Names/Education/Classes/FHE/Street Lights/Forgive Me

Greetings to all you wonderful friends and family!

Names

Each day I feel so blessed to be with the people of South Africa.    I want them to feel my love for them.   For me, being able to really communicate with them I need to find out about each of their children, their job (if they are lucky enough to have one), their hopes, their health,  their struggles,etc,  it is vital!  Without this information, I feel like I am unable to offer the love and service I desire.  Basic to that, would be knowing how to pronounce their name properly.    I have described how, thus far, this has been impossible for me.   I said, "thus far" because I am praying fervently to be able to call each person by name.....so they can recognize their own name coming from my lips.   

We work with 5 congregations and I thought I would just list them so you could see them.   We have not been able to get anyone to explain the "rules" or sounds of the letters as of yet.   These are names of the towns we visit each week and I try to say.

Esikhaweni

Empageni Ngwelezane

Enseleni

Mpumalanga

Richards Bay----we've got this one down
 Pathuthaditjhaba--this is not a congregation we visit but is another town

Here is the name of a two ladies I have met:    Ntombikayise Ntuli (I left out her middle name), Snenhlanhla Mthcthwa Sanele

So you see a little bit of my frustration.

Education

Education is one of the areas of our focus in trying to "lift" the people in this area.    Learning new things and reading (just about anything) has brought so much joy into my life.   I want these families to be "on fire" with a desire to learn more or at least a vision of what learning can do to brighten their life.....mentally, economically, and spiritually.   So-o-o we began a quest on how we could do that.    We are still taking baby steps but we are making progress.   We hope this is just the very beginning and much more is to come.   Although education is one of the options in our Self Reliance program offered by our church, we felt the desire to try to reach an even broader audience.   As usual, this is up to us to forge a plan. 

Friday we stopped by a Primary (elementary)  School to offer our services for free tutoring or classroom assistance to a classroom teacher.   This hasn't been as easy as expected.    I have been trying since the second day we arrived.   Friday we decided to try just stopping by and trying to speak to the principal.   We really prayed that someone would allow us to help in this school.    We arrived there and it was so discouraging....the metal gates, locks and no Welcome sign.   we saw a security guard and waved him over.    He unlocked the gate and pointed to the administration office.   We had to be buzzed inside.   Then we were in the lobby of the school but the secretary/reception's desk was behind glass.   We buzzed and she answered the intercom but did not open her window.   We explained why we were there and she left to go ask someone.   A while later, she invited us back into the office of the assistant principal (or something like that).   This hallway had another locked metal gate to pass through.   We had a wonderful visit with him and he was very excited to accept our services when he realized they were "free".    We discussed several scenarios and he will get back with us.    We left "walking on air".   As we left, I couldn't help having such a sad feeling in an elementary school.   It actually felt a little like a prison...metal gates everywhere, buzzers.  I am so glad that the schools I taught in were not like that. 

On Wednesday we had another exciting "baby step".   Larry and I went with 2 young missionaries to the University of Zululand.   It is about 45 minutes away.  They have 16,000 students on this campus.   We went to see if the university would allow us to use a classroom that would be available 2 nights a week to teach a class there.  We went from the administration building to 3 other buildings as we tried to locate the "decision marker" for finding a classroom.   We would like to set up a seminary class that is open to anyone on campus.  We would provide a teacher (Zulu) at no charge if we could have the room.   As you would expect, this turned into quite a wild goose chase.   Eventually, we made our request to the "number two" person and they said we can talk to the "number one" person next week.    We felt VERY encouraged.    While we were there, one of the administrators mentioned youth organizations.   We decided to try to form a youth organization also.   We went to the Dean of Students, but she was out of the office for 5 days.   We will call her when she returns.   How exciting to possibly work with University students.

Classes to Teach

There are things that you and I take for granted and assume, everyone knows and accepts.    As we talked to the schools and University personnel we realize this is not the case.   For example:   Hard Work.   Our missionaries are teaching classes on hard work in high schools.    That sounds ludicrous to us.    But they are teaching students the value of hard work at school and to accomplish your goals and dreams. Students do not understand or believe that hard work helps.    Many schools are asking for this.   Another class is on honesty, and another class on clean speech and another class on modest dress.   The administrators do NOT have to be convinced of the value of this...they see the value to their students.    Now that wouldn't be happening in the U.S.!   So many basic principles that haven't been formally taught here.

