So many things...

As the year is quickly coming to a close, I begin to reflect... Besides, now that I am enjoying a reprieve from a very hectic term at school I have time to reflect!

Being homeless, but having a home

When we left Red Deer it was an unsettling and difficult experience for me to sell our home and most of our possessions, pack up a few 'invaluable' things into our little red barn and embark on a journey with only a suitcase in each hand.

Then here, in Africa, we just keep having to move! I'm not sure why but I do know that in each place we have been PLACED by God because each place has connected us with people that we would not possibly have connected with otherwise.

In our current house, it's just fun--most of the time--being closer to the centre of the city and much of the action going on. We are directly across from a large soccer pitch where many, many community events occur. Most of the time this is fun--as Benno's Roof of Africa entry would suggest. (Today it is a bit trying with booming bass non-stop!)

In our current house, it's more fun to enjoy four pets that are just delightful. Imagine us the 'no way will we have animals in the house people' with two cats in the house! God sure has a sense of lovely irony!

In our current house, I have all the comforts of North American lifestyle that I could possibly enjoy! Housesitting has it's great advantages and we are extremely grateful to Leslie and Danny (with MAF) for this opportunity. Leslie is 'household organization' queen, so it's just nice!

Outside of our current house we have a lovely huge yard, a grape arbor which is great to sit under and read a good book... We have swings! Goodness, it's fun to be a kid--a bit. We have a big garden space that Benno and BK are filling. We have flower beds...

Oh, the irony. A number of times I've stated that I didn't come all the way to Africa to live North America, but I sure don't mind this for a season--seven months. There's always sitting at the back of the psychological burner the whole issue of ethics and what is ethical, living in a country of huge poverty where so many people we know have so, so much less, so how do we deal with having so much more, especially when it is visibly so much more, but... well... this isn't ours, but living here is allowing us to use our resources differently so that we can provide opportunities for others... so...

Blessed by two young men

It's been just great having Raps and BK (former students) living with us since last May. They are low-maintenance--not very demanding--guys! Besides that, they just add a wonderful dimension to our lives. BK is a gentle and easy-going fellow who enjoys gardening and has blessed us with his talents. We now have a garden planted and have been harvesting some from the garden he helped plant at the other place. Raps is the mechanical guy and has just been working round the clock lately trying to getting the car that he built upgraded before he wraps things up here.

He's headed off to university in January and that is a BLESSING! I'm so thrilled. I encouraged him to apply for a scholarship from a local diamond mining company and he was successful--very! They are offering him a full scholarship for five years! He IS a pretty impressive guy and they were impressed with his application. I took him up to Pretoria a few weeks back and we got him into Residence, and that too is a wonderful 'miracle' story ;-) which I won't get into here since this is a Blog not a book.

For BK, his post-secondary path has been full of pot holes and barriers so we're not too sure how that will all come out. Just believing that God knows what He has in mind for this young man.

Both guys will be leaving us very very soon and I will miss them very much.

Benno's convinced that I will 'fill the gap'. We'll see... All part of the adventure...

More Scholarships?

We'll see. At school, thanks to the help of a few colleagues we have selected four candidates whose nomination packages we'll forward to UBC to see if we can get at least one more Basotho over to UBC to join our current alumni, Mamoruti. I'm just so thrilled to be even trying to give students here such opportunities. Post Secondary here is... Whew! I could tell you so many stories! Maybe one day I'll write the journey of one--Tsitso--who journeyed down to Cape Town to get admission into Stellenbosch. Now that was an EPIC journey. But, again, this is not a book! I'll save that story and maybe some day he'll help me write it for you. You'd be amazed at the persistence and tenacity of young folks here in their determination to have a better future. These are stories worth knowing. I'd love to have them written and published... Oh, THAT'S the book.

Later,

Wendy

Wrestling with God

There is this story in the Bible about the patriarch Jacob wrestling with God, a story with a somewhat obscure meaning. For the last while I feel that I have been wrestling, or at least arguing, with God. It is an ongoing argument.

