Exploring the Mountains and People of Lesotho

My experience in Lesotho was both challenging and rewarding.  It has touched my heart.  The mountains, farms, and landscape are absolutely stunning.  Every day, I was in a new sense of awe.  The landscape had the perfect combination of warm and cool colors.  No matter the weather, there was always something breathtaking about this place.  As the sun rose, the air warmed and the mountains lit up.  People began their daily chores and morning routines.  As the day went on, the sun got higher and warmer.  The land glowed with vibrant colors.  The men were with their herds or working in the fields; the women were cleaning and cooking.  The sky was bright blue with white puffy clouds in the horizon.  The mountains and plateaus in the distance gave colors of blue and purple.  Shades of green, red, and brown scattered the ground.  As the sun set, the mountains glowed of warm colors and the people of Lesotho returned home after hours of hard work.  Fires, ovens, and candles were lit.  At night, the moon was gleaming bright lighting the ground.  When the moon was not out at night, the stars scattered the sky with vibrant and twinkling light.  The mountains cast dark shadows in the horizon.  The earth became still as the animals and people settled down and slept through the night.
Lesotho is a country located in the mountains within South Africa that is mostly composed of farmland and countryside.  There are no fences bordering property lines.  The animals roam around with the herdsmen leading the way.  The earth is dray and rocky.  It is such a wonderful place for hikes and outdoor activities, which we did quite often.  Most people in Lesotho do not have electricity, running water, and do not venture out to new places.  Traditional roles still exist there.  People also like to greet one another as passing.  I had to plan to stop quite a number of times to talk to others before making my way to my destination.
My family didn't fall into the typical role of Lesotho traditions and norms for the most part.  Both parents worked at the lodge in town.  My father was also an associate pastor.  We had a host brother who taught Thia, Hannah, and I to cook, clean, and other chores in teh house.  I lived on a farm during my stay.  On the farm, they had a ram, sheep, cows, a pig, cats, a dog, and horses.  One cat had kittens and a cow had a calf while we were there.  My morning routine included collecting eggs, feeding the chicken & giving water, bathing (which I managed to avoid sometimes :]), and cooking breakfast- all before 7am!  I enjoyed being on the farm and I learned quite a bit about animals.  My family was pretty well off, too, so we ate pretty well and Thia, Hannah, and I had a room to ourselves and our own beds.  Our house had the only hallway in all of Malealea village.
Although we had a challenging beginning with our first host brother, once he was replaced, things went much smoother.  We were able to overcome the challenges together and it helped me to gain new perspectives.  I also found it challenging to see the way people treated animals in Lesotho.  I could see many bones and often beatings on the animals.  They are not loved like other places, but rather used for specific purposes.
Staying in Malealea was a refreshing change, too.  I was able to get away from the distractions of technology and spend more quality time with others and God.  During our stay, we visited several schools, helped with Malealea Development making key-hole gardens, and taking hikes and exploring the place.  Our group also spent a week at a farm in Mohaleo Hoek helping MCC Mission.  We also attended different churches, took part in organized activities, and took a 3 hour horseback trek (boney horses are not comfortable!).  Being in high elevations in warm and dry weather tired me out very quickly!  I enjoyed being active, and I enjoyed my time to rest just as much!

I built relationships, soaked in the beauty, learned about myself and others, and experienced things of excitement, frustrations, peace, and pure happiness.  I fell in love with Lesotho and the people.

Soweto as a Home

I continue to enjoy every minute of every day because there are still things that I am learning and experiencing.  I am familiar with the neighborhood now, but I am still not allowed to go anywhere alone.  The families are very protective of us- they’ll either walk with us somewhere or make sure that we have proper escorts (such as the secret police they arranged for our group).  It doesn’t feel very dangerous to me, but I trust my family and listen to their guidance.

Some of you asked about where I’m living.  The neighborhood is slightly excluded from the other neighborhoods, but there is easy access to many places- like a number of schools and shopping centers.  Each house is small with thick cement walls with some kind of barred gate.  My house has a living room, two bedrooms, and a kitchen.  Out back are three more rooms (separate from the house) that are being rented.  There is also a flushing toilet in an enclosed area within the walls of our place.  The outside looks much different than the cozy indoors.  My room is quite comfortable.  Heidi and I share a queen bed, while the other family members live in the other room (at least 5 of them). They give us plenty of privacy- more than I would have expected.

Now that I have been here a while, I feel comfortable and content.  I feel closer to my host family and I am more open to being myself.  We’ve had numerous times of dancing, cooking, playing games, and talking.  The only thing I still can’t get over is the amount of food my mme keeps trying to feed me!

Speaking of food, I am proud to say that I have tried cow liver, cow stomach/intestines, sheep feet, and chicken feet.  My favorite thing thus far is the fat cakes, which is basically a really dense donut in a ball without any toppings.  I could go on and on about the food because I’ve tried so many unique things, but that’s not the most important part.

Let me also tell you about the dancing…I haven’t met a South African who cannot dance!  Even the 2 year old and the old ladies can dance.  It’s so much fun!  They also have really good music here; they call it “house music.”  Usually it doesn’t have lyrics, but is just really good upbeat music that many people like to blare.

Our group has been doing one or two activities a day.  We have visited several elementary and high schools.  We took a Soweto tour and visited a few museums/ memorials.  As a treat, we got to see a play in Johannesburg called “Death of a Colonist.”   We also went to another soccer game with some family members.

In the elementary schools, I was able to observe different aspects of the schools, such as teaching, facilitating, and disciplining.  I also got to help the students with their work.  It’s quite fascinating comparing and contrasting the differences between American and African schools.  In some aspects, I like these schools better and in other aspects, I appreciate having an American education.  At each of the high schools, we addressed different topics: domestic violence, racism, and teen pregnancy.  We’ve been presenting and watching skits and having discussions to learn about the other’s culture.

