IT IS THE EVE OF A NEW YEAR

New Years Eve

I always mean to write more, and really wanted some time to reflect about the past year over the holidays. Turns out finding time to sit on my own is even more complicated.

And then things get a bit hectic (I have adopted using the word hectic instead of crazy etc, people use it a lot here and they understand me better to use it. Also I find it rather fitting) For example today we were told we have to be out of our house by sat afternoon instead of Sunday morning, and as we are visiting and staying with Jen’s friends on the other side of Cape Town we haven’t been there to pack. In addition when we were originally planning to go back on Friday to sort everything- we were told we would be picked up Sat morning…. Logistics such as these come up and then I don’t get to share it all with you.

But really thinking about the past year is quite amazing. I am surprised with how okay I have been with uncertainty in the last year and with how far faith can get you. Last January all I totally knew was I had a little bit of savings, I didn’t have to start paying my loans for 6 months, and I had a piece of paper that is somewhat respected in our society that may or may not help me get a job. Also the La Plantes were getting rid of a car and so how the scheme to drive across the country came up. Then what I thought was a casual relationship in January turned into having a confidant for the entire year- and it looks like for a while longer.

And for the first time I got to make my own decisions. I mean I think I am opinionated and stubborn enough that I have made my own decisions my whole life. But I really got to say I want to drive across the country and visit people and to wake up every morning know it was my decision which direction I would set out on.

And lucky for me the one job I still was waiting to hear from while adventuring, invited me for a weekend long interview. It wasn’t easy- it was soul searching to know if the Mission Internship was the right step for me. I didn’t want just a job- but was this what I wanted to dedicate three years of my life to. And the clarity came that this was something I could do and that I could connect to.

While this was the first year of my life I can remember not in school, it’s been a lot of field education. Even more than that I had the opportunity to teach for 6 weeks this summer with the Higher Achievement program. And I was challenged everyday by my students and by pushing myself. Luckily it was the most supported teaching program I could have gone into especially with no formal training. And as a teacher you are making decisions for much more than yourself, I was fortunate to have amazing colleagues and the opportunity to get to know the struggles in my student’s lives.

And then I prepared for the Mission Internship program. Originally thinking I was going to Mongolia. And truthfully my communication channels have changed so much in the past year that some people dear to me, may even think that is where I am. Then in September to learn I may not only be going to South Africa and working in Africa in general, but also I was going to the DRC, I was going to Congo. The history of the country and causes for the unfathomable violence took me to deep frustration in college. But it always seemed so far away.

Things still seem far away, but if I have learned anything this year- things aren’t as far away as you think. More important than that: I have never thought I needed to be rich. And have always agreed it is greater to be rich with friends and people than money. But this year I have been more than humbled in how true that is.

I said before this year I got to decide what would make me happy and head for the horizon. But I had options and the ability to make decisions only because of the rich tapestry of people around me. The people who shared or prepared meals for me. Those of you that made sure I had a pillow or just someone to check in with. For the people from literally all over the world that have shared stories with me. I never knew how rich I would be at my age and thinking back over the past year the rich tapestry of people that have surrounded me is almost overwhelming.

People from my past have resurfaced and family and friend connections have been amazing. My relationships with close friends has had to change, and especially the change of living with friends in college- but that DC family remains. My own family has been incredibly supportive as have my church family. And I am sorting out my family here, especially the family created through the other 11 young adults serving around the US and the world- especially the Jen and Rachel. I wish I could send the time to name you all, but every e-mail and conversation is flowing back to me just thinking.

And in the next year I think it will much more be my Africa year. Shaped by South Africa and especially work in DRC, Kenya, and Lesotho. Maybe this past year has been my wandering year- but in some ways I feel closer to all the key players in my life. I think I feel closer to myself.

And I am about to leave to go to a concert in Kirstenbosch gardens here to celebrate New Years. You know that song about old and new friends we sing on New Years. Well this year Rachel, my new friend and roommate, and I are going to meet Katie and Alex who are dear friends from DC and American University. And so I am excited to connect with different worlds to bring in this next year and to reunite with friend I ahvent seen in a year and a half. (I'll miss the Arlington Crew and all the fireworks and shannanigans!)

You see when I have less time, I just ramble - so thank you for reading. Maybe in 2010 I should work on being concise.

Also here 2010 is synonymous with the World Cup. !!! but that is a whole other blog.

Love to you all! Thanks for sharing with me and I hope you have a great adventure in 2010.

Cheers,
Hannah

Taxi

Well really it was a Cab (taxi’s or white taxi’s are more like mini buses that people cram into and go all over the place and I have not really figured them all out yet, but would like to)

A cab is more what we think of as taxi or a cab.

I think something most of us can agree with about traveling and taxi’s is that taxi drivers often have their own opinions and something about the cab driver customer dynamic makes it come out.



