It’s been a crazy week for me in Umphumulo, but with being here for over 6 months now… you could probably say to yourself, “What’s something new??” Well as the sun rises each morning… so do the adventures of this beloved place called Umphumulo. A day after my birthday there was a crazy, unexpected accident with one of the co-workers for the SED Office, Samke (remember her from one of my previous blogs with the chickens as her children). Well to make a long story short, she recently passed away on March 5, 2011 due to heart complications. I knew of Samke’s illnesses as I would see her in the Umphumulo Hospital as I shadowed the doctors on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The doctors ordered tests after tests and we examined the results and did what they could. The day she became severely ill, a couple of her family members, Nomfundo, and me took her to the hospital in Stanger; the closest city that could help her condition more than the hospital in Umphumlo. It was then three days later at around 3:30pm that I received a phone call that Samke was gone. As soon as I heard of her passing, I had no idea what to feel… but I was informed that people were gathering at her mom’s home, just south of Msomi Village. So I just stopped what I was doing, grabbed my house keys, and headed for her mom’s home. After a good hour or so of walking through tall grass, slopes, dusty paths, and feeling the beating sun take its toll on me… I thought of nothing but the memories that were made on these paths when I’d go home with Samke; it was a feeling like no other, but I must simply state… I was in a bit of shock because I realized how sad I was to lose someone who really DID become a part of my family.
If you know me well enough you would then know how much family, friends, and relationships of all kinds mean to me. What it means to have their support, what it means to hear their opinions, and what it means to be there for them too. As I reached the doorway of MaSamke’s simple, yet beautiful home I couldn’t help but remember that this was the exact spot where I had FIRST experienced the feeling of Ubuntu that’s consistently present in my rural home of Maphumulo. But as I took off my flip flops at the front door (due to the dust that now covered me from my feet to about halfway up my lower leg), I respectfully walked in and made eye contact with MaSamke. Knowing that she speaks no English, I coyly smirked at her, nodded my head, and tried with all my might to bite my tongue and not shed a tear. As MaSamke continuously looked at me in my eyes… I felt she understood everything I was trying to say to her, but didn’t literally say. She then got up from the floor, nodded back at me, and gave me a heartfelt hug full of love, full of faith, and full of Ubuntu. That was all I needed and maybe that was all she needed from me too. I then made my way to other co-workers that were present and just heard the news themselves. I gave them hugs and then made my way to sit in the room that was full of Zulu mats placed on the floor.
As I sat, I watched how people of all directions were coming into MaSamke’s home at random times, introducing themselves with a Zulu hymnal or traditional song, and then saying a prayer. Here it was… the Ubuntu. How did they hear of Samke’s death? How did they know where her mom lived, as Samke’s home was in another village? With all the questions that were running through my mind, with all of the emotions of confusion, sadness, and shock I was feeling, and with all the beautiful Zulu traditions that were taking place in front of my very eyes… what I feel it all boils down to is how many opposites we all face in our daily lives. I remember playing over and over the song, “Life is Wonderful,” by one of my favorite artists, Jason Mraz, as I came back to my home at the church center. And then I found it odd that I would listen to this song as I went through this time of preparation, sadness, and then happiness for Samke’s funeral. If you’ve never heard this song by Jason Mraz I STRONGLY recommend that you take this time to look it up and REALLY listen to it. Life is full of opposites, but there are only opposites because there are two parts that have a role; that is what makes life wonderful. Some of my favorite parts in this song are when it states, “… it takes some bad for satisfaction… it takes the dust to have it polished… it takes some silence to make sound…” To realize when we become satisfied we have to have gone through some bad times, to realize how nice and polished we as human beings or even items are they have to have been amateur or a bit dull, and to realize the sounds, music, and tones that surround our daily lives we have to experience silence, stillness, and peace in our lives too. With all the opposites that I have experienced throughout my time in Umphumulo, I see it is the opposites that have molded me into the new person that I feel myself to be; it’s the blessed curses that have defined me even more.
Yes, Samke will be dearly missed… her light in the SED Office was one that shined in everyone’s eyes and contagiously made their own light shine too, but as with life comes death. And here, I’m learning death is celebrated as much as life is, and yes, there are those that mourn… but it’s knowing that she has now made her way to the heavens above, made her way home, and now resting in peace that had the community rejoicing and reminiscing without sorrow.
What’s life without death? What’s the sun without the rain? What’s sound without silence? What’s health without illness? What’s love without pain? These are all questions that lead me to, what’s God without faith? Throughout the Bible there are so many lessons on having faith in God and as a result your life will be exactly the way it’s supposed to be. To be devoted to Him, to trust Him in every way, and to have the utmost confidence in Him to guide our way… all comes down to your very own faith. As this melancholy time of Samke’s unexpected passing slowly drifts away, I remember that it is His will… period. Things around Umphumulo are becoming more spirited, life is moving along, and our faith still holds strong because “1faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see… 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:1, 6 NIV). And that my friends is enough for me. May you all continue to enjoy, struggle, learn, and grow from the opposites in your life… until next time.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Close Your Eyes, See With Your Heart
Have you ever been so prepared for something that you wake up in the morning and you couldn’t get that nice cup of freshly brewed coffee, but you don’t care? Then, you feel so overwhelmed with confidence that those you come into contact with just want to know what’s going on, why you’re smiling for no reason, or they even want to be with you or near you to catch this contagious ora of optimism that seeps our of your skin like the sweat dripping off your face after a nice long run. Have you ever been this prepared before? Well, imagine being like this and then once you get to where you’re going… have it all taken away with a sudden change that’s not in your control. All of your hard work, research, and organization down the drain, and only to find that you’ve now to do things on the top of your mind, maybe with a bit of anxiety and not with the full effort and dedication that you’d like. This, my friends, is what it is like at the Umphumulo Public Hospital… and I think now is the time to reflect on the 5 to 6 months that I’ve been shadowing, learning, and most definitely growing from what being a doctor in the rural hospital of Umphumulo is like.
I wake up every Tuesday and Thursday mornings at a quarter til 6 to take a nice walk or jog around Umphumulo (of course when it’s not raining heavily too), get ready for the day, head to chapel for morning prayer at 8, and then around 8:30 I take my nice little stroll towards the hospital. At the beginning, getting to the hospital was a bit awkward; as I walked through the entrance gate with stares of ‘what are you doing here?,’ but I walked in with my head up, my eyes observant, and my unconscious smile still intact… tell myself that the road I’m about to embark will turn out nice and smooth, in due time! Today, as I walk through the entrance gate, I greet everyone with such cheer and whole hearted excitement that everyone from the security guards to the sisters (nurses) to the doctors to the patients see me, greet me, and the awkwardness that was once there has dissipated into the midst of the past. It’s going to be a good day no matter where I end up observing and I’m going to learn something new no matter where I ‘plan’ to be. So far, I’ve had the opportunity to experience being in the HIV&AIDS Counseling and Testing Center (CTC), Outpatient Department (OPD), Maternity Ward, Theatre (Surgery), Casualty (Emergency Room), Pediatric Ward, and Female Ward. I’ve also been blessed to have a few of the doctors take me under their wing in which I am consistently and intriguingly observing different procedures, listening to how and why they make diagnoses, and asking all sorts of questions; it’s the questions part that the doctors are so captivated by as they don’t really know where my questions keep coming form because I have now been going to the hospital for some time now. With that in mind, let me explain some of the things that I’ve grown from while being here.
One of the first things that come to mind when you thing of South Africa, or maybe even Africa, is HIV&AIDS. Yes, there is an ongoing epidemic of HIV&AIDS within this country, but as far as education, becoming aware, and getting tested is concerned… it IS there! Most people know their status, more people are aware of how it’s contracted (this begins as early as primary school), and proactive advertisements, information pamphlets, organizations (like the Diakonia Aids Ministry connected within ELCSA), and even newsletters of all kinds are being made so that people can have easy accessibility to the hows and whys for preventing and treating HIV. Amazingly, one thing that I have learned since being here is that you can still have children while being HIV positive too! Of course there is a regimen that is to be done before, during, and after birth, but the treatments that are given and the medications taken have really decreased the risk of the child contracting HIV too. As far as the CTC is concerned, every day there are people lining up to be counseled and tested and then counseled again if one’s results turn out HIV+, and every day there are people coming in to get their medications to keep a strong, healthy, and long life. The sisters working in the CTC at the Umphumulo Hospital are really one of a kind, are sincere helpers, and are strongly educated in what they are doing too; as I’m sure this is how it is like all over the country whether in hospitals, clinics, or surgeries (private practices). Even though this epidemic causes a significant amount of deaths every day… the fight against it is ever growing each day too.
Then there’s the OPD and Theatre. These departments are where I spend most of my time as Dr. Pukana, Dr. Kabeya, Dr. A. Rajaram, and Dr. E. Rajaram are always requesting my presence; hence I am under their wings the most which doesn’t bother me one bit! In OPD I observe all sorts of healthcare aspects… from triaging patients to seeing results of all kinds (X-rays, blood serums, sugar levels, etc) to diagnosing. One of the things that I really feel different about is my quality of patient care. When I first walked into the entrance of the Umphumulo Hospital no one (patient wise) looked a bit thrilled to see me walking by or sitting next to the doctor in OPD as they took the seat in front of us. Well two reasons immediately came to mind: 1) they’re not feeling well hence their visit to see us, and 2) I’m the only light skinned person in this entire facility that walks around the buildings and doesn’t look like a doctor! As the days became weeks and I become more familiar with how things are done at the hospital I was getting a bit ‘flustered’ with being seen by just my appearance. So, as I walked into OPD and began helping the nurses with triaging one morning, instead of staying on my chair… I sat next to the patient and became eye level with them as I began with the “what brings you in today?,” kind of questions. This automatically let them know that I am no better than they are, there is no need to feel intimidated by me at all, I will help them to the best of my ability, and that their concern was really my concern too. I’ve learned that in this Zulu culture I am in, because I look different I will be treated as a guest… all the time; I can’t change this as it is their culture and what respect is. It’s this beautiful presence of Ubuntu and the Zulus practice it daily, but now that I am here and the ‘honey-moon phase’ has been long gone I can only hope that others, especially in the hospital, will see me and not just thing, “what is she doing here?,” but I want them to think and maybe even express, “Thank you for just being here because it made me feel more comfortable when I was scared and didn’t know what was going on.” I know how doctors have their ‘what the heck does that mean’ lingo, but I want the people coming in and out of the hospital to feel that they are going to receive the best healthcare that can be offered here and just because they don’t know what this or that means, doesn’t mean they are not going to get help or even have to feel intimidated for coming to the hospital at all. But as each day is never the same in OPD and the cases are always random, I just walk in, smile, follow, listen, and learn. With doing that, I have learned more about myself and the passion I have for being in healthcare, and the patients are feeling better too!
In the Theatre, most procedures that are done at the Umphumulo Hospital are Cesarean Sections (C-Sections), Tubal Ligations, Circumcisions, and Abortions. Most of the time, I am observing the “Cesars,” or what I’m used to calling C-Sections, but I have been to at least one of each procedure. Most of the procedures actually take longer than what they are supposed to as there becomes a shortage of supplies. So, going the long way tends to be the most efficient way, but both Dr. Pukana and Dr. Kabeya explain everything to me as far as what is being done and how it would be different if they had a certain material. As far as C-Sections go, I have shadowed Dr. Pukana (what takes the role of the Anesthesiologist) give the Epidural, keep track of the patients vitals, and most importantly as the patient how she’s doing throughout the entire procedure. I have shadowed Dr. Kabeya (who takes on the role of the Suregion) scrub in, deliver the new born, and then suture the openings that were made for the delivery. And I have shadowed the Pediatric Caretaker who is the sister or sir that assesses the newborn as soon as he or she has been delivered. They clean the newborn, check reflexes, give a routine injection, and then wrap the baby up to be seen by the mother and then the newborn is taken to the maternity ward. The only one I have not shadowed is the assistant surgeon (usually done by the matron or head nurse), but my time will come soon! My favorite part about being in the theatre during C-Sections, hands down, is being a primary witness to life. No one can take away the feeling of seeing a newborn and then hearing a newborn cry. Also, getting to scrub in and witness how learning never ends because no matter how many procedures I have been in, there is something else that I missed. Learning is not always about already knowing too, and I’m discovering that saying I need help (not just while I’m at the hospital too) really defines a person. So, when I take my little stroll back to the church center, I find myself with this little light inside that never fades away because of several reasons: 1) questions that I ask, 2) new people that I have met, and 3) patients that I have served alongside—it may be small to the sisters or doctors, but big to the patients… and even me!
