from Elliott
We needed to repair the fence surrounding the water tap so Thamsanqa Madikizela, our caretaker, and I gathered the tools and materials necessary for the job. While the work would not be particularly difficult, Thamsanqa speaks very little English and I know 'kancinci Xhosa' - a small amount of Xhosa. The communication barrier can be frustrating but we started the project.
He is typically very serious and rarely smiles at us. It wasn't until that we learned his first name - everyone else calls him by his surname. When Katherine asked his name, he said it straight faced. The 'q' requires a distinctive click sound. She tried to say it to him and got close enough that he grinned from ear to ear.
Thamsanqa began the project showing me how it was done. At one point early one he said in a very determined voice, "Isando. Isando" I had know idea what he was saying so he started pointing at the pile of tools. I started pointing from one to the other waiting to get an affirmative nod. Finally, I got it. "Hammer, Hammer." I repeated the words in Xhosa just to let him know I was trying to learn. He smiled.
Then the next miracle happened - he handed me the hammer while he held the nail. TRUST! This is a major breakthrough! The day went well with me picking up new words along the way.
A couple of days later he was working on a project and needed a tool. He came to me and said, "Hammer" I responded with a shrug, I don't have a "hammer", but I do have an "isando". He laughed!
We are making progress...one Xhosa word at a time! It does confirm for me though people feel valued when we call them by name and learn even a small amount of their heart language.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Inviting the Wrong Pig to Lunch
from Katherine
We save scraps from breakfast and lunch at the Pre School for the pig that belongs to one of our Garden Helpers - Liziwe. The children scrape their plates into the bucket and laugh at me when I say 'oink, oink.'
I took the scraps by Liziwe's house down the road today. When I arrived a pig was on the left side of the road the same place where her pig was the first time I visited her house. So I told the pig I had lunch and he followed me. I went to the door and told Liziwe's son that I had scraps for the pig who was now standing right next to me. And he said, "great but that is the wrong pig."
He then showed me his mom's pig and her 4 new piglets. The wrong pig is still following me at that point. We dumped the scraps out and the right pig was excited and the wrong pig got a bit of PB and J also!
Thank goodness he did not follow me back to the school!
We save scraps from breakfast and lunch at the Pre School for the pig that belongs to one of our Garden Helpers - Liziwe. The children scrape their plates into the bucket and laugh at me when I say 'oink, oink.'
I took the scraps by Liziwe's house down the road today. When I arrived a pig was on the left side of the road the same place where her pig was the first time I visited her house. So I told the pig I had lunch and he followed me. I went to the door and told Liziwe's son that I had scraps for the pig who was now standing right next to me. And he said, "great but that is the wrong pig."
He then showed me his mom's pig and her 4 new piglets. The wrong pig is still following me at that point. We dumped the scraps out and the right pig was excited and the wrong pig got a bit of PB and J also!
Thank goodness he did not follow me back to the school!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
A Gift of Carrots
from Katherine
There are several community gardens in town that are worked solely by black, female live - in housekeepers. Our neighbor Amelia is one of those ladies. I visit with these ladies as I walk to or from Cason's school. I want to know what they will be planting next so I can plan for the garden at our ministry site. Sometimes we take Amelia or some of the other ladies to the store with us or into the Eastern Cape toward the ministry site to visit family.
Last night we heard a knock on the door. I answered it to find Amelia bringing carrots from her garden. I asked her if I could pay for the carrots but she said 'no' and that they were a small thank you for the kindness shown her. I was touched especially when you consider that many times the ladies will take their vegetables door to door to sell to supplement their income.
I do indeed have a good neighbor and a growing friendship!
There are several community gardens in town that are worked solely by black, female live - in housekeepers. Our neighbor Amelia is one of those ladies. I visit with these ladies as I walk to or from Cason's school. I want to know what they will be planting next so I can plan for the garden at our ministry site. Sometimes we take Amelia or some of the other ladies to the store with us or into the Eastern Cape toward the ministry site to visit family.
Last night we heard a knock on the door. I answered it to find Amelia bringing carrots from her garden. I asked her if I could pay for the carrots but she said 'no' and that they were a small thank you for the kindness shown her. I was touched especially when you consider that many times the ladies will take their vegetables door to door to sell to supplement their income.
I do indeed have a good neighbor and a growing friendship!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
'Just Now' or 'Now Now'
from Elliott
We are learning to be patient. “I will get with you ‘just now’,” the shopkeeper said. It sounded like we would be assisted immediately. But then we waited 10 or 15 minutes. When someone says, I will take care of that ‘now’ it seems like the wait is longer. We think that ‘just now’ is faster than ‘now’ but we are not sure.
What we are waiting for is for someone to say, “I will take care of that ‘NOW now.’ That would probably satisfy our Western impatience!
We are learning to be patient. “I will get with you ‘just now’,” the shopkeeper said. It sounded like we would be assisted immediately. But then we waited 10 or 15 minutes. When someone says, I will take care of that ‘now’ it seems like the wait is longer. We think that ‘just now’ is faster than ‘now’ but we are not sure.