Rachel and I decided to take our first trip, our first overnight bus ride, and therefore our first cab ride in South Africa this week. We have some time off for the holidays and decided while we really want to see other parts of South Africa while we are here, we can only take so much time off work and most of our traveling and visiting other communities is with our work in Africa not in South Africa.

As a nature of that sometimes it is hard to focus on the history and South African society, because much of our work is a broader scope- so we really don’t know enough about the place we are living and the different cultures here. The three-day trip to Port Elizabeth really helped with some of this.

Port Elizabeth is indeed a port so it was also nice to relax and sit on the beach. Jen, who was staying with some friends in a different part of Cape Town and helping at the church there, had previously been to PE which helped set the context some. It has an interesting aparthied history. Kind of reminded me of going to Santiago de Cuba to get more of the history of the Revolution in Cuba. However, I think most cities here would have the same affect for how widespread the effects were.

Jen also told us of a good museum she went to there in New Brighton, which happens to be a very historic black township. We have really wanted to spend some time in townships with some people we know in Cape Town and where we have a feeding program with SHADE but the holidays have made it a bit difficult. We also have personal problems with huge tour buses going in and taking photos and leaving. And it was way too far to walk and not knowing anyone there we also didn’t want to be stupid- and all we wanted to do was see the museum.

When we brought it up to the woman where we were staying she didn’t even know about the award-winning museum in her town. But when we told her where it was she told us, “You can’t go there, you will die.” I wrote a shortened version of this story to my friend Julia and she brought up some good points asking if that was just because we were two young white girls from somewhere else that may just not understand everything and really stick out. This is always sort of the case, so we do try to be smart in how we travel and interact.

But the fact she didn’t even know about this museum dealing with a community in her home town that she was scared of and hence ignorant, did not exactly give me patience with her advice.

So we called a cab number we had and the dispatcher could quote me a price to get all the way there. Pat soon after came to fetch us. Pat was our Taxi cab driver who has grown up in PE and used to swim everyday. He also became sort of our older uncle watching out for us, even if he was a bit gruff. And was the same one to pick us up and then fetch us when we had to get to the bus the next day.

As we were driving into the township and then could view the museum he started talking about problems he had with the museum- which with his views on other things I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hear it. But he said he didn’t like that they built this new expensive museum and the people living next to it didn’t even have running water. Which is kind of a good point in some respects. (Rachel and I had thought there was more community involvement based on what we had read.) But the way he said it he blamed the ANC for doing things like that and not taking care of their own people. That is what struck me.

At what point does someone living in your same town, in your community, in your nation become someone you care about. And it happens all over the world. If you don’t have a similar background as me its not my responsibility… Rachel and I talked about religious groups doing this, or the disparities in cities, or political parties and placing ‘blame’ and responsibility.’ And I remember during the election and inauguration people kept saying, ‘yes we did’ because President Obama got elected. But in fact in a democracy or anything you belong too, your only action is not voting, we should be active members in our communities. I am more of fan of ‘yes we will.’ That ‘we’ is a lot more powerful then all the complaining we do.

As this is very long I should probably write a whole different blog on the Red Location museum. We learned a lot about the Langa shootings, where a group from the new Brighton was trying to go to a funeral, that they were unaware had been ban, because Apartheid police found that funerals were becoming too political and could become an organizing tool. They also found crowd controlling weapons too insufficient so the order was cleared to use more powerful ammunition. And after they shot people, they placed rocks in their hands to show they had to control the riot. The number of people that died is still not completely known.


(from Nelson Mandela's journal where he wrote the first draft of letters, before editing them to write to send from Robben Island)

One of the exhibits was a photo essay of the forgotten people in the struggle for freedom. And I think it was a very powerful reminder of all the people that struggled for freedom and were involved in politics. And they are still facing hard lives and no work afterwards. Some of these leaders became members of parliament and have other positions of high respect, but there isn’t space for everyone and some had powerful stories of where life was taken them.



I think Rachel and I are still processing the museum especially with that much reading and that many stories.

But I am thankful we met Pat the Taxi driver. Because we got a lesson in PE and politics and South Africa and the debates between different cultures here- that you can’t get in any other forum but the back of a taxicab.

I could write a whole other blog on being on an all night bus ride. But we also enjoyed the people we met on the bus and waiting on the bus. I think I learned more about South Africa on the bus and in the taxi then the past few weeks living here.


This I just find funny, because when I traveled with the band in middle school and people asked what I played- I used to say the camera...)

Music - it will always come back to music

At Blk Sonshine concert in Kirstenbosch with Vuyo (Kedi's cousin), Minicia, and some of Vuyo's family and friends. (ironically if you read the next blog, on of their songs is "Born in a Taxi.")




