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April 13, 2004 posting, by Chris
Its way past time to share with everyone the latest happenings in our part
of the world. So much is happening – so I guess it makes sense that we
have so little time to write. The day after Jim wrote about the meeting with
the paramount chief, he and eight others including the chief at Ndawana and
several members of our team were involved in an accident on a blind curve on
the way to Umzimkhulu, the administrative capital of the region. They were
journeying to sign forms for permission to occupy the land. No one was injured
although there were some tense moments. The other vehicle was not registered,
not roadworthy, full of beer, the driver had no license and there are rumours
that he has killed before and buried people under rocks!!! All this at eight
in the morning. The police didn’t arrive for about four hours and ten
days later we still don’t have a case number for insurance purposes.
Jim arrived home after some wheel straightening at seven that evening.
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| Team at workshop. |
Other than continuous vehicles troubles things are going incredibly well here.
From April 3 – April 6 we held a team workshop at our home. The kickoff
was Saturday evening when we celebrated two birthdays, and three bon voyages.
Marg and Larry Rathnavalu left on the 6th after over 5 weeks getting the documentation
project started. Their gentle spirits and tenacious wills greatly endeared them
to the people at Ndawana and to government officials throughout the region. By
the time they left about 40 families had been interviewed and the processes for
obtaining necessary documentation to allow people to access government grants
that they are eligible for had been completed. We are keeping our fingers crossed
that they will return again in the coming months. (Larry’s family is in
Durban – so they have an extra incentive.)
On Tuesday two architecture professors from the University of Witwatersrand
spent the day with us at Ndawana and managed to negotiate with the chief
an even better building site that will be right on the main road and allow
easy access for both people, vehicles and supplies. They are now busy working
on preliminary plans and we should have drawings complete by the end of April.
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| Women beaders. |
Fourteen women are beading AIDS pins and other jewelry for sale in Edmonton.
They have completed about 200 items and their first payday was unlike any I have
ever witnessed. Singing, clapping and much laughter accompanied each hand over
of cash (the amounts ranged from $2 - $48). The next day we witnessed many of
these women carrying big bags of mealie meal on their heads. Talk about a hand
to mouth existence. About 200 packages of fall planting seeds have been handed
out. Two members of the team are visiting the recipients to ensure good gardening
practice.
But much of the time in the last week has been to start to prepare for our
return to Edmonton in mid-May. The fundraising committee and the rest of
the board have been doing a great job of finding opportunities for us to
share our experiences here and to gently ask the community to participate
in this exciting project. Right now it seems less exhausting to be here than
to be trying to organize dinners, sales and talks back home. Tim is preparing
a ten minute video to show at our fundraising dinner on May 21st. Get your
tickets now – he is a budding Oscar nominee! A wonderful assortment
of crafts are probably nearing Singapore about now. They should be in Edmonton
in good time for the craft sale on June 5th. We so look forward to connecting
again with the Edmonton side of our community. We’ll see you in May!
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