A Farewell to Remember

Do you ever feel like Mary Poppins? – The seasons in South Africa are beginning to change. It is not seen as the dramatic color change of autumn leaves, or the cripness in the air from the first frost, but we know winter is coming.

The ethonol in the thermometer on the wall in our little house has finally contracted enough to read less than 80°F and we can almost wear long pants comfortably again.

As the wind begins to shift, we reach inside our carpet bag to extract our umbrellas. Standing hand in hand, with a tear in our eyes we prepare to fly from this beautiful place.

It is hard to believe that the time has come for us to go. When one turns around and looks back at the journey of life, it all seems so short, one day practically falls on top of the next. Yet at the same time, if we try to remember each individual event we realize that so much has happened and it seems forever ago that we set foot on South African Soil.

It is the beginning of April and term 1 had just been brought to a close. Susie has achieved, through amazing dedication, what seemed the impossible. The Chrysalis Girls Club is ready to hand over to the leaders in full. All the cabinets are organized and projects are labeled. The leaders have been briefed and the torch has exchanged hands.

My community computer class has finished and the participants have joyfully received their certificates. The workshops have ceased and Expand the Band has triumphed.

We leave this village with a feeling of closure. This time may have come sooner than expected, but it is the right time none the less.

We said our farewells to the family, schools and community organizations and in true South African Style, with much singing and dancing and speeches all around they rejoiced in our coming, remembered our service, and wished us well on our continued journey of life.

We could not have asked for more from a final farewell. If you have ever seen the Tim Burton movie Big Fish you will know what we mean when we say, at the end of it all everyone was there. As we traveled through the forest to be released back into the big river of life once again, it seemed as though all that we had helped along our Peace Corps journey stood by waving and wishing us safe travels.

Gifts were offered either direction. From us we presented an assortment of banners one to each school,one to Chrysalis Girls Club, and one to the Home and Community Based Care.

During our service Prosser UMC and the Barr Family has donated an assortment of toys and games that we have in turn given to the Dubs Creche (pre-school) in the village just to the north of Mokuruanyane. This creche may be the poorest of the poor in finances, but they make up for this in full in heart. We have witnessed a small tin structure with dirt floors be transformed though community contributions into a brick structure with a solid concrete foundation. Upon Susie’s last visit she saw hand crafted posters on the walls and creative learning spaces spread around the room. With the dedication of the women who work and care for the children this organization has lifted itself and continues move forward sharing love and support to the children of Dubs.

Our donations to the creche have really been quite small, a box of used toys here and some supplies there, but at our farewell the lead teacher came down to Mokuruayane to give us a gift. She gave out of love. The school has so little but she wanted to say, “Thank you.” Her presence, and her gift overwhelmed us. This is true generosity. This is the lesson that will keep close to our hearts. Give out of love and love as much as you can.

In the end the village seemed to echo Dick Van Dike’s final line, “Goodbye, Mary Poppins, don’t stay away too long.”

We send a big vote of thanks back to you, our friends and family. Thank you for supporting us during our Peace Corps experience by keeping us in your thoughts and prayers and by sending us packages and letters. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Kgotso (Peace)

Benjamin and Susie

Final moments in the village.

Ye Band Dideth Expand

The news is in and the news is good. Just before the deadline we were able to reach our goal of just under R45000.

Here’s a short version of the backstory… (if you know the story you may want to skip to the next section)

Beginnig with a single donation of the used trumpet St. Johns Apostolic Church began to dream. They raised money within the church and were able to acquire 7 brass instruments and 2 drums and the band was born.

Youth were invited from within the church and the surrounding community to join. At this time 22 youth are involved. They share instruments so that everyone gets a chance to learn and play. The band performs on Sunday mornings and for other special events around the village and other nearby villages and the particpants have formal practice two days a week but can often be found running from the school to the church to practice on other days of the week.

Why is this band-thing so important here in South Africa? South Africa struggles with the greatest number of people infected HIV/AIDS in the whole world. Here in the rural spaces opportunities for healthy habits are severely lacking. Children and youth run unsupervised, with few role models leading the way. Villages are often split as their young men and women leave to work in the cities in order to send money back for survival. Grandparents then become the primary caregivers, but their abilities are limited by mobility and levels of education. When children and youth lack positive role models they will experiment and sometimes fall into unhealthy decisions unwittingly. Sexual promiscuity and drugs and alcohol are all real problems here in the village that need proactive solutions.

The band provides a safe space where children and youth can come and hone skills, a space where they can find caring adults who help to guide decisions steering them away from potentially dangerous life choices and they can find positive life-giving support amongst their peers.

Where are we now?

As of two weeks ago I was able to set a meeting with the music store shop owner, Christa. A true kind heart who understands the power of music. Three pastors, two support members, one tuba player and myself headed up the delegation from the church. We sat down in the shop to has out the details. Christa was able to stretch our donated money to the limit and so we were able to purchase 11 new instruments including three trumpets, a pocket trumpet, a tuba, alto and baritone horn, a trombone, euphonium, a snare and a  base drum.