You see I only have one Christmas CD on my computer. Charlie Brown’s Christmas to be exact- and it’s a pretty good one if you only have on I guess for the background type music. So in order not to wear it out I tried to think of other music I could listen to while doing chores. A Nat King Cole song over- it led me to Ella and Louis (too bad I don’t have the Cole Christmas CD or the Harry Connick Jr one…)

So I am standing doing the dishes and Moonlight in Vermont is playing. And Vermont seemed fitting to think about and made me miss the Wilson family tradition of watching White Christmas. And I started thinking, who were these songs really written for and what are the social and status implications of all of this. And if music has an ability to touch everyone does it matter…

Of course I am one to think everything matters to some extent.

But as performers were they just working for an upper class to perform these beautiful songs. And performing for people that wanted to forget their own lives in the music, but also helped them forget the struggle music and performing comes from. And when is it okay to forget? But what if you just use it to promote your ignorance?

And so I am thinking about New Orleans, Cuba, South African townships and other places where music has come from. And where art and music have told a story that the world wasn’t able to see without touching a different part of a person’s soul. So as disappointed as I am at people using music to cloud over who is really performing and what is really happening- don’t the performers have a right to use it in the same way. And on the flip side it is so important to me that music and art have permeated differences and misunderstandings. I think hip-hop and rap is easier to use in some ways, because it can call out the social problems so clearly.

Anyway this is just me getting out some thoughts, especially in dealing with some of the social tensions in South Africa more poignantly this week.

Music crosses time and place and lets us share our emotions. In terms of church I know if I go into a United Methodist Church and sing certain songs I know my grandmother would have sung those same songs and feel connected. Or our first week at church here singing songs I learned in youth group or being a camp counselor. The connections through music are endless- but I think I was more worried about the exploitation that can come. I guess I feel like music is stronger than a lot of other places exploitation happens, and all the tricks that have been used to truly express things in music.

Photos from Lumbubashi and Sister2Sister Conference DRC

Swahili and the things I learned from the Lion King

(photoed above- Chris Satellite leader from Zambia with Hakuna Matata shirt! And Papa David and I in the kitchen, after I gave him my colored glasses- having trouble with photos now, so sorry both are on top)


Our first day in Congo, was our free day before the conference. We had high hopes of seeing Lubumbashi and going to a market. But in trying to coordinate so many people- the transportation for personal time was not available. Understandable…

Jen, Rachel, and I, along with another co-worker Lucille- who has become a dear friend, were invited to stay with Joyce’s Uncle Jimmy, who works for the government and lives very comfortably. While most of the time we wished we could stay closer to the delegates for the conference, or the center itself- we were welcomed most generously and were also not spending more money on lodging.

So our first day became my attempts at starting to learn Swahili/French.

And I really must say- The Lion King (yes the Disney Children’s movie –no I am not endorsing Disney) was a huge help with Swahili

Asante sana (squashed banana) = thank you very much (probably the most useful to already know how to pronounce

Hakuna Matata = means no worries (probably the most entertaining for people to hear us say and try to figure out where we picked it up)

Rafiki = means friend.

So now we were off to a good start and knew how to say hello.

Well, while the girls were hanging out, I decided to spend the afternoon in the kitchen with Papa David, Papa Paul and Mama Suzanne who were preparing food and taking care of the kids.

I think of everywhere I have been over the last few weeks, even where we are living in Cape Town, that kitchen feels most like home. I am sure it is from trying to communicate on my own with these wonderful people. The other thing to note is- Swahili in this part of DRC is really blended with French, so in places border Swahili is used I may have more trouble.

I was using Spanish, and the few words I knew in French to ask for some of the Swahili words. In my opinion- reading Swahili for pronunciation is far easier than French. And when you are just learning phrases- tenses and plurals and such don’t matter too much. So between the English two of them knew, pointing, and my few words, we had a good conversation and I learned a few things. And then was tested on the basics every time I came back. Later in the week I got to help Papa David with dishes and start joking around more- so I am very serious when I say this kitchen- where we also ate any meals not at the conference- felt like home. They called me akili- meaning intelligent. Mina kupenda means I love you. (I would write more but I am not really sure on spellings, because I was just taking notes for myself)

Also when we would practice counting with various people, many who spoke Swahili had to think about it. I think they all use the French numbers more.

At the conference I also tried to use some of the words, because the satellite projects I am working with are in DRC, Kenya, and Zambia. The site leaders in Kenya and Zambia have good English, but I am also working with 9 sites in DRC where the postal system is nonexistent, internet is a far away concept in some places, and phones can and can’t work. They speak Swahili in Kenya – so I figured focusing on Swahili for DRC and Kenya and then learning some conversational Bemba for when I go to the 3 sites in Zambia.

Then I realized I work on everyone’s reports- which I am pretty sure are written in French from the DRC. So my attempts will continue. Hopefully I can take a class at some point, Jen and Lucy want to as well. And maybe that would help us meet some people beyond each other and the office.