What does God demand of his followers? I personally like what the disciple John offers - “to believe in the name of [God’s] Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another.” Sounds simple enough. John isn’t asking too much, at least not in terms of a long list. So why is God always poking and prodding me, suggesting something more. Is his really a longer list? Or is he simply suggesting that there is more to John's seemingly simple statement than I want to know, or accept.

Maybe “believing in the name of [God’s] Son” entails more than just acknowledging that Jesus somehow arrived on this earth, died as my substitute, and then rose again before returning to heaven. This is a bizarre story, but I can believe it privately, right? No one else really needs to know. Unfortunately there seems to be this little matter that ‘believing in the name of the Son’ entails believing what he said. That is where it gets tougher, and where I am having my arguments with God.

This Son said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; … or wear” or where you will live. Just “follow me”. “Trust me.”

- So what about prudence, planning, being responsible and accountable with the things I have been given in this life?

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.”

- That’s right, and tomorrow will have a lot more troubles if I am not prudent, nor prepared, nor, above all, responsible.

"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

- Just walk away from everything I have worked for?!? Everything I have saved up? Just let go of it all? I left a good job, I am still giving, and you are suggesting I give even more - everything! That is ludicrous!! People will think I am crazy, or worse, foolish!

Yes, that may be is true, but “the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.” So,

"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

- God I did that once when I was a kid. I quit school, gave away everything, and went off to join the Jesus People. I ended up in a cult. I had to run away with what clothes I had left, stuffed in a bag.

Yes, but remember how I was with you even then, and that a few years later you graduated from university without a dollar owed in student loans. And after university you never wanted for a job, and your needs were met.

- That was then. I was young. Now I am older. Jesus, you are asking too much.

So you don’t trust me. You really don’t believe that I came so that you “may have life, and have it to the full.”

- I am afraid. I am afraid of what others might think. And yes, I don’t trust you. I don’t trust you will fully provide, at least not materially.

And so the argument goes.

I think that God puts us in circumstances, not because he needs our talents or abilities there, but because it is in those circumstances that we are better able to hear him and hopefully learn the lessons he is asking us to learn. Africa has been so good to me. Experiences, people I have met, situations - all have been sources of blessing that have enriched my life in ways I would never have known had I remained secure where I was. Yet, it seems that I have more lessons to learn, more lessons in letting go and trusting God, especially in the area of financial security.

Jacob came out of his wrestling with God worse for it, at least physically. He walked with a limp afterwards, and his descendents would not eat a certain part of an animal’s hip muscle in recognition of what Jacob lost in his struggle with God. Yet God seems to have loved and esteemed Jacob in and for his struggle, because he then blessed Jacob. With acknowledgements to Rob Bell, maybe that is what Jesus was announcing when he said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” – blessed are the losers, the doubters, the arguers, those who are struggling, the ‘just can’t get it right spiritually’ crowd. You are blessed Jesus says, because is it just for such as you that I have come to bring hope and blessing, and to give the kingdom.

I am still wrestling, but it seems there is yet hope for such as I.

~ Benno ~

Roof of Africa

The place where we now live offers us more of a glimpse into the social action of Lesotho. Just across the street is both a local hot spot for social gatherings and a sports field. And past the sports field is the main street into down town. The sounds of birds and crickets and frogs are now replaced by the sounds of loud music and party going, vehicles, weddings, and a plethora of other events at either of the venues or, just past the sports field, the hustle and bustle of the city. Not to mention that the cars of revelers, party goers, wedding guests, or other enthusiasts often block our gate and drive. Fortunately most week nights are reasonably quiet, and on the plus side we are getting a sense of the social life of the community.

One day Sunday it was a local bank having a customer appreciation day, and we were awakened by the workman erecting tents and speakers and other activity centres on the sports field. Of course, one of the first things they got set up was the loud speaker system and we were treated to a mix of raucous early morning music, later interspersed with speeches and the shrieks of children enjoying the various games and activities.

Another day is was accordion music. I have heard that at some point in the past the accordion was almost considered the national instrument. It was a keyboard that could be taken almost anywhere and didn’t require an electrical outlet. So we listened to African rhythms played on the accordion for most of that day. For the most part it has been enjoyable to experience the pulse of the culture from this new current vantage point, notwithstanding the sometimes-blocked drive, the garbage left behind, and the odd fight outside our fence; the fights that seem to inevitably follow when males and too much alcohol combine.

