Category Archives: Travel

Sam and Will Teach at Mary’s School

As soon as we were settled in Mary’s home, the first thing she asked Sam and Will was “Are you ready to teach my class tomorrow?” She then gave them her teacher’s manual and told them to go and prepare their lesson plan.

Mary is a high school science teacher. The students in her classroom are between 13 and 18 years of age. Sam and Will took on her challenge with amazing grace and determination.

Niko and I stood in the back of the room as Sam and Will stood before 50 Besotho young people and taught them about heat conduction. As I watched them, I was full of awe and I wondered, how is this experience going to impact their life? How will standing before 5 different classrooms of students today and teaching, impact the way they see their own teachers, or the way they see themselves? Will this plant a seed for them to pursue teaching one day? How does it feel to them to be the minority? There was not another white face in the school, nor had we seen another white person since arriving in Lesotho. This was the first time in their life that they experienced being the minority. I tried to imagine what it would be like to be 16 or 17 and to have such an experience. I was filled with awe at how well they were prepared and at their incredible willingness and spirit of adventure in taking this on.

Mary’s Home

Mary and Paul live in amiddle class home in Maputsoe. It is made of cinder block and has 4 rooms: A living room, kitchen and 2 bedrooms. There is an outhouse outside and a covered bucket in each bedroom for toilet use. There is no running water. All the water is carried in from their well. They do have electricity and surprisingly to us, they even have a flat screen tv.

It is evident to us, that Paul and Mary have gone to great sacrifice to make our visit comfortable and to meet our every need. Niko and I have our own bedroom. Beautiful bedspreads are on our beds. A baby bathtub sits in the corner for our washing needs. Luxurious body wash, lotions and toothpaste have been set by our beds. Sam and Will will sleep on the couches in the living room that fold down. Food has been cooked, special foods purchased and Mary and Paul are eager to make us feel at home. We have been welcomed like royalty.

Challenges Continue: On the Road to Mary

We left Johannesburg almost 3 hours later than planned. Packing the van and getting cash had proved much more difficult and time consuming than we had imagined. Finally we were on the road. Our research informed us that the drive to Johannesburg would take about 4 hours. If there were no other hiccups, we would be able to get to Mary’s home before dark.

Mary is our daughter of the heart. We were her host family when she came to Tacoma in 2009 with the Mennonite Service Committee. She walked into our home and immediately took root in our hearts. We have not seen her since she left Tacoma in August of 2010, but we have talked with her every month on the phone. I cannot wait to see her and to meet her husband, Paul and our grandson Sammy. Mary has asked to be the first and last person in Lesotho to see us. So we will spend our first night in her country in her home, then we will go to Mohales Hoek to spend a week at the orphanage. We will then return to Mary’s to spend a long weekend with her and Paul and Sammy, then we will drive to South Africa to go on safari and then back to Mary’s for our last 2 days. It is a lot of driving back and forth, but because of the inflexibility of her work schedule, it is the best way to get time with her.

Our drive was slower than expected, but uneventful until we reached Ficksburg. Ficksburg is about 20 minutes from the border of Lesotho. The sun was starting to set but we still had time to get there before dark. We had been warned not to drive or be out after dark. Our agreement with Mary was that we would call her when we got to Ficksburg and then she would go to meet us at the border. Her home is only 10 minutes from the border crossing, so this plan allowed for plenty of time. As agreed, I called her as soon as we reached Ficksburg. She was already at the border and had been there for 3 hours! She had been too excited to wait at home, so she went there right from work. There she was 4 months pregnant, in the cold winter air, waiting out side for us.

While I was talking with Mary, Niko took a wrong turn. We turned around and thought we got ourselves back on track, but we had not. We found ourselves on a long dark stretch of road in the middle of nowhere. By the time we realized we were on the wrong road if was just as far to go forward as it would be to go back. To make matters worse, we were almost on empty. I could not contain my frustration. My fear bubbled up and over. Poor Niko. He is driving this van that is stuffed to the gills, on the wrong side of the road in an unknown country, he has been robbed and his pride is still stinging from allowing such a thing to happen, and now he has taken the wrong road and his wife has lost her last shred of positive attitude.

We finally made it to a gas station, just minutes from the border. With the car filled we made it to the border, through customs and into the arms of our beautiful Mary. Tears flowed, laughter rang out and we rejoiced in this moment that we had dreamed of for 5 years. We were together again.

A Heavy Load

This morning we picked up our 7 passenger Toyota Van. Before we left Tacoma, we borrowed our neighbors 7 passenger Toyota van to be sure that we would be able to fit all of our bags and ourselves in our rented van when we got to Johannesburg. Things fit wonderfully in their van, and there was plenty of space for us to fit comfortably.

When we got to our vehicle in Johannesburg we knew we were in trouble. This van looked more like a large station wagon with an extra row of seats. It was small. We had a 4 hour drive ahead of us with 8 large suitcases, 3 carry on suitcases, 4 backpacks and 2 guitars. How were we ever going to fit in all? I went back to the counter to see if we could trade up to a larger vehicle. No such luck. They were all out of larger cars. We were going to have to figure it out and we did.