Anyway for someone that can struggle with language- I love communicating and at least learning these phrases. And was blessed by some good translators when I arranged meetings in between sessions at the conference. But I want to hear people’s stories when I go visit the sites and there are already so many other barriers beyond language.

In fact sometimes not speaking words left a different room to communicate and grow close to people at the conference. I’ll write an example soon.

Kwa herini,
Hannah

Conflict Minerals Bill- From Enough Project E-mail

An E-mail from Enough Project a few days ago, right when I got back from our trip to the Congo.  Believe me this is something I think about a lot, especially now that I work with people in the DRC.  A country that is making many people so wealthy is devastating a country that's people don't benefit from it's own natural resources.  And I don't think anyone is planning on giving up their cell phones for the plight of other unfortunately, but at least this bill is trying to ask for a little more accountability on how the minerals are taken and who is affected.  -Hannah

 

New Conflict Minerals Bill in the House

This morning Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) introduced the bipartisan Conflict Minerals Trade Act of 2009, a critical milestone in the effort to break the link between armed conflict, sexual violence, and the minerals trade in Congo. The bill, co-sponsored by Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Barney Frank (D-MA), demands greater transparency and accountability from companies whose products contain gold, tin, tungsten, or tantalum from Congo. The bill calls for a system of auditing mineral ores and their derivatives, ultimately requiring companies importing products containing these minerals declare if their products are "conflict free." Other important provisions in the legislation call for the U.S. government to develop a comprehensive strategy to address conflict minerals and to improve conditions and livelihoods for communities in eastern Congo dependent upon mining. Watch a video of the press conference announcing the bill, featuring statements from Representative McDermott, pictured at right, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), and Enough's Executive Director John Norris.

 

SPECIAL ALERT: NEW LEGISLATION TAKES ON CONGO'S CONFLICT MINERALS

 

Today, Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) introduced legislation to ensure that when we purchase a cell phone or laptop here in the U.S., we are not financing perpetrators of crimes against humanity in Congo.  Co-sponsored by Representatives Frank Wolf (R-VA) and Barney Frank (D-MA),the Conflict Minerals Trade Act will help develop the means to ensure that the multimillion dollar trade in conflict minerals from eastern Congo stops financing the world's deadliest conflict since World War II.  Specifically, the bill will put in place a system of audits and regulations that would help stop companies from importing conflict minerals into the United States.

 

A coalition of international nonprofit organizations - including the Enough Project, Human Rights Watch, World Vision, Oxfam America, and Global Witness, among others – today released a joint statement of support for the Conflict Minerals Trade Act of 2009 in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The bill also received support from various stakeholders in the electronics industry, including the Information Technology Industry Council and HP. 

 

Legislation in the US alone will not end the conflict in eastern Congo, but this bill would provide a crucial step toward the creation of a practical and enforceable means to ensure that the trade in Congolese minerals contributes to peace rather than war. This bill would also serve as a useful precedent for other countries to develop legislation for holding to account companies in their jurisdiction who may be fuelling the conflict in eastern Congo.

 

What will this bill do?

This bill demands greater transparency and accountability from those companies whose products contain these mineral ores or their derivatives. The U.S. government would identify those commercial goods that could contain conflict minerals, approve a list of independent monitoring groups qualified to audit the worldwide processing facilities for these minerals, and eventually restrict the importation of minerals to those from audited facilities. Importers of these goods would have to certify on their customs declaration that their goods "contain conflict minerals" or are "conflict mineral free" based upon this audit system. The audits would determine the mines of origin for processed materials, verify the chain of custody and verify information provided by suppliers through investigations in the DRC and other countries.

 

Importantly, the bill would also direct the State Department to support multilateral and U.S. government efforts to break the link between the trade in minerals and armed conflict in eastern Congo.

 Click here to get more details about the bill. Watch the press conference.

HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION
Call or write your Representative and urge him/her to cosponsor the Conflict Minerals Trade Act. Visit our website to send an email now, or call by dialing the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and asking for your Representative's office.

 

 

--
Hannah Hanson
Mission Intern - SHADE
South Africa
hannahatshade.blogspot.com

Driving

One of those typical travelers things to talk about: driving and roads. Until I go to India and some other places I don’t really feel like I have room to talk. But since there are hints of people wanting me to drive in South Africa at some point I pay attention a bit more.

After a few mornings of driving in Lubumbashi (where we were really blessed by some of the best roads in town) I explained to some of the drivers the differences.

You see in the United States we drive on the right side of the road and the steering wheel is on the left. This makes sense because the driver can see both sides of the road.

Then you get to South Africa and it took me a few times to remember when trying to get into the passenger’s side, that I would soon be facing the steering wheel. (The drivers were always patient.) So while it takes a little getting used to both the side of the road and the steering wheel side change.

Then I was told in DRC they drive on the right side of the road, and I really don’t want to get all mixed up again. I am just getting used to going to the grocery store and trying to stay to the right.