Just recently, I have also spent lots of mornings in the Maternity Ward too. Here, Dr. Kabeya makes his daily rounds of the soon to be mothers or patients who were admitted and are having some kind of unknown complications. Most of the time, the patients that Dr. Kabeya and I see are in their third trimester, but we also see patients who have found they are pregnant and want to abort. The Umphumulo Hospital takes these patients very seriously and therefore, there are steps that are done to ensure the patient is aborting for the correct reason. Counseling is done pre and post procedure. The maternity ward is nice to be in as well, as I’m not just learning from the doctor, but the sisters who work there too. Plus, my hand holding skills are becoming quite popular amongst the mothers too! =D
I have only been to the Pediatric Ward once out of the time that I have been going to the hospital. My one day shadowing Dr. Kodagiri, I have found that maybe I can’t work with children, especially in the rural aspect. The doctor there, however, is quite knowledgeable about what to do for any child that is ill; as that day we say children suffering from epileptic spasms, respiratory illnesses, Tuberculosis (TB), and HIV. As the Umphumulo Hospital is rural, sometimes not all of the supplies or equipment that is needed can be offered or provided to the child. As I asked questions, some of the responses I was given was, “Well we should, but we don’t have that equipment or another machine to offer.” So, I have found that following the doctor in the Pediatric Ward was a bit too disheartening for me, especially knowing that there could only be so much done for the children. In the mean time, when I pass by I never hesitate to say hello and offer a smile to the children and sisters, but I prefer not to know their cases.
In Casualty I get to see almost everything and anything with Dr. Pukana or Dr. A. Rajaram, who ever is working at the time. From motor vehicle (MV) accidents to major lacerations to broken bones to snake bites… this hospital sees it all. When I first walked into this hospital, because of its placement I didn’t really thing they saw these kinds of cases, but then you shouldn’t ever judge a book by its cover! So what has happened to me over the months that I’ve been here is that I’m beginning to feel comfortable at NOT being so good on my toes. When there isn’t much going on in Casualty, however, this department tends to help with the overflow of patients that are coming into OPD. The busiest times in this department are usually around pay days and weekends, but other than that they do get the occasional cardiovascular, low glucose, MV, ect. patients that need to be seen urgently. Being a rural hospital, I sometimes feel like I’m in a show on the Discovery Health channel; as everything can be an organized chaos. However, it just goes to show you that people in this area are also getting the urgent care that they need too, and the doctors that I’ve worked alongside really know their stuff. As far as I’m concerned, they always like my questions as it keeps them on their toes too!
I have just recently (like late January) begun observing in the Female Ward. Here I follow the NEW doctor, Dr. E. Rajaram, with her daily rounds and get to experience what a doctor would probably see on a Medical floor of a hospital. At the Umphumulo Hospital the males and females are separated if they must be admitted into the hospital. So there is a Male Ward too, but unfortunately I am not allowed to volunteer there because most patients have an infectious disease and the doctors preferred that I just observe in the Female Ward. Following the doctor here has been a great experience because I am able to read charts, see X-rays, observe minor procedures that the doctor might need to do to determine the prognosis of the patients, etc. It is a bit like being in OPD, but more inclusive because we can actually sit down and see patients for more than 10 minutes or so… that’s what I enjoy the most. It’s also nice when a patient comes back to the ward for a follow-up visit after they have been discharged. Getting to see a new, healthy, and vibrant looking person compared to before is one of those feelings that take your breath away, and all you can really do is smile! It has also been nice to get to talk with a female doctor… as the female doctors at the Umphumulo Hospital are only 2 of 11. I’m sure being a female doctor in the Female Ward also puts the woman at ease when she makes her rounds… so this also makes my learning experience more ‘comfortable’ for me too.
One of the most interesting things I have learned from the doctors here at the Umphumulo Hospital is that every doctor is not specifically specialized in any one field; all the doctors routinely switch wards every three months or so. This is because in order to work in a rural hospital the doctor must be knowledgeable in everything that is offered, like a General Practice Physician, due to a shortage of staff. Being a rural hospital, it sometimes amazes me at the distances that several of the patients travel to receive medial attention too. I have heard stories that have changed my life, observed procedures that have changed my life, witnessed the reality of this rural hospital that has changed my life, and been alongside all kinds of individuals that have changed my life too. It is always a humbling experience for me to be here and it has allowed me to literally close my eyes and see with my heart. And even after all of this, I have found that this is who I am and where I want to be… because I am NOT filled with apprehensiveness, but with power, love, and self-control that His Spirit has given me like stated in 2 Timothy 1:6-7. and finally, knowing that I have a strong interest with healthcare, I will continue to use this gift God has blessed me with because Romans 12:6-8 guides me to do so.
I hope you all discern, listen, and discover the gifts God has blessed each and every one of you with, as each person has their own. When you find it, don’t turn away from it no matter what anyone (even your own family) may tell you. It’s kind of like SEEING the wind for the first time, no one can really pin point and articulate this feeling of your own, but it has some kind of effect to feeling in awe, with understanding, and heartfelt satisfaction. And that’s exactly what’s been slowly, but surely happening to me. Until next time… hamba kahle (go well).
I wake up every Tuesday and Thursday mornings at a quarter til 6 to take a nice walk or jog around Umphumulo (of course when it’s not raining heavily too), get ready for the day, head to chapel for morning prayer at 8, and then around 8:30 I take my nice little stroll towards the hospital. At the beginning, getting to the hospital was a bit awkward; as I walked through the entrance gate with stares of ‘what are you doing here?,’ but I walked in with my head up, my eyes observant, and my unconscious smile still intact… tell myself that the road I’m about to embark will turn out nice and smooth, in due time! Today, as I walk through the entrance gate, I greet everyone with such cheer and whole hearted excitement that everyone from the security guards to the sisters (nurses) to the doctors to the patients see me, greet me, and the awkwardness that was once there has dissipated into the midst of the past. It’s going to be a good day no matter where I end up observing and I’m going to learn something new no matter where I ‘plan’ to be. So far, I’ve had the opportunity to experience being in the HIV&AIDS Counseling and Testing Center (CTC), Outpatient Department (OPD), Maternity Ward, Theatre (Surgery), Casualty (Emergency Room), Pediatric Ward, and Female Ward. I’ve also been blessed to have a few of the doctors take me under their wing in which I am consistently and intriguingly observing different procedures, listening to how and why they make diagnoses, and asking all sorts of questions; it’s the questions part that the doctors are so captivated by as they don’t really know where my questions keep coming form because I have now been going to the hospital for some time now. With that in mind, let me explain some of the things that I’ve grown from while being here.
One of the first things that come to mind when you thing of South Africa, or maybe even Africa, is HIV&AIDS. Yes, there is an ongoing epidemic of HIV&AIDS within this country, but as far as education, becoming aware, and getting tested is concerned… it IS there! Most people know their status, more people are aware of how it’s contracted (this begins as early as primary school), and proactive advertisements, information pamphlets, organizations (like the Diakonia Aids Ministry connected within ELCSA), and even newsletters of all kinds are being made so that people can have easy accessibility to the hows and whys for preventing and treating HIV. Amazingly, one thing that I have learned since being here is that you can still have children while being HIV positive too! Of course there is a regimen that is to be done before, during, and after birth, but the treatments that are given and the medications taken have really decreased the risk of the child contracting HIV too. As far as the CTC is concerned, every day there are people lining up to be counseled and tested and then counseled again if one’s results turn out HIV+, and every day there are people coming in to get their medications to keep a strong, healthy, and long life. The sisters working in the CTC at the Umphumulo Hospital are really one of a kind, are sincere helpers, and are strongly educated in what they are doing too; as I’m sure this is how it is like all over the country whether in hospitals, clinics, or surgeries (private practices). Even though this epidemic causes a significant amount of deaths every day… the fight against it is ever growing each day too.
Then there’s the OPD and Theatre. These departments are where I spend most of my time as Dr. Pukana, Dr. Kabeya, Dr. A. Rajaram, and Dr. E. Rajaram are always requesting my presence; hence I am under their wings the most which doesn’t bother me one bit! In OPD I observe all sorts of healthcare aspects… from triaging patients to seeing results of all kinds (X-rays, blood serums, sugar levels, etc) to diagnosing. One of the things that I really feel different about is my quality of patient care. When I first walked into the entrance of the Umphumulo Hospital no one (patient wise) looked a bit thrilled to see me walking by or sitting next to the doctor in OPD as they took the seat in front of us. Well two reasons immediately came to mind: 1) they’re not feeling well hence their visit to see us, and 2) I’m the only light skinned person in this entire facility that walks around the buildings and doesn’t look like a doctor! As the days became weeks and I become more familiar with how things are done at the hospital I was getting a bit ‘flustered’ with being seen by just my appearance. So, as I walked into OPD and began helping the nurses with triaging one morning, instead of staying on my chair… I sat next to the patient and became eye level with them as I began with the “what brings you in today?,” kind of questions. This automatically let them know that I am no better than they are, there is no need to feel intimidated by me at all, I will help them to the best of my ability, and that their concern was really my concern too. I’ve learned that in this Zulu culture I am in, because I look different I will be treated as a guest… all the time; I can’t change this as it is their culture and what respect is. It’s this beautiful presence of Ubuntu and the Zulus practice it daily, but now that I am here and the ‘honey-moon phase’ has been long gone I can only hope that others, especially in the hospital, will see me and not just thing, “what is she doing here?,” but I want them to think and maybe even express, “Thank you for just being here because it made me feel more comfortable when I was scared and didn’t know what was going on.” I know how doctors have their ‘what the heck does that mean’ lingo, but I want the people coming in and out of the hospital to feel that they are going to receive the best healthcare that can be offered here and just because they don’t know what this or that means, doesn’t mean they are not going to get help or even have to feel intimidated for coming to the hospital at all. But as each day is never the same in OPD and the cases are always random, I just walk in, smile, follow, listen, and learn. With doing that, I have learned more about myself and the passion I have for being in healthcare, and the patients are feeling better too!
In the Theatre, most procedures that are done at the Umphumulo Hospital are Cesarean Sections (C-Sections), Tubal Ligations, Circumcisions, and Abortions. Most of the time, I am observing the “Cesars,” or what I’m used to calling C-Sections, but I have been to at least one of each procedure. Most of the procedures actually take longer than what they are supposed to as there becomes a shortage of supplies. So, going the long way tends to be the most efficient way, but both Dr. Pukana and Dr. Kabeya explain everything to me as far as what is being done and how it would be different if they had a certain material. As far as C-Sections go, I have shadowed Dr. Pukana (what takes the role of the Anesthesiologist) give the Epidural, keep track of the patients vitals, and most importantly as the patient how she’s doing throughout the entire procedure. I have shadowed Dr. Kabeya (who takes on the role of the Suregion) scrub in, deliver the new born, and then suture the openings that were made for the delivery. And I have shadowed the Pediatric Caretaker who is the sister or sir that assesses the newborn as soon as he or she has been delivered. They clean the newborn, check reflexes, give a routine injection, and then wrap the baby up to be seen by the mother and then the newborn is taken to the maternity ward. The only one I have not shadowed is the assistant surgeon (usually done by the matron or head nurse), but my time will come soon! My favorite part about being in the theatre during C-Sections, hands down, is being a primary witness to life. No one can take away the feeling of seeing a newborn and then hearing a newborn cry. Also, getting to scrub in and witness how learning never ends because no matter how many procedures I have been in, there is something else that I missed. Learning is not always about already knowing too, and I’m discovering that saying I need help (not just while I’m at the hospital too) really defines a person. So, when I take my little stroll back to the church center, I find myself with this little light inside that never fades away because of several reasons: 1) questions that I ask, 2) new people that I have met, and 3) patients that I have served alongside—it may be small to the sisters or doctors, but big to the patients… and even me!
Just recently, I have also spent lots of mornings in the Maternity Ward too. Here, Dr. Kabeya makes his daily rounds of the soon to be mothers or patients who were admitted and are having some kind of unknown complications. Most of the time, the patients that Dr. Kabeya and I see are in their third trimester, but we also see patients who have found they are pregnant and want to abort. The Umphumulo Hospital takes these patients very seriously and therefore, there are steps that are done to ensure the patient is aborting for the correct reason. Counseling is done pre and post procedure. The maternity ward is nice to be in as well, as I’m not just learning from the doctor, but the sisters who work there too. Plus, my hand holding skills are becoming quite popular amongst the mothers too! =D
I have only been to the Pediatric Ward once out of the time that I have been going to the hospital. My one day shadowing Dr. Kodagiri, I have found that maybe I can’t work with children, especially in the rural aspect. The doctor there, however, is quite knowledgeable about what to do for any child that is ill; as that day we say children suffering from epileptic spasms, respiratory illnesses, Tuberculosis (TB), and HIV. As the Umphumulo Hospital is rural, sometimes not all of the supplies or equipment that is needed can be offered or provided to the child. As I asked questions, some of the responses I was given was, “Well we should, but we don’t have that equipment or another machine to offer.” So, I have found that following the doctor in the Pediatric Ward was a bit too disheartening for me, especially knowing that there could only be so much done for the children. In the mean time, when I pass by I never hesitate to say hello and offer a smile to the children and sisters, but I prefer not to know their cases.
