Empowering The Xhosa People

Educational Empowerment
- Creation Based Enrichment Program
- Literacy Enhancement

Economic Empowerment
- Small Business Training with Micro Lending
- Savings and Credit Associations

Spiritual Empowerment
- Youth Group and Youth Camp
- Leadership Development for Pastors and Lay Leaders

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Saturday, July 28, 2012

Famous American Style

from Elliott
A trip to the store is often an interesting experience. Many times it is because of the people we see there while other times it is what we find there. Some raise lots of questions and require more explanation than others. This one just caught my eye...

A package of cookies but not just any cookies. These proclaimed that they were "The Famous American Style." Well, being American I would certainly have to try these! They were cranberry and white chocolate. The cranberry certainly sounded 'New England'  but after tasting one I was not sure what made them 'American.' I think I was hoping for a 'Mrs. Fields' taste since I had been introduced to those while living in Chicago quite some time ago. I was disappointed.


The funny thing is that somehow if I took the advertising at its word I would draw the conclusion that if I did not like the cookie then I would have to doubt my own 'American - ness' How could this be the Famous American Style' if I did not really like them. Have I been gone from America too long? Perhaps I was not really a 'true American' to begin with.

Interestingly, there have been a number of instances where I did not find myself closely aligned with something that those from other countries considered 'American'. Some of that disconnect is due to Hollywood images that are generalized by other cultures but it also suggests that people from other countries tend to see America as monolithic and miss the basic truth America as a republic or a confederation of states and regions/cultures has never been monolithic. It certainly has those things that draw us together but our strength can be found more in our diversity.


btw -While the front of the package was in English the reverse had five different languages, none of which were English, which made it difficult for me to ascertain who had determined that these were 'The Famous American Style'  and where were they from!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Happy Birthday, Madiba!

from Katherine

July the 18th was Nelson Mandela’s 94th birthday. He spent 67 years fighting for social justice here in South Africa. To represent the 67 years he asked his countrymen to spend 67 minutes of their day doing something nice for someone else.

Some friends and I decided to visit some of the schools in our ministry area. We told Mandela’s story, sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and passed out oranges, cookies, and candy to the children and teachers. It was a great day.

As we were driving along one of the many dirt roads in the community I came across a friend of mine. We have spoken about Mama Thandiwe before. She is OLD, has snow white hair (when it is not in a wrap), is legally blind, walks with crutches and has a great big heart! I stopped the car and told her who it was speaking since she cannot see and introduced her to my friends in the car.

We told her what we were doing and why and she shouted “Madiba’s birthday Yoiwee.” We are not sure what ‘yoiwee’ means but she says it with such enthusiasm it must be good.  I reminded her that Madiba (a term of endearment for Mandela) was 94 and she started singing ‘Happy Birthday to Madiba with her arms waving in the air and turning in circles! We sang along and then she went on her way to a ”church ladies” meeting. We loved celebrating with the children, but Mama Thandiwe made our day extra special!

Friday, July 13, 2012

To the Head Chef - "I Have an Emergency"

from Elliott
It seems that I keep seeing signs worthy of a good ponder. Some lead to some deeper cultural understanding or reinforce an underlying issue that we are dealing with daily.

This one is just plain funny. We were enjoying a long weekend renting a cabin in a remote area known for 'birding'. On the door of the small kitchen was this sign noting the 'Emergency Numbers' for guests.

Being located on the kitchen door, I found it humorous that you could have an 'Emergency' that would be appropriate for the 'Head Chef'. That is not just a South Africa issue - I think that would have been great even when we were still living in the US!