Well when we get there, the ‘right’ side of the street really means, the part with no holes. I was informed they are too big to be called potholes. It can also mean the smallest part of these huge speed bumps or where there are no people. Again we had an easy time of it, finding manageable paved roads and getting lucky on the route we took, but we also managed to get our heads bumped a few times. And with everyone looking for the ‘right’ side of the road, I was always watching the road and anything moving near it while I was a passenger.

Now the other part of this is where the steering wheel is placed. In truth I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the steering wheels are in the back seat. Or at least we joked about this with some of our friends that drive in the Congo. But some cars have the steering wheel on the left and some on the right. Now when the steering wheel is on the right and you are driving on the right trying to pass all sorts of things, I started realizing how advantageous it is to be able to see both sides of the road more clearly.

Anyway the car rides were beautiful adventures, as were climbing into the far back seats of cars in dresses and with lots of materials from the conference.

We also had the experience of driving through town right after the soccer team (that the governor owns) won a match. And the President was in town too. The streets were flooded and it was amazing to be part of so much life and energy. Beer goes on sale for half price after a win, and I remember talking to someone who thought it was very unfortunate when much of the population could use basic food to go on sale to feed their families.

But my favorite incident on the road was driving with Pastor Thierry to the conference one morning. Any encounter with Pastor Thierry is interesting because the large spectrum of different views always come up and are always debated. We were talking about all the animals around and on this dirt road and chicken started crossing the street very close to the car. Pastor Thierry opened his car door and yelled, “Why don’t you listen?” to the chicken. The only good this did was almost having the chicken jump in the car to peck out its answer. But we were in stitches by the time we reached the conference center, I guess enough is sometimes just enough.

The Soul seeks a place to Be

the soul seeks a place to be…  this is a title of  poem I got from my friend Jon.  To be honest I really don't remember the rest of the poem and the grab was not as powerful, but the title the poet chose…

 

the soul seeks a place to be, I think it's a phrase that will come up often over the next year and a half and probably my whole life.  Because we should find ways to let our soul be… to nurture and care for ourselves in that way… to truly listen to what our soul seeks.

 

This is what I have been contemplating while sitting on our back porch in Cape Town sewing a rip in a skirt that I plan to take to Congo.  The foggy day turned sunny and the wind is light enough to tickle the skin and sing, not to the point of blowing everything over.  It's the kind of day we have all the windows open to air out the house, before going to Congo for 9 days.  It's like at home, those spring to summer days after the house has been cooped up for the winter. 

 

And Louis and Ella always fills and surrounds me, so it doesn't hurt that what we are listening to.  (Thanks Jane!)

 

But instead of doing work on the computer for the conference, I decided that I should sit in the sunshine, and let my soul twirl in the wind.  (I still have to add all the French translation to my presenation) And something about sewing fit right in.  And in a way it is preparation.  Its not frantic packing today, just peaceful preparing.  Sewing only happens one stitch at a time and then you pull the string all the way through and I think of all the hemming and sewing my mother has done for me.  And then I thought more of all the sewing my grandmother Mary Lou had done.  Its interesting to remember connections to people threw tasks, but it is a sense almost as strong as smell if you take the time to notice the roses. 

 

And Jen's laundry was hanging to dry, so she was tending to her own things, and I was mending mine, but we had a lovely discussion.  (don't you love the words tending and mending- we used them at training and my friend Heather helped me se there beauty.)

 

I must remember to blog later on gender roles and what I am learning on my personal feelings to these, especially where chores are concerned and in relation to some of the discussions with our African male counterparts.

 

I also think blogging about preparation will be a common theme.

 

But for now my soul is resting in those stitches.  I am eager to go to the DRC and ready.  We will work hard and get very little down time, which is why we don't have to be in the office today- but I am excited for the energy and assembly of people.  This trip feels much more like why I am here, then the last few weeks in Cape Town.  I want to go and meet people and learn, whereas I have felt bored and bogged down with figuring out communication and cleaning and setting up house.  But today is different.

 

But right now I just want to pause in this moment with the daily life activities, because my soul has found a place to be.

--
Hannah Hanson
Mission Intern - SHADE
South Africa
hannahatshade.blogspot.com

Jambo, Jambo sana

Mama Tembo Kalenga, I even had to pause typing these words because of the way they twirl in my mind. Mama Tembo is the director of SHADE, though in our first staff meeting (where I was looking mainly at a room full of talented African Woman) she explained how she just likes to be known as a leader, not someone who barks orders.

Mama Tembo has 12 younger siblings and all the younger one she got into South Africa after there father died in the Congo. They are Zambian, but grew up in Congo. Many are related to the youth group here or SHADE (such as Vixa) but everyone else is like family too. And there is incredible respect for Mama Tembo.

