UPs DOWNs and ALL AROUNDs

Well its been awhile, my apologies. I have had some very high point and a few struggles lately but you know me I keep praying and pushing and I'm happy so here we go!

The UPs
-April 30 to May 2, National Baha'i Youth Conference in Northgate South Africa was FANTASTIC! The Baha'i youth had like "coffee house" vibe I would say for lack of a better analogy (and they pointed out that I say like a lot lol.) There was a good mix of social consciousness and style. Amazing youth! to include a group of us who performed a song I wrote (I'm a soldier S.O.U.L. if you can't tell I'm a soldier). Performance included a verse of "I'm a Baha'i" rap, some drumming by Lunathi who had dreads and was sporting a "tree hugger" tee so you know I loved her, beautiful Samantha singing, a young male poet and young female and male beatboxers, an awesome facilitator and muscisian, Grae, a girl on guitar, me and a poet Avuwe who had a bright blondish afro :) Outside of that group I wish I could talk about all the wonderful people I met but what sticks out is a girl who is doing a yr of service is a small village, Kele, and two boys who live at the Centre; Africa and Gino. It seems like a really cool thing to live at a Centre, though I'm sure kitchen work can be a bit rough. Its one of the things I'd like to look into.The conference was about encouraging youth to do 3mths to a yr of service/core activities and highlighted this as the prime time for us to take action citing we have "high energy" and "freedom of movement" All of which I whole heartedly agree and supported my lifestyle of being a mover and shaker. Don't worry,one day I will settle and I'll be none the less happy, especially when I have my kiddies, but for now I got some aspirations that require floating around the beloved earth. Also introduced to music of Raul Midon- listen to "Peace on Earth"! Lunathi recently invited me to do Ruhi intensive in Port Elizabeth, where she lives. Its 16 hours away on bus but she told me not to be held back by that lol, because I would get to see the coast and spend some time teaching and deepening so going to talk to the National Spiritual Assembly (NSA) about it
-Julia got elected to the NSA of Lesotho. YAY I'm so proud, not bad for a 24 year old Baha'i!
-Was looking around internet and found out there is a National Poetry Slam in MN in August. I have never been to Minnesota or a National Slam so I am really excited
and hope I will have enough money to attend the week (August 4-7) and maybe convince some friends to come along.

The DOWNs
-No service trip would be complete without me getting covered in bug bites. Americorps Mississippi March 2009...Butha Buthe April 2010, Bedbug bites! They are all over after a weekend trip to a village and during the day its ok but at night I tend to scratch, which is making them swell. I brought them home with me so I've been having more every day. I got some bug spray and had to handwash my stuff so I hope that they are all gone. I've realized that bedbugs are my Arch Nemisis (i didn't know it was possible for me to have one) because not only is sleep vital, its one of my favorite hobbies- ask anyone- and bedbugs take away that pleasure and they are so small its hard to know if I've got them all.
-ALERT, I lost my cell phone (well it got stolen from a bag I lost). I had a rough weekend. Went to Mokhotlong to visit before moving to Berea. I got to sleep in a place that definitely didnt have bedbugs so that was nice but the bus i took there was too big to pass these trucks parked on the road, so I hitched a ride with a PC volunteer and when we got to Leseng I realized that I had left my small bag on the bus. We found a taxi to MKG where I had to sit in her lap for the first few minutes and she had to pay for me ofcourse, so we got real close, real quick lol. In MKG I saw one of my old dancers and mentioned to him what happened. GOd is great because I prayed about it and was planning to go talk to the bus driver the next morning but he saw the bus come in that night after I went to bed and went and got it for me. The driver said he got it from two women and didnt look inside, so my wallet was there but unfortunately my phone was not included. Still its good because that would be hectic to replace. My phone's memory card has my music, pictures, and antivirus software so thats a bummer! I didn't get to do much there because I planned on visiting schools but I didn't know Thursday was a holiday so no one was around. I also got a cold so though I was sleeping without bugs, I was having trouble breathing. Ok, so its not ALL horrible...I did get to see Slumdog Millionaire for the first time -I know I'm late!!- on Me Lihlahleng's computer and some students who heard I was around came by the office to visit. If you could have seen the faces of the girls from my children's class when they saw "Ausi Andrea" and ran to me. It was so touching and beautiful and part of the reason MKG will always be my "home" in Lesotho if I have a choice of where to stay.
-Julia was gone for 2 weeks :( After she went to help travel teach for a week, they asked her to extend it. I went to the conference when she got back so we finally
met up sunday night. I was left in the care of her younger sister Elizabeth (my sister's name too!) and her friend but they were speaking a lot of Sesotho so I felt a bit out of the loop and its just not the same vibe so I'm very happy to have Julia back, though I will be leaving for Berea on Monday and will miss her again!!
-I'm struggling with being humble while independent, I wont indulge on petty exampless, but I just don't really like to accept people doing things for me and I know most of the time its probably just being helpful but I keep fighting internal aggrevation about it. I'm the type of person, teach me how to fish, don't bring me the fish but I'm frustrated with myself that I'm not more accepting. "when the Beaver offers you a fish, you take the fish" (Dr. Dolittle 2 reference, i know old school)
-I almost got my wallet and phone stolen in Joberg! Basically I felt a tug on my bag and turned around to see a guy had unzipped it. He said "oh sorry" and walked away. The streets were so crowded and it reminded me of philly except more people selling stuff on the street so I was overwhelmed. Its real crazy I think people expect to come to U.S. and see so much difference but if they've been to Joberg theres not gonna be much more to get excited about in US cities, except maybe more concerts/clubs and diversity of people