SUPPLIES

I wanted to find basic supplies for teaching/tutoring/setting up a curriculum, but it has proved a challenge.   The school year begins in mid January so it seems like a perfect time to be able to buy school supplies.    I have wanted to purchase a simple desk where someone could study...just a plain, fairly sturdy desk.    We have looked in our big mall, in all the small malls, in the 5 surrounding towns, online, in industrial areas.      We are looking for new or used desks:  in pawn shops and Goodwill-type stores, in upscale furniture stores and cheap stores etc  When I ask for a desk, they give me a puzzled look    Some people don't know what I mean.   Most  people have asked me to repeat what I need....they don't understand purchasing a "desk".    I went over to a desk in an upscale furniture store that belonged to the sales staff and pointed to what I needed.   They replied that these were special made for their company and why would I needed it.   .So, on Thursday we drove 45 minutes away to another town.  We saw kind of a "sketchy" area but we parked and walked toward a sign that said "furniture".   We were quite uncomfortable as we parked our car and walked the block.   Our presence was definitely noticed by everyone.   We went in to the used furniture store and the owner came over to us.   He was very polite but he firmly asked me to hold my purse close to my body.   He suggested we leave this area of town immediately.   He asked where we were parked and said to leave NOW.   We did.   Still no desk. 
  

Then we wanted file folders to get organized.   We have been unable to find any file folders at all.   At a office supply shop, they were out and said they didn't know if they would ever get them.   In the school supply areas of the large stores they had no folders or files of any kind.   Same thing for spiral notebooks and scotch tape dispensers or refills. 

No one seems to feel the need for desks and some study supplies.   ....at least my way of studying.

FAMILY HOME EVENING

One of the heart breaking aspects of South African culture is that men are largely absent from families.   By that I mean, they have abandoned the family, or they must work 24/7 to provide a meager existence, or they are plagued with alcoholism and spend all their time and money in that pursuit.

So we have offered to teach a "Family Class" one night a week.   We have many requests.   We have one family who "hosts" the evening.   This home is so humble that we sit outside on plastic chairs in the dirt.   I have told you about this family and their beautiful mango tree.   So we show up at 6:00 PM and there will be anywhere from 6 to 15 people there.   One of us teaches a 15 minute lesson about being kind to our family, being honest, obeying our parents, or a story about Jesus.    Then we do a few games and sing some songs.   Then we have a treat.   This family is so humble in worldly things.   But now they insist they provide DINNER for all in attendance.   We have begged them not to, but so far they insist.  They consider it an honor.   We are working on eliminating the dinner without offending the host/hostess.   

Each time, the family stays until 9 PM or later.   They ask for more and more "family nights".   We only do this in one township but we have requests at other townships.   

It may seem ridiculous, but it took Larry and I four hours (probably longer) to decide on a lesson, prepare it, find songs to teach them, find games to play outside in the dark with people ages 2-72...and who don't speak English or understand it very well.

Street Lights/Lamp Posts

Two blocks from our house I noticed a broken street light...the tall metal kind like we have in the US..or they look the same to me.    The second day we were here, I noticed it was broken and the top two-thirds was leaning at a 40 degree angle.   We looked closely and noticed it had  been "repaired" with duct tape.   Looking closer it also had "cable ties" (giant twist ties or like the plastic ties they had years ago for large garbage bags where you cold cinch it tighter) on top of the duct tape.   Interesting repair job.    Two weeks later the top of street light is gone.....will they replace it.

Wednesday, we went to the one church location (for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) where they have an actual church building (rather than renting a library or day care center to meet in).   I mentioned before that the church has a wall around it (only 5 feet high) and an metal gate (like most places) that opens to let you in.   We drove in and parked.    By the front door of the church, I noticed a cement square object.   I asked what it was.   Someone replied that it had been the base to a street light that shone on the front doorway and sidewalk of the church.   One day they came and it was gone!!!   Someone had ripped out a tall metal street light and managed to carry it over the fence and haul it away.   What do you do with a street light?????

FORGIVE ME

I am afraid I repeat myself.   I have not spent the time to organize "email lists".   So each email I randomly try to remember everyone and include them.   The only official "list" I have is my children and dad, so they are always all included.   I know I am not consistent with who I send things to.   Sorry.   Hopefully, in the next 2 months I will make a list with everyone's name and hit the button once.   So I might send something to a person twice and not include someone else. 

I miss all of you!

Love,
Sandy