On another day it was the roar of motor cross.

The “Roof of Africa” is one of the most grueling motocross races in the world. I spoke to one competitor who noted he has entered the race eight times previously, but has only completed the course on two occasions.

It has been included in the recently announced World Xtreme Enduro Championship series. One thing extreme motocross is not, is an easily accessible spectator sport. They head into the mountains of Lesotho on trails that sometimes require bikes be pushed and dragged over, so unless one is willing to hike back into the mountains or unless one is a local herd boy, the best chance of seeing the bikes is a brief race around town on the first day of the competition.

A local rider and crowd favorite.

The staging area for this around town race was the sports field out front of our house, and the short races that followed to establish starting position for the real race, went right past our house. So, for somewhat different reasons, there was no coming or going in our car for part of this day, but I did have a front row seat for the start of the Roof of Africa.

No crash or safety barriers between the spectators and action here.

If interested in some of the race action, just click on pictures for a link to more pictures like the one below.

(I can not take credit for this photo.)

Upcoming is ‘Summa Feva’, an annual bash with loud music, bands, hordes of young people, and a reputation for all things wild and unruly. After last year’s fiasco, with things wild and unruly taken to some extremes, the organizers have eschewed an evening/night event. ‘Summa Feva’ this year starts at 11:00 a.m., and winds up at 7:00 p.m., an all daylight event. We will need to decide whether to weather the storm, or get out early and spend the day somewhere else.

Yes, it is noisy, and I miss the frogs and crickets (the folks whose house we are in actually have an alarm clock that one can set to play the sounds of frogs and crickets during the night). But, we are seeing and hearing another side of the culture. We can look forward to an ever changing adventure outside our gate for the next seven months.

~ Benno ~

Undressing

Thoughts on writing this one...
Well, I just finished reading through Benno's last entry, and I don't want mine, perhaps coming too quickly on its heels to supercede it since he's got some really great things to say about what we are both experiencing here--so do make sure to read through it. At the same time, though, I just felt that I wanted to share this experience. It really reflects a lot of the way I am feeling about teaching right now, and I know it applies to all of life, not just teaching.

This morning I was just reflecting on the craziness that has more frequently become my life since coming to this place of teaching; like yesterday…Oh! I just can’t even get into yesterday! It was all about crazy: an irresponsible, rebellious young gal whose history placed in jeopardy others opportunities, and politics, and directives, and “problem solving 101” to get two students out of Boarding and to a poetry event that they were performing at, and confusing car keys, and embarrassment, and no ‘airtime’, and changed venues for the event, and not being notified, and Plan B, and finally getting there, and hearing a great—really wonderful—poet, and hearing my great—really wonderful—students perform, and getting home after midnight on a Friday night, and feeling that it was all worth it, just for the memory of having done it. Thinking of all the crazy things I’ve done for and with my students, I KNOW, I really do know that these are the things—these acts of sometimes irrational, crazy, “You shouldn’t do that, it might be viewed as ‘unprofessional’.”
“You shouldn’t do that—they don’t pay us enough.”
“You shouldn’t do that—what about…this, what about…that?”
You get the picture? There’s a lot of things I’ve done that if I was going to be safe and comfortable, I wouldn’t have done. But…the thing is that if I hadn’t done those things, then I would have missed out on so much, so much, SO MUCH.

Yes, “You gotta undress”. In my first class of my teaching degree, a graduating student came to do an orientation session for my class and that was the shocking statement that he made to begin his session, and it truly was profound for me, because I’ve never forgotten it, and I try to put it into practice, often. Those things--those acts of undressing—being open to all kinds of risks, being vulnerable—have given me some of the very best memories of my teaching career—of my life. I have had the joy of reaching deeper into the lives of my students. I’ve had more hugs, more smiles, more shared laughter, shared memories; the joy of standing back and watching them grow, experience, and shine! So, I recommend—very highly—this life philosophy that that wise graduating student taught me. Not just in teaching, but in so much of life, really, it’s about THEM and not about me.

