Wa La La Po, Everyone!

Walalapo Everyone,
We are back from the north. One word to describe the north-HOT! It was at least 110 degrees and no shade to be found. Unfortunately, I didn’t fair well. My poor skin baked in the hot sun. We were closer to the equator, so north means hot!!!!! We took three of our friends with us, Foibe and baby Gift, and my nurse friend, Charlotte. It was a long and beautiful drive. When we reached Ovamboland, Charlotte said we are now in the land of ‘freedom of movement’. I soon understood what she meant. Cows, goats, and donkeys are free to roam wherever—which meant they were often in the middle of the road!
We brought Foibe and Gift home to her parents and it was quite an experience. The Ovambo people live very simply. Their homes are so unique. They live in a series of clay and stone huts with thatched roofs. Families all live together, with separate huts for sleeping quarters, cooking, and eating. Imagine your dining room is a large hut where you gather with All of your family to sit in the white sand and share a meal! They also have a separate hut for the mahungu. They are people of the mahungu—that is their way of life. There are fields and fields of mahungu—like our corn fields! They will harvest the mahungu in another month, however, they do this by hand (no machines). We drove through this gravel road and children came out all over from within the fields. Mary said, ‘look it’s the children of the mahungu’!!
We gifted two families along the way. My friends from the Netherlands had asked me to stop and visit a family they knew who had lost a son to a heart problem last year. They were very happy to see us and we left them with much food and school supplies for their many children. We also brought food and gifts to Foibe’s family. I had bought 2 small flashlights that I gave to her father and it was like watching a child at Xmas with a new toy! I watched these families delight in simple things that we never think twice about-like having a blanket or scarves for the women.
When we headed for home we took the long way through Etosha park. We saw giraffe, jaguars, springbuck and many other wild animals. We stayed in a very nice place overnight. Charlotte and Foibe were so excited and thrilled about our place. They both said this was their honeymoon! Foibe was so cute-she walked around our room singing and dancing with the baby. She kept thanking me and saying she would never be able to stay at such a beautiful place if it hadn’t been for Mary and I. It made me want to cry to think that this is an experience of a lifetime for her.
Foibe is breastfeeding her baby as most Ovambo mothers do. It is such a cultural thing that the breast is wipped out anywhere, anytime when babies are hungry. At dinner that night, I was a bit concerned as we dined in a room full of Germans and I knew that Foibe would need to feed the baby. When she took out her breast Charlotte said, “you must cover the breast-you don’t want to show these people your African beauties”! I damn near choked on my dinner, it was so funny!!!
We were unable to find the Norwegian woman running the orphanage, I think I confused the name of the town. We had a lovely few days and I hated to take Foibe and Gift back home to their zinc shack in the informal settlement. Back to the realities of life here in Windhoek. Mary and I are staying at Penduka on the outskirts of town for 3 days until we go back to Rivendell. I like it here – Penduka is a place run by women and children, an empowerment center. We are staying in an Ovambo hut, not quite as primitive as up north as we have a bathroom and electricity. At least it is nice to know that our money is going to a good cause. They also operate a textile business and we can hear the woman sing as they are sewing. They make beautiful linens, pottery, and jewelry.
Mary and I have talked about how different our lives have been since we have arrived. The little things in life that we take for granted, like food, water, shelter. We don’t flush the toilet until necessary—we shower differently-rinse-turn off water-soap up-rinse-make it quick and don’t shower everyday. Water is so important here and it can’t be wasted. We are not ‘starving’-we are ‘hungry’- and 2 meals a day is more then most people get here. We wear our clothes more then once and we wash them out by hand and hang them to dry. My Grandma would be proud!
Friday we move back to Rivendell and back into the center of the city. We will head out to Hakahana and clean up the area around the school and get ready for our big Easter egg hunt/party on Saturday. We haven’t decided yet what language we will hear Easter service in- English, Oshivambo. Damara, or Nama.
Next week will be a major shopping experience as we will be buying food, clothes, shoes, and school uniforms. We are also meeting with my friend Phil from the Human Rights Watch to talk about what can be done about the children at the dump site—at least make people aware of what is happening. Much to do and will keep you informed. Thank you all for your prayers and support. God bless you all during this Holy week. Love Always Annie