The ALL AROUNDs
-I'm 23. I was feeling kind of old at the Youth Conference when they asked people to raise your hands if you are over 22 and no one did lol! I just barely got called out since my birthday was 8 May lol but I don't feel any different being a bit older except pretty soon I'll be too old to audition for MTVs Real World lol. What a loss!
-Running out of internet time and want to apply for jobs, especially in LA. This trip is really making me strive for dreams, I haven't failed at what I've put time and effort into (not to say there arent hard times) but I have more dreams and its important for me to know I put effort into achieving them. Among them is still getting closer with Faith...possibly through a trip of service in Haifa Israel (been really considering that so anyone who has been, I would love feedback) and trying to put some umph into my poetry and writing which means probably moving to Cali since L.A. and Nashville are the best places for writers from what I have researched
-I've been reading even more. Read Revelation of Baha'u'llah (first book in series); it was powerful reading the stories of early believers and martyrs. What stuck out the most was the story of Siyyid Jafar (don't let Aladdin deter you) he was a believer who became imprisoned when the governor raided their village. After the troops were leaving the people were without resources and so the governor gave them corn but in order to get it, each person had to spit on Jafar's face. I mean violence and persecution are difficult things to imagine but to have to stand behind a gate and let people look at you and spit in your face is just amazing to me, he even encouraged those who were nervous because he knew it was the only way they'd have food. That was really the most powerful story for me. I've also been skimming through Kitabi Aqdas and Iqan again and Bible still. As far as service, still doing dance classes but having trouble keeping with children's class and jyg with the traveling and sickness and etc. Hoping to be more stable with things in Berea.

Praying has been really effective for me. I know prayer can't fix everything literally, but the spiritual station it puts me in makes me so much more ready to accept and work through things. And I think its important that I don't ask God to fix everything. I ask him to make me more detached and to provide the means for me to be an effective servant, which is pretty much fairly good health and steadfastness. Its been so beneficial. When I got back to Butha Buthe I was crying after the weekend I had and my ears had popped in the taxi and wouldn't clear out so they were hurting on top of my cold. SO I laid down and prayed and I was so thankful when one of my nostrils cleared up enough for me to get some rest. ANd when Phomolo knocked on my door in MKG to give me my wallet, I was so grateful for that as well. So I feel blessed through my little struggles that I remember to pray and be happy of triumphs; great or small. There's a prayer that says "O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.
O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord." Sometimes I feel guilty when I've been in a bad mood and say this prayer but its such a reminder of what I should focus on. I never believe that the power in prayer is simply recieving good grace but recieving spiritual power to cope with the struggles of the physical world.

