Orientation: The First Days

So after spending a couple days adjusting to life at the village, we finally were able to go out and experience a bit of life here.

The first day: Monday February 11, 2013
We began our day with a prayer meeting. This was nice because it brings everyone in the local Hands family together, including the people who spend most of their time behind the scenes and we haven't seen as much. It was amazing to have the whole group together in one room. We sang songs in English, and some songs not in English, but everyone sang with so much heart! I wish everyone could experience it, I can't even do it justice by trying to describe it to you! We prayed, listened to stories of the other volunteers and prayed for the children in their stories. What an awesome way to put everything in perspective in our lives here!

Then it was time to get our hands dirty. Dan loaded us into the cars and we headed off to the Clau Clau Service Center. There we listened to Dan explain all the basics about Hands: the Hub, the RST, the SC, the care workers, the HBOs... all stuff that (mostly) meant nothing to me before I can here, and I'm sure means nothing to you. Just know, we have to know it to really know what Hands does. And I'll explain it to you so you can eventually get the best understanding of the organization and what Hands does. We also heard the stories of the care workers. How difficult their lives were, how God completely changed them for the better. Then we went to the community of Siyathuthuka. You can read all you want about the lives of these children, but until you experience it, you can't just 'get it.' We played games with them. I threw a lot of bad passes with a football, along with some poorly aimed kicks to a soccer ball. We also taught the kids to play hopscotch, tic tak toe, and some hand games. They are so adorable, and so full of life! We sang with them, though this was really mostly us watching them sing and being in awe. Fortunate and Cat really got them going with a few songs. We still don't know all the lyrics in Siswati, but we can at least mimic the dances! Then it was time to serve them lunch. At Siyathuthuka they fed 50 children last year and are expanding to 75 children this year. The women made a mixture of white beans, kidney beans, corn and cornmeal mixed in with some chicken stock. It simmers until it is fairly thick, but it smells and looks good. The children love it. These little bodies get heaping plates because, for most of them, it is their only meal of the day. Some of the very little ones had containers so they could take the leftovers home. These little babies are more coordinated with leftovers than most people I know! They are so tiny, holding a heaping plate of food with their left hand and spooning it into their container with their right hand, and they never lose a drop! That's the cruel necessity of life here though. They learn from an early age to be as self sufficient as possible, because their parents might be working or sick, if they have parents at all. Little ones split a plate meant for one between themselves and two friends, because friends become family here. If they have had enough of the water they were drinking, they poor it into the cup of the little one sitting next to them, to make sure that they will have enough. It is encouraging that these babies can be so giving, and heartbreaking that its because they so desperately need to be in order to survive here.

The second day: February 12
The ladies began with a prayer meeting together. We talked about story and the impact that has on our lives. What we want our story to be. This was such a good way to begin my time here with Hands because it really got me thinking. Then Dan was anxiously waiting for us to finish up because we were driving the whole way to Bushbuckridge and Welverdiend. We went to the BBR Service Center and met the care workers there. There was a meeting going on, so we didn't meet all of them and we did not meet the coordinator, but we did a name game with the others who were waiting. Alicia, Dave, and I went with Audrey into the community. Welverdiend is different than Siyathuthuka because Siyathuthuka is closer to the Hub and they get visitors often, while Welverdiend is about a two hour drive away. Those children were so excited to see us! At one point we were walking to a house we were going to spend some time visiting, and these little ones came running after us screaming 'white people, white people!' They also become completely shy once they realize we will stop and talk to them. We eventually made it to the house, and once inside it began raining. We thought we had waited it out, and began to walk back to the service center, but we were wrong. We got absolutely drenched in the storm. It was difficult and amazing. I couldn't see because the rain was washing sunscreen into my eyes - but soon enough it washed it out! I can even describe it. In certain areas the ground remained so firm, and immediately next to it would be an area that was extremely slippery or muddy. I had warned the group that I trip all the time, so Dave was worried I was going to wipe out. And behind Alicia was helping Audrey avoid getting stuck. We had to stop in other house just to get out of the rain. [I did have my passport and yellow-card on me. They were both in my wallet so my passport didn't get too wet, and my yellow-card didn't get wet enough to ruin it. I also had my Bible and notebooks. The notebooks are dried out at this point, my Bible is still getting there...] We made it back to the Service Center and ate in the car with Jo-Anne while we waited for Dan and the last group to get back. They had Micah with them, so it obviously took them longer to make it back with his desire to splash in every puddle! Back at the Service Center we discussed core values and what they meant for us. Then we had some time to play with the children before it was time to leave. The drive was amazing! There are cows and goats everywhere. We also passed a group of baboons on the road. There were two on the side of the road on the way in, but going back there were probably more than twenty of them sitting in the road, it was a crazy sight! We also passed lots of game land. Dan assured Audrey that I would spot an elephant... and if you know Dan, you'll know that's not at all surprising. But I'm afraid that I did not spot any elephants yet.

We made it back to the village for the first Foodapalooza: taco night! The other volunteers had invited some of the people who live 'upstairs' to come eat with us. In fact, they were experiencing tacos for the first time! It's a really unique experience to share something so commonplace for us with someone else who finds it so foreign. After dinner, we discussed our favorite bands when we were 14, though some people had to guess because they haven't been 14 for quite some time. Then it was time to debrief with Tommy and Morgan, discussing what orientation had been like for them, and how things were going on our end. After that, we traded more 'when you were 14...' questions. I know what was on our walls came into discussion at one point. And we all go to sleep pretty early, around 10. That's just life here. I'm up with the sun, by 6AM at the latest, and by the time I get back from a day in the community, I'm already pretty tired.

This morning everyone had small group, and then the eight in our intake went up to the Sanderson Farm with George to share our testimonies. I think everyone in our group will agree with me when I say 'what an experience!' Obviously we feel a special bond with anyone who has had any involvement with Hands at any point, but to experience as a core group...is just priceless. It's something intangible and something that I will never forget! Now we are eating a late lunch before having an afternoon session with Emily. Tonight our intake is divided up and going to dinner with different people throughout the village. Alicia and I are headed up to Tommy's (and soon to be) Morgan's. I'm very excited to get to spend more time with them.

I'm really excited what has happened so far, and what is to come!
Thanks for reading about my journey, and thanks for praying!