Undress
(In the teaching profession, you gotta undress.)

You wanna hear a story
of how my life came to be
If you wanna listen
If you wanna listen
there’s an important lesson
for you to see

You see…
Before I got this degree
I had a lesson
on how it should be
Okay, I’ll confess
here’s the lesson:
You see,
before I go into a lesson
I gotta undress
Yeh, in this profession
You gotta undress

“Before you go in that room,” he said,
“you gotta undress.
Take off that ego and
put it on the shelf
cause it’s not about SELF.”

Hey, I say, that’s the lesson I learned
It’s NOT about “me”
It’s about everything—everything
that my students WANT and NEED to be.

He told me, he said,
“Before you go into that room, now,
you gotta undress—
take off the inhibitions
‘cause sometimes you gotta
be on the stage
sometimes you gotta
just let loose and rage
to help them see that
life is NOT about stayin’ in a cage
help them see that
life IS about writin’ their own page…
Take off the inhibitions
Sometimes you gotta just be a fool
and that’s cool.”

Hch … hch, that’s cool?
In school?
Are you crazy?
Look at me,
I’m a PROFESSIONAL
and you want be to be…CRAZY?
“Yeh
You do what it takes
to help them awake
to the possibilities
so they can see
everything that they can be
‘cause you know
you KNOW
It’s not about YOU or me
It’s about everything—everything
that THEY need to be…

‘cause you see
life is NOT about stayin’ in a cage
they can’t stay in that cage
they need to find the stage
their lives need to be
everything that they WANT and NEED to be
‘cause
it’s not about me
it’s not about me
it’s about everything
it’s about everything that
my students WANT and NEED to be

so
that’s what I learned
I confess
that I gotta undress
be selfless
leave the ego on the shelf
‘cause it’s not about self
It’s about THEM not me
It’s about everything
that they WANT and NEED to be
It’s about everything
that they
WANT and NEED to be

The Good, the Great, and the Ugly

What a diversity of experiences that last seven days have offered. It has been a week where God has reminded me anew to rest in him and trust that he is able.

The ‘good’. We have a place to live, sort of. YWAM had graciously ‘sub-let’ a unit to us when they had no staff in need of it. Now they need the unit and we have been asked to move. Finding accommodation here in Maseru is not easy, and the rents for accommodation with basic amenities like water, sewer and electricity continue to increase. In each of the two previous places we have lived, Wendy and I have seen God use where we were living to do things for his kingdom. Things we would not have had the joy of being part of, had we not been where we were. So God must have something else planned, something that requires us to be somewhere else. But there are downsides to this next move, from my human perspective.

We have a place for seven months. That is the ‘sort of’ part. We will be house sitting, which really means looking for a place again in seven months. Yet, in the circumstances God seems to be clearly saying, “Trust me.” The house sitting opportunity almost fell from the sky, and if he provided this place for us without us even looking, I think he is asking me to trust him to take care of us seven months done the road. I need to let go of the downsides and accept what Jesus said about the lilies and sparrows, and about not worrying*. So we have a place to stay for seven months and an admonition not to worry about beyond that.

The ‘great’. Ah, Oct. 31/Nov.01 was a great weekend. On the Saturday we had the Founding General Meeting for the Mustard Seed (Lesotho) Society. The Basotho women on the board wanted to celebrate so we had a traditional Lesotho dinner with moroho and papa. The leaders did the preparation and clean up for the members, a wonderful example of servant leadership.

The leaders, aka cooks.

Dinner.

Ntate Kuena masquerading as a cook.

I was so impressed with them, and how the general meeting went with active participation from the members. Now I need to trust that I can get through all the work that comes to me as the secretary. We are anticipating that the number of girl orphans we will serve next year may double or even triple.

The other ‘great’ from the weekend was the Basotho wedding that we attended. It started with the gift from my Basotho ‘daughter’ that Wendy wrote about. How humbling to receive such a gift from one with so little materially to give. Her sacrifice to show her love, like the widow’s mite**, cost her more than the things I have done for her from my abundance. Then there was the wedding itself, the following day.

