Category: South Africa

Today was a really hard day. We woke up to the first sunny day since we got here. It was already hot at 7am. We went back to the same place we worked yesterday. Today was the community christmas party. We decided to finish up our work in the garden untill the party started at noon. It reached 100 degrees and we were covered in dirt. Then we gave out presents, a hotdog and a cup of soda to about 500 kids.

It really pushed my limits. I had to really dig deep into myself to find my motivation. It was a good learning experience for me to look within and discover what really drives me to keep going. So much of it is just keeping up with everyone else. When it came to the point where I didn’t think I could keep going, I wanted to sit under a shady tree, but then I remembered all of the effort and preparation we all put into this trip. We came here for a reason and I didn’t want to waste it sitting on my butt. So I kept going!! The plot isn’t quite ready for planting yet, but it looks pretty now.

The whole village was there and they sang the national anthem, something chosen by the ANC, the current party in power, but then they sang the old national anthem in Afrikans from the NAtional Party which was responsible for Apartheid, and then they sang something in English about tolerance and working in unity to build a future together. It was amazing to think that they would even acknowledge the previous government after all that they have been through under it. Joanne Said that they sing it out of respect. It really is incredible to me how willing everyone is to forgive and move on. Yesterday was the Day of Reconciliation a national holiday celebrating the day that the ANC and the National party agreed to stop fighting and negotiate.

I feel priviledged to be here.

Yesterday, we visited the Molweni community. At this place Lean on Me is building an orpahnage home. We helped to paint the interior, build a fence, and prepare a garden by pulling weeds. I with several others was on the gardening team. Man, was it hard. The weeds were deep and stubborn. But at the end of the day we had all the weeds out. We started with a team of 4, and as the rest of our group finished their project they came over to help. But we were not satisifed with what we achieved. So today, at the same location we also had a the first christmas party for the community. Many of us, opted to go back to the garden and pick out the roots and the vast amounts of medium and small rocks in the soil. However, today there were 2 or 3 locals that had volunteered there time to help with the garden. At first they would not let us do it. They tried to take the shovels and picks away from us. They said it was too hard for us to do, and they would do it. But we were persistant and together we all worked as one to clean the soil.
Middle of the morning, one of us discovered a large rock. A very large rock. Sukh and the highly experienced farmer dug around the rock to move it. It ended up being a large project for the whole team. We spent most of the morning digging around it. Soon we had about 6 people or more trying to help. We would quickly follow the farmers instruction to dig here and dig that. I t was amazing as we all worked together to achieve this one thing…. to move the rock. In the end, we did not move the rock. Although the farmer was very persistant and wanted to keep going. But we convinced him, that machinary would be available in January to clear the land for more homes and we would be able to utilize them for the rock.
This experience was phenomenal… these people working with bare feet. There was a lady whose both feet were swollen. I had massaged her feet earlier that morning to help her swelling. She was in the pit with the pick jus ripping the dirt apart…swollen feet.. no shoes. And it wasn’t even her land.
It is true what people say.. even those who one may think have “nothing”.. are still able to give from what “little ” they may have.

Lots of Love,

Karuna