Well I hope to write from Berea soon,
Keep me in your prayers,
"Intone, O My servants, 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."

With open arms and open heart,
spread hope,
Andrea Hope

Creating the Balance

Since the move to Butha Buthe (its been 5 days) we have already started a dance team with some teens from a junior youth class. We are dancing to My Love, Justin Timberlake...whoop whoop. (side note I saw Nick Jonas do a video with The Administration on SA television and he was too adorable...how old is he again, maybe he'll be a younger version of me's John Mayer) BB is a much bigger town, it has a KFC and working internet cafes. I am living with a wonderful Julia. She turned 22 friday and we are SO ALIKE. She is petite and outgoing and way forgetful lol. Since I have come we have never left a house without one of us saying "wait I forgot my wallet" or "where is my phone" or etc lol. I am so glad to have a close female friend with a warm spirited personality. I have definitely run into some friction from women here when they see I'm not Basotho but Julia is fantastic and I hope we can be friends for a long time.
We live with her grandma and 3 young boy cousins. Its more simple than the farm. The roof leaks when it rains and some form of the bucket has become my new best friend. No running water so we collect water in a bucket, we bathe in a bucket (well basin), we wash clothes in a bucket, and we pee in a bucket. Don't worry all different buckets haha. Julia and I sleep in the same room. I sleep on the floor and she sleeps on the bed. Ofcourse my beautiful host family offered me the bed but Julia had a bad toothache when I first came so it was great timing for them to let me sleep on the floor as I requested. As my Americorps friends know I can sleep pretty much anywhere, and Taylor keeps me warm :)
I have already started helping her with children and JY classes on afternoons/weekends. I'm still planning the schedule for the days though I know I only have a month. I found out I have a package in Maseru!! So very excited to get it ASAP and see who its from. Please send all mail to Maseru now that I've moved (PO BOX 936 Maseru 100, Lesotho)
The odd thing is they all have TV with like 5 or 6 channels. There are a lot of soap operas, African ones and Days of Our Lives, Young&Restless, also Oprah and Tyra show, Knight Rider (ooh David Hasslehoff) etc. I have been on tv overload even these last few days so hoping to spend more time outside reading. You know the thing I love about Lesotho is that I think the country is in such an ideal stage. Many people idolize the United States without understanding the mistakes we have made. Many developed countries are so far gone that we would have to go backwards to realign ourselves. But Lesotho is still at the point that they can take the beautiful things from their past and our present to make a wonderful future and not just mimick us. For instance they are getting a lot of shops here. They use plastic bags and I see Basotho people drop trash on the ground all the time. They could eliminate plastic from the very beginning and use their old traditions of basins and wheelbarrels. These advances need to come with education so they aren't wondering in 2 years why they can't drink water from the river. I hope to use balance that they have here in my life. When I get a place, I can boil rain water for my family, and have a garden, and a solar room where we can feel the sun and see the night's sky, and at the same time take advantage of the things I love about America, like having a dance/art room and taking advantage of education through internet, books, and t.v. I think people tend to feel that they have to hold fast to their cultures but what my mummy (and friends/fam along the way) have taught me is that culture is owned by people. We have the great choice to hold on to the things that define us and let go of the things that don't have substance to build a culture that our children will then take to the next level.
Still reading the Bible, Old and New Testament at once. Reading the epistles of Paul, he is pretty consistent in his writings. The only thing that is difficult is the balance between deeds and faith. Paul says that we were living under the law of God before and now we can be freed from the law through faith in Jesus Christ. At the same time they say that anyone who says they believe in Jesus and do not follow his commandments doesn't really believe. I can understand how people get confused by some saying you can get into heaven by pure faith in Jesus and others feeling that you need faith and actions. I think its important that Paul says we should die to sin and flesh and live to God as Jesus did, and that if we live after the Spirit, it is no great struggle to follow the word of God.
So through all the confusion with writings I know that the great importance as written by the prophets in the time of Moses and Jesus' apostles is having faith. And I can say that I have faith in God and faith in His principles, so I'll have faith I can work out the logisitics too. :)

"Observe My commandments, for the love of My beauty. Happy is the lover that hath inhaled the divine fragrance of his Best Beloved from these words."
With open arms and open heart,
Spread hope,
Andrea Hope

KE RATA BOPHELO!

