Swaziland

April 16, 2006

After a 12 hour flight, we finally arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa. Now we are on the road headed to Bulembu, Swaziland. It's about a 6 hour trip. Driving through S. Africa toward Swaziland wasn't too different from driving in Texas (Denton to Amarillo) at first. Pretty flat and dry and nothing much to look at. After a few hours, though, the scenery has changed dramatically and suddenly there are more hills and thousands of trees clulmped together. Very foresty and beautiful. And I can feel the desire to be here increasing inside of me and though we are still many miles from our destination, I know that I want to be here, and not just for a week. My excitement at the thought of serving here for several months is welling up inside. One word can describe me: EAGER!....

(A bit later during the drive...)
We just passed the first homes I've seen. I don't know how to articulate the feelings evoked inside of me as I stare at these completely simplistic, primitive, bare bones structures that serve as homes. Humbling, and yet, strangely appealing. I love the simplicity and the lack of materialism here-which I myself can get so caught up in back home. And there are African people around-near the houses, the stores, on the roadside hoping for a ride, just sort of standing around in various places...and I feel a sense of love for them. I am drawn to them. I always have been. Some cows just crossed the road in front of our vehicles and gave us a brief traffic jam :-) And the land here in Swaziland is BEAUTIFUL. There are these ginormous hills and mountains that just end and drop off suddenly...with crazy deep drop offs. I can't really describe it, but it's awesome. THIS IS AFRICA!
Looking at the African children and gazing out across the vast land, I feel a strange sense of belonging.

April 19, 2006

It's already Wednesday and in an hour we'll be leaving Bulembu. I meant to write, but I was always so tired by bedtime-so never did. It's been an awesome 3 days here. I've had loads of interesting feelings and thoughts knowing that I will be returning in a few months.
So Sunday night after we arrived-several kids/teens/adults did some African singing and dancing for our group, which I loved! I have always enjoyed African music (the bits I have heard) and their unique dancing style. It was really cool to finally see in person.
Monday we worked hard shoveling loads of cow dung and cleaning out Lee-Ann's future care center. (Lee-Ann is our missionary in Swaziland) When we had arrived at the care center that morning, it was occupied by 2 cows, which we chased out. You can imagine the beginning condition of the place. In the afternoon that day, some of us went to visit ABC ministries (Abandoned Babies for Christ) which was truly awesome. It's sort of an orphanage, but really more like a huge foster family. An older South African couple started ABC about 12ish years ago I believe, and they currently have around 25 children. They have little babies up to 14 year olds right now. We spent a lot of time holding and kissing babies! I met a nice woman in her 20's called Danelle. She is from California and she shared her incredible testimony with me. She was lovely and my heart was warmed by listening to her share about the life that God brought her out of-she is a perfect example of 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Remarkable. Anyway, hearing the stories of the children there was heart wrenching. One was buried alive straight after birth, one abandoned in a long drop latrine (outdoor toilet), one was abused by his father and grandfather and was lowered into a pot of boiling water, one could not walk and was prayed over and healed, praise the Lord, and walked into the doctor's office later, to the doctor's amazement. Every child there is a living miracle and proof of a God that is love.
Monday night we had dinner with many of the "Valley of Hope" missionaries, who shared about their ministries and how God is at work in Bulembu. I loved it. I met a teacher, Megan, and her husband Carl-from Florida. They moved over in January and will be in Bulembu for 5 years. Megan is like me in that she finished her student teaching, but did not teach in her own classroom before moving away...and now she is teaching in Bulembu. No curriculum and hardly any resources, but children that are eager to learn.
Tuesday I went to visit the school and Megan's classroom in particular. It was simple and really cool. The only materials they have are what comes in on the containers a couple times a year, and anything they decide to purchase with their own money. I love Bulembu! It's incredibly beautiful and peaceful. It's this lush valley nestled between mountains and loads of trees...and there's no telephone or internet connections, so not a lot of distractions. No streetlights either :-( I think it would be great to live here because you can focus on what's important, like relationships. Relationships with God and people...while not being caught up in any kind of superficialism. Of course there are plenty of downsides as well, like the fact that the electricity goes out randomly for 2 or 3 days at a time or that you may wake up and not have running water some days...things like this that you don't normally face in America. There's no grocery store in Bulembu either. But you deal with these things and it's no big deal. Oh, and today I saw 4 or 5 monkeys in the wild, just in the road a couple of houses down from Lee-Ann's. That was awesome! Tomorrow we are going on a safari!