In Casualty I get to see almost everything and anything with Dr. Pukana or Dr. A. Rajaram, who ever is working at the time. From motor vehicle (MV) accidents to major lacerations to broken bones to snake bites… this hospital sees it all. When I first walked into this hospital, because of its placement I didn’t really thing they saw these kinds of cases, but then you shouldn’t ever judge a book by its cover! So what has happened to me over the months that I’ve been here is that I’m beginning to feel comfortable at NOT being so good on my toes. When there isn’t much going on in Casualty, however, this department tends to help with the overflow of patients that are coming into OPD. The busiest times in this department are usually around pay days and weekends, but other than that they do get the occasional cardiovascular, low glucose, MV, ect. patients that need to be seen urgently. Being a rural hospital, I sometimes feel like I’m in a show on the Discovery Health channel; as everything can be an organized chaos. However, it just goes to show you that people in this area are also getting the urgent care that they need too, and the doctors that I’ve worked alongside really know their stuff. As far as I’m concerned, they always like my questions as it keeps them on their toes too!
I have just recently (like late January) begun observing in the Female Ward. Here I follow the NEW doctor, Dr. E. Rajaram, with her daily rounds and get to experience what a doctor would probably see on a Medical floor of a hospital. At the Umphumulo Hospital the males and females are separated if they must be admitted into the hospital. So there is a Male Ward too, but unfortunately I am not allowed to volunteer there because most patients have an infectious disease and the doctors preferred that I just observe in the Female Ward. Following the doctor here has been a great experience because I am able to read charts, see X-rays, observe minor procedures that the doctor might need to do to determine the prognosis of the patients, etc. It is a bit like being in OPD, but more inclusive because we can actually sit down and see patients for more than 10 minutes or so… that’s what I enjoy the most. It’s also nice when a patient comes back to the ward for a follow-up visit after they have been discharged. Getting to see a new, healthy, and vibrant looking person compared to before is one of those feelings that take your breath away, and all you can really do is smile! It has also been nice to get to talk with a female doctor… as the female doctors at the Umphumulo Hospital are only 2 of 11. I’m sure being a female doctor in the Female Ward also puts the woman at ease when she makes her rounds… so this also makes my learning experience more ‘comfortable’ for me too.
One of the most interesting things I have learned from the doctors here at the Umphumulo Hospital is that every doctor is not specifically specialized in any one field; all the doctors routinely switch wards every three months or so. This is because in order to work in a rural hospital the doctor must be knowledgeable in everything that is offered, like a General Practice Physician, due to a shortage of staff. Being a rural hospital, it sometimes amazes me at the distances that several of the patients travel to receive medial attention too. I have heard stories that have changed my life, observed procedures that have changed my life, witnessed the reality of this rural hospital that has changed my life, and been alongside all kinds of individuals that have changed my life too. It is always a humbling experience for me to be here and it has allowed me to literally close my eyes and see with my heart. And even after all of this, I have found that this is who I am and where I want to be… because I am NOT filled with apprehensiveness, but with power, love, and self-control that His Spirit has given me like stated in 2 Timothy 1:6-7. and finally, knowing that I have a strong interest with healthcare, I will continue to use this gift God has blessed me with because Romans 12:6-8 guides me to do so.
I hope you all discern, listen, and discover the gifts God has blessed each and every one of you with, as each person has their own. When you find it, don’t turn away from it no matter what anyone (even your own family) may tell you. It’s kind of like SEEING the wind for the first time, no one can really pin point and articulate this feeling of your own, but it has some kind of effect to feeling in awe, with understanding, and heartfelt satisfaction. And that’s exactly what’s been slowly, but surely happening to me. Until next time… hamba kahle (go well).
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Happy Merry New Christmas Year…
So it has definitely been a little while since my last post, but I can assure you it has been a bit of a journey for me too! I spent Christmas at Kenosis where I was visiting another volunteer’s placement site. It’s really amazing how each and every one of the volunteers alongside me are really having their very own experiences as we are all being in very different ways. With that in mind, I met some of the orphans, some of the foster moms, some volunteers from Germany, and the Sisters (Nuns) that Kenosis houses. Due to the holiday season most, but not all, of the orphans and foster moms were at their original homes, but that really didn’t burden my experience of Kenosis.
So Christmas day… it turned out to be a very bright South African experience! Kate, Amanda, and myself woke up, got ready for church, and then loaded the Kenosis Kombi where Sister Happiness, Sister Lindeni, and Sister Sthembi took us all to the ELCSA church in Imbali. Now I must admit that I was very thrilled on this very event because it’s really not every day that you see nuns in a kombi and driving it too!! It was AWESOME! On other notes, it was a very simple service that was full of singing Christmas songs in Isizulu, a nice message of why Christmas is celebrated, and of course saying, “Ukisimusi Omuhle,” (Merry Christmas) and then giving a nice, warm hug to those all around us. We then loaded the Kenosis Kombi again where Sister Happiness dropped the three of us at the kombi rank. From here we headed to the Maqoqo Township, which is a rural village outside of Pietermaritzburg, where one of the Kenosis foster mom’s invited us for Christmas lunch.
Upon arrival, we started right away with helping Thandekile in the kitchen as she was the only one cooking for about 25 people and at the same time watching and trying to entertain about ten children! The three of us ended up making potato salad, beef curry, stiff pap, cole slaw, chakalaka, and for dessert custard with fruit. We also helped with taking turns in entertaining the children in the midst of all this cooking too… it was really a challenge trying to cook and clean and keep things as organized as possible when you had children between the ages of 6 to 15 poking you every so often! But none the less, it was nice being able to help Thandekile, play with her children (most are her foster children), have the opportunity to talk and meet her and her neighbors, and most importantly be in her home and experience the simplicity of Maqoqo. As time quickly passed by, the three of us then had to leave Thandekile and her children to go to a Christmas dinner that the Sisters were preparing back in Kenosis. As much as we all just wanted to stay and just be in Maqoqo… taking in the air, witnessing and experiencing the joy and love everyone has for one another, knowing that we all now have a home in Maqoqo, and learning that Christmas really is not about gifts… we said our goodbyes, but only to experience more of the “blessed unexpected” that is South Africa.
Christmas dinner was just about ready when we arrived back in Kenosis. As each and everyone took off their shoes before entering the Sister’s home, I noticed that the sisters had set up a nice buffet style meal that included mashed butternut, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, and for dessert custard, fruit, biscuit (cookie), and whipped cream layered in a big bowl; a very simple and satisfying meal. As the 20 or so of us talked amongst ourselves, it was soon time to clean up. So Kate, Amanda, and I headed towards the kitchen to help put leftovers in containers and in the fridge, wash and dry the dishes, put the dishes in the cabinets, clean the counters, and sweep the floors. What was probably the best part of this meal was cleaning up with the sisters. As the three of us came into the kitchen to start helping we all, in some odd way, began to sing hymns in Isizulu as the cleaning process continued. It was so much fun being able to sing, clean, and dance and WITH the sisters too. To see the light, smiles, and joy in each and everyone’s faces was really a piece of the spirit living and being expressed in each and every one of us… this will really be a Christmas to remember! After cleaning, we then said our goodbyes and headed back to Kate’s room where the three of us were able to have a bit of a traditional Christmas of our own; listening to Christmas music about snow when there was no snow anywhere to be seen (at least this was a BIG change for Kate and Amanda), opening presents that we ended up buying for each other, and reading a Christmas book before we all fell asleep (thanks to Kate’s mom who sent her a Christmas book for Christmas in the mail). Christmas day was definitely filled with unforgettable events, love of family, warmth of friends, and the spirit of Christ… which is how Christmas is like at home in Texas.
Now for the New Year! Can you believe it’s already 2011… as 2010 brought about great things for me (graduating from TLU and then finding myself coming to South Africa), ringing in 2011 in Lesotho was definitely something I’d NEVER dreamed of one day doing. And just so you know (as I thought these were some pretty interesting facts), Lesotho is known as the ‘mountain kingdom in the sky,” for the magnificent and wondrous Maluti Mountains make this country the highest elevated country on Earth and they still have a reigning king and queen, and some describe this country as ‘sitting on top of South Africa,’ as this country is surrounded by South Africa and its lowest elevated point is higher than South Africa’s highest point. So yes, I was in Lesotho with eight of my other MUD family members to bring in the New Year. Lesotho included a great deal of hiking, exploring, and laughing, but it also included a great deal of peacefulness, being, and witnessing. Now I’m no preacher, but Psalm 30:5 (“…weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”) quickly comes to mind when I think of our Lesotho adventures because pretty much most of the time we were in Lesotho it rained… and not just your average 30 minute or so “light” rain either… it really poured, for hours at times too. But even with the rain coming down, it did not alter our great experiences. We all still managed to have a great time with each other… as not having a good time has never really been the case when we all manage to be with each other.
Some of my favorite parts of being in Lesotho were hiking and getting to the top of the mountains where you could really witness the beauty of this country (I got some really great panoramic pictures too!), playing Uno around the table (a fun filled card game that brought a piece of home to our journey into Lesotho-thanks to Christine for bringing the cards along too!), banging pots with spoons as the New Year came in (all for Kate-as this is what her family does as a New Year’s tradition… and I must admit I may be brining this fun filled experience home for when 2012 comes along!), riding a pony just like the Basotho (thanks to Andrew who introduced us all to Rose and Kennedy, the people in charge of an HIV/AIDS orphanage that Andrew’s nonprofit organization-Bloom Africa- raises money for clean drinking water) who own a horse and know friends who allowed us to borrow more horses for riding in Lesotho, meeting the Thorns, Rose, and Eric (the amazing people who provided lodging for us, helped us with transportation from Roma to Ramabanta and vice versa, and put our feet in the ‘right’ direction as we explored the paths while in Lesotho), and getting over the flooded bridges caused by the heavy down pours from Ramabanta to Roma (what a stir of emotions this brought to us all!). Lesotho is really one of those places that will never get old as you look at its scenes over and over again. I remember feeling like a broken record at times as I would state to myself how beautiful this place was and then still not even believing that I was actually there. You can literally take several pictures of this beautiful country and send those pictures home to let others see what you’ve seen, but it still would not portray the wonders this place has you feel or give any justice to the originality of its culture and peacefulness until you witness it for yourself. It’s the part of the commercial that I would consider “priceless,” MOST DEFINITELY!
With that said, Christmas in South Africa and ringing in 2011 in Lesotho was extraordinary. I hope each and everyone had a great time at home, with family and friends… as a part of me wished I was home doing the same things that are done every year! However, 2011 is here and I’m still learning about myself as my South African hosts continue to lead me; especially when I arrived back in Umphumulo with NO water and electricity! Funny thing though, is that I was expecting the unexpected. Oh Umphumulo… what a great place to be and breathe it all in! :)
So Christmas day… it turned out to be a very bright South African experience! Kate, Amanda, and myself woke up, got ready for church, and then loaded the Kenosis Kombi where Sister Happiness, Sister Lindeni, and Sister Sthembi took us all to the ELCSA church in Imbali. Now I must admit that I was very thrilled on this very event because it’s really not every day that you see nuns in a kombi and driving it too!! It was AWESOME! On other notes, it was a very simple service that was full of singing Christmas songs in Isizulu, a nice message of why Christmas is celebrated, and of course saying, “Ukisimusi Omuhle,” (Merry Christmas) and then giving a nice, warm hug to those all around us. We then loaded the Kenosis Kombi again where Sister Happiness dropped the three of us at the kombi rank. From here we headed to the Maqoqo Township, which is a rural village outside of Pietermaritzburg, where one of the Kenosis foster mom’s invited us for Christmas lunch.
Upon arrival, we started right away with helping Thandekile in the kitchen as she was the only one cooking for about 25 people and at the same time watching and trying to entertain about ten children! The three of us ended up making potato salad, beef curry, stiff pap, cole slaw, chakalaka, and for dessert custard with fruit. We also helped with taking turns in entertaining the children in the midst of all this cooking too… it was really a challenge trying to cook and clean and keep things as organized as possible when you had children between the ages of 6 to 15 poking you every so often! But none the less, it was nice being able to help Thandekile, play with her children (most are her foster children), have the opportunity to talk and meet her and her neighbors, and most importantly be in her home and experience the simplicity of Maqoqo. As time quickly passed by, the three of us then had to leave Thandekile and her children to go to a Christmas dinner that the Sisters were preparing back in Kenosis. As much as we all just wanted to stay and just be in Maqoqo… taking in the air, witnessing and experiencing the joy and love everyone has for one another, knowing that we all now have a home in Maqoqo, and learning that Christmas really is not about gifts… we said our goodbyes, but only to experience more of the “blessed unexpected” that is South Africa.