Emotionally, I have been doing very well.  I have wonderful support here and I haven’t felt too overwhelmed.  I haven’t been challenged as much as I was expecting, but I am still learning and growing.  I am also challenging myself to find ways that I can apply what I’ve gained here to my life when I return.

Health-wise, I got pretty sick the other day.  One day I woke up feeling weak.  It turned into a high fever and many hours in bed.  The following days continued with weakness and a sore throat.  Then I got a awful cough on top of that.  Everyone has been looking out for me, though- like my host family, the EMU group, and even the neighborhood community.  It was quite the experience seeing how different people react to me.  My mme wanted to help, but didn’t know what to do.  She would wake me up every so often (which felt like every ½ hour) to see if I was better yet.  She cried too because she was worried about me.  Neighbors and others gave me encouraging words and tell me I would be alright.  The EMU group came and sang “Lean on Me” and visited occasionally.  Being sick really showed me how much love and care there is all around me.  Even neighbors and people I didn’t know would wish me well and ask about me.

As usual, I would love to go on and on about my experience, the rich culture, the unique food, the relationships I’m building, and all that I have been learning, but I’ve got to stop somewhere.  Just a heads up, I will not be in contact (and updating the blog) for a month.  My next destination is Lesotho where there is no electricity or any form of contacting tools.  Although I will be sad to depart my wonderful host family and the area I’ve grown familiar with, I’m excited to see the mountains and rivers of Lesotho.  I’m also looking forward to the more simplistic lifestyle.

Sala hantle! (Stay well)

Soweto

Hello again!  We have been staying in Soweto with our host families.  It is often hard to understand what they are saying, but we usually figure it out.  My family is very kind, loving, and hospitable.  They take very good care of Heidi (an EMU student I am sharing a room with) and I.  I have been learning quite a lot about home life, their culture, and the people.  I learned how they wash their dishes and clothes by hand and how to take a bucket bath.  They also like to feed me ALOT.  One example:  one of my lunches consisted of 2 sandwhiches, 2 pieces of fruit, and 2 hard boiled eggs. I always have to share cause I can't eat that much.  I almost never finish my meals.  The history of South Africa has come alive for me through the conversations, tours, lectures, and visits to museums.  The people are so forgiving of the terrible pasts.  I feel blessed to be welcomed into their home when so much has happened between the whites and blacks.
I have been given a Sesotho name, Mpho, which means "gift."  Many people in Soweto have said that it is a very nice name to have.  I have been having lots of wonderful conversations with everyone- strangers and all.  People like to greet one another even if they don't know you.  It has also been interesting walking along the street or wherever and recieving many interested looks.  It is not common to see white people where we are.  The children love it, too.  I have had children climbing over me right after I say hello.  They like to touch me, feel my hair, ask me questions, and play with me.  They are so sweet and so innocent.  They bring me such joy because they are so carefree and joyful. 
The other day we got to go to a soccer game and that was tons of fun.  There were more than 91,000 people there.  We really got to experience culture there.  I was also given a jersey so I cheered for the team I was wearing a shirt for (and we won!).
Basically, I'm having a blast.  I'm enjoying learning and experiencing everything I can.  I wish I could tell you everything that I have been doing and learning, but my time is limited.  The relationships are growing stronger with my host family and my cross cultural group.  I feel blessed to be here.
Thank you for your prayers and I hope all is well at home.
Sala Hantle (Stay well).

The Biggining

Dumelang (hello everyone)!
I was unable to update my blog until now so I have two updates.  This entry is from 9/4.
So far things have been superb.  The weather is beautiful- I haven't seen a cloud in the sky yet.  It gets pretty chilly when the sun is not up, though.  We have been staying outside of Johannesburg at a place called St. Benedict's, which is absolutely adorable.  We all fee pampered right now because we each have our own room and we can sit out on the lawn and garden during the day.  The women running the place like to feed us a lot, too.  We have tea time (which include a biscuit or some form of treat) inbetween 3 very large meals.  One woman said, "You are too skinny.  I need to feed you lots so you are fat like me!"  Words cannot really describe the cuteness of the place.  The buildings are all kind of open, so we get fresh air all the time.  The people here are friendly, too.
The group is getting along famously.  I really like them and am excited to keep getting to know each and every one of them.
We have also been meeting with our host families each day to learn about culture, learn and practice South African songs, strengthen our Sesotho, and to build relationships.  All the South Africans I have met are very friendly and kind.  They get really excited when I practe Sesotho, too, so that's encouraging.  I'm really enjoying learning and growing with everyone.  I feel at peace and happy right now.  Nothing like good company and beautiful weather!  I'm very much looking forward to moving into my host mom's place to truly start experiencing culure and learning even more!
Here's a funny story that I encountered:  Our group was walking around the neighborhood when we saw a bunch of kids behind a brick wall peeing.  They were preschool age.  We just assumed it was part of the culture.  Then, the teacher came around the corner and saw all of them squating and peeing and she yelled out in shock.  We couldn't help but laugh.

The beginning of my adventure

Hi Everyone!  Welcome to my new "blog."  Instead of emailing everyone each time I have an update, I will be posting my adventure to South Africa on here.  The title, "Digging Gold in South Africa," is the theme for this year's trip.  We will be digging gold in the sense of meeting, living, learning from, and worshiping with the beautiful people of South Africa.  I'm very excited to be going to South Africa with my group for the semester.  I look forward to the challenges and experiences that I will gain.  I'm also looking forward to building a community with my fellow classmates.  Thank you for all of your prayers and emotional support on this trip.