So I'm watching Captain Planet right now! How awesome that this show was trying to teach us about saving the earth way before 5 cent plastic bags. I'm a proud Planeteer!
Anywho I know it's been a bit so let me give you the chronological update. Stay with me here
I had kind of difficult closing out in Mokhotlong. The kids had testing for a week, then Easter break (March 31- April 6) people went back to their villages, and the next week they were grading and reviewing from testing. Basically I didn't get to do close out activities how I had hoped but I did get to play tag, grade and send some letters from children in Lesotho to my old classes in Washington DC at Positive Nature Inc, leave a list of activities for teachers and say farewell to everyone on my list. The kids at DayCare and St Peters sang songs for me. I made the kids laugh at St Peters when I was trying to talk through tears. I think they didn't know how to handle a ball of emotion like me. I think people don't really get emotional about leaving each other here, maybe because they mostly stay in the country. Very sad to leave 'Me Lihlahleng and my Sesotho tutor 'Me Mahlokoa, I exchanged gifts with some friends and had a sweet farewell from the DayCare teachers. Also Qiao Ming had been working a lot so putting a damper on our lessons. I am so CONFIDENT that he will do well though because every time I came in and he was at the shop, he would have his exercise books out. And when he came to say goodbye to me, we had our whole conversation without any Sesotho.
KE RATA BOPHELO! The talent show, I LOVE LIFE! update. I had challenges in preparation. Even though I am mentally spastic, I'm an avid planner so I was getting a bit frustrated with my dance team not practicing on time. (DIVAS- lol it wasn't like that maybe 1 person would show up and wait then leave, 30 minutes later 2 boys would show up and I was trying to stress the importance of planned times). I just have to adjust to the relaxed time frame here. Even moving to Butha Buthe, I didn't know where I would be staying until the day of...but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Thato came for the weekend from Maseru and sponsored the speakers, amplifier, and mic, so I was very lucky. The show was Sun at 4, at 3:45 there were few people, so I did one last walk around town. One of my performers' little sister (very sweet girl) said "I don't think people are coming, they would be here by now"- lol so that made me worried. I gathered about 10 people on my walk and by the time I got back there was already a crowd waiting for us! Someone was even like can you go get some more chairs, and I thought more chairs?!! lol ofcourse! So we had like 50 pple, among the crowd were volunteers from Touching Tiny Lives and my fav, Sara from PeaceCorps (my judge). The acts were poetry, two dances, a freestyle dance for audience members, modeling, two pop songs, one rap, and a gospel song. The girl winner got a butterfly purse and the boy, a football (not American football), but I got all the participants football water bottles in different colors and a picture of our dance troupe. I was very sad to leave them and hope to visit next month! So YAY my mummy can be proud that I threw my first successful community event! Thato loved it and made me very happy with her positive comments, the students also had a blast.
The next few days were a bit of trouble. The work computer got a virus just in time for me to have no way of buying a virus software so I'll have to try to bring something next time I visit and I dropped my MP3 player in the river. I still have it and thankfully got some songs transferred to my phone, but none of the touch screen buttons work. I want to post pictures but am afraid the virus is on my memory card and don't want to infect this computer.
On the plus Tau came from Maseru with coworker BK on business for his graphics business and BK's wife who is from the UK, Ella. Loved her accent! She is a tom-boy and I was delighted to have her. They are an adorable couple trying to move to UK together. It was thought provoking and a bit sad to hear how easy it is for her to visit BK in Africa but how much trouble he had trying to go to UK. She has to go over like a yr before him to set up a house and life for them before the government to consider him coming over, and thats after they are married! I'm definitely lucky to have a US passport and I'm going to put it to good use my friends! Tau and I had wonderful conversations about religion and the Baha'i Faith (he is Baha'i) and the cultural unity that he has seen the made him want to be Baha'i. This guy has A LOT of stories to tell (and quite a few crazy jokes).
UP NEXT BUTHA BUTHE!
"If I can only reach one set of ears, I know that I've fulfilled my purpose here, to change the world, one boy, one girl, one person at a time..there's still time"
With open arms and open heart,
Spread hope,
Andrea Hope