Joyce is Mama Tembo's eldest daughter of 5 and incredibly friendly. She is helping at the office until she starts university in January. We met this joyous person at church on Sunday, where she mentioned to her mother we must go to there home for a traditional Congolese meal. I figured it would be at somepoint before we go to the conference in Congo- but I am quickly learning if Joyce even mentions something it will happen. Mama K explained she is the eldest in her family so she has a lot of decision making power and responsibility with her siblings. And we are pretty sure she has taken us under her wing as sisters so dinner happened as will getting Congolese outfits made for each of us.Joyce and I at the office, there weren't enough chairs.

Joyce's sisters made the whole beautiful meal and are very good cooks. One stayed home sick, but she ended up having to cook most of the day and the others helped after they got home from school. And I think they have the most energy I have ever seen a group of girls having. They sing and joke and are just wonderful people, whom are teaching us. They also instructed how to present dinner and wash hands, etc. These will be important for me especially to learn because they are customs I will have to use when visiting sites and elders. The food was incredible, we liked everything and it truly was a feast. We also started to practice all the names of the foods, but need a little work.

Most importantly there is pap (pronounced pop) which is the sustenance food (like bread or rice). It seems like it takes a lot of work to make and at some point we are supposed to learn how, because if we can't make it well our doweries will be lower. It kind of looks like mashed potatoes in the bowl but is more firm. Below Vixa is showing us how to ball it to use it to eat and soak up all the good juices. L-R Joyce, Vixa, and Freddy (another of Mama Tembo's brothers). And then Clifford looking at the TV and Rachel and Jen enjoying the meal.



However, while the girls were cooking Mama Tembo came home and shared her story with us. It was the first time we had really gotten a chance to talk to her, but I can barely express here how much the experience meant. Many here have powerful stories, but Mama Tembo told her whole story and as such an important figure in our lives it was an intense yet peaceful time. There is such a dignity in these stories, that I thought they would drain all my energy, but instead they are almost fuel. And in the midst of incredible seriousness, as she calmly spoke her girls and family are in the next room singing and laughing. I need a word better than beautiful and strong and hopeful to explain. This moment will always be part of my Africa experience and I am so happy it happened during our first true time to talk with her alone.

Then she asked all of us to share our stories and I am very glad I got to hear so much from my strong counter parts. So much happens in a life to shape us and we often take for granted or think we understand from pieces of peoples stories, when sometimes we only know a very litle bit. I actually had a lot of trouble trying to tell mine. But I think there is no greater honor then soaking in others stories. I will work on telling my own.


Oh Yombo is a Swahili greeting...

I don't know how to say goodbye yet,
Cheers,
Hannah

Cape Town

Our first day in Cape Town we headed to the Waterfront with Mama Karen and got lots of supplies and the practical things we needed to acquire. Mama K also brought us by the beach. Seeing Table Mountain again and everyday is wonderful, but it is even greater through Rachel's intense excitement and joy in new beauty. I think we share and feed of of this gift of hers a lot.

The ship in the photo was abandoned, by foreign nationals because it got stuck in the bay, so now the South African government has to figure out what to do with it and pay to get ride of it or blow it up... i love international relations.

more on work and the dignified people coming into our life soon!
Cheers,
Hannah

Rachel, me, and Jen, with table mountain in the background, photos courtesy of Jen and camera.

23rd Birthday- October 8th and 24 hours

So it’s been a week now since my 23rd Birthday, but the story bears telling. I was all set for focusing on training, but still excited for OCTOBER 8th (will someone from DUMC please tell Mittie Happy Birthday for me and thanks for the e-card! Also thank you everyone else for your warm wishes!) My darling roommate at Stony Point Amihan (currently serving in DC) finally woke up and gave me a big hug and headed to breakfast with me. Rosanna a missionary from NC, had the entire cafeteria sing to me before 9 am.

Our sessions went well and during I got packages from both Mom and DAD’s family. We were a little confused about mom sending me cereal at the bottom of the package, but turns out inside was a tray filled with brownies. So all combined we had enough food to really snack for a while. Then we ended up doing video taped interviews and head shots and group photos early, which turned out to be a good thing before our next session.



Because right before it started Suzanne and Glenn came to get us and sat us down in another room, to explain the South African Embassy wanted more information as our criminal histories from the Board were not from the places they wanted. So finding this out a little before two they decided they wanted Rachel and I to go home and get an FBI or State Police criminal history background check (there was a lot more back and forth and more lost in translation than this but onward).

Well Jen is from South Dakota and getting her there in time to get everything before close of business of Friday was doubtful and much more expensive and of course Monday was Columbus Day and the embassy was closed so nothing was to be processed until Tuesday. Tuesday was our commissioning and we were flying out Thursday so this was all getting to feel a bit scrunched, but we had a mission in front of us and that gives me adrenaline to focus on what needs to be done and have faith that I can get my part done and everything will work out. (Jen being from South Dakota- called the State Police who were very sweet and willing to help and fedexed a letter for her.)

