Ho joang? (How is it?)
I have been reading and practicing more Sesotho and people have been taking notice so that makes me happy (ke thabile). This will be a short update.
The title is from a line in the Bible that I passed and thought was funny
"Circumcise the foreskin of your heart" Deuteronomy 10:16 (i know what is wrong with me)
Besides keeping up with scripture (i'm in Book of Joshua) I have been trying to be more precise in the manner of learning the language and incorporating English grammar in my lessons at school. As much as I like to be the fun teacher who brings new games (we did simon -well I called it- Mpho Says- this week and kids loved it), I also want to be a force of support and encouragement for their academics. Hence I only recieved 27 out of the 44 homework assignments I gave out so we couldn't play a game that day.
Yup I'm tougher than one of Martin's mama's biscuits! anyone... anyone?!!!
I got my hair braided in something like micros and its curly. Sorry but I couldn't deal with the in between growing thing my afro was doing. Sitting in the shop 2 days after work reminded me why I hate to get it braided but on the plus side it was 30 bucks.
Something else I forgot to mention that I LOVE about the area. I don't know what the population of gays and lesbians is because no one talks about it but I do know that their stigmas about male and female relationships are smaller. I will often see guys who are best friends holding hands, or sitting in each other's laps at a football game, and in the 7th grade class when I asked a boy to use pretty in a sentence; in an attempt to show that he was a man's man he said: The boys in Class 7 are very pretty. No one thought it was odd and I love that no one did.
"It may sound strange, this intuition, but I have found my sacred mission; to live in this world and still believe that there is one sky above, One Source of love, if I've got one chance, one choice, I'll sing from the heart, one song of one voice" Brandy, One Voice
With open arms and open heart,
spread hope,
Andrea Hope (Mpho Mapaseka)
I tried calling the number you posted, but it didn't work. Do you know why that might have happened?
ReplyDeleteSince I couldn't get a hold of you that way, how are things going overall? How are the children you are working with like? Also, could you explain what you did with your hair? Africans' hair is a mystery to me.
[This should precede the post above:] Allah-u-Abha Andrea! Good work on picking up the language. I admire your work to become a better academic leader for the children. That's good that the culture there is so mature.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I was having thoughts similar to your one about the circumcision quote today and after making a conclusion about how they related to the Writings looked up this passage which gave me a vision of the God's wondrous vision, which I think you might find similarly useful:
ReplyDeleteSay: Deliver your souls, O people, from the bondage of self, and purify them from all attachment to anything besides Me. Remembrance of Me cleanseth all things from defilement, could ye but perceive it. Say: Were all created things to be entirely divested of the veil of worldly vanity and desire, the Hand of God would in this Day clothe them, one and all, with the robe "He doeth whatsoever He willeth in the kingdom of creation," that thereby the sign of His sovereignty might be manifested in all things. Exalted then be He, the Sovereign Lord of all, the Almighty, the Supreme Protector, the All-Glorious, the Most Powerful.
Intone, O My servant, the verses of God that have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men. Whoso reciteth, in the privacy of his chamber, the verses revealed by God, the scattering angels of the Almighty shall scatter abroad the fragrance of the words uttered by his mouth, and shall cause the heart of every righteous man to throb. Though he may, at first, remain unaware of its effect, yet the virtue of the grace vouchsafed unto him must needs sooner or later exercise its influence upon his soul. Thus have the mysteries of the Revelation of God been decreed by virtue of the Will of Him Who is the Source of power and wisdom.
O Khalil! God beareth Me witness. Though My Pen be still moving on My Tablet, yet, in its very heart, it weepeth and is sore distressed. The lamp burning before the Throne, likewise, weepeth and groaneth by reason of the things which the Ancient Beauty hath suffered at the hands of them who are but a creation of His Will. God, Himself, knoweth and testifieth to the truth of My words. No man that hath purged his ear from the loud clamor of the infidels, and inclined it to all created things, can fail to hear the voice of their lamentation and weeping over the trouble that hath befallen Us at the hands of those of Our servants that have disbelieved in, and rebelled against, Us. Thus have We disclosed to thee a glimmer of the woes that have come upon us, that thou mayest be made aware of Our sufferings, and patiently endure thy sorrows.
Arise to aid thy Lord at all times and in all circumstances, and be thou one of His helpers. Admonish, then, the people to lend a hearing ear to the words which the Spirit of God hath uttered in this irradiant and resplendent Tablet. Say: Sow not, O people, the seeds of dissension amongst men, and contend not with your neighbor. Be patient under all conditions, and place your whole trust and confidence in God. Aid ye your Lord with the sword of wisdom and of utterance. This indeed well becometh the station of man. To depart from it would be unworthy of God, the Sovereign Lord of all, the Glorified. The people, however, have been led astray, and are truly of the heedless.
Unlock, O people, the gates of the hearts of men with the keys of the remembrance of Him Who is the Remembrance of God and the Source of wisdom amongst you. He hath chosen out of the whole world the hearts of His servants, and made them each a seat for the revelation of His glory. Wherefore, sanctify them from every defilement, that the things for which they were created may be engraven upon them. This indeed is a token of God's bountiful favor.
Beautify your tongues, O people, with truthfulness, and adorn your souls with the ornament of honesty. Beware, O people, that ye deal not treacherously with any one. Be ye the trustees of God amongst His creatures, and the emblems of His generosity amidst His people. They that follow their lusts and corrupt inclinations, have erred and dissipated their efforts. They, indeed, are of the lost. Strive, O people, that your eyes may be directed towards the mercy of God, that your hearts may be attuned to His wondrous remembrance, that your souls may rest confidently upon His grace and bounty, that your feet may tread the path of His good-pleasure. Such are the counsels which I bequeath unto you. Would that ye might follow My counsels!
ReplyDeleteBaha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 294
Also, if you have a headset we could Skype, which would be cheaper.
ReplyDeletei think i talked to you about all this but no skype, i'll try to find a pic of the hair. yeah i understand the meaning behind the quote just thought it was funny visually. that second part (intone o my servants...) is one of my favorite quotes, its usually in the front of all the prayer books and makes me feel renewed when I feel like i'm not praying with full concentration
ReplyDeleteI am happy you like the quote.
ReplyDelete