Lost...no, Found in Translation

Ni hao

I have been tutoring a friend in English. His name is Qiao Ming, he's 29, from China and works at a grocery shop. He has a program on his laptop that translates Chinese and English (the translations are pretty funny in English so I can imagine what he thinks I'm saying in Chinese). I also have a Sesotho tutor & Qiao Ming knows a little Sesotho so its interesting to watch us both speak in second languages to do lessons. He has taught me some Chinese phrases (Wo hen hao, I am fine, Qiao Ming zai na li? where is Qiao Ming? and etc)

I have to say that one of my favorite experiences so far is communicating with people who know little English, mainly the caretaker at the farm and Qiao Ming. I find no feeling of frustration that they don't know my language and I hope they aren't aggrevated that I don't know Chinese and Sesotho (though I am slowly learning both). I think they sometimes want to run and just find a translator, for instance Qiao Ming broke his computer so he thought we shouldn't do lessons this week, but I convinced him that we could work it out. It's an all around humbling experience because it's a combination of charades and picture books and patience. I truly take joy in the experience, and everytime I leave he says "bye bye teacher" and I say "zai jian!"

Speaking of which, last Sat my translator wasn't there again for children's classes. It's much more difficult when talking about God and virtues with 18+ kids but we made it work. We did the lesson on trust and truthfulness, I literally said -we're speaking about trust and it's important to speak in truth and don't lie-, because that was pretty much the extent of my Sesotho when it comes to complex topics. Still, the lesson was effective, we did drawing and the trust fall. I had one kid stand on a big trashcan and all the others linked arms to catch them (i'm sure you are familiar with this) so everyone got a chance to go. The funniest thing is I didn't let them look behind them, I just said 1,2,3 and told them to fall, expecting them to be fearless (of course I made sure all arms were locked before I counted) and then the kids said "you go, you go!" And I'm said, no I'm too big -because the kids are around 10 and younger- but they were insisting, so I got up there and they counted 1,2,3!!!

... and GOODNESS ME, I was so scared lol. I was like I'm sorry I can't do it. Of course I contemplated how can I teach these beautiful young believers about trust and not act on it, but that trashcan was higher than I thought lol. So I had the largest boy go (again) and then made sure everyone was there to catch me. I got back up there, put my arms to my side and fell straight back (b/c I had learned from watching that if you sit into the fall it makes it worse)

... and they caught me! from head to toe. What a great reminder of how you can be a student and a teacher. A punk and a prophet, so to speak.

The other wonderful news is that I started my dance club at the office!! Whoop, whoop. And they thought it couldn't be done (I don't know who they are but I'm just saying I wasn't getting much support lol). I went to the local highschool and invited 12th graders to come afterschool and perform in the Talent Show. Now I have 8 dancers, we are dancing to Face Drop by Sean Kingston. I have a few more acts too: 2 poets, a rapper, 3 models, another dance, and a singer. So if I can find a way to borrow a mic and speakers (for free), the 11th of April will be the "Ke rata bophelo!" talent show "I love life!" Wish it luck!! Stopping by the highschool and showing some dance and rap was a little bittersweet because it got me some great acts but also made this kind of fan buzz so when I try to stop by there now, the youth crowd around me and ask me can we play a game or when they see me around town they want to touch my stuff and be my friend and tell me that they love me. Of course I don't mind having conversations with them but it can get overwhelming and I feel very unworthy of the attention. (My friends are saying... what, Andrea, you love attention!! lol yeah but hey I like to earn it)

I haven't been teaching much lately because it's almost Easter break and the kids have had end of semester exams. I'm hoping to do a teacher workshop at each school so I can tell them the methods and games I have been using. Break is April 1-6 and shortly after I'll be moving. It's even more sad now that I have a dance club and really getting comfortable here but on to new adventures I guess. Lihlahleng advised me to start with dance right away at Butha Buthe so I have longer to connect with youth my age.