Glenn drove Rachel and I into the city as soon as we got tickets and worked some of what we needed out and as the traffic was getting worse we decided it would be faster to walk.

Unfortunately we stopped to get out in a bus lane, but the side doors to the van don’t open unless the car is in park. Rachel got out of the front seat and I was trying to pass her backpack from the back – but an angry bus was coming down the bus lane and she finally had to run to the street instead of getting run over by the bus. It took Glenn and I another block to pull over away from the bus and there is Rachel running down the street not too frazzled just on a mission. I handed her here things and we were running toward Penn Station to get her eon her train in time.

We both made it and I soon settled in on the bus, realizing it did in fact have internet- so I could have written this story last week, but instead I used the down time to look at the beautiful day out of the window and try to plan how to get everything done the next morning so we could return to training by the afternoon.

Truthfully everything in this stretch of time felt so fast I can barely remember it happened. My Dad had been informed of the process and was calling ahead to the police station for me and had told the rest of the family, but I knew I wouldn’t have time to tell anyone else. Mom ended up picking me up from the bus, a block away from where she had put us on the Bus to go up to New York. We went to Hook to surprise Simon and were there in time that I could still be served dessert. IT was lovely to calm down for a moment and really get to see my Mom- as it had been very frantic before I left.

Becca, my godsister, was also in town for one more night and we hadn’t seen each other in a year. So we drove by her house to hug and catch up quickly before she headed back to China. Also Peter and Becca’s mom joined us in the front yard and we all got to have conversation for a few minutes. Which was about all I was good for.

The next morning I met my DAD at the courthouse to go get the form and fingerprints. When we went up despite information from two different people my Dad had talked to the day before, we found out Arlington County could not get me what I needed. After another phone call with Gail—

Side note: Gail Coulson (photoed above with Jen, me, Gail, and Rachel at Commissioning)– fills my heart with joy. Gail is the Regional Executive for GBGM for everyone in Africa. She is also South African and while she is very busy, tended to helping set up every little detail for us, especially the Visas. Anyway, key person for you to know about. Gail also was clear to let the Embassy know with everything, she was happy her country was being careful with who they let in. Truthfully, I just kept thinking of how much harder it is for so many other people to get Visas. We just needed one more piece of information and had a lot of people helping us. I don’t think God meant for us to have borders like we do.

After the conversation- we went back in (because you cant have phones in the courthouse) to get finger printed, but turns out they don’t do it on Fridays. Got the Arlington County Background form cleared though. Then went home to print off the forms to get the Virginia State form and the FBI cover letter to send in applications and money to get the process started – as we were told they couldn’t be hand delivered.

At this point I have learned the process takes 12 days in VA and the FBI could take up to 3 weeks (but we tried to put an express date on). I was to leave in 6 days.

Then went to get a certified Check, and everything notarized, then found the State Police Office to get lots of fingerprints for everyone. And decided to take the train back to get there around the same time as Rachel and in time to get all the paper work to the office before we headed back up to training. DAD got me to the train in time and mailed everything for me and I took a copy of everything for the Embassy so they knew everything was in process.

The train ride back I was exhausted, but I met a very interesting main who is the CEO of a company that works with new technologies and is trying to get electricity after food and water to many communities around the world. He is originally Indian and we had great conversations on sustainability and social issues and the environment that we talked about two and a half hours. He wants us all to wait for LED light bulbs and he is hoping they come out within the next nine months.

Rachel and I met each other in the train station (after the Visa and quick traveling portion of our training) exactly 24 hours after we left NYC. We met Gail and Glenn at the office and made copies of everything and got everything ready for the Embassy.

(Going back to training was a bit hard, because the group is so close but hard to be away for a day. We had a party with all the groups being trained- but it was also decided my toe needed medical attention so I wouldn’t have problems on the plane because of my nail. That is another story- but has since been taken care of and was no trouble on the plane.)

We didn’t hear anything until the day of Commissioning. Gail was camped out at the Embassy so she knew it was being taken care of. Finally a few hours before Commissioning we found out they would accept all the forms from Rachel and I as enough supplemental information, but we were unsure about Jen (who had the early nonchangeable flight).

Gail came up in time for Commissioning and it was so lovely to see her! Commissioning was beautiful and we felt totally a part of the moment (thanks for all who watched!) it is still online at www.ummissionaries.com if anyone wants to watch segments of it- but I doubt the music came out as well.

The next day we headed into the city incase we needed to get to the embassy. Gail called around 2:45 and said “now don’t scream too loud I don’t want you to get in trouble at the guest house… But you all have visas and I am picking them up and will come down and meet you to go over everything for you and then we can all go to dinner.”

There was only minor screaming. And then we all took naps. We had a lovely dinner with Gail in the city and Beth (in the youth and young adults arm of GBGM, who had lived with us all the two weeks at training) joined as well and we got our final cupcakes from Magnolias in the city.