Here in Lesotho, when a wedding starts truly is the bride’s prerogative, irrespective of what the invitation says. The invitation said 9:30 a.m. Verbally we were told not to worry about arriving before 10:00. The groom showed up at about 11:30, and the bride finally arrived a bit after 1:00.

The bride and her entourage arrive.

And the guests, they arrived anytime between 9:30 and 1:00. So what do folks do while waiting? The men hang around outside visiting. The women were singing and dancing in the little church that was able to accommodate only about a third of the guests. And the ceremony/reception, which finally got under way at about 1:30, lasted for two hours. What I found so delightful was that the wedding was a true celebration. In contrast, our western weddings seem to be so much more an ‘event’ with those attending mere spectators. This wedding was a celebration, of marriage and of God’s goodness. Everyone was part of the celebration whether singing and dancing before, or cheering and clapping during, the ceremony. It was a living, breathing, refreshing, joyous celebration.

They both seemed uncertain when offered opportunity to kiss.

The ‘ugly’. All thing work out for good for those that love God***, but sometimes, in the moment, it is a challenge to hold onto this promise. I have twice this week taken individuals for medical care for injuries sustained due to domestic violence. Both individuals were connected to the Mustard Seed. In addition to supporting the victims, I have sat with the abusers, both men (inevitabily). I have witnessed the tender compassion of a doctor (a woman), as well as the sensitive and resolute committment of a police officer (a man, somewhat surprisingly) to see justice pursued. The violence was ugly, but I also saw goodness. In addition, individuals from past experiences here in Lesotho have reappeared as players in this current scene. So despite the ugliness of what has occurred, it is impossible for me to think that all is random circumstance. God must be weaving something; something that he promises will turn out for good. I am again reminded of Shane Claiborne’s comments that serving and trusting God can mean having “no idea what is going to happen next.”

The last week of our journey has seen it all - the good, the great, and the ugly. Where and how all the pieces of the last week will fit together, only God knows. He only asks of me that I trust that he is in control, and that I follow, step by step, where he leads.

~ Benno ~

* Matt. 6:25-

** Mark 12:41-44

***Romans 8:28

My Mom...

My mom is in the hospital. Big changes. For everyone. But most of all for her. Change is so very difficult when one is old and the mind is no longer strong. Change is confusing. Frightening. Terrifying. Too much like dying. That is what mom is really afraid of, I think. She worked in an old folks home where people 'always went to die' and that is etched into the granite of her long term memory--her psyche--her schema of aging and what terrifies her about aging.

So, she was taken to the hospital with congestive heart failure. She's 92. Not too surprising that the heart is weakening. She was taken to the hospital. Kicking. And screaming--well, okay, not screaming, but pulling hair and fighting the whole way. She was not happy. And she made even the patient nurses not happy.

But, it would seem that she is adjusting. That she IS being taken care of quite well, despite all of our concerns. It's been a very difficult and traumatic adjustment for all of us. My brother and sister in law who've had the primary responsibility for her care. My sisters, all three who rushed out to see her and who've done so much to help my brother sort through the legalities of guardianship and all the other messy legal things about having an aged person cared for...and just visiting with mom and reassuring her of their love. And my brother who is so bound with his work that he'll squeeze in four days in November to drive out with his family to see her...

Then there's me. I feel so very--very--far away at times like this. So torn. So torn between what I need to be doing here and my NEED to be there just to let mom know by my presence that I love her, that I honor her. Just to assure her of my love, because she is my mom.

You know, there's something--and I'm sure that most people would relate--about mom's--about family--that ties us together. It's in our common cellular structure--in our DNA and our RNA and maybe that's where our spirits reside, in our RNA--that binds us to one another, even when we are half a world away...

ODE to Mom

I pay tribute to the portal of my existence
You
paved the pathway of my entry into this world
You
nurtured me from the moment of conception
to that reception of birth
You
paved the pathways of my childhood
nurtured me, blessed me with a fighter's spirit--
in you a stubborn Scottish streak,
in me dauntless determination.
You
have always defended
have always supported
have consistently loved
me
through all the stages of my life
You
have been an anchor of consistency
consistently loving me
supporting me
believing in me.