 

 

We also had around R4000 that we set as store credit for the church use as seed money for their next instrument purchase. The plan had turned out better than we could have hoped. 

 

 

With the instruments set to arrive in a week, Susie and I decided to make a visit to worship with the church and to see the band in action. As it turns out, there was a slight delay as we made a change in instrument brands to help stretch the cash a little further. So when Susie and I made it to the church the new instruments had not yet arrived. We however were able to take part in a beautiful worship service that featured the band as it was, which was tremendous fun and moved me to tears. 

Here are a few images from the day. 

St. John’s

The entire congregation went on a mini-parade around the community. Even Susie and I marched with the band.

The Band before the new instrumetns were added.

As of today, the instruments have arrived at the shop and the church was able to send members in to acquire them. Initially I was going to go in to see this transaction first hand but due to some communication issues this did not happen. I will, however, make my way back to the church on Monday to see the fruits of our labors. 

Thank you to all who donated to Expand the Band. It was a joy to be involved. Our little project caught the eye of Peace Corps Washington DC and they put out a press release on thier web site. Words are also being passed back to the Seattle office so who knows you may just find this in the local paper someday soon.

Here’s the press release: Expand the Band Press Release

Cheers everyone and thanks again.

Christmas Rocks!

Last year at the Longtom Marathon Event in Sabi, AJ, a fellow volunteer, asked one of the staff from the backpacker, “Is there any good rock climbing in this area?” His response was, “if you want serious rock climbing in South Africa, bra’, you need to check out Waterval Boven.” So that’s exactly what we did.

Rhonda, Craig, AJ, Susie, Benjamin

Initially our party was only only AJ, Susie and myself but as soon as Rhonda heard word of rock climbing she was all in.

After backpacking in the Drakes we asked everybody what were their plans for Christmas. Craig said that we was going to be with his host family at a game park for a few days before Christmas but on Christmas day he may just be hangin’ in his little thatched outside room. This was unacceptable! Even though Craig had never rock climbed before and was a might concerned by heights we convinced him that he needed to make the hour journey from his home in Nelspruit out to meet us in Waterval Boven. More new outdoor adventures for Craig with the Barr-Wilsons!

A beautiful hike we took around Waterval Boven… it was an adventure; ask us about it sometime

This time our gear was truly thin. Suz had her harness and shoes and AJ would have had his shoes, harness and chalk bag but he had some complications on his way back from climbing Kilimanjaro the week before. When I say complications I mean Tanzania Air went bankrupt and shut down. AJ and his little crew of three had to find other means to get back to South Africa from Tanzania all so that he could come out climbing with us. Needless to say it took him a few extra days to get back, but he made to us right on schedule.

Getting ready to repel down into the Tranquilitas Crags

We rented what gear we didn’t have and hired guides to show us the ropes… and rocks for a few days. After getting acquainted with the area we chose to make our own way out to the crags to climb. We even went climbing on Christmas day, now that’s a Christmas to remember.

Susie and Rhonda showing us the way

We didn’t forget to celebrate. Suz and Rhonda found some cute toys and decorations at the local mart in town, unbeknownst to the guys, and on Christmas morning we awoke to find four Christmas sacks duct taped to the mantle. We enjoyed a Christmas breakfast, played with our toys and waited for the rocks to dry off after a night of light rain.

We climbed all afternoon and then came back to the backpacker to prepare our Christmas feast. AJ and Rhonda made curry and rice, Susie made fruit salad, and Craig and I attempted to make candied yams (or squash). Let’s just say we didn’t have any measuring tools so we had butter, cinnamon, squash, marshmallow soup but it still tasted good as long as you used a slotted spoon to get out the “yams”. Craig also did a number on our Christmas decorations so the table looked fabulous.

Christmas morning… Santa even found us here in South Africa

Enjoying our Christmas morning

Our Christmas feast

AJ, the most experienced climber of the crew, led the way, but we were quick learners and both Suz and I did our first lead climbs. Rhonda challenged herself on slabs of the like she had never faced before and Craig… well he made his first assents ever and truly mastered his fears as he enjoyed some fabulous climbs.

Rhonda on “Little Bonsai”

Craig’s first crag

We managed to stretch ourselves with our greatest attempt at a 5.10a. Suz, AJ and I all managed a full assent on a 5.9 and the rest of the crew was able to solidly climb a 5.8.

AJ attempting the “Endless Blowjob”

Benjamin chimney-ing up  “Jackie Chan”

Suz climbing to clear “Little Bonsai”

All in all we had an awesome time and wish we were still out on the rocks. I know that I for one am hooked. There just is something about being out in the beautiful wilderness and getting up close and personal with mother nature.

Nuff said!

Check out the entire photo album at  Rock Climbing 2008