What we are waiting for is for someone to say, “I will take care of that ‘NOW now.’ That would probably satisfy our Western impatience!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
God is Everywhere...Even in the Spinach!
from Elliott
Last Friday the OK Grocer in town said they would like to buy 50 bunches of spinach. More than twice as much as any other time we have sold to them. We were excited! I was not sure we had that many leaves ready to harvest. It is a bit of a grey area as to what constitutes 'a bunch'. I had hoped to get them to say a certain number of leaves but it was a measurement of the thumb and forefinger left open by about 45 degrees. So, you are not quite sure either - neither was I.
I requested our garden staff to harvest all the mature leaves not knowing how many that would be and how many bunches that would produce. They put them loose in boxes and I carried them to the training room where I could spread them out and create the bunches using that less than scientific finger measurement. The number of loose leaves was amazing and completed filled 5 large boxes and the tops of two large tables.
I measured out the bunches and tied 'elastics' (rubber bands) around them and stacked them. It seemed like the piles of leaves would never end! I was growing concerned that we would have way too many and they would go to waste. An hour later they we are bunched and I started putting them in boxes to transport to the OK.
10 bunches, 20, 30, 40, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50. The last one in the box was 50, exactly 50! No more, no less. Exactly what was needed. Only God could know what was in the garden and what was required. It seems like that is God's story in much of our ministry activity. The reality is it is that way throughout our lives. The real blessing though seems to come in acknowledging God's provision. It really is an act of worship appropriate at any time - not just Sunday!
Last Friday the OK Grocer in town said they would like to buy 50 bunches of spinach. More than twice as much as any other time we have sold to them. We were excited! I was not sure we had that many leaves ready to harvest. It is a bit of a grey area as to what constitutes 'a bunch'. I had hoped to get them to say a certain number of leaves but it was a measurement of the thumb and forefinger left open by about 45 degrees. So, you are not quite sure either - neither was I.
I requested our garden staff to harvest all the mature leaves not knowing how many that would be and how many bunches that would produce. They put them loose in boxes and I carried them to the training room where I could spread them out and create the bunches using that less than scientific finger measurement. The number of loose leaves was amazing and completed filled 5 large boxes and the tops of two large tables.
I measured out the bunches and tied 'elastics' (rubber bands) around them and stacked them. It seemed like the piles of leaves would never end! I was growing concerned that we would have way too many and they would go to waste. An hour later they we are bunched and I started putting them in boxes to transport to the OK.
10 bunches, 20, 30, 40, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50. The last one in the box was 50, exactly 50! No more, no less. Exactly what was needed. Only God could know what was in the garden and what was required. It seems like that is God's story in much of our ministry activity. The reality is it is that way throughout our lives. The real blessing though seems to come in acknowledging God's provision. It really is an act of worship appropriate at any time - not just Sunday!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Women's Day in South Africa
from Katherine
Yesterday was Women's Day here. At church on Sunday the pastor talked about the woman with the alabaster jar. Her tears wet his feet, then she wiped them with her hair and poured the perfume from the alabaster jar on Jesus's feet. Her desire to be with Jesus was so great that she gave Jesus all she had.
The pastor went on to remind us that when push came to shove the disciples ran while the women stayed by Jesus' side. He then suggested to the congregation to be sure to thank the women in their lives.
So here's to all the women in my life. Thank you for being you!
Yesterday was Women's Day here. At church on Sunday the pastor talked about the woman with the alabaster jar. Her tears wet his feet, then she wiped them with her hair and poured the perfume from the alabaster jar on Jesus's feet. Her desire to be with Jesus was so great that she gave Jesus all she had.
The pastor went on to remind us that when push came to shove the disciples ran while the women stayed by Jesus' side. He then suggested to the congregation to be sure to thank the women in their lives.
So here's to all the women in my life. Thank you for being you!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
YUM...Spinach!
from Katherine
The initial spinach from our hydroponic garden is ready for harvest. I had arranged to sell some to to our local grocer in order to increase the amount of revenue we would have to defray expenses like fertilizer and labor.
I took some today and I was thrilled when several customers said it was beautiful, were excited that it was grown in a ministry in the Eastern Cape and bought it out of my hands. The grocer was glad too! Last year, the ministry received very little for what they sold because they sold it 'on the roadside' in the community. This year we are blessed to be receiving 4 Rand a bunch for spinach, or about 60 cents US, simply by having the means to get it to market.
In addition to selling produce to support the pre school, we are using it in the meals that we serve. You may be surprised to know that pre schoolers in South Africa love spinach! YUM...
The initial spinach from our hydroponic garden is ready for harvest. I had arranged to sell some to to our local grocer in order to increase the amount of revenue we would have to defray expenses like fertilizer and labor.
I took some today and I was thrilled when several customers said it was beautiful, were excited that it was grown in a ministry in the Eastern Cape and bought it out of my hands. The grocer was glad too! Last year, the ministry received very little for what they sold because they sold it 'on the roadside' in the community. This year we are blessed to be receiving 4 Rand a bunch for spinach, or about 60 cents US, simply by having the means to get it to market.
In addition to selling produce to support the pre school, we are using it in the meals that we serve. You may be surprised to know that pre schoolers in South Africa love spinach! YUM...
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