We were like sardines packed in a can as we traveled down the highway. Niko drove. I was in the front passenger seat and Sam and Will were in the 2nd row of seats. Suitcases were packed to the ceiling both in the back and between Sam and Will. Sam, Will and I had suitcases under our feet and backpacks between our legs. Sleeping bags were unfolded and stuffed between the suitcases and the windows.

For most part, our sense of adventure took over. We were on a mission to get these 400+lbs of donations to the children of Lesotho. These suitcases were stuffed with school supplies, books, soccer balls, clothing, jackets, hats and shoes. What was 4 hours of discomfort in light of the needs of these children? Will suffered regular butt cramps, Sam figured out that he could flip the small suitcase on his lap to use it as a table, Niko navigated driving on the opposite side of the road and using only the side mirrors for visibility, while I took on the roll of Navi-guesser as we found our way out of Johannesburg and on to Lesotho.

We spent the day in Johannesburg with our wonderful guide, Agnes, from Feleng Tours. We visited the Apartheid Museum, Nelson Mandela’s Home in Soweto and the Kliptown Youth Program.

Kliptown is one of the oldest residential districts of Soweto. It is the home of over 44,000 people and lacks the most basic needs of schools, sanitation, and electricity. It is Will and Sam’s first experience of witnessing how the world’s poor live. 44,000 people living in small houses made of tin crammed together in a small space, without running water, with electricity stolen from the grid and with sewage and garbage visible on the side of the roads. In the midst of the squalor is an amazing project called the Kliptown Youth Project. KYP’s mission is to “KYP enables children to harness their potential and grow into dynamic and skilled individuals who can give back to society.” They provide tutoring, tuition assistance, Food programs as well as training in cooking, employment networking and technology.

We were each given a ticket which determined whether we went through the museum as a white or as a non-white person.

Zulu Dancers entertained us as we ate lunch.

Will umped in to embrace the culture.

Kliptown: Homes made of tin, one right next to the other

Kliptown

Kliptown Youth Program Computer Lab

Roasted Chicken Feet for Sale

We are in Dubai! We had an amazing flight. I felt like I was back in time 30 years ago to how flying used to be. The flight was long…14 hours, but Emerates is an amazing airlines and they treated us so well that our flight was a lot of fun. As soon as we took off, a flight attendant came around with hot, moist, lemon scented towels for each of us. At our seats we found a little travel case with socks, eye covers for sleeping and a toothbrush.

The food was delicious. They fed us lunch as if we were already on Dubai time to help us restart our inner clocks. It included an appetizer of crackers and dips, a salad of black eyed beans and corn, a main dish of lamb or chicken a delicious dessert of toffee pudding, followed by a cup,of tea and a piece of chocolate. We were also fed a snack of an individual pizza and a breakfast of eggs with various side dishes.

Niko and I watched 3 movies together that we missed seeing at the Grand Cinema: the 2nd Best Grand Budapest Hotel, Woman in Gold and Still Alice. Will learned some Arabic on the plane from a boy, sitting across the aisle form him. He and Sam are having a blast!

>We have a 3 hour layover in the Dubai airport. Sam and Will are off exploring the mall in the airport while Niko and I sit with the bags. Then we will fly another 8 hours on Emerates and arrive in Johannesburg at 9pm, ready to rest at the Blue Mango Lodge.

Airport Excitement

We left our house at 5:30 am overloaded with excitement and 8 checked and 4 carry on suitcases. Will’s mom, Ann, drove our neighbor’s van and his dad, James, drove his car to manage it all. Halfway to the airport we realized that Niko did not have his driver’s license. A moment of quick thinking had us off the freeway, Will and few items of luggage squished into the van with the rest of us, and James on his way to our home to get the license.

As we maneuvered all the baggage through checkin, I prayed that all the bags would meet their expected weight restrictions and that the 2 bags that were each over the size restriction by an inch would go through without notice. As each bag was weighed and thrown onto the conveyor belt without comment, I breathed a little deeper.

The next hurdle was clearing the South African government restrictions for traveling with minors. Just a month ago they instituted new requirements that minors traveling with their parent’s must have both a passport and a stamped birth certificate. Minor’s traveling with anyone but their parent’s must have a signed and notarized affidavit from each parent. The beautiful young woman checked over these items thoroughly. Then she called over her supervisor, who studied each item with scrutiny. They were very clear that if our documents did not meet the requirements, we would not be allowed into S. Africa. Again I found myself holding my breath as the minutes ticked by and still we waited for clearance.

As we waited, I took a deep breath and said a prayer. Immediately, I felt the presence of a very large protective angel standing to my left. I breathed a breath of gratitude and relaxed into the knowing that all would be well. Just as we were cleared and checked in, James arrived with Niko’s license and we were ready!