Christmas dinner was just about ready when we arrived back in Kenosis. As each and everyone took off their shoes before entering the Sister’s home, I noticed that the sisters had set up a nice buffet style meal that included mashed butternut, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, and for dessert custard, fruit, biscuit (cookie), and whipped cream layered in a big bowl; a very simple and satisfying meal. As the 20 or so of us talked amongst ourselves, it was soon time to clean up. So Kate, Amanda, and I headed towards the kitchen to help put leftovers in containers and in the fridge, wash and dry the dishes, put the dishes in the cabinets, clean the counters, and sweep the floors. What was probably the best part of this meal was cleaning up with the sisters. As the three of us came into the kitchen to start helping we all, in some odd way, began to sing hymns in Isizulu as the cleaning process continued. It was so much fun being able to sing, clean, and dance and WITH the sisters too. To see the light, smiles, and joy in each and everyone’s faces was really a piece of the spirit living and being expressed in each and every one of us… this will really be a Christmas to remember! After cleaning, we then said our goodbyes and headed back to Kate’s room where the three of us were able to have a bit of a traditional Christmas of our own; listening to Christmas music about snow when there was no snow anywhere to be seen (at least this was a BIG change for Kate and Amanda), opening presents that we ended up buying for each other, and reading a Christmas book before we all fell asleep (thanks to Kate’s mom who sent her a Christmas book for Christmas in the mail). Christmas day was definitely filled with unforgettable events, love of family, warmth of friends, and the spirit of Christ… which is how Christmas is like at home in Texas.
Now for the New Year! Can you believe it’s already 2011… as 2010 brought about great things for me (graduating from TLU and then finding myself coming to South Africa), ringing in 2011 in Lesotho was definitely something I’d NEVER dreamed of one day doing. And just so you know (as I thought these were some pretty interesting facts), Lesotho is known as the ‘mountain kingdom in the sky,” for the magnificent and wondrous Maluti Mountains make this country the highest elevated country on Earth and they still have a reigning king and queen, and some describe this country as ‘sitting on top of South Africa,’ as this country is surrounded by South Africa and its lowest elevated point is higher than South Africa’s highest point. So yes, I was in Lesotho with eight of my other MUD family members to bring in the New Year. Lesotho included a great deal of hiking, exploring, and laughing, but it also included a great deal of peacefulness, being, and witnessing. Now I’m no preacher, but Psalm 30:5 (“…weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”) quickly comes to mind when I think of our Lesotho adventures because pretty much most of the time we were in Lesotho it rained… and not just your average 30 minute or so “light” rain either… it really poured, for hours at times too. But even with the rain coming down, it did not alter our great experiences. We all still managed to have a great time with each other… as not having a good time has never really been the case when we all manage to be with each other.
Some of my favorite parts of being in Lesotho were hiking and getting to the top of the mountains where you could really witness the beauty of this country (I got some really great panoramic pictures too!), playing Uno around the table (a fun filled card game that brought a piece of home to our journey into Lesotho-thanks to Christine for bringing the cards along too!), banging pots with spoons as the New Year came in (all for Kate-as this is what her family does as a New Year’s tradition… and I must admit I may be brining this fun filled experience home for when 2012 comes along!), riding a pony just like the Basotho (thanks to Andrew who introduced us all to Rose and Kennedy, the people in charge of an HIV/AIDS orphanage that Andrew’s nonprofit organization-Bloom Africa- raises money for clean drinking water) who own a horse and know friends who allowed us to borrow more horses for riding in Lesotho, meeting the Thorns, Rose, and Eric (the amazing people who provided lodging for us, helped us with transportation from Roma to Ramabanta and vice versa, and put our feet in the ‘right’ direction as we explored the paths while in Lesotho), and getting over the flooded bridges caused by the heavy down pours from Ramabanta to Roma (what a stir of emotions this brought to us all!). Lesotho is really one of those places that will never get old as you look at its scenes over and over again. I remember feeling like a broken record at times as I would state to myself how beautiful this place was and then still not even believing that I was actually there. You can literally take several pictures of this beautiful country and send those pictures home to let others see what you’ve seen, but it still would not portray the wonders this place has you feel or give any justice to the originality of its culture and peacefulness until you witness it for yourself. It’s the part of the commercial that I would consider “priceless,” MOST DEFINITELY!
With that said, Christmas in South Africa and ringing in 2011 in Lesotho was extraordinary. I hope each and everyone had a great time at home, with family and friends… as a part of me wished I was home doing the same things that are done every year! However, 2011 is here and I’m still learning about myself as my South African hosts continue to lead me; especially when I arrived back in Umphumulo with NO water and electricity! Funny thing though, is that I was expecting the unexpected. Oh Umphumulo… what a great place to be and breathe it all in! :)
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Living Simply or Simply Living…
To have been posted sometime early this December...
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I passed by this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson when reading a newsletter from a fellow YAGM and thought it coincidental because of what has recently happened at my placement site. I find it continuously intriguing on how comfortable I ‘think’ I am with knowing, being, and living in Umphumulo’s church center when this mysterious place can never really be predicted. But it is this unpredictableness that continues to define me.
Last week was probably the MOST eventful 5 days since being here for over 3 months at the center, but not in the sense of having to be here or there as an agenda is at hand… more in the sense of where are we going to get water, where are we going to cook, and how are we going to retrieve hot water to bath ? Now, I’m quite used to the occasional power outage that Maphumulo gets due to the aggressive rain and thunder or high winds, but there’s still the running water OR even the mysterious reasons as to why the running water isn’t working, but there’s still the electricity. However, as I dreaded this ever happening, you guessed it! Someone somewhere, somehow cut the electrical wires that provide electricity to the church center and since the water connections are, for a reason I still don’t understand, connected with the electrical wires… the church center was out of running water too. It became a dim Friday afternoon after hearing this news with Nomfundo, but that really didn’t bother us as we always find a way to entertain ourselves in these kinds of rural Maphumulo ‘living simply’ situations.
Saturday morning came and the situation at hand was still no big deal, but then Nomfundo heard from Dlamini, the handy-man for the church center, that it was going to be like this until someone could come and diagnose the problem; this meant we had to wait until Monday before anyone could do anything. I thought to myself, “Ok, no big deal. It will only be the weekend.” So, before Nomfundo and I went along with our plans for Saturday, I decided to call Baba and Mama Mabaso and let them know of our situation and see if we could stay at their home, the electricity and water only being a problem for the church center. With the gracious and hospitable family the Mabasos are, luckily they said Nomfundo and I could stay with them, but the church center’s situation was only about to get a bit dimmer.
Come Monday, of course the first thing everyone was paying attention to was the electricity and water; how can a business run without either? Unfortunately, with all of the phone calls and talking to people that was done on Monday, no one could come to the church center until Tuesday morning… another day. So everyone living on the church center premises had to endure the situation at hand still. This included getting water to fill our buckets that were loaned to us by Samu, the church center’s Center Leader, and then figuring out how we were going to cook… this really did take all evening. Tuesday came, and sure enough the electrical guys came to look at what was wrong. Well, it turned out that the parts that were needed to fix the wire had to be ordered due to not having them at hand. In the end, no one knew how long that was going to take as it could be days, weeks, etc. At this point, I was frustrated with how the situation at the church center was going and I was upset because all I wanted to do was wash my hair; crazy to admit but it’s true! After explaining and venting to Nomfundo, she ended up being very understanding towards my ‘cultural differences,’ and told me to not worry. She then jokingly told me that we were going to check into a hotel tonight anyways. This then made me feel terrible with myself because I began to feel like I was acting selfish; knowing most of the families living around me go without running water and sometimes electricity daily . Nomfundo, again, told me to not feel bad or terrible or even upset with myself because it’s just new and different, and she made a good point in stating that the electricity and water was totally out of our control anyways. You see, it is sometimes the unexpected situations that are out of our hands that can make us or break us, and after my ‘cultural breakdown’ I began to look at the entire situation differently… this is Umphumulo’s ‘simply living.’ It also made me think… at least I’m not having to go through all of this alone . Nomfundo and I, once again, spent the evening getting water and figuring out how we were going to make dinner, but overall by the end of the day I was just astonished at how much of an understanding, blessed, and strong woman Nomfundo is. Being friends, sisters even, with her has been one of the utmost gifts God has ever sent to me and I am continuously learning through her, with her, and alongside her.
Wednesday… day 5 (at least for Nomfundo and me). I woke up this morning with a new attitude and a new mind, and we all went to work with everyone leaving at 1pm, as there was still nothing anyone could really do without electricity. After work Nomfundo and I walked towards the guest house to visit Mandisa, a new visitor staying at the church center for the weekend who just happens to be a pastor too. The three of us were just having a casual conversation that turned into a little bible study; I love these random acts of God. Mandisa turned her Bible to Psalm 92:2 which states, “proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,” and as we read the verse aloud we each took turns to explain how we interpreted it. After what turned into an hour or two of talking about this lovely verse, we all noticed how late it was getting and we still needed to fill up our buckets with water and make dinner, something that was beginning to feel like a daily part of life. As we all headed out of the room and into the hallway, I turned to my left and BAAAM! Like when you walk into a room and everyone screams “SURPRISE!” I noticed the hallway light was ON! As I started jumping up and down and screaming, Mandisa and Nomfundo were soon to join in on what epiphany I was most definitely having. We then started hugging each other as the jumping and screaming continued for what felt like 10 minutes, no joke! I have never seen anything more beautiful in my life and I will never see electricity the same way again. We then rushed out of the guest house to check our own homes on the church center premises to discover that the electricity was REALLY working. The next thing that was needed was the water, but with the electricity working the water was soon to follow.
The following days in Umphumulo have been very thankful, rejoiceful, and charismatic… especially from me. Some may think it’s just another casual day of work, but for me it’s another day “to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that [I] have lived and lived well,” like Ralph Waldo Emerson puts it. It’s having the opportunity to thank Him in each morning that passes and then giving all of my faith to Him to watch over me in every situation that comes and goes, like stated in Psalm 92:2. It’s being able to see the wonderful people that fill up my life here, and it’s even being here in my so called ‘living simply’ life that I am noticing how challenged I really am, how blessed I really am, how faithful I really am, how enduring I really am, but most importantly how true to others, myself, and Him I really am on a daily basis. I can’t really put into words how different I feel or changed I have become after the past week without electricity and water, but as the unpredictableness of Umphumulo still staggers around all I can do is smile and continue on with the day. I am living simply, but I am also just simply living… whether on my own or with my ‘partner in crime,’ Nomfundo.
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I passed by this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson when reading a newsletter from a fellow YAGM and thought it coincidental because of what has recently happened at my placement site. I find it continuously intriguing on how comfortable I ‘think’ I am with knowing, being, and living in Umphumulo’s church center when this mysterious place can never really be predicted. But it is this unpredictableness that continues to define me.
Last week was probably the MOST eventful 5 days since being here for over 3 months at the center, but not in the sense of having to be here or there as an agenda is at hand… more in the sense of where are we going to get water, where are we going to cook, and how are we going to retrieve hot water to bath ? Now, I’m quite used to the occasional power outage that Maphumulo gets due to the aggressive rain and thunder or high winds, but there’s still the running water OR even the mysterious reasons as to why the running water isn’t working, but there’s still the electricity. However, as I dreaded this ever happening, you guessed it! Someone somewhere, somehow cut the electrical wires that provide electricity to the church center and since the water connections are, for a reason I still don’t understand, connected with the electrical wires… the church center was out of running water too. It became a dim Friday afternoon after hearing this news with Nomfundo, but that really didn’t bother us as we always find a way to entertain ourselves in these kinds of rural Maphumulo ‘living simply’ situations.
Saturday morning came and the situation at hand was still no big deal, but then Nomfundo heard from Dlamini, the handy-man for the church center, that it was going to be like this until someone could come and diagnose the problem; this meant we had to wait until Monday before anyone could do anything. I thought to myself, “Ok, no big deal. It will only be the weekend.” So, before Nomfundo and I went along with our plans for Saturday, I decided to call Baba and Mama Mabaso and let them know of our situation and see if we could stay at their home, the electricity and water only being a problem for the church center. With the gracious and hospitable family the Mabasos are, luckily they said Nomfundo and I could stay with them, but the church center’s situation was only about to get a bit dimmer.