Besides having a stomach ache this has been a GREAT week, I got some good news from my sissy Liz and an emotive email from my mummy. People have been asking for pictures, they are no longer loading to my blog so maybe I will send them to facebook or wait it out.

I'm feeling renewed, maybe because of the Baha'i New Year. In that spirit, this is the short poem I wrote while in Maseru for Naw Ruz (New Year)

Naw Ruz

Today is the new beginning
Today is the Savior's song
Today is the Promise of Peace
My children, don't you be alarmed
while we set ourselves aflame by the fire of His loving charm

For today is the call
Today is bound only by His will
Today is renewing beauty in His scriptures
My children, tell me do you feel?
the crystal waters of His Fountain will no longer stand still

For today is the dawning of yesterday's hope
but only, my children,
if we make it so.

Tree Hugger with a Cherokee Mind

Happy Naw-Ruz (Baha'i New Year)

I had a splendid time in the "big city," Maseru. I went to the celebration, prayers and feast which were wonderful. Also got to spend more time with the artistic Baha'is that I just formally met my 1st week in Lesotho. I heard Neo Tau sing and play guitar which was beautiful and only wish Adam could have been there to give us the full effect (adamcrossleymusic.com). I have been talking to him through email though and he is so supportive in what I am doing. If you don't know the story of Adam I was his opening act at Tiny Planet (tinyplanetstudio.com) a month b4 my trip to Africa. We didn't know each other till sound check and found out mid concert that he spent a yr in Lesotho so then we had lots to talk about! One of my many confirmations about the trip here!
I hung with 'Me Lihlaleng's son Tsepo and told him that she is my best friend lol and met 2 producers and Mawetu again. We got to share a lot of poetry and it was such a great lift in spirits to get a small session with a dedicated poet. (http://www.thepoetryproject.co.za/) I don't have many poet friends as far as I know. I would like to have a little crew to share with so here's the first step toward that lol. He was equally happy with my pieces and offered to let me record some work next time (album in stores 2012? lol) so that is definitely on the "to-do" list! Also hung with Tau (Thato's little brother) and decided to go to a youth conference with him late April in Jo-berg South Africa, another thing to look forward to!!
I met up with Molontoa (soldier) and went to dinner. He is such a sweetheart. Again it amazes me that I only knew him 2 weeks before he moved away because you get to know people so much quicker in the mountains lol. Oh I also got offered a place to stay if I secure a job in Maseru. Wanda (a Baha'i) has an office that I could use at night and a really cute dog that could be my new best friend :)
Youth Centre hasn't really been helping with this dance thing and since I have only a month left in Mokhotlong before I go to Butha Buthe, then Berea, then Mohale's Hoek, I have taken matters into my own hands and going to have some dance and chorus meetings at my office after school and have a concert at the farm. So I'll keep you updated on that situation and please wish me luck! I was sad to even tell the kids here that I will be moving mid April..whew I get attached easily. I'm trying to have open arms to everything though I know I will miss it here, it feels like home. Speaking of home I have been really missing the two nieces and nephew lately and hope they are doing well. Thanks to Aaron, Jeph, Carol, and my students at PNI who sent me letters/packages that I just recieved!!
Ok to close, the session with Mawetu kicked me in the butt to finish and work on some new pieces. My favorite is my first draft of "Cherokee Mind"