Preparations

It is almost time for us to leave. These past weeks have been spent packing and repacking the countless donations that have been put Into our care: Soccer balls, clothing, jackets, hats, shoes, socks, school, supplies and books challenge the seams of our suitcases. Meeting the weight and size restrictions challenge our minds. We are each allowed 2-50 lb bags, plus a carry on. Each of our checked bags can measure no more than 59 inches, our carry ons must be under 29 inches. Filling each bag with just enough heavy items with just enough light items so,that the bags fill the space and meet but do not go over the size restrictions has been a giant math puzzle. We finally had our 8 checked bags ready. I looked around the room and still there were so many beautiful items waiting to be packed. I called our airlines and discovered that we could add up to 25 lb per suitcase for an added cost of $50.00 each. Back to the Math problems. Which suitcases have more space to hold additional items? Which suitcases have heavy items that can be exchanged for light items without going over the size restrictions? The shuffling began and many hours later we had 40 additional pounds added for a total of 440lbs of donations ready to be delivered to Lesotho, in the name of our incredible community.

A Message from St. Camillus

Last Sunday, I woke up early motivated to get my self packed for our trip. I gently woke up Niko and said, “Let’s get up and get packed before we go to Church.” As we worked on our personal packing, I was overwhelmed with the amount of donations we still had yet to pack. I would not know how much space we would have available for these donations until we each had our personal items packed. Anxiety began to fill me as I looked at the great feat ahead of me.
As we headed off to Church, Niko was almost all packed and I was well on my way, but the stress of all those donations, still loomed large in my consciousness.
It was Fr. Jim’s last Mass at St. Leo’s. He had been assigned to a new parish. I was grateful to be there to send him off and to infuse myself with the energy of this community as we prepared for our journey to southern Africa in just 6 more days.
To my surprise and delight Fr. Jim’s sermon was about St. Camillus. I have been a Catholic for over 55 years and never before have a heard a talk, a sermon or a story about St. Camillus. I knew nothing about him. And it is the name of the orphanage that we are going to in Lesotho. Coincidence? I think not.
St. Camillus is the patron saint of the sick and of those who care for the sick. He was a friend of St. Ignatius. Fr. Jim shared the story of St. Camillus being overwhelmed by his calling to create an order of religious dedicated for caring for the sick. There was so much that needed to be done. He had no idea how he could possibly do it. In the midst of his overwhelm, he heard the voice of God say, “Why do you worry, don’t you know that this is my plan.”
As Fr. Jim repeated God’s words. “Why do you worry, don’t you know that this is my plan?” I heard God speaking to me. I felt my breath deepen and my shoulders relax. I have known from the beginning that this trip was a calling from God. I knew it was God’s plan, God’s trip, directed by Spirit. My job was to say, “Yes.”, listen to the voice of my spirit, respond to it’s urging and all would be well. All of those donations would get to Lesotho. All I needed to do was trust.

The Seed of a Dream is Planted

Thula Thula Game Reserve, South Africa

Kim, Mary, Sam and Niko 2010

St. Julianna, Founder of the St. Camillus Center

In 2004, I went to South Africa to study the AIDs pandemic with a delegation of 16 women from the United States. We spent 2 of our 16 days in South Africa on a game reserve. Upon returning my then 6 year old, Sam, who is an animal enthusiast, made me promise that I would not go back to Africa without him. I made that promise and set my intention to go back to South Africa with Sam and Niko one day and to spend time on at a game reserve.

In 2009, a young woman, Mary, came to Tacoma from Lesotho Africa to work in L’Arche for a year. We were her host family. Mary walked into our home and took up permanent residence in our hearts. She returned to Lesotho in the summer of 2010. By the summer of 2011, Mary had married her longtime boyfriend, Paul and she had given birth to their son. They named their son after her brother… Sammy. Our family’s dream to visit her and to meet Paul and our grandson, Sammy became more than a dream. It became a clear intention.

I served on the board of The Lesotho Connection for 3 years from 2006-2009. Lesotho is a small mountainous country surrounded by South Africa. One out of four children, in Lesotho, is orphaned by AIDs. A Holy Names, Besotho, nun named Sr. Julianna has devoted her life to caring for the orphaned children in Mohales Hoek, Lesotho. One of the goals of the Lesotho Connection has been to raise the funds needed to build a home for the orphaned and vulnerable children in Sr. Julianna’s Care. This dream was fulfilled and the children moved into their new home, the St. Camillus Center, in December of 2014. I wanted to see this center, which had been just a seedling of a dream when I was on the board and I wanted to spend time with Sr. Julianna and these beautiful children.

This dream of returning to Southern Africa, which started in 2004, continued to grow in me as our love for Mary developed, the St. Camillus Center was built and Sam grew into a young man. The dream expanded to include Sam’s best friend, Will, in this adventure. Sam and Will have been friends since birth. Their friendship has been nurtured by their deep loves of animals, music and community.

In the autumn of 2014, I felt a voice inside me say “The time is now! You must begin to prepare and plan to go to Southern Africa this upcoming summer.” It would be the summer before Sam’s junior year of high school and Will’s senior year. If we waited any longer, the opportunity for all of us to go together could be lost. And so we began to plan.

Body Sacred

Celebrating the Sacred In Ourselves, In Our Relationships and In Our World.