Proofreading When You Don't Know the Language

from Elliott

I have spent a good part of my marketing career, proofreading – brochures, legal documents, advertising copy, etc. You get to a point where it is programmed in your mind what to look for and the correct information you are looking for.

The ministry is hosting the annual revival this week for our ministry partner. Part of the promotion is event posters that are put up at bus stops and at local retailers which are called Spazza’s or Tuck Shops. In the past they have been produced in English but this year I met with my language coach and he translated the poster information for me. While that was challenging because some things simply don’t translate, what was even more challenging was to be sure that what the printer sent me in the proof was what it needed to be.

What I found was that the confidence that I had in proofing real estate marketing materials back home was lacking when I looked at the poster and at best understood every third word. What if I make a mistake – it could be as simple as not legible to the reader or as bad as a different meaning than was desired even possibly offensive. The pressure was on!

Fortunately, when the posters were complete there was only one incorrect letter and it was obvious enough to the reader what the sentence meant and no one would be offended. Anyway, with a little ‘white out’ and the steady hand of a daughter who is visiting from the US the ‘g’ was changed into an ‘s’ and all worked out.

Therapy!!!!

from Elliott
Katherine has often said that I am a bit obsessive- she used to say that I had to do my own landscaping and maintenance because I could never be satisfied with anyone else’s work. Well, our time so far has taken a great deal of adjustment. We have had to learn about ‘Africa time’ and certain things are done just a little bit different here so we have had to have an open mind. I have thought I was doing fine with the transition.

Our ministry has a soccer field for the local children and a field for the annual tent revival. In the past it had been hand cut by a large group of ladies. Then last year the ministry bought a weed eater and a man, Madikizela, has been working diligently to turn back the power of nature. Even with that, the field is a mass of weeds and uneven at best. We have decided to build a grass running track around the soccer field so the even cutting is even more important.

This week we moved another step with the purchase of a 21” self propelled mower. And I thought it was just to speed up the grass cutting but then my obsessive nature kicked in. I have been using the mower for two days while Madikizela is stuck with the weed eater and rake all the while looking longingly at the mower. It was incredibly theraputic!

Ok, when Monday comes along maybe I should share. I am sure Katherine will agree it is time for me to deal with the obsessive behavior!

Happy Birthday!

from Katherine
We just celebrated our first birthday at the Pre School since we arrived in January. Lilitha turned three! We stopped at our local grocery store and found a cake with white frosting and pink polka dots and sprinkles!

The children always come outside to greet us and when Lilitha saw the cake she looked carefully, and did not say a word. This is very unlike Lilitha, as she usually rambles on and on even though I have to get a lot of what she says translated.

The teachers and I thought we should celebrate right away. The children all took their seats and I placed the cake on the table in front of Lilitha and her face exploded into the biggest smile I have ever seen!! We sang Happy Birthday several times with Lilitha singing along! Everyone enjoyed cake including the ministry staff. I had the best time of all and was reminded once again that it is the little things in life that are the most important.

Off to Bizana!

from Elliott
The ministry has been working on official 'registration' for the preschool for well over a year. Before we got here in January the staff had been trying to understand what the process was. They thought they knew but it turns out that they were on a wild goose chase with the wrong governmental department.

Katherine stepped in and with a lot of 'outsider' questions and with some divine guidance found an individual in the Department of Social Services who was willing to lead us by the hand through the process. The government often relies upon the local tribal authority to offer approvals as the first step and then the government processes it. With a number of meetings and some homemade bread, she got the support of the local chief or headman.

The Xhosa culture is an oral tradition so it was required that the community oversight committee appear in person with the Department to express their support and walk through the process as a group. Unfortunately, the meeting would be in Bizana 50 kms away. So we loaded our car and that of a partner in ministry and headed to the city of Bizana.

The good news is that the worker at the Department was very helpful and willing to walk us through the process. A couple of hours later Katherine and the community leaders were heading back to the ministry site at Msizazwe with at least the first step in the process taken care of.

Mothers Day in South Africa

from Elliott
It is Mother's Day in South Africa. In many ways it is the same as in the US. Greeting cards, Sunday Brunch, etc.

But for many in this country it is very different. With a significant number of orphans, by either death of a parent or absence due to economic conditions, one wonders how children in that context connect with the concept of 'Mother.' We are learning that society has a more broad meaning - well beyond the biological.

Katherine had taken photos of the children in the Pre School and helped the children make what we would call 'Mothers Day' cards. On the front of the card is a picture of the child and inside they could color. The children might share them with a mother, a grandmother, an aunt or just a friend. Katherine has connected so well with the children that many of them might well include her on their list as a mother figure.

It seems their definition captures a wider and maybe richer meaning. A mother seems to be anyone who is a nurturer, caregiver, mentor, encourager, provider and/or protector. It is no surprise that it is a term of respect to refer to a woman as 'Mama.' It speaks to the important role one plays or the impact one makes in the child's life as well as to the amazing resilience of the children.

An Anxious Moment

from Katherine
Sunday afternoon Elliott & I were asked to attend a community meeting in the Eastern Cape near our ministry site regarding our preschool. We are still working through our relationship with the Tribal Authority so we were a bit anxious and nervous and unfortunately, without a translator.

We arrived for a 3:00 meeting that started at 4:00 (Africa time). We were excited and relieved to see the Principal of the local elementary school who we had met before. Lucy is a lovely lady and she was able to translate for us. We were able to tell the folk who attended what we had been doing at the preschool and our future hopes were. The community leaders elected an executive committee who will help us plan for the future acknowledging the importance of local input and communication.

At the end of the meeting, the Head Man which is like an assistant tribal chief, spoke to those in attendance and said how grateful he was that Elliott and I had come to Africa and had chosen this community to work with. This is a huge answer to prayer because he is not the easiest person to read and he can be kind of challenging especially when you don't speak the same language (yet).

God is so good to us; He is even paving the way for a better relationship with the Head Man!