Cherokee Mind by Andrea Hope
I'm a tree hugger
with a Cherokee Mind
so odd in this facade they think I'm lost in time
they call this life upgraded of the highest kind
but I don't get it
we'd find gold beneath our soles but only if we tread it
deeply
enough to know that riches only exist in Mother Earth's kisses
and wonder who decides a shiny rock is worth a million
if they could sell the sunset, they'd pay the clouds to start drilling

..and make a killing
so big mama
give props as you plant crops
and collect drops
of water from the river
they'll be tense when they sense
that we have redefined civil
call them silly, they'll be busy
tryna to price control living
got you feeling
like the green paper is worth more than the 50 yr old tree that made it
it's jaded
reclaim it
and plant a seed in rich foundation
knowing everything we need He gave us free in creation

Precision and Circumcision

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)

Moving Along like an AAR song

Allah'u'abha

Heard you all got lots of snow in the US. We have had lots of rain here but besides that the weather is perfect. I hope you got some needed rest. I love naps!

I want to give u a little more idea of what it is like here
Things Lesotho has that are in the US
-Coca-cola and Fanta
-Pop/Hip Hop music
-KFC though there are no biscuits (imagine my disappointment). Thank goodness no Mcdonalds though
-Computers/TV for some people who can afford it
-Dancing and singing
-Beautiful people
-Taylor, yes she is enjoying the warm Basotho blankets

Things unique to Lesotho
-Seeing the clouds beneath me from on top of a mountain
-Families washing clothes in the river on Saturday
-People riding donkeys
-Seeing people pee on the side of the road
-I don't wear my head phones in town because no one does
-Riding in packed 16 passenger vans to go to other districts
-Places blasting house music (very similar to techno)
-Herdboy as a common occupation
-One of only 2 restaurants that takes an hour to get food
-Lots of fresh fruit and street vendors
-Interesting flavored chips like Fruit Chutney, Fried Chicken and Chili Pepper
-Seeing a baby cattle hanging out with two toddlers, it was adorable

Things I miss
-Hearing Lily call me a strawberry nose, Jaidyn say 'why Drea why?" and Jasmine say "shh you have to be very quite because Mommy is sleeping okay Dre Mommy is sleeping" lol
-My family and freakin awesome friends
-Gummi bears
-Open mic and poetry nights
-Comedy central presents friday night standup

Word has def gotten around that I am not Basotho so I have plenty of people to talk to, in good and uncomfortable settings. lol I like being able to just walk around town and visit a lot of different people. I love the calm there is in Lesotho and I think US could really benefit from having shorter work hours.

Busy weekend. I went to Maseru to get my passport reauthorized. While there I had dinner with Kal, a poet/graphic artist, Mawetu, and Swedish businessman. There was some deep conversation about letting go of borders, creating foundations in character development, and creating jobs and systems that help people make use of their own land and capacities. For instance, one man was hoping to start hot air balloon tours in Lesotho. Instead of just outsourcing all of the plans, he wanted to create it so that when people came to take tours, the local farmers and workers could provide food and lodging for them so that the people taking tours were giving directly to the community. It really needs to be supported by the locals though. One of the difficulties here is that if aid orgs give too much to people then they don't go out on their own to sustain it, they just ask for more. Its the whole give a man a fish or teach a man to fish lesson and the Africans have to want to learn

I also went to Sani Pass with friends for a birthday. It’s one of the highest points in Africa so we were above the clouds. It was a wonderful place for prayer and just to be in awe of creation. It poured rain like crazy there but it was nighttime and I loved the sound. Put some fun personalities with random dance parties, card games, an awesome dog (I called Bear Claw) and a cool South African guy named Sebastian and it made for a legit time. Sara especially has the ability to randomly break into song and dance which I love and join in regularly. Parker has the same spastic mind as me so I wonder how we ever know what we are talking about. It’s a very good thing. Makes me miss my mom and sisters and endless Adam Sandler/comedian references

The other highlight was horse riding with a guide. I did much better and even had my horse galloping. It was just delightful. The place was almost too chill. No one checked us in our rooms or checked to see if we paid. It was a weird feeling to be on the honor code system but I liked it in a way. (yes, we all payed!)