You
have been the bond of love
that has held the scattered fragments of family
together
We
keep coming back
to you
for you
because of you
We
are connected
We continue to connect
because of you

Indeed, I wonder,
What will we do without
You

I pay tribute to the portal of my existence
Our DNA binds us
Our love holds us
Our spirits meld us

I love
You


~ Wendy ~

Shopping -- Basotho female style!

Ah, yesterday was a bit of fun! I must preface this entry by stating that Basotho, despite the fact that they will wear gumboots or bedroom slippers anywhere, or plastic grocery bags on their heads in the rain, ARE very--very fashion conscious. I know it. I SEE how fashionably women here dress. Make us Westerners look like dishrags!

So...yesterday, Benno got a lovely (fashionable) gift. Now, anyone who truly KNOWS Benno would understand that fashion is on the bottom of his priority list; and I've given up and left him to fend for himself on that front (which may not be the wisest wifely thing to do). Anyway, we are blessed with people who ARE fashion conscious and care! So...yesterday, Benno's Basotho 'daughter', Bokang brought him a present. You see, a few weeks back she heard that we are going to a wedding this weekend--today actually--and she just kept asking Ntate Benno, "What are you wearing". His responses, not surprisingly, were less than satisfactory to her, so she devised a plan. 'Fixing his collar' one Sunday in church, she was actually checking his shirt size ;-) So...yesterday she presented him with a lovely present of a shirt and tie.

Benno and his fashion benefactor.

Whew! He looks GOOD! She was right, bless her loving heart! He NEEDED that shirt and tie.

Wow, now he's stylin'.

Then...my Basotho daughter, 'M'e Lerato gave me her Seshoeshoe (special Basotho dress) a few weeks back, because, well...she's expanded out of it. I was touched and blessed...and, well, yesterday was payback time. She was pouting because she had NOTHING to wear to the wedding, so, "Maybe I just won't go".

My response, in true Wendy style, was sympathetic, of course ;-) "Good grief, this is a wedding! They're looking at the bride and groom. Not you! Isn't your friendship with Ntate more important than how you look? Eeish! ..." (Now those of you who truly know and love me will understand that that's a pretty typical Wendy-type response ;-)

Anyway, she tried on whatever I had that MIGHT work (giggle, giggle...NO, come on, seriously, we tried. Let's just say, it was a squeeze) and the two Basotho women present: Bokang and one of my students...WELL! The words were FLYIN' in Sesotho. Apparently I was crazy to even THINK that these items looked EVEN HALF decent! "Come on, Mrs. Fath," retorts my student, "you dress well all the time. Can't you SEE..." was the gist of it.

So... we had about half an hour before the shops closed. We piled into the car. I drove furiously downtown. We jumped out. Told the parkin' lot guy. "NO, don't wash the car. We'll be right back!" Yeh! Walked into the FIRST shop. Paced the aisles. Sesotho...Sesotho...Sesotho. Something, something... Dress down. Jacket down. 'M'e Lerato into the change room...Dress on. Too small. Bigger size. Dress on. Jacket on. Jacket too small. Bigger jacket. Different jacket. Money from me ;-) to Bokang. Bokang at the till paying. 'M'e Lerato getting dressed into her street clothes. DONE! Gosh! I SHOULD have timed it. No kidding, it could not have been more than fifteen minutes! Never, never in my life have I seen such efficiency in shopping. These women are a wonder! Basotho women rule! My jaw is just now getting realigned.

And we're stylin, too'.

So... we're off to wedding pretty soon! It'll be an all-day affair. The last one we went to was stunningly beautiful. Gorgeous blend of Basotho and Western traditions. White, black, gold... lovely. Invitation indicated it would begin and 10 am. Began at noon. This one: invitation indicates will begin at 10 am... Well, we'll enjoy visiting while we wait. It'll be worth the wait. Wonderful young man from Beautiful Gate is getting married ;-) It'll be worth the wait. It'll be good to reconnect with BG folks.

Cheers and a toast to the bride and groom!

Wendy