Lumela bo ntate. Lumela bo me
(Greetings gentlemen and ladies)
It is my 5th day in Africa. 15 hr flight, 7hr wait, 1 hr flight to Maseru. I got very lonely during 7hrs in Jo-berg airport. In the car from Maseru to the house of my host, Kal the first 5 min I saw a man peeing on the road (my host and I both agreed that he could at least turn around the other way lol) and a cattle crossing. The mountains are very beautiful. Don’t worry, no wild animals, just donkey, sheep, horses, and goats. I have a goal to ride a horse before I leave. Maseru is the city so it was very similar to smaller cities in the US. The King, Queen, and Prime Minister live there, there are many shops and even a pizza place just opened. The main difference; fewer rec activities (no bowling, skating, movies, etc) but there are restaurants, malls opening, tvs, and dress/hairstyles are very similar to US. I was excited to come to Mokhotlong on Sunday afternoon and be in a more rural area.
I was able to buy a cell phone 0026659708439
I have danced everyday since arriving, once Kal found out I could breakdance and etc, he had me do it at devotional and just anywhere lol in Maseru. I have been praying more since I got here, so much that I desire greatly to learn new prayers to say and working on that. I have been reading the Bible with great interest. Gosh its a long book. I finished Genesis and on to more. I also brought the Qu'ran and KitabiAqdas so we will see where faith carries me at the end of the trip. I have read Matthew Luke John and Mark before and skimmed through them again (its like going to the back of the book to read the juicy ending). Continually in love with the words of Jesus Christ and I wonder why people need to reference any other part of the Bible to know how to live life when he has said it all. I especially like the part where he takes the 10 commandments and said these are not enough. Don't only love your friends, don't only be faithful to your wife, don't only provide for your family but love and pray for you enemies, don't commit adultery even in your heart and if someone sues you for your coat, offer your cloak too. :) (Matthew 5:17-48)
Also working on the language, Sesotho. I went to a small dance troupe for teens and younger, they showed me some dances, they sing their own music which was completely beautiful and made me cry. I also showed moves and have a swollen ankle from efforts to learn and teach. Of course they were excited about me being from USA and already had a marriage proposal lol. I tried to explain to them that USA is wonderful because of diversity but also full of distractions. And the more distractions you have the more you want, so I came to Africa to get back to the important things and hope they know that they have them as much as we do (family, friends, music, love)
The road to Mokhotlong was 6 hrs, lots of potholes, and the full circle learning director, Maureen, did an amazing job of getting us there safe even when the sun set. When we got to Mokhotlong, I laid under the stars for a little bit, more stars than I have ever seen, breath-taking, I only wish I could share with you all.
I’ve been visiting schools, training (fullcirclelearning.org) and buy necessities, including stamps so hopefully letters will be out soon!! I also taught for the first time grade 6 and 7, an American dance game called "hey posse" and we compared US and Lesotho. They don't know much about the US at all, not like Maseru and of course they laughed a lot at my accent but by the time of the game, I had them doing silly moves and happy. The area is very lonely because there are not many social activities, just school work and home. I hope to start a dance/song presentation in a wearhouse every month for families to come and maybe a bookclub at the farm I live on. When Maureen leaves on Friday it will be very lonely. I met one American girl but most Sesotho youth my age are in final year of high school or returned to their small villages so thats the hardest part so far, lonely at night!
Maureen made a wonderful statement to me, many people have come to bring aid to the village which makes the children feel like they must be very poor. Yet Full Circle Learning is here to show them how to use and value what they have to make their own way.
My thought of the day is that though their means are much less than those in the United States and they struggle to keep food, in Mokhotlong there are no hard drugs, families generally stay together and take care of their elders, and I never saw a person living on the street. In my first days I realized that the greatest gift I could give them was the same gift I give American children who struggle with disorders, drugs, and hard family lives. Happiness starts in the heart and soul and this type of joy and fellowship make life, everything else is just commentary.
I will try to blog every couple of weeks
With open arms and open heart,
shine your light,
Andrea Hope
“May the flame of the love of God burn brightly within your radiant hearts”
