Everyday Life and Not So Everyday Road Trip

I thought I would share a few pics that are typical of everyday life in our area.

Are you in a hurry?    I hope not.    Because in South Africa, cows take precedence over cars on ANY road..whether it is a neighborhood road or one of the main interstates in the country.    There don't seem to be any "official" pastures here.   Each morning the "herder" takes his cows anywhere he pleases.   They wander through towns eating grass in yards, along ditches or even eating gardens if the owners do not have a fence.   Each day they walk to a new location, which is often along the side of a major road. Cows are literally eating a few inches from cars whizzing by at 60 mph.  Sometimes, you see the herder fairly close by keeping an eye on them.   But other times there is no one in sight.   We have been told, that herders often take a nap in the shade while the cattle graze--of course, there are no fences so the cattle meander out on to the road.    We were trying to get to church on time.

Cattle are a sign of wealth in South Africa.  I will write more about that later.








This colorful creature loves our front porch and our driveway.   Elder Todd finally got a picture of him.







When we stopped for gas at our neighborhood petrol station, I happened to glance at the vehicle next to us.    It was a white pickup truck that is very popular here for families and businesses.    They have every size and configuration of pickups that you can imagine.   It looked like this one had live chickens.  Sure enough, I jumped out and asked the driver what he was carrying.  He informed me he had 300-350 chickens he was taking to a town 3 hours away, in hopes of selling them.     To fit 300 chickens in this truck, he must have 5 layers of birds stacked on top of each other on boards.    They were PACKED tightly and it was such a hot day.

Lesotho--Country Within Another Country

On December 14-18, we had the opportunity to travel to Lesotho.   It is an independent country completely surrounded by South Africa.   We heard that it is the only country contained inside another country.   It is also a part of our mission, but it is an 9 hour drive from us.   (We are only allowed to travel within our mission boundaries.)  When the opportunity came to travel there, we jumped at the chance.  Four senior couples (Snells, Rowberrys, Stevensons and Todds) met at the Avani Hotel in Maseru, the capitol.   We joined up with Elder and Sister Chandler, who are the only senior couple living in Maseru.  

Lesotho has its own language, currency, housing and clothing styles.   We found the country fascinating and the culture different.   We were busy seeing everything we could from early morning until late at night.

The first day we hiked up a very steep mountain to a plateau that overlooks the countryside.   This was the place where the king built his home and a small village in the early 1800's.   An Irishman came and showed them how to build homes out of stones.   How did one Irishman find his way to this remote area so long ago? 

Elder Todd and I looking out from the window of the king's house that has been restored.....very humble home for a king.

View from the mountain top.   The hats worn in Lesotho are shaped like this mountain.  Very unique.

  Lesotho has very few addresses, even fewer sign along the highway, and even our GPS would not work.    So each day was a true adventure.   The roads are narrow and twist and turn.     The second day was a highlight.   We drove 1 1/2 hours (a supposed short cut over a dirt road which consisted of one pothole or ditch after another).   But the destination was worth it.   

We arrived at a Weaving Shop in a remote area.   Elder and Sister Chandler (senior couple living in Lesotho) had developed a special relationship with the women working here.   They are encouraging them in their business, their personal lives and their love for Jesus Christ.   They asked these ladies to weave a picture of the nativity for them, but they did not know what that meant.   Sister Chandler found a picture online of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus and printed it out.    Then they took it to someone who could enlarge it.   Last, they found an artist who could sketch the outline on large paper for the weaver's to copy.   Then these talented women made tapestry for each couple (to purchase).   I was not going to purchase one, but seeing them weaving my own nativity and getting to know the lady who was doing it made this tapestry feel so special.    The Chandlers had arranged for us to bring food for each lady and a Book of Mormon gift wrapped.   They had visited these ladies several times and taken pictures of them working.   They presented the enlarged photos to each lady.    Elder Chandler showed them how they could hang them up in their shop.   The ladies wept.   They were so appreciative of the time, attention and acclaim they were receiving. 
  
Suddenly, they stood up and started dancing and chanting.   We joined them.   This went on for quite a while and we shared a loving feeling between 2 cultures. 

One of our weavers carding and combing the goats hair.   All their weaving is with goat's hair.   Most of the day the women sit on the floor on a bag of maize as they work.   Her spinning wheel is on the right. 

We didn't notice at first, but the walls of the workshop are all made from pop cans.   They are held in place with one single wire running down the middle of every can.   Both the exterior and interior walls are constructed this way.

Up close view of the pop can wall. 