April 20, 2006

Oh my goodness-today had to be one of the more amazing days of my life. An actual African safari. Amazing. What an experience. Not exactly what one might expect, but nevertheless, really cool. We rode around in these Indiana Jones vehicles that could probably tread through just about anything. If you've ever ridden the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland, you know what I'm talking about. And basically we drove around on a dirt path throughout the game park. You don't just jet out into the wilderness as one might expect, you do stay to the path. This particular park was around 20,000 acres. We saw impala, sable antelope, another type of antelope, warthogs, wildebeests, hippos, zebras, rhinos, giraffes, elephants, oxpeckers...I think that's about it. We saw some so close I could hardly believe it. The only time we left the vehicle was to walk out closer to a mother and baby white rhino. We were able to get to about 20 feet from them. It was awesome. I got some amazing pictures, but they are on Lee-Ann's camera that I borrowed because mine died-so I don't have them yet. Later when we went for lunch-some rhinos came right up next to the jeep-but it was after we were out. Still, they didn't seem too bothered by the humans. The animals in general were smaller than I thought they would be-especially the elephants. I'm sure the ones I've seen at the circus are much bigger :-) The entire thing, including lunch, lasted aroune 6 hours and only costs around £30. Oh yeah, and for lunch we ate some impala! Anyway, it was pretty exhilarating being so close to such beautiful and interesting creatures in the wild. Definitely one of the neatest experiences I have ever had. I have a few pictures online of Bulembu, so click here if you want to see them.

When in Rome...

How many times did I say that in the last week? Countless. Anyway, I got back from the Tour de Italia Wednesday night. It was truly fabulous. Italy is pretty much my favorite country. It's so romantic, just naturally. I love the tall buildings that are so close together that they create narrow walkways below. And as you look up, you'll see loads of open shutters and people's clean laundry suspended on clotheslines 20 feet above. It's also very interesting to see how the old is mixed in with the new. It seems very strange to look down at the end of a busy street and see the Colosseum sitting there in the midst of the busyness.
I'll start with my journal entry from the first night in Rome.

Saturday April 8th

We arrived at our hotel in Rome around 6:30 this evening. On the way to our hotel, we passed the colosseum, which is only 1/4 mile away! After checking in, we went for a walk down to the old city...and it was just amazing to view the sites...my senses were overwhelmed. The way I felt while standing there encircled by structures that are thousands of years old is truly indescribable. I cannot even comprehend what my eyes have just seen. Ancient is an adjective that could never even approach doing justice to this place. I can't imagine how they built such GINORMOUS edifices with these intricately detailed carvings SO LONG ago. It's unfortunate that modern architecture lacks much of the beauty and character that ancient architecture provides.
We went for dinner and had fresh, homemade pasta-so good! We followed that with some super yummy gelato. Gelato is truly a gift from God and I'm sure that in Heaven I will just sit and eat gelato all day every Thursday. I'm really excited about my diet of pizza, pasta, and gelato for the next 4 days. No good for my bod, but REALLY good for my soul!