Another volunteer with Kirsten, Kevin from Maryland, showed up and it was cool meeting him Friday night. He broke out with some hilarious voices and I’m glad she has someone to share the work load at Touching Tiny Lives. She’s a busy girl.

Kamachee made me a chocolate cake and banana bread. Umm, they don't sell pastries here so it was a super highlight!

Was a little frustrated this week with learning Sesotho, because most people here expect me to know it and I am the only independent volunteer here (Peace Corps members get trained in Sesotho) so I am really trying to listen and read books and work on the language. Even though I’ve only been here a month, I guess I am just used to being “in the know” so I am trying to just take it easy and learn at my own pace. Talked to my mom who helped me to appreciate that the customs are different here and that people are welcoming me in their way. The other difficult experience was that a lady I met at a store asked me to take her child. Things like that, and having adults believe that I have greater means because I come from a rich land is difficult. At the same time, ways I can help, like proofreading donor letters in English, helping with English classes at local schools, teaching games that don't take many supplies and providing supplies when I can are things I am more than happy to do. Along these lines I also learned an incredible lesson. Last saturday I was really tired from staying up too late and went to teach in Mapholaneng. The translators who usually help me were unavailable (the kids do not speak enough english) and I was just in a down mood. Still 15-20 kids showed up (this is the site I teach at every Saturday afternoon) and Lihlehleng said just go and at least show a prayer or game. We started off slow with the game Leader (or indian chief) and picked up momentum with What Can You Do Ngoana Ngoana (a dance game I edited for Lesotho kids), Hey Posse, and O God Guide Me in sign language, which I had taught before. A high school student in her first year helped me to work with the kids and it turned out to be a wonderful and uplifting time. Many of the kids said prayers they had memorized when we squatted in a circle at the end of the day. It was just a great lesson in humility and trusting God to take my capacities and spread His intentions. I just am so happy that I didn't miss out, or make the children miss out on a wonderful experience because of my own anticipated limitiations. It reminds me a quote Fredda (Baha'i in US) told me: "God can't steer a ship that isn't moving." Well I'm moving along like an All American Rejects song

I don’t know if I wrote but I met a cool soldier here named Molontoa (I know me hanging out with a soldier is way weird). Anyway he has helped me with Sesotho and it is nice to share life experiences with him and his friends and hanging out just made me realize how much easier it is to get to know someone here when you have hours a day to just talk and reflect on life. He moved back to Maseru on Mon but I think he is a good friend to have. One the old fashioned ideas here is that husbands are above wives, hence only men are in bars playing pool and drinking. I think it is getting much better with the new generation. There are female police and many occupations so I hope that there will be more equality. Just a note: I think its important for us to realize that saying men and women are equal doesn't mean they have to do the same things. It is just genetics that men are stronger physically and women are more emotionally based. Equality simply means that you value the contributions of each gender (or race, ethnicity) at the same level. I was telling the men here, God made it so that people could not be born without women. They are of great importance. People could also not be born without men, so I have to believe we were meant as complementary beings. It also made me think how some atheists and scientists think we are crazy to believe that there is this higher being that watches over everything. But I mean have you seen how many stars there are? That are billions of miles away and how many other galaxies exist. I think it is just as crazy to believe that all the interacting systems of sustainable life were somehow spontaneously created by a big bang than to believe that as we are discovering more and more about the world around us, it seems that there is some greater plan amid our progress

I have to be honest, I can’t imagine going back to busy DC after living here, but who knows what the next step is; it's still early. (Don't worry, still have a plane ticket for July). The biggest issue I’m realizing is that if I decided to return to Africa in order to work longer, with the exchange rate I would not make enough money to buy plane tickets to visit the United States

We shall see where God takes me.

Thanks for reading my long updates and for all those who are keeping in contact, I miss you and value our long distance relationships lol

"Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in the spirit of utmost kindliness and love" Baha'u'llah

With open arms and open heart
Shine your light,
Andrea Hope