Come Monday, of course the first thing everyone was paying attention to was the electricity and water; how can a business run without either? Unfortunately, with all of the phone calls and talking to people that was done on Monday, no one could come to the church center until Tuesday morning… another day. So everyone living on the church center premises had to endure the situation at hand still. This included getting water to fill our buckets that were loaned to us by Samu, the church center’s Center Leader, and then figuring out how we were going to cook… this really did take all evening. Tuesday came, and sure enough the electrical guys came to look at what was wrong. Well, it turned out that the parts that were needed to fix the wire had to be ordered due to not having them at hand. In the end, no one knew how long that was going to take as it could be days, weeks, etc. At this point, I was frustrated with how the situation at the church center was going and I was upset because all I wanted to do was wash my hair; crazy to admit but it’s true! After explaining and venting to Nomfundo, she ended up being very understanding towards my ‘cultural differences,’ and told me to not worry. She then jokingly told me that we were going to check into a hotel tonight anyways. This then made me feel terrible with myself because I began to feel like I was acting selfish; knowing most of the families living around me go without running water and sometimes electricity daily . Nomfundo, again, told me to not feel bad or terrible or even upset with myself because it’s just new and different, and she made a good point in stating that the electricity and water was totally out of our control anyways. You see, it is sometimes the unexpected situations that are out of our hands that can make us or break us, and after my ‘cultural breakdown’ I began to look at the entire situation differently… this is Umphumulo’s ‘simply living.’ It also made me think… at least I’m not having to go through all of this alone . Nomfundo and I, once again, spent the evening getting water and figuring out how we were going to make dinner, but overall by the end of the day I was just astonished at how much of an understanding, blessed, and strong woman Nomfundo is. Being friends, sisters even, with her has been one of the utmost gifts God has ever sent to me and I am continuously learning through her, with her, and alongside her.
Wednesday… day 5 (at least for Nomfundo and me). I woke up this morning with a new attitude and a new mind, and we all went to work with everyone leaving at 1pm, as there was still nothing anyone could really do without electricity. After work Nomfundo and I walked towards the guest house to visit Mandisa, a new visitor staying at the church center for the weekend who just happens to be a pastor too. The three of us were just having a casual conversation that turned into a little bible study; I love these random acts of God. Mandisa turned her Bible to Psalm 92:2 which states, “proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,” and as we read the verse aloud we each took turns to explain how we interpreted it. After what turned into an hour or two of talking about this lovely verse, we all noticed how late it was getting and we still needed to fill up our buckets with water and make dinner, something that was beginning to feel like a daily part of life. As we all headed out of the room and into the hallway, I turned to my left and BAAAM! Like when you walk into a room and everyone screams “SURPRISE!” I noticed the hallway light was ON! As I started jumping up and down and screaming, Mandisa and Nomfundo were soon to join in on what epiphany I was most definitely having. We then started hugging each other as the jumping and screaming continued for what felt like 10 minutes, no joke! I have never seen anything more beautiful in my life and I will never see electricity the same way again. We then rushed out of the guest house to check our own homes on the church center premises to discover that the electricity was REALLY working. The next thing that was needed was the water, but with the electricity working the water was soon to follow.
The following days in Umphumulo have been very thankful, rejoiceful, and charismatic… especially from me. Some may think it’s just another casual day of work, but for me it’s another day “to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that [I] have lived and lived well,” like Ralph Waldo Emerson puts it. It’s having the opportunity to thank Him in each morning that passes and then giving all of my faith to Him to watch over me in every situation that comes and goes, like stated in Psalm 92:2. It’s being able to see the wonderful people that fill up my life here, and it’s even being here in my so called ‘living simply’ life that I am noticing how challenged I really am, how blessed I really am, how faithful I really am, how enduring I really am, but most importantly how true to others, myself, and Him I really am on a daily basis. I can’t really put into words how different I feel or changed I have become after the past week without electricity and water, but as the unpredictableness of Umphumulo still staggers around all I can do is smile and continue on with the day. I am living simply, but I am also just simply living… whether on my own or with my ‘partner in crime,’ Nomfundo.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
When the day is done...
(December 6, 2010 posting)
Title copied from an excerpt in the song “You are all I need” by Bethany Dillon
It’s the beginning of December and the days are longer, the sun is shining brightly, the grass is green, and the natural life around Umphumulo is even more vibrant than ever… however the randomness of weather is still ever more present as yesterday was above 30ºC (86ºF) and today is around 24ºC (75.2ºF)! This is all still taking some getting used to as around this time the days are supposed to be getting shorter, the weather is supposed to becoming cooler, the leaves are supposed to be falling off the trees, and the natural life, at least around San Antonio, is supposed to be bundling up. However, even with all of this new environmental change, coming back to Umphumulo, after the first retreat I had with the other tenYAGM, was a bittersweet happiness and I’ll explain why.
I packed my backpack on November 23rd to prepare for a retreat I knew would entail seeing all my MUD family, but I now know it to also be a LIFE-CHANGING and EYE-OPENING experience, adventure, and maybe even once-in-a-lifetime event. I woke up on the 24th with an unexpected pouring rain, but knew that this was not going to stop me from getting to Pietermaritzburg (PMB) by kombi (taxi) where all 11 volunteers were meeting at the Sleepy Hollow Adventure Backpackers. Now, kombis are not the most intimidating means of public transportation in South Africa, but due to the unexpected and crazy rain… I was a bit intimidated this morning and prayed for all of my kombi drivers (as I had to take 3 kombis to get to PMB) to get me to each destination safe and sound. Well, I did make it to PMB around noon where I was fetched by my country coordinator, Brian, and his dad, Mr. Konkol, with the rain still following me but with a BIG smile on my face! After being reunited with the other volunteers on Wednesday night, we all stayed up late to just take what I’d like to describe a moment to look around and rejoice at seeing each and every person in the flesh for the first time in 3 months! The next day, Thanksgiving Day, was when the ‘real’ retreat began for me.
So in the morning, we all woke up… with ironically the same routine as when we were in PMB for in-country orientation; by this I mean I was the FIRST to roll out of bed as waking up early has always been a ‘dilemma’ of mine. We then cramped all 11 of us in the rented kombi to head towards the PMB soccer field for the annual females VS males soccer match, swimming in the pool, and then Thanksgiving dinner at the Konkol’s home. Unfortunately the females did not win this match (so now we are 1-1 in soccer matches), but the dinner was fabulously made by Kristen, our other gracious country coordinator, and then eaten delightfully by all 11 volunteers, Brian’s parents, and Brian and Kristen themselves! Although away from home, Thanksgiving turned out to be almost the same (I still missed Tio T’s pineapple ham and candied yams, the traditional pecan pie, and Granny’s banana split cake), but all in all a Thanksgiving to be grateful for and one that I was blessed to be present in sharing with my fellow YAGM members, country coordinators and family. After stuffing ourselves to no tomorrow and watching highlights to NFL and NBA games (still trying to keep up with my San Antonio Spurs even though I’m limited in resources… GO SPURS GO!), we all returned to the backpackers to get ready for a great journey towards the Drakensberg Mountains the next day, Friday.
When Friday came rolling around, we all got into the kombi and took a nice journey towards the Amphitheatre Backpackers that had a MARVELOUS view of the Drakensberg Mountains in the distance. We all checked into our room, a nice building that we all thought to resemble the Bearstein Bears home-remember that book??? Around noon, Brian then drove us to the Royal Natal National Park where we took a nice, long, and slippery 5hr or so hike. This hike was my first hike ever and I think I did alright with keeping up with everyone… as my legs are the shortest and not really knowing what to expect as the muddy paths were not always stable. Luckily, I only slipped one time heading back to where the kombi was parked… but hey we can’t all have ‘graceful’ hikes! Getting to the destination of this hike was amazing and something I never dreamed of seeing with my own eyes. I know Umphumulo has some great scenes, but this one in the Drakensberg Mountains was so very unique, different, and unexplainable; maybe it was the different feel of the place, maybe it was the fact that it took a long time to get there, maybe it was the fact that it was my FIRST hike, or maybe it was knowing that I was with my MUD family… no matter the case it was an experience, adventure, and once-in-a-lifetime event to remember. This then led to Saturday.
Saturday was the hike in Lesotho, and I have to say, that this was the day that made this whole retreat life-changing and eye-opening for me. As we headed towards Lesotho, having a nice journey that included great scenes, having to cross South Africa’s border into Lesotho (this time NOT Mexico!!), and an unexpected soggy and muddy road (our tour guide, Josh, was a beast at tackling this path with all of us in the kombi and it included a fun ride in the mean time!). Our kombi ride ended at a school in Lesotho where we were informed that this was the primary school that the Amphitheatre Backpackers is helping to fund. We were all able to go inside the school, see the simple-ness of the building and for me, become humbled at how the school’s children learn. But it didn’t end there. After seeing and learning a bit about the school, we all started our hike that included a nice Basotho (what the people of Lesotho are called) history. When we arrived at the spot where we were to have lunch, Josh (the tour guide… not to be confused with our fellow YAGM ) informed us that we could put down our belongings and head to the top of the mountain nearby without him if we wanted. Well, with the determination of more than half of the group… we all headed up this path that turned out to be so steep that in the middle of it I had no idea what I was getting myself into. As I felt myself getting tired, I stepped to the side to allow everyone behind me to pass. After a good breather, I began up the same vertical path everyone else was going but then began to notice that everyone else was still going too fast for me… so I stopped again. Well, just as I was about to head back down this path that all of a sudden turned into a steep and smooth rock path, I thought to myself, “I can’t do this.” But then, another fellow YAGM stayed behind with me and encouraged me to keep on going and directed me up this slick transition that everyone else seemed to do with no problem. So, with the encouragement of AMANDA (love you girl!), my endurance and determination (which came out of nowhere), and the grace of God… I MADE it to the top! And this turned out to be one of the most breath-taking scenes I’ve ever seen. Not only was I on top of this mountain that entitled me to go through physical and mental strain, but the prize at the end was worth it all… for me to BE at that spot where I stood, look around and smile with my MUD family, hold my hat so the wind wouldn’t take it away, accomplish and cross several ‘borders’ in my own life, and just BREATHE IT IN.
The rest of the hike in Lesotho was just as amazing; learning about its history, eating pap and spinach, getting to rejoice with a Basotho family, buying a traditional Basotho hat, playing with the Basotho children as they saw us passing by, and then waving goodbye to them as the kombi drove back to the border… this time going into South Africa. In addition, that evening at the Amphitheatre Backpackers I received an unexpected phone call from home!! It was nice to get to talk to some family, especially after that crazy hike… a bit of icing to the cake I might say. Then, as everyone was getting prepared for dinner, one of the most MAGNIFICENT sunsets off the Drakensburg Mts. was in action. We all ended up standing on the balcony outside of our room and just watched the sun go down… this made us a bit late for dinner, but totally worth it! After dinner, the other volunteers and I ended up talking with one another, stayed up late, and then as I walked back to our room, I noticed the BEAUTIFUL view of the stars from above. I remember thinking to myself, “what a day,” and then to end it with this. This day, Saturday, November 26, 2010 is most definitely a day to remember!
Once Sunday came, we checked out of our room and then had a nice Sunday service, in ENGLISH I might add, amongst the group and Mr. Konkol thanks to Brian. Then we all piled back into the kombi to take our lovely journey back to PMB where we all prepared for our travels back to our placement sites come Monday. Once arriving back in Umphumulo on Monday and then starting work on Tuesday, it’s funny to say, but I was greeted with such love, joy, and excitement Tuesday morning in the SED Office as if I had just arrived in Umphumulo my first day. It was overwhelmingly nice to have such a welcome from my coworkers, and as I was a bit under the weather with having to say, “Hamba Kahlle (go well)” to my MUD family on Monday… I was anxious to be back in Umphumulo. I even received SMS’s (text messages) from some of the doctors at the Umphumulo Public Hospital making sure I arrived back to Umphumulo safe and sound, as before I left I let them know when I would be back in Umphumulo from PMB.
It’s awesome how God works through us all; He helped me get through some challenges this past retreat that I will never forget, but above all He has guided me to be here… South Africa. I’m thankful for the people He has placed in my life too, because it is being alongside each and every one of them that I am growing, learning, and sharing. With Thanksgiving just passing by, I’m thankful for all of the people in my life, physically alongside me or not, I’m thankful for the renewing of each new and mysterious day, and I’m thankful for the breath of life He gives me… because “when the day is done” it is He that continues to watch over us, it is He that continues to allow us to prosper, and it is He that continues to give us hope (Jeremiah 29:11) with each new experience, adventure, or maybe even once-in-a-lifetime event.
Title copied from an excerpt in the song “You are all I need” by Bethany Dillon
It’s the beginning of December and the days are longer, the sun is shining brightly, the grass is green, and the natural life around Umphumulo is even more vibrant than ever… however the randomness of weather is still ever more present as yesterday was above 30ºC (86ºF) and today is around 24ºC (75.2ºF)! This is all still taking some getting used to as around this time the days are supposed to be getting shorter, the weather is supposed to becoming cooler, the leaves are supposed to be falling off the trees, and the natural life, at least around San Antonio, is supposed to be bundling up. However, even with all of this new environmental change, coming back to Umphumulo, after the first retreat I had with the other tenYAGM, was a bittersweet happiness and I’ll explain why.
