fresh and spry.  He later finished the race in less than 10 hours, and was back at the farm, working from 7:00-5:00 the next day!  What an amazing man, someone we are so proud of while he is so humble!  

 

Saturday, June 17  

Even though it is technically our "off" weekend, we have stayed around to work, particularly on the Ingcindezi Preschool.   Once again, more on that later.

 

We are now into the final week, and it looks like it will be just as full as the last.  Thanks for your prayers!