MAy 13th & 14th

May 13th

Holy Sunday

I went to Church with Pastor Ken and Brenda today. I’m convinced the only reason why the roof didn’t cave in when I went in was that I was with a Pastor and his wife ;)

The church that Pastor Ken is at is almost like a Baptist Church. Quite different from my Catholic upbringing – I think I did more singing in church this morning than I’ve ever done in my life. Thankfully – or unthankfully to those who had to listen to me – it was in English and no Swazi.

After mass I met a little girl whose 6th Birthday it was. It’s very interesting when you’re standing there trying to ask what’s she’s doing for her Birthday without asking questions with high expectations (are you having a party, what did you ask for - for your Birthday) because you have no idea what a “celebration” is like in her life. Her care taker (her fathers, brothers wife) jumped in and started talking about baking a cake and wrapping presents. But still – I’m sure her “Birthday Celebration” is nothing life we some of the kids experience in the states.

Following church, Ken, Brenda and I hopped in a car and went to a driving tour of Swaziland. On the way we pulled over on the side of the road to take photos of the land and could hear chanting and singing. The was a short path leading to a small Swazi Village and a Zion Church Ceremony was going on. Pastor Ken decided to head down the hill, Brenda stayed in the car and I went hiking down. An teen from the street saw our car stop and decided to befriend us and come down the hill with us to Church – he said it was his Church but I don’t quite think that was the truth. As we got closer, I have to tell you some of the singing sounded quite angry to my ears and I was almost afraid they were going not welcome strangers. Thankfully being a Pastor carried some weight here. There were about 40 people (men, women, children) crammed into one hut – women on one side, men on the other and they were singing and dancing. They welcomed us in and started signing. After about a minute they pulled Ken to the other side of the hut because we were both on the woman’s side. So now we were properly divided. We stayed for two songs and then all of a sudden they started carrying in two large arm chairs (like ones you would have in your living room). We then have to leave because Brenda was in the car. The teenage followed us up the hill and asked for a ride to Piggs Peak (where we were going). Ken hesitated but told him to jump in. As we rode, he asked the teenage what the chairs were for – as we were told they were being brought in for us to sit in. This hut was no bigger than my bedroom and they were brining in this huge “luxury” chairs for us to sit in and be comfortable.

We dropped the teen off at the market and headed up the road a bit to stop for a drink and a bite to eat. After taking a few photos, having a cheese and tomato (which I’m questioning right about now) we headed back home. On the way we saw a beautiful setting on the sun over some of the valley and mountains in Swaziland and encountered some goat wandering in the middle of the streets. Very common here – and they made for a fun photo.

May 14th

A Hard Day

Today is just one of those days that is just hard. We visited one Rotary project where they had put in water pumps/filtration for a school and because the school has been on holiday one of the bins was flowing over wasting gallons and gallons of clean water. Very hard to see while the county is in a drought. It’s not Rotary’s fault but the hazards that come with some of the projects that are not maintained by the recipients properly.

On the way to the next projects we drove by a dump. You could see the trash piled very high – and then watch the children running though it to pick up any scraps of food or material they could use – bare foot. I don’t know if it was that or the horrible bumpy ride that very quickly made me feel quite ready to toss my breakfast. Nothing much could prepare us for what we saw next – a visit to the Manzini Orphanage.

There are 33 kids in the program – most orphans from AIDS parents and some just walked up the mountain and abandoned by family. The facility was so much more than they ever would have had on their own but by US views – we wouldn’t let most household animals in some of the rooms they live in. The children were all very well behaved – playing with each other and make shift toys they made from old bottles or spare scraps of metal. Inside one of the rooms has two beds – with five children sharing it. The bathrooms and shower were enough to make you want cry.

We went down the hill to the chicken coop where they raise chickens for food and to sell (while walking through the kitchen they were gutting a chicken for dinner – I saw parts being yanked out I wasn’t even sure where they came from), we went to the area where the pigs are kept (and there isn’t enough food for the kids, never mind to feed the pigs), and to the crop area where they are growing cabbage, beans, potatoes to eat and sell (however water supply has been in such shortage the crops were really suffering).

Earlier in the day I had run to the store for a cookie fix (not something you find easily around here). I had bought some chocolate wafers and Chips Ahoys (yum – CC Cookies). We snacked on them on the car ride and after I got in the car following the visit I decided there was a better place for those cookies than on my hips. So I ran out and gave them to one of the care takers. And you feel horrible that you don’t have more for these children. That you can’t do more before you leave. The Orphanage cost $11,000 Rand a month to run – about $2,000 US. And they rely on one off donations – not a way you can run with the lives of 33 children depending on you. They are working to become self sufficient – however you can only do so much with a drought issue (selling vegetables) and children who can work some but really aren’t there or equipped to fun a farm. Makes you feel very thankful for the upbringing and family and friends that you have.

I give credit to my parents – because I know even when we were very tightly budgeted as a family they would make sure that other kids in my class would have lunch for a school field trip (because the school couldn’t provide food outside school property) or that families would have a good Christmas (though volunteering at Toys for Tots). As I told the Rotary Club tonight at the meeting – they are two pillars of “Service Above Self” and I’m thankful that they have raised me to be able to be able to appreciate what I have and try to help others….

I’m exhausted.