So that was our first evening in Rome. Here are a couple of pictures from the old city and our first gelato with flat Stanley :-)

Sunday was the only sunny day we had and I was so happy! We walked a lot. We went down to Palatine Hill, which is a hill covered with the remains of the first palace. We get our word 'palace' from Palatine. Then did a tour of the colosseum. It's so huge I can't even explain it! It's kind of like the Eiffel Tower-way bigger than you could possibly imagine without seeing it in real life. It's amazing how much of it remains to this day (it was constructed in AD 72-80). Walked around a lot more and visited some monuments, fountains, statues, piazzas, etc. We also did some shopping of course! As Darren always says, "Women be shoppin." Indeed.
Next day we went to the Vatican City and into the Sistine Chapel. It was truly amazing. I wish I could describe it, but of course I can't!! It's just incredible how the artwork remains to this day. So beautiful. The ceiling is completely covered in the murals...with no breaks at all. That in itself just floors me. And at the very center is The Creation painting...which I so badly wanted to photo, but they asked us not to speak or take photographs. However, there were only about 5 of us that actually had enough respect to follow those rules. I was appalled at the people and extremely frustrated by the fact that they simply could not just their mouths and turn off their cameras so that some of us could experience silence in that incredible place. It was also very packed, which is always annoying, but expected. I wish I could have spent more time inside viewing the various artwork throughout.
Monday night we headed to Pisa and stayed overnight there. The leaning tower was beautiful! I couldn't believe how bright and clean it looked, seeing as how the building of it began over 800 years ago (and carried on for 200 years). I thought it would look dirtier and more blackened, like many of the other old buildings I have seen, but no. Maybe they cleaned it recently. Our view from dinner that night was great; we ate outside at the first restaurant on the road near the tower. I probably never thought I would have a meal while staring at the leaning tower of Pisa. Pretty cool. I also hadn't realized that the tower was built next to a cathedral. It was really gorgeous altogether.
(I am trying to add pictures, but it won't let me for some reason. So if you click here, hopefully it will take you to the page with the pics and you can view them as a slideshow...but there are a lot of pics because it's the combination of my pics and jody's pics together.)
The next day we went to Florence. I loved Florence. It's a really beautiful city full of gorgeous architecture and history. I don't remember the names of anything there though because they're all Italian and without my little guide book, I am lost. The cathedral there has to be one of the most impressive I've seen. We didn't go in, but the outside of it was amazing and quite different than any I have seen. I also loved the bridge across the river, which reminded me somewhat of the Rialto bridge in Venice. They are both full of shops and are very interesting sites. I'm a big fan of bridges anyway, but when they have loads of shops (especially jewellery shops with lots of sparkly things!!) they're even cooler. This bridge was particularly amazing because of the way that there were these buildings basically hanging over the side of the bridge...I can't really describe it at all, look at the pictures.
Went back to Pisa and stayed over there that night...and back to Rome the next day to fly out. It was a great trip and I was incredibly blessed to have been invited to join this wonderful family.

Mi Vida Loca

I was talking to someone the other day and they asked if I was leaving for Swaziland this Saturday, and I replied: "No, this Saturday I'm going to Rome and next Saturday I'm leaving for Swaziland." WHAT! What in the world? Who says that? Sometimes I cannot believe the life I lead. Why has God blessed me soooooo much? HE is so good to me. Five years ago did I ever think I would be saying I'm going to Italy and Swaziland for the next two weeks. And the most amazing thing is that it's all FREE!! The Italy trip (Rome 2 nights and Florence and Pisa for 2 nights) is free because a family from church invited me along with them and of course said that it would be of no cost to me. The Swaziland trip was paid for by another family from church-an answer to prayer-which you know if you read my blog normally because I already posted about that. Anyway, it's all amazing to me and it's humbling because I so do not deserve it. But God is gracious. I'm so excited about the next 2 weeks of my life!!!

Anyway, I have become lazy these past few months and I hardly ever post. I don't know why. I guess I just never feel like it...but I am going to try and post more often. I hope anyone reading this finds themselves healthy and happy and loving life! Good things.

