It is interesting to see how many permutations of survival there are, we of course at Botshabelo concentrate largely on physical survival and constantly live the effects of emotional and mental fall out. The behaviour that survival prompts us to act out on others and our loved ones would in retrospect, leave us ashamed and filled with bitter regret; however, the moment takes all. The other evening a young villager begged Nicole to organize transport to go and fetch her cousin, who is critically ill with AIDS, and take him to hospital and help generally. Nicole who was broke as usual, put on her banking hat and sent the youth out to ‘panda’(find/search)for money for petrol. This is not a good time of month on a poverty village, however, Salinas’s brother lent her a hundred rand. Borrowing money on the village takes different forms, some try to borrow to go drinking, some to go to soccer, but everyone knows when Nicole needs money, it is urgent. Fortunately, the village Micra drives on a sniff of petrol, another workable present from our Norwegian family from Bergen[Lyderhorn Choir]. Joseph, Leigh’s partner was kind enough to drive at night, a more than risky business, to go and find her cousin, which they did. A pitiful skeleton of a man, barely able to speak, his family mostly drunk outside and very put out that we would dare want to take him to a hospital ,was what met them. The family refused to let Joseph and the cousin take the dying man. Joseph could not fathom what the problem was, free transport and asking for nothing in return, it sounded like a no brainer to the family. They then proceeded to reminded Joseph and the Good Samaritan cousin from Botshabelo, that it is pension day in a few days and that they need his disability, and yes, we could help him after pay-out. Like most things in poverty, his life is attached to a gamble; we hope that he can survive for a few more days.
Cynthia |
As a child she occupied all the roles, wife, mother, baby sitter, cleaner, so only began school very late and has not been able to catch up academically. Two weeks have passed and she is still weak and not wanting to take the baby. I watch her eyes looking down at her baby, wanting to take up the challenge of motherhood but not having the energy. The mothers’ mouth smiles but never reaches her eyes, the sad empty windows, the only glimpse of scars and brokenness that peeps out of an otherwise beautiful body. Something has switched off and we are trying to find the elusive energy to switch the ‘X factor’ on. Normally, our soft, large eyed babies do it for us, when, as they are born, they look at us, cause us to fall into an everlasting love thus initiating a warrior type protection, but it seems that if one starts life having to love oneself and become the warrior to protect oneself, payment is given that can never be returned.
The college is going well. Ashley,(from Extrabold, an hotel management service),as well as Extrabold itself, have adopted the college and are providing practical training for the level three’s and a few from level two. Ashleigh has introduced us to Basil Kransdorf, among the many, who is the manufacturer of an amazing product called e’pap. He has donated a tremendous amount of this, which helped immensely during our period of no money, no food because our subsidy was paid out late. Although we are no longer starving, we are not getting a fully balanced meal with all the daily-required nutrients and this is where e’pap is playing a major role. Basil has also found us a sponsor who will sponsor e’pap to us on a monthly basis for some months.
The Norwegians, as always, stepped up to the plate immediately and sent us money for Gift’s (teacher) salary and other aspects for the year, so the youth have a respite. This is apart from them (the Norwegian Choir) sending us food money every month. Actually, if it was not for the Norwegian Choir from Bergen, many of the children would have had to survive in shacks with very dubious relatives. So every night when you Norwegians sit at the table and eat, remember you are sitting with at least a hundred and fifty ‘guess who’s coming for dinner’ kids from Botshabelo. After twenty-two years of living in poverty on Botshabelo, we can see that the only way the world will save itself is through the humanness shown by all of you out there. God bless you all.
Jennifer, from “Building a Global Community,” (our American 501 (c) 3 partner) a lone American woman, took on our National Energy Provider singlehandedly. She harassed them to check what was going on with our account until, I believe, out of a deep feeling of surviving Jennifer and her incessant complaining, whining, harassing and hundreds of telephone calls, sorted out our account. I believe they cancelled all their other problems just to sort out our account when she threatened to get onto a plane to come and see them personally. I guess for them the idea of this insane, lone, American energy crusader was too much for even our hardened African energy provider. Charlene, in her usual crisp, humanitarian and efficient manner, paid a huge amount, with Daniel and Brad adding. So we are no longer at risk of being ripped out of the grid but have to however make huge changes to our lifestyle to survive the increased energy costs. It is costing us R18 000 a month! Not do-able at all.
Speaking of energy, fortunately, or serendipitously, our sewerage pipes blocked again!!! And while Leigh, Jawawa, Thabiso, Tami and others looked at all this useless Shit, we decided to make it work for us. We began researching biogas, to tell the truth, we did not have everybody convinced, while we discussed the storage and building up of gas. We could see that we had lost our audience because they were busy playing out images of a huge shit explosion that would ultimately land on the roofs of their houses and in addition would have to help clean up. In one of the many phone conversations with Monica, a new addition to the “family” from California and who is absolutely incredible at networking (we don’t believe that there is anyone that this woman doesn’t know) managed to put us in touch with someone who knew someone who knew about Biogas and who was himself connected to Oxfam. I admit that I gave this yuppie intellectual one look and said “ yea right!” But wow! Someone came to see us and showed us plans and then to our delight and relief, Oxfam said that they could fund two specially constructed drums or they could provide us with one drum and make it a turnkey project, we of course have opted for the two and have begun to dig. Will keep you updated.
Our new dining hall |
There is a fire in the Village! I kid not, will show the photos tomorrow.
4 comments:
am reading with interest your stories, and posting them onto friends around here in melbourne Australia, We have all just seen Angels in the Dust and want to help, I have emailed Con and asked to come over at the end of 2012 and my friends all want to raise some money for you, and do anything that could help you..we think you are all the most wonderful angels and we are flaming your fire for you!!
thank you and blessings to you too
Jane dore Daly from Phillip Island Melbourne, Australia.
I also just watched the documentary Angels in the Dust tonight :) I was blown away..crying tears of sadness, yet tears of joy for the new life these kids have. Anyways, I also have a passion for Africa! I have a non profit called Project Viatu: we give the croc style of shoes to kids in Kenya. I have the vision to expand beyond Kenya and into Africa one day..all in Gods timing. I often say, I live in the United Stated but my heart is in Kenya.
You, your family and volunteers are such an inspiration to me! May God bless you for all the love you give and work you do! I hope to be more like you.
Allie McLeod, www.projectviatu.com
projectviatu@gmail.com
I just watched Angels in the Dust and was completely blown away by what you, your husband, and your girls are doing in South Africa. I cried many tears but I praise God for you all that you're there helping these children to heal and loving and comforting them when they don't have anyone else to do that for them. I keep you all in my prayers and please keep blogging since I love to hear how everyone's doing! God bless.
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