I packed my backpack on November 23rd to prepare for a retreat I knew would entail seeing all my MUD family, but I now know it to also be a LIFE-CHANGING and EYE-OPENING experience, adventure, and maybe even once-in-a-lifetime event. I woke up on the 24th with an unexpected pouring rain, but knew that this was not going to stop me from getting to Pietermaritzburg (PMB) by kombi (taxi) where all 11 volunteers were meeting at the Sleepy Hollow Adventure Backpackers. Now, kombis are not the most intimidating means of public transportation in South Africa, but due to the unexpected and crazy rain… I was a bit intimidated this morning and prayed for all of my kombi drivers (as I had to take 3 kombis to get to PMB) to get me to each destination safe and sound. Well, I did make it to PMB around noon where I was fetched by my country coordinator, Brian, and his dad, Mr. Konkol, with the rain still following me but with a BIG smile on my face! After being reunited with the other volunteers on Wednesday night, we all stayed up late to just take what I’d like to describe a moment to look around and rejoice at seeing each and every person in the flesh for the first time in 3 months! The next day, Thanksgiving Day, was when the ‘real’ retreat began for me.
So in the morning, we all woke up… with ironically the same routine as when we were in PMB for in-country orientation; by this I mean I was the FIRST to roll out of bed as waking up early has always been a ‘dilemma’ of mine. We then cramped all 11 of us in the rented kombi to head towards the PMB soccer field for the annual females VS males soccer match, swimming in the pool, and then Thanksgiving dinner at the Konkol’s home. Unfortunately the females did not win this match (so now we are 1-1 in soccer matches), but the dinner was fabulously made by Kristen, our other gracious country coordinator, and then eaten delightfully by all 11 volunteers, Brian’s parents, and Brian and Kristen themselves! Although away from home, Thanksgiving turned out to be almost the same (I still missed Tio T’s pineapple ham and candied yams, the traditional pecan pie, and Granny’s banana split cake), but all in all a Thanksgiving to be grateful for and one that I was blessed to be present in sharing with my fellow YAGM members, country coordinators and family. After stuffing ourselves to no tomorrow and watching highlights to NFL and NBA games (still trying to keep up with my San Antonio Spurs even though I’m limited in resources… GO SPURS GO!), we all returned to the backpackers to get ready for a great journey towards the Drakensberg Mountains the next day, Friday.
When Friday came rolling around, we all got into the kombi and took a nice journey towards the Amphitheatre Backpackers that had a MARVELOUS view of the Drakensberg Mountains in the distance. We all checked into our room, a nice building that we all thought to resemble the Bearstein Bears home-remember that book??? Around noon, Brian then drove us to the Royal Natal National Park where we took a nice, long, and slippery 5hr or so hike. This hike was my first hike ever and I think I did alright with keeping up with everyone… as my legs are the shortest and not really knowing what to expect as the muddy paths were not always stable. Luckily, I only slipped one time heading back to where the kombi was parked… but hey we can’t all have ‘graceful’ hikes! Getting to the destination of this hike was amazing and something I never dreamed of seeing with my own eyes. I know Umphumulo has some great scenes, but this one in the Drakensberg Mountains was so very unique, different, and unexplainable; maybe it was the different feel of the place, maybe it was the fact that it took a long time to get there, maybe it was the fact that it was my FIRST hike, or maybe it was knowing that I was with my MUD family… no matter the case it was an experience, adventure, and once-in-a-lifetime event to remember. This then led to Saturday.
Saturday was the hike in Lesotho, and I have to say, that this was the day that made this whole retreat life-changing and eye-opening for me. As we headed towards Lesotho, having a nice journey that included great scenes, having to cross South Africa’s border into Lesotho (this time NOT Mexico!!), and an unexpected soggy and muddy road (our tour guide, Josh, was a beast at tackling this path with all of us in the kombi and it included a fun ride in the mean time!). Our kombi ride ended at a school in Lesotho where we were informed that this was the primary school that the Amphitheatre Backpackers is helping to fund. We were all able to go inside the school, see the simple-ness of the building and for me, become humbled at how the school’s children learn. But it didn’t end there. After seeing and learning a bit about the school, we all started our hike that included a nice Basotho (what the people of Lesotho are called) history. When we arrived at the spot where we were to have lunch, Josh (the tour guide… not to be confused with our fellow YAGM ) informed us that we could put down our belongings and head to the top of the mountain nearby without him if we wanted. Well, with the determination of more than half of the group… we all headed up this path that turned out to be so steep that in the middle of it I had no idea what I was getting myself into. As I felt myself getting tired, I stepped to the side to allow everyone behind me to pass. After a good breather, I began up the same vertical path everyone else was going but then began to notice that everyone else was still going too fast for me… so I stopped again. Well, just as I was about to head back down this path that all of a sudden turned into a steep and smooth rock path, I thought to myself, “I can’t do this.” But then, another fellow YAGM stayed behind with me and encouraged me to keep on going and directed me up this slick transition that everyone else seemed to do with no problem. So, with the encouragement of AMANDA (love you girl!), my endurance and determination (which came out of nowhere), and the grace of God… I MADE it to the top! And this turned out to be one of the most breath-taking scenes I’ve ever seen. Not only was I on top of this mountain that entitled me to go through physical and mental strain, but the prize at the end was worth it all… for me to BE at that spot where I stood, look around and smile with my MUD family, hold my hat so the wind wouldn’t take it away, accomplish and cross several ‘borders’ in my own life, and just BREATHE IT IN.
The rest of the hike in Lesotho was just as amazing; learning about its history, eating pap and spinach, getting to rejoice with a Basotho family, buying a traditional Basotho hat, playing with the Basotho children as they saw us passing by, and then waving goodbye to them as the kombi drove back to the border… this time going into South Africa. In addition, that evening at the Amphitheatre Backpackers I received an unexpected phone call from home!! It was nice to get to talk to some family, especially after that crazy hike… a bit of icing to the cake I might say. Then, as everyone was getting prepared for dinner, one of the most MAGNIFICENT sunsets off the Drakensburg Mts. was in action. We all ended up standing on the balcony outside of our room and just watched the sun go down… this made us a bit late for dinner, but totally worth it! After dinner, the other volunteers and I ended up talking with one another, stayed up late, and then as I walked back to our room, I noticed the BEAUTIFUL view of the stars from above. I remember thinking to myself, “what a day,” and then to end it with this. This day, Saturday, November 26, 2010 is most definitely a day to remember!
Once Sunday came, we checked out of our room and then had a nice Sunday service, in ENGLISH I might add, amongst the group and Mr. Konkol thanks to Brian. Then we all piled back into the kombi to take our lovely journey back to PMB where we all prepared for our travels back to our placement sites come Monday. Once arriving back in Umphumulo on Monday and then starting work on Tuesday, it’s funny to say, but I was greeted with such love, joy, and excitement Tuesday morning in the SED Office as if I had just arrived in Umphumulo my first day. It was overwhelmingly nice to have such a welcome from my coworkers, and as I was a bit under the weather with having to say, “Hamba Kahlle (go well)” to my MUD family on Monday… I was anxious to be back in Umphumulo. I even received SMS’s (text messages) from some of the doctors at the Umphumulo Public Hospital making sure I arrived back to Umphumulo safe and sound, as before I left I let them know when I would be back in Umphumulo from PMB.
It’s awesome how God works through us all; He helped me get through some challenges this past retreat that I will never forget, but above all He has guided me to be here… South Africa. I’m thankful for the people He has placed in my life too, because it is being alongside each and every one of them that I am growing, learning, and sharing. With Thanksgiving just passing by, I’m thankful for all of the people in my life, physically alongside me or not, I’m thankful for the renewing of each new and mysterious day, and I’m thankful for the breath of life He gives me… because “when the day is done” it is He that continues to watch over us, it is He that continues to allow us to prosper, and it is He that continues to give us hope (Jeremiah 29:11) with each new experience, adventure, or maybe even once-in-a-lifetime event.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Same Country, Different Homes…
Again sorry for the late posting, but this should have been posted on Weds, Nov. 24, 2010... Thanks again for reading!
South Africa. When I first thought about this country there were tons and tons of things that just entered my mind, with the obvious being zebras, giraffes, and lions! But as I have now traveled around a bit I am beginning to ‘see’ South Africa in a whole new light. This past week I found myself in Soweto where I attend the Diakonia Aids Ministry (DAM) Gala Dinner that Joy, another YAGM volunteering for the ELCSA’ s Central Diocese and DAM, had invited all the other YAGM to. Being in the Umphumulo Hospital and volunteering at the HIV& AIDS counseling center, I wanted to be present at this event to see what the DAM was about and then be able to volunteer with Joy for a part of the week I would be in Soweto. Soweto is very different from Umphumulo; as cold is to hot and slow is to fast, Umphumulo is to Soweto.
I spent all day Saturday getting ready for the Gala dinner; sweeping the entire auditorium in which the dinner was held and then peeling, chopping, and mixing all kinds of foods to prepare for ~200 people. After the dinner, which was full of traditional dances, choirs, and fun conversation, I stayed in Soweto to volunteer with Joy; Amanda, the YAGM volunteer in Bonaero Park, stayed with both of us too! Monday through Wednesday began with meeting all of Joy’s wonderful colleagues, working in the DAM office, and then left the evenings to venture out into Soweto. One of the first things I noticed about Soweto was how to catch a kombi (taxi). I quickly looked to Joy and asked, “What is everyone doing with their hands?” You see, kombis in Soweto go to various places due to having several things to do. So in order for the driver to know where you’d like to go, hand signals are key. So to get to the Hector Pieterson Museum, a great place to learn about Soweto’s history and the historical riots that were held there, Joy put her pointer finger up to indicate we were heading more into town. There are about four to five different hand signs to catch a kombi in Soweto, and I was so excited to just learn two of them! In Umphumulo, to catch a kombi you just flag down and get in which ever one is passing by or you wait in one until it becomes full due to only going to one destination, Maphumulo or Stanger.
Another fascinating experience I encountered while in Joy’s community was the neighborhood. In Soweto you actually have a neighbor that is not at least a five minute walk up or down hill. You can just yell a simple, “Hello! How are you,” right to the other side of the gate and get a response with a wave too. The welcoming of the neighbors is the same, but instead of isiZulu you hear more Sesotho; finally another language to hear and learn a bit of! Also, I really enjoyed seeing the man pushing a shopping cart down the street while he rang a bell to sell vegetables; this was just like the paleta man at home in San Antonio (as you hear the ringing of a bell down the road, you quickly gather your money as you see the paleta man pushing the freezer box selling a special kind of Mexican ice-cream bar coming along). It was also nice to see the kids playing in the street as they raced with a tire to see who could roll the tire to the end of the road first or as they played a game with what looked like dice. Just having the noise around was very different, yet exciting all at the same time. In fact, just to have noises of all kinds made Soweto very different from Umphumulo. After volunteering with Joy on Wednesday, the three of us (Amanda, Joy, and myself) headed towards Bonaero Park where Amanda was volunteering. Thursday and Friday we volunteered in the ELCSA’s head office and helped out doing random things for the meetings that were being held at the lodge Amanda also worked. We also met several of Amanda’s co-workers who greeted Joy and myself with open arms, smiles, and warm hearts—which made me understand that no matter where I go in South Africa, feeling like I’m at home is just a part of their culture. Like Soweto, Bonaero Park is full of all different kinds of noises and there is just something always going on. Also if you take a walk down the road, whether in Soweto or Bonaero Park, vehicles of all kinds are always passing by; unlike Umphumulo where you’ll see a vehicle passing by every hour or so.
The three of us also ended up attending a Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates soccer game in Soccer City (Soweto). Just to give you an idea of how HUGE this game was, the Chiefs and Pirates are two of the biggest soccer clubs and rivals amongst the soccer fans of South Africa. Getting to the soccer stadium by kombi, was one of the most cultural things I have ever witnessed in South Africa. You looked to the left and there was a kombi with chiefs and pirates fans yelling out the windows for their team, you looked to the right and you could see another kombi with flags favoring the chiefs or pirates waving outside of the windows, and you looked behind you and you could see and hear vuvuzelas, more cheering, and amazing spirit from the fans; we were all South Africans as we rode along in the kombi joining in on the spirit. As soon as we saw the stadium, you could literally see the crowds of people going into the stadium and you could feel your heart beating faster as the cheering from the fans was heard from the distance. As we walked closer and closer to the gate, I began to feel the spirit of the stadium even more. Throughout the entire game the spirit of the fans, which included cheering, dancing, singing, jumping, and blowing vuvuzelas, was one of the most EXCITING things I was able to witness and be a part of myself!! All in all, being in the totally different environments of Soweto and Bonaero Park, which are both a part of Johannesburg (Joburg), has allowed me to see and remember that South Africa is more than just a peaceful, relaxing, and slow place; it is also a place of development, significant history, and different languages and cultures. Now I can understand why Joburg is mentioned as the ‘heartbeat’ of South Africa… Go Chiefs!