Turns out the Visas worked and after a day of traveling Rachel, Jen, and I are sitting in our kitchen typing up e-mails before our computers run out of power. We are hoping to get to an internet Café to send messages home, and then to get appropriate adaptors. So if this was a bit rushed (though very lengthy- it is due to that). We are happy and healthy and finally got a good night’s sleep in our new home.

Let the rejoicing and getting our hands dirty start!

In Praise,
Hannah

Commissioning

I am excited to share the story of my 23rd birthday and 24th hours with the Visa situation. But waiting on a few more details to make that a complete story...

In the mean time I have a few minutes before we all head to Stamford, CT for the Board of Global Ministries Board meeting where our Commissioning will take place tonight.

7pm EST www.ummissionaries.org for live streaming.

This also means our training comes to an end (in this capacity as I would argue, as I think the training is just beginning). Its been a very important time of preparing and getting practical information. And in some ways just a big party getting to know missionaries and deaconesses and home missioners and the rest of te young adults. I love the different perspectives people bring and the different experiences.

The changing leaves, fire pit, and playground don't hurt either. The other US-2's and Mission Interns have really become a family to process where we are and where we are going. Last night after our last service we had a mini Christmas, complete with gift exchange and a few carols. It seemed fitting to celebrate the promise of new beginnings...

Okay being called to get into the vans.

Prayers for everyone being commissioned tonight!
Cheers,
Hannah

Children's Sabbath Sunday

We went into the city today to go to Church. This Sunday is Children's Sabbath Sunday which made the wheels start turning for me as I am preparing more for being the Orphan Care facilitator for SHADE.

"...children are now acknowledged to be full human beings in their own right..." - Social Principles

So love for the children today and caring for each other.

Peace,
Hannah

e-mail 10/6

Dear lovely Friends and Family,

When writing in my journal or handwritten letters I like to add in the physical context of where I am writing from. I am currently sitting in my room at Stony Point Center in Stony Point, New York with the window open and leaves starting to fall outside.

Last time I spoke to many of you I was in very different places so lets play a brief catch up.

From February until May I spent three months driving and staying with wonderful family and friends from DC to California and back. That was my last big e-mail and many of you I gave the blog- roadtripramblings.blogspot.com. Unfortunately, the blog didn't make it past Mississippi/ New Orleans. But I did with many more stories and totally filled with all the stories and love of all of you I saw along the way. Thank you!

I got back with my mom just in time to attend formal graduation and the next week found out I got a position with the Higher Achievement Program (higherachievement.org) as a summer teacher. So after two weeks of training I began a journey with some wonderful, inspiring, tiring, and challenging 5th-8th graders in Alexandria VA. I taught 8th grade Science, 7th grade Math, and a Newspaper elective and worked with an amazing group of people that cared about every scholar and supported each other. I had amazing support and dialogue and pray for new teachers that really don't have that but huge class sizes. I loved getting the chance to try teaching and hope the scholars got a few things out of it.
(Side note if you are in the DC area the program has five sites around DC and can always use more mentors one evening a week. If you are interested please see the website/ or let me know)

So now lets explain why I am in Stony Point. Some of you know I applied to be a Mission Intern through the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries Young Adult Programs. It has been a long process and I will be serving as a Mission Intern in South Africa with the organization SHADE for a year and a half and then a year and a half in a US placement site. SHADE has 27 sites in 20 countries throughout Africa. As I know it now I will be working with facilitating orphan programs in Malawi, Botswana, and Swaziland. This will entail working out of the main office in South Africa (which will be in Cape Town the first three months and then the office and myself and counterparts will move to Johannesburg) and traveling for probably two weeks to each site. Two other mission interns, JEN TYLER AND RACHEL KELLER will be serving at the same site but working on different projects. There is a chance two of us may switch when we get there and speak with our supervisors more.

As part of the program I am currently in training with the other Mission Interns and US-2s (domestic arm of program). We are also do some group sessions with standard support Missionaries and Deaconesses and Home Missioners in the UMC. And there are great stories here especially between all the different groups and I love the other Mission Interns and US-2s).

We are all being commissioned on October 13th at 7pm in Connecticut. But its supposed to be a pretty big deal and this year for the first time they are broadcasting it live over the Internet with twitter and facebook chat feeds. If you are interested you can watch at ummissionaries.org. (however it may be two and a half hours long!) Then I leave for South Africa on October 15th from NYC.

I hope that helps get everyone up to speed again. Ohh and I have no idea what my address is yet, but I am starting a new blog and am trying to change my blogging ways a bit to post more bits a pieces.

hannahatshade.blogspot.com

Thank you all for your support. If you have any questions please, would like to unsubscribe, or have a random thought please let me know. I hope everyone is doing well and other new adventures are starting well. Also if you are changing e-mails let me know and I would love to get home addresses.

Cheers,
Hannah