Fair Trade (again)

Since this is my website, I can post whatever I want, okay. So if I want to keep putting RELEVANT articles, that's okay! You don't have to read them, but when I feel passionately about an issue, I want to educate others about it! Fair trade is something I feel very passionate about, so I want others to be wise and knowledgeable about it...because it's hugely important and beneficial to those involved. This article is basically informing the reader about this book that's a great resource for fair trade education-and it's a short read. I've just ordered it and it's ridiculously cheap! I actually ordered a few so I can give some away to friends. Please read on. And GET INVOLVED!

The Conscious Consumer by Heather Dillon

With the help of Coldplay’s Chris Martin and other celebrities, Fair Trade has become one of the hottest buzzwords on college campuses and in faith-based organizations. Yet many don’t understand how the Fair Trade movement actually works. A deeper understanding is worth pursuing, especially for Christians. The Word makes it clear that our God cares deeply about justice for the poor and the oppressed. Since our God cares, we should, too. The Fair Trade Resource Network recently released the fourth edition of The Conscious Consumer: Promoting Economic Justice Through Fair Trade. For those looking to learn more about Fair Trade, this is an excellent place to turn. Author Rose Benz Ericson introduces readers to basic Fair Trade concepts, while also highlighting the deeper issues of the movement. The 36-page publication is the most trusted source for comprehensive information on Fair Trade. Since its first edition in 1999, The Conscious Consumer has sold more than 60,000 copies. The most recent edition alone received pre-orders for nearly 20,000 copies. Readers can look forward to gaining a better understanding of how Fair Trade works and why it is necessary, how the movement has grown in the last five years, what Fair Traders are currently doing throughout the world and what challenges the movement faces.
There are a ton of valuable facts and stories packed within this short publication. Ericson begins by noting the problems with traditional trade and explaining how Fair Trade differs as a viable alternative. She then explores the principles to which Fair Traders are committed, the benefits to consumers as well as producers, Fair Trade’s history, the pronounced benefits of Fair Trade for impoverished women and much more. Those who are unfamiliar with Fair Trade become more conscious of world trade issues, while readers who are already knowledgeable receive an update on the movement’s progress. Recent years have seen leaps in awareness and acceptance of Fair Trade. In North America alone, money spent on fairly traded goods nearly tripled between 2001 and 2004. Americans have especially embraced Fair Trade coffee and food products. This growth can be partially accounted for by advancements in certification. Ericson explains that with recent accessibility of an identifiable Fair Trade certification seal, products are no longer confined to Fair Trade retail and wholesale stores. They are available in mainstream retail outlets such as grocery chains and Sam’s Clubs. Awareness has also been raised through the help of faith-based groups, motivated students, educators and the use of the Internet. With advancements, there also come trials. The final portion of The Conscious Consumer is dedicated to the challenges Fair Trade is currently facing. “By touching on some of the difficult questions, I hope The Conscious Consumer will illuminate and help shape the larger conversation about the future of Fair Trade,” Ericson said. Among these difficult questions are how to motivate consumers and overcome resistances, how to determine a fair wage for artisans as well as acceptable certification procedures for products, how to reconcile debates about where Fair Trade products should be sold and how to resolve unintended political and economic results in developing countries as well as organizational staffing and funding limitations. Ericson’s writing reflects well-informed and insightful coverage of appropriate issues. The Conscious Consumer accurately sheds light on what is working and what challenges remain. Undoubtedly, readers will walk away with a broader, more comprehensive perspective. Perhaps the only shortcoming is that Ericson does not propose a specific, practical challenge for readers. The back cover encourages individuals to “Take the 5 Percent Fair Trade Challenge,” but this challenge is not mentioned within the pages of the publication. Although Ericson certainly proposes holistic challenges for the Fair Trade movement, none of these speak directly to individual readers. Still, The Conscious Consumer is an ideal resource for those interested in learning more. It is also inexpensive and a quick read. Copies can be purchased at the Fair Trade Resource Network website (www.fairtraderesource.org) for less than $7 ($3.95 for the publication, plus $3 for shipping). Not only will readers walk away better informed, but the money spent will be funneled back to support one of the movement’s cornerstones: Fair Trade education.