South Africa. When I first thought about this country there were tons and tons of things that just entered my mind, with the obvious being zebras, giraffes, and lions! But as I have now traveled around a bit I am beginning to ‘see’ South Africa in a whole new light. This past week I found myself in Soweto where I attend the Diakonia Aids Ministry (DAM) Gala Dinner that Joy, another YAGM volunteering for the ELCSA’ s Central Diocese and DAM, had invited all the other YAGM to. Being in the Umphumulo Hospital and volunteering at the HIV& AIDS counseling center, I wanted to be present at this event to see what the DAM was about and then be able to volunteer with Joy for a part of the week I would be in Soweto. Soweto is very different from Umphumulo; as cold is to hot and slow is to fast, Umphumulo is to Soweto.
I spent all day Saturday getting ready for the Gala dinner; sweeping the entire auditorium in which the dinner was held and then peeling, chopping, and mixing all kinds of foods to prepare for ~200 people. After the dinner, which was full of traditional dances, choirs, and fun conversation, I stayed in Soweto to volunteer with Joy; Amanda, the YAGM volunteer in Bonaero Park, stayed with both of us too! Monday through Wednesday began with meeting all of Joy’s wonderful colleagues, working in the DAM office, and then left the evenings to venture out into Soweto. One of the first things I noticed about Soweto was how to catch a kombi (taxi). I quickly looked to Joy and asked, “What is everyone doing with their hands?” You see, kombis in Soweto go to various places due to having several things to do. So in order for the driver to know where you’d like to go, hand signals are key. So to get to the Hector Pieterson Museum, a great place to learn about Soweto’s history and the historical riots that were held there, Joy put her pointer finger up to indicate we were heading more into town. There are about four to five different hand signs to catch a kombi in Soweto, and I was so excited to just learn two of them! In Umphumulo, to catch a kombi you just flag down and get in which ever one is passing by or you wait in one until it becomes full due to only going to one destination, Maphumulo or Stanger.
Another fascinating experience I encountered while in Joy’s community was the neighborhood. In Soweto you actually have a neighbor that is not at least a five minute walk up or down hill. You can just yell a simple, “Hello! How are you,” right to the other side of the gate and get a response with a wave too. The welcoming of the neighbors is the same, but instead of isiZulu you hear more Sesotho; finally another language to hear and learn a bit of! Also, I really enjoyed seeing the man pushing a shopping cart down the street while he rang a bell to sell vegetables; this was just like the paleta man at home in San Antonio (as you hear the ringing of a bell down the road, you quickly gather your money as you see the paleta man pushing the freezer box selling a special kind of Mexican ice-cream bar coming along). It was also nice to see the kids playing in the street as they raced with a tire to see who could roll the tire to the end of the road first or as they played a game with what looked like dice. Just having the noise around was very different, yet exciting all at the same time. In fact, just to have noises of all kinds made Soweto very different from Umphumulo. After volunteering with Joy on Wednesday, the three of us (Amanda, Joy, and myself) headed towards Bonaero Park where Amanda was volunteering. Thursday and Friday we volunteered in the ELCSA’s head office and helped out doing random things for the meetings that were being held at the lodge Amanda also worked. We also met several of Amanda’s co-workers who greeted Joy and myself with open arms, smiles, and warm hearts—which made me understand that no matter where I go in South Africa, feeling like I’m at home is just a part of their culture. Like Soweto, Bonaero Park is full of all different kinds of noises and there is just something always going on. Also if you take a walk down the road, whether in Soweto or Bonaero Park, vehicles of all kinds are always passing by; unlike Umphumulo where you’ll see a vehicle passing by every hour or so.
The three of us also ended up attending a Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates soccer game in Soccer City (Soweto). Just to give you an idea of how HUGE this game was, the Chiefs and Pirates are two of the biggest soccer clubs and rivals amongst the soccer fans of South Africa. Getting to the soccer stadium by kombi, was one of the most cultural things I have ever witnessed in South Africa. You looked to the left and there was a kombi with chiefs and pirates fans yelling out the windows for their team, you looked to the right and you could see another kombi with flags favoring the chiefs or pirates waving outside of the windows, and you looked behind you and you could see and hear vuvuzelas, more cheering, and amazing spirit from the fans; we were all South Africans as we rode along in the kombi joining in on the spirit. As soon as we saw the stadium, you could literally see the crowds of people going into the stadium and you could feel your heart beating faster as the cheering from the fans was heard from the distance. As we walked closer and closer to the gate, I began to feel the spirit of the stadium even more. Throughout the entire game the spirit of the fans, which included cheering, dancing, singing, jumping, and blowing vuvuzelas, was one of the most EXCITING things I was able to witness and be a part of myself!! All in all, being in the totally different environments of Soweto and Bonaero Park, which are both a part of Johannesburg (Joburg), has allowed me to see and remember that South Africa is more than just a peaceful, relaxing, and slow place; it is also a place of development, significant history, and different languages and cultures. Now I can understand why Joburg is mentioned as the ‘heartbeat’ of South Africa… Go Chiefs!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
No Plans for the Weekends...
Note: This blog should have been posted on November 5, 2010... Sorry for the long delay, but enjoy!
The past week or two in Umphumulo has turned out to be mysterious, joyous, and full of laughter and I’ll tell you why. Two weekends ago I found myself with no plans, but with the wind of fate, Samke, the Receptionist for the ELCSA SED Office, invited me to stay with her at her home in Msomi Village, about a good 45 minute walk from the church center. Being the loving Umama (mom) Samke that she is, she looked at me and said, “You can’t stay here alone. You must come with me and I will show you my kids.” So of course I accompanied her, but she also gave me no choice but to say, “giyavuma,” (I agree) as she knew I would be staying at the church center alone. So let me start here…
Being Friday, we all left the offices at 1pm for the beginning of the weekend. I now know the offices close at 1pm so that others can have enough ‘sun-time’ to get home in other towns for the weekend. On our way, it suddenly began to pour, become very windy, and cold. With the umbrella I borrowed from Baba Khathi, we walked really close to one another, laughed together, walked even slower than the slow walk we were already doing, and held somewhat of a casual conversation. When we arrived at Samke’s home, drenched from the knees down, I found out that the kids she had been talking about were her chickens that she raises. As we walked through the gate to her home, they all came running towards us and she stated, “We are not feeding you now! Go run around in the rain and play!” I could do nothing else but laugh. As we walked into her home, taking off our muddy shoes and wet socks first, she had me sit down and commanded that I changed out of my wet pants into something dry so that I didn’t get sick. So I did exactly that. We ate a nice hot meal, boiled white rice and dry beans, for lunch and then noticed the sun beginning to shine. Finally I could get outside and see things. We went straight to her chicken pen, where she put the chicks back into their home (cage) and she checked for other random things to fix that were rearranged due to the wind and rain. She also showed me her garden, which isn’t small by the way, and mentioned to me that we were going to plant some seeds the following day since the soil was nice and moist and ready for planting. Then from afar, we saw Phili (short for Philisiwe), the Bishop’s Secretary for the ELCSA SED Office, who was getting ready for a Labola celebration at her home the following evening. By the time I got to look around and see a bit more of things the sun began to set and Bongi, Samke’s daughter-in-law, just arrived home balancing a 5 kg (11 lb) bag of chicken feed on her head. The three of us had dinner, talked about how I was going to balance the bag on my head next, enjoyed each other’s company, laughed like there was no tomorrow, and slept until who knows when.
When Saturday came around, Samke and I woke up with the sun to feed the chickens. How exciting! I ended up playing around with the roosters and hens and laughed as they ran from one side to the other fetching the chicken feed that I had tossed in every direction on the ground. We then had porridge and then got back into bed as Samke said it was too early to be up on a Saturday. We ended up singing from the Zulu hymn book. As we sang each song all I could remember was how relaxing, at peace, and beautiful the very moment was. And when a couple of hours passed, and we could now get out of bed, I remember Samke telling me, “I’m so honored to have you in my home. I can’t put into words, into English words, how thankful I am to have you here with me. Oh, Vale! (my nickname since most can’t pronounce my name) And you sing so beautifully too, no wonder you’re in the choir with me!” It was then that I began to feel the warmth of family and home in a place that was nothing like I had ever imagined being.
So when we got out of bed, Samke began to gather her butternut and maize meal seeds, her “hoo” tool for digging up the soil, and she put on her boots that looked like rain boots but tougher. As she made holes in the garden, she told me which seeds and how many of each to put in each hole. When we were done, she fetched the fertilizer (which was the chicken waste mixed with moist soil), we placed it on top of the seeds, and then covered the holes with the soil Samke had just dug up to make the holes. Then we stood together, mud on our hands, clothes, and skin, and prayed for our crops to grow nice and strong so that it may provide us food later on. I was honored to stand beside Samke. I wasn’t even at her home for a full 24 hours yet, but to feed her kids (chickens), to sing with her, to plant in her garden and be in the mud, and to hold her hand, pray, and smile, was a part of life that I didn’t even know I was missing until that moment. We then had “breakfast,” what I would call “brunch,” took a bath, and then headed our way towards Mama Samke’s home, Samke’s mom.
On our way there, it began to rain heavily; another adventure just ahead. With the shoes we were both wearing, we might as well have danced our way down the muddy paths with all of the slipping and sliding we were doing, but with the grace of God neither one of us fell down and we made it with only mud on our shoes. Mama Samke didn’t know English, but with the isiZulu I knew I made sure to use each and every word… and smile at the same time too! As I watched her talk with Samke, I felt honored to visit with her, be in her presence, stay in her home for a bit, look around, and feel the presence of being a bit deeper in Maphumulo and its people. By the end of our visit, Mama Samke gave me a heart-felt hug, placed her hand on my chest (as if to feel my heart beat that would make me become one with the pulse running through her hand), and then told me to come back soon (of course knowing she said this with the help of Samke as our translator). In a big smile I replied with, “Yebo (yes),” placing my hand on her elbow and then said, “Sala khalle (goodbye).” With the big smile and great laugh she gave me, due to speaking isiZulu I’d suppose, she responded with, “Hamba khalle (go well),” and Samke and I were on our way back to her home, in the never-ending rain, up another muddy path to begin another dance.
The rest of the day was just more time to spend with one another until Bongi returned home from working at the hospital. When she arrived home, the three of us had dinner (uphuthu and beef stew, yum!), and then Samke went straight to sleep probably due to the fun we all had the previous night. Bongi and I ended up staying awake for a while. She mentioned to me that she had seen me in the hospital several times and asked me why I was there. I told her that I was a volunteer there following the doctors, and with that said we ended up going through her nursing materials and studied together. By the time we both began to yawn, she ended up telling me that I had to come over more so that I could help her study, especially for a nursing exam that was coming up soon. We then went to bed and the weekend soon came to an end.
This past weekend was another weekend with nothing planned, and with that said I ended up having another mysterious weekend. I ended up going to an unveiling at the Umphumulo Cemetery with Trevor, a friend I had made heading towards the Young Adults League Conference a while back, Saturday morning. An unveiling is where family and friends come together to witness the ‘unveiling’ of the tombstone for the family member or friend who had passed a while back. At the Umphumulo Cemetery, not all burial sites have a tombstone, but when the family is able to purchase one a ceremony of blessings is done. Since arriving in Umphumulo, I have found myself attending more funeral type services than anything else, but I’m not really complaining about it either… ironic, I know! Actually, it is here that I am getting more into the Zulu culture, meeting new people, having a good conversation, and most importantly not being at the church center alone. The whole environment of these types of services is very optimistic, full of singing, clapping, and dancing, and full of colors! Also, whether a funeral or an unveiling, these types of services are more celebratory than anything else; yes there are those who cry and those who mourn and feel the emptiness of the one being remembered, but the aura that is made amongst the family, friends, and rest of the community that has come for support, is just not the same. One thing I find very impressive, is that the community from ALL directions come; they come jam-packed in vehicles or in little crowds by foot making the support a bigger deal than the distance. Also, death is more about being home, retrieving the feeling of happiness, and knowing that life goes on. It is amazing to be a part of something so celebratory that maybe shouldn’t be, but should something like this be so sad? After the ceremony there was a lunch at the hall next to Baba and Mama Mabaso’s home, Baba Mabaso is the local Baba (Father) for the Umphumulo Lutheran Church. Here I had more of the delicious South African food; beef stew, fried chicken, cole slaw, chutnye (a mix of tomatoes, onions, and green chilies), chakalaka (a mix of fried carrots and onions), butternut pumpkin (my favorite!), rice, and tripe (not really my favorite in the South African style, but in Menudo-Mexican style- it’s delicious!). After eating, was more conversing and getting to look at and adore the African dresses worn by the women. Hopefully I can get one made for me soon! Trevor had then introduced me to Doyo, who I found is a twin too! So she and I spent lots of time getting to know one another, talking about home, family, and friends. Then as the rain was beginning to come again, the three of us (Doyo, Trevor, and me) headed to a home nearby to have more food, conversations, and for me I learned a bit more about “Ubuntu.”