This is my nativity wall hanging and the wonderful lady who made it.   I can hardly wait to hang it up next Christmas.   What memories it has!!

As we drove home we saw this young man walking up the mountain...it was going to be a very long, difficult, hot walk.   We stopped so we could take his picture and each couple gave him a generous tip.    As we were walking away, he said, "Do you have any food?"   We didn't have much in our cars, but we gave him every single morsel of food we had.  Notice the blanket he is wearing--it is at least 90 degrees F. 

Day Two found us on another adventure.    The drive was just as long and twisty and bumpy.   Eventually, we came close to our destination but our car could not navigate the roads.   The Chandlers drive a truck in Lesotho so they were OK.   But Elder Todd and I parked our car, paid someone to watch our car,  and caught a ride with a man in a truck who was heading our way!  (This truck was packed with goods and passengers.)  Finally we arrived!  We rented horses and a guide (who was missing most of the time) to take us up the mountain to the waterfalls.   It was an 1 1/2 hour ride each way.   Beautiful scenery, gorgeous (but thin) horses!   I loved it because my horse had to be out in front all the time.  

 

People live way up in the mountains.   We rode horses, but many of the locals walked and carried water, large sacks of maize and flour, etc., for long distances.  To get to a store was a LONG walk or ride.
















We stopped to chat while a herd of sheep crossed our path. 

Sister Snell, a senior missionary from England, was terrified of horses.   She wanted to stay behind while we rode.   But we gathered and prayed fervently that she would be able to conquer her fears.   Although she was still scared to death, we found a guide who helped her mount the horse and then walked and guided the horse the entire trip---over 3 hours.   This guide was a girl in her twenties who worked here to support her family.  Afterwards, she had a long walk home each night.  We all clapped and cheered when Sister Snell completed the ride!   What a trooper!

See that trickle of water in the background?    That is the waterfall we came to see..... they are in a drought so this is the extent of it!

Even though the waterfall was small, we were not disappointed at all.   The "joy was in the journey".   We all made it!  And suddenly 3 guides appeared in time for pictures....where had they been for the past hours?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People in Lesotho dress differently than in South Africa.   They usually wear a heavy blanket wrapped around their shoulders (it was hot.....I am wearing short sleeves which means it is over 80 degrees F.) He is also wearing a ski cap which is typical even in the summer.   I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but the second horse was so very thin.  That is his pack horse.  We passed this man on the trail. 

 

The third day found us traveling to a dam.   The Chandlers had made arrangements online for a boat ride.   Again, we spent at least an extra hour driving to find the location.   Sister Chandler called our tour company and they said we were almost there.   Soon. we arrived at a large building but we were informed it was the Maintenance/Office building for the dam...and not the location for a boat trip.   We continued to drive around and finally called the tour company again.     They told us to drive to a lodge and wait for them.   We struggled to find the "lodge" but succeeded.   It was a large building with 3 annexes that could sleep a huge group, but it was deserted except for us.   After 20 minutes, our tour guide arrived and said, "Follow me."   We headed outside and jumped in our cars but the guide was no where to be seen!    We slowly circled the area and then went out on the main road.   We guessed which direction to go and started driving.    Where in the world could our guide be????    They must have noticed we were not behind them.  Sister Chandler threw up her hands and said, "Let's go home."  However, we continued  for quite a ways more, when we saw their car behind us.    We had missed a turn (no one showed us or mentioned a turn.)  So we turned around and followed them.  

Eventually we arrived at the dam.   The reservoir was very. very low.   The boat launch and buildings were way above the water.   We had to walk down to a makeshift area to climb in the boat.    Although there was not much to see or do, we coerced the one other Lesotho couple on the boat to join us as we taught them American songs (Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Three Blind Mice and Mary Had a Little Lamb) and they tried their best to teach us their national anthem.  We would not recommend this excursion to anyone, but we still had fun. 

These are the most dedicated, hard working and fun couples you can find.   We hated to see our last day end.   The Chandlers were incredible "hosts".   Each night we returned to a yummy crockpot dinner with all of the extras.   Each day for lunch, they provided a delicious picnic.   They shared with us an inspirational power point presentation they made for Christmas.  It left us reflecting again on the Savior, his birth, his mission and what he means for each of us.  

Each night after dinner and visiting we went back to our hotel and played games until late.   We tried to get the Chandlers to join us but they preferred to stay home and collapse, after all the cooking and touring.   

Early Friday morning, December 18, we headed home.   We felt so blessed to see this country and share it with 4 wonderful couples.