As people arrived, they either conversed in circles inside the kitchen (no, not in the living room!), outside by the vehicles, or outside in the garage; I found myself following Trevor and Doyo to the garage. As I sat on a crate I found myself feeling like I was at home or even in Mexico; seeing people gather in the kitchen/dining room instead of the living room (I’d guess it’s because of the food, but nothing wrong with that in my eyes!), sitting in a circle on anything that could withhold a person outside, watching people come and go, observing the circle getting bigger and bigger as the time kept passing, loud music coming from the small store across the street, and listening to the stories and jokes shared by each person. It’s things like this that make people feel more than just an everyday person; in Spanish it’s “la raza” (the brotherhood) and in Zulu it’s “ubuntu” (humanity).
Being in Maphumulo, South Africa, ubuntu is like a single oxygen atom floating around in the air waiting to attach to another oxygen atom so that its people can “breathe it in” making it a supplemental oxygen molecule. South Africans breathe in this oxygen, let it fill into their lungs and circulate into their bloodstream, and then exhale it into the air to share it with another. Now, I can compare this to what it’s like when I reminisce about being at home with my family or during family get-togethers in the States, and I even get more of a sense of it when I reminisce about visiting family in Mexico too. Maybe it’s this ubuntu that has made me feel at home because what it is here is what it is like where I have already been. I’ve grown up being a very family oriented person, that here the sense of family is everywhere. Maybe that’s why a part of me has felt homesick, but most times it just quickly diminishes and isn’t there.
Humanity. Brotherhood. Family. Whether here or there, it feels like the same kind of environment and way of living amongst its people, but the air has its differences. It’s kind of like being an identical twin, like myself. We may look exactly the same, but once you get to know us we are just different in our ways. The underlying moral of what ‘ubuntu,’ ‘la raza,’ and ‘family’ is, for me, is the same, but they have its differences. Being alongside the community here in Maphumulo and being able to get a bit deeper than just what one sees, has allowed me to taste the sweetness of ubuntu. From here on out, only the Lord knows what lies ahead as I begin to breathe in more of the community and share more with my family, here.
The past week or two in Umphumulo has turned out to be mysterious, joyous, and full of laughter and I’ll tell you why. Two weekends ago I found myself with no plans, but with the wind of fate, Samke, the Receptionist for the ELCSA SED Office, invited me to stay with her at her home in Msomi Village, about a good 45 minute walk from the church center. Being the loving Umama (mom) Samke that she is, she looked at me and said, “You can’t stay here alone. You must come with me and I will show you my kids.” So of course I accompanied her, but she also gave me no choice but to say, “giyavuma,” (I agree) as she knew I would be staying at the church center alone. So let me start here…
Being Friday, we all left the offices at 1pm for the beginning of the weekend. I now know the offices close at 1pm so that others can have enough ‘sun-time’ to get home in other towns for the weekend. On our way, it suddenly began to pour, become very windy, and cold. With the umbrella I borrowed from Baba Khathi, we walked really close to one another, laughed together, walked even slower than the slow walk we were already doing, and held somewhat of a casual conversation. When we arrived at Samke’s home, drenched from the knees down, I found out that the kids she had been talking about were her chickens that she raises. As we walked through the gate to her home, they all came running towards us and she stated, “We are not feeding you now! Go run around in the rain and play!” I could do nothing else but laugh. As we walked into her home, taking off our muddy shoes and wet socks first, she had me sit down and commanded that I changed out of my wet pants into something dry so that I didn’t get sick. So I did exactly that. We ate a nice hot meal, boiled white rice and dry beans, for lunch and then noticed the sun beginning to shine. Finally I could get outside and see things. We went straight to her chicken pen, where she put the chicks back into their home (cage) and she checked for other random things to fix that were rearranged due to the wind and rain. She also showed me her garden, which isn’t small by the way, and mentioned to me that we were going to plant some seeds the following day since the soil was nice and moist and ready for planting. Then from afar, we saw Phili (short for Philisiwe), the Bishop’s Secretary for the ELCSA SED Office, who was getting ready for a Labola celebration at her home the following evening. By the time I got to look around and see a bit more of things the sun began to set and Bongi, Samke’s daughter-in-law, just arrived home balancing a 5 kg (11 lb) bag of chicken feed on her head. The three of us had dinner, talked about how I was going to balance the bag on my head next, enjoyed each other’s company, laughed like there was no tomorrow, and slept until who knows when.
When Saturday came around, Samke and I woke up with the sun to feed the chickens. How exciting! I ended up playing around with the roosters and hens and laughed as they ran from one side to the other fetching the chicken feed that I had tossed in every direction on the ground. We then had porridge and then got back into bed as Samke said it was too early to be up on a Saturday. We ended up singing from the Zulu hymn book. As we sang each song all I could remember was how relaxing, at peace, and beautiful the very moment was. And when a couple of hours passed, and we could now get out of bed, I remember Samke telling me, “I’m so honored to have you in my home. I can’t put into words, into English words, how thankful I am to have you here with me. Oh, Vale! (my nickname since most can’t pronounce my name) And you sing so beautifully too, no wonder you’re in the choir with me!” It was then that I began to feel the warmth of family and home in a place that was nothing like I had ever imagined being.
So when we got out of bed, Samke began to gather her butternut and maize meal seeds, her “hoo” tool for digging up the soil, and she put on her boots that looked like rain boots but tougher. As she made holes in the garden, she told me which seeds and how many of each to put in each hole. When we were done, she fetched the fertilizer (which was the chicken waste mixed with moist soil), we placed it on top of the seeds, and then covered the holes with the soil Samke had just dug up to make the holes. Then we stood together, mud on our hands, clothes, and skin, and prayed for our crops to grow nice and strong so that it may provide us food later on. I was honored to stand beside Samke. I wasn’t even at her home for a full 24 hours yet, but to feed her kids (chickens), to sing with her, to plant in her garden and be in the mud, and to hold her hand, pray, and smile, was a part of life that I didn’t even know I was missing until that moment. We then had “breakfast,” what I would call “brunch,” took a bath, and then headed our way towards Mama Samke’s home, Samke’s mom.
On our way there, it began to rain heavily; another adventure just ahead. With the shoes we were both wearing, we might as well have danced our way down the muddy paths with all of the slipping and sliding we were doing, but with the grace of God neither one of us fell down and we made it with only mud on our shoes. Mama Samke didn’t know English, but with the isiZulu I knew I made sure to use each and every word… and smile at the same time too! As I watched her talk with Samke, I felt honored to visit with her, be in her presence, stay in her home for a bit, look around, and feel the presence of being a bit deeper in Maphumulo and its people. By the end of our visit, Mama Samke gave me a heart-felt hug, placed her hand on my chest (as if to feel my heart beat that would make me become one with the pulse running through her hand), and then told me to come back soon (of course knowing she said this with the help of Samke as our translator). In a big smile I replied with, “Yebo (yes),” placing my hand on her elbow and then said, “Sala khalle (goodbye).” With the big smile and great laugh she gave me, due to speaking isiZulu I’d suppose, she responded with, “Hamba khalle (go well),” and Samke and I were on our way back to her home, in the never-ending rain, up another muddy path to begin another dance.
The rest of the day was just more time to spend with one another until Bongi returned home from working at the hospital. When she arrived home, the three of us had dinner (uphuthu and beef stew, yum!), and then Samke went straight to sleep probably due to the fun we all had the previous night. Bongi and I ended up staying awake for a while. She mentioned to me that she had seen me in the hospital several times and asked me why I was there. I told her that I was a volunteer there following the doctors, and with that said we ended up going through her nursing materials and studied together. By the time we both began to yawn, she ended up telling me that I had to come over more so that I could help her study, especially for a nursing exam that was coming up soon. We then went to bed and the weekend soon came to an end.
This past weekend was another weekend with nothing planned, and with that said I ended up having another mysterious weekend. I ended up going to an unveiling at the Umphumulo Cemetery with Trevor, a friend I had made heading towards the Young Adults League Conference a while back, Saturday morning. An unveiling is where family and friends come together to witness the ‘unveiling’ of the tombstone for the family member or friend who had passed a while back. At the Umphumulo Cemetery, not all burial sites have a tombstone, but when the family is able to purchase one a ceremony of blessings is done. Since arriving in Umphumulo, I have found myself attending more funeral type services than anything else, but I’m not really complaining about it either… ironic, I know! Actually, it is here that I am getting more into the Zulu culture, meeting new people, having a good conversation, and most importantly not being at the church center alone. The whole environment of these types of services is very optimistic, full of singing, clapping, and dancing, and full of colors! Also, whether a funeral or an unveiling, these types of services are more celebratory than anything else; yes there are those who cry and those who mourn and feel the emptiness of the one being remembered, but the aura that is made amongst the family, friends, and rest of the community that has come for support, is just not the same. One thing I find very impressive, is that the community from ALL directions come; they come jam-packed in vehicles or in little crowds by foot making the support a bigger deal than the distance. Also, death is more about being home, retrieving the feeling of happiness, and knowing that life goes on. It is amazing to be a part of something so celebratory that maybe shouldn’t be, but should something like this be so sad? After the ceremony there was a lunch at the hall next to Baba and Mama Mabaso’s home, Baba Mabaso is the local Baba (Father) for the Umphumulo Lutheran Church. Here I had more of the delicious South African food; beef stew, fried chicken, cole slaw, chutnye (a mix of tomatoes, onions, and green chilies), chakalaka (a mix of fried carrots and onions), butternut pumpkin (my favorite!), rice, and tripe (not really my favorite in the South African style, but in Menudo-Mexican style- it’s delicious!). After eating, was more conversing and getting to look at and adore the African dresses worn by the women. Hopefully I can get one made for me soon! Trevor had then introduced me to Doyo, who I found is a twin too! So she and I spent lots of time getting to know one another, talking about home, family, and friends. Then as the rain was beginning to come again, the three of us (Doyo, Trevor, and me) headed to a home nearby to have more food, conversations, and for me I learned a bit more about “Ubuntu.”
As people arrived, they either conversed in circles inside the kitchen (no, not in the living room!), outside by the vehicles, or outside in the garage; I found myself following Trevor and Doyo to the garage. As I sat on a crate I found myself feeling like I was at home or even in Mexico; seeing people gather in the kitchen/dining room instead of the living room (I’d guess it’s because of the food, but nothing wrong with that in my eyes!), sitting in a circle on anything that could withhold a person outside, watching people come and go, observing the circle getting bigger and bigger as the time kept passing, loud music coming from the small store across the street, and listening to the stories and jokes shared by each person. It’s things like this that make people feel more than just an everyday person; in Spanish it’s “la raza” (the brotherhood) and in Zulu it’s “ubuntu” (humanity).
Being in Maphumulo, South Africa, ubuntu is like a single oxygen atom floating around in the air waiting to attach to another oxygen atom so that its people can “breathe it in” making it a supplemental oxygen molecule. South Africans breathe in this oxygen, let it fill into their lungs and circulate into their bloodstream, and then exhale it into the air to share it with another. Now, I can compare this to what it’s like when I reminisce about being at home with my family or during family get-togethers in the States, and I even get more of a sense of it when I reminisce about visiting family in Mexico too. Maybe it’s this ubuntu that has made me feel at home because what it is here is what it is like where I have already been. I’ve grown up being a very family oriented person, that here the sense of family is everywhere. Maybe that’s why a part of me has felt homesick, but most times it just quickly diminishes and isn’t there.
Humanity. Brotherhood. Family. Whether here or there, it feels like the same kind of environment and way of living amongst its people, but the air has its differences. It’s kind of like being an identical twin, like myself. We may look exactly the same, but once you get to know us we are just different in our ways. The underlying moral of what ‘ubuntu,’ ‘la raza,’ and ‘family’ is, for me, is the same, but they have its differences. Being alongside the community here in Maphumulo and being able to get a bit deeper than just what one sees, has allowed me to taste the sweetness of ubuntu. From here on out, only the Lord knows what lies ahead as I begin to breathe in more of the community and share more with my family, here.
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