The Lesson Learned

So here I sit in the Media Centre at Klip. Dust storms are rolling through the village like there's a dust convention in Botswana tonight. Imagine a thunderstorm in the States, but dust instead of the rain. Our reaction has been basically the same. Run and hide. Stay indoors. Close the windows. Except this includes: Wipe the dust off your teeth. Get the sand out of your eyes. Make a note to take a good bath later. Etc, etc.



It's like a party in here. Maam Ditsela and Maam Tema are in for their routine of apron sewing after school. The sound of the embroidery machine is flooding the room as Rachel prepares yet another apron order of six that just came in today. Two Grade 6 learners from the Palala Girls Club, Tebogo and Grace, are sitting at the computers and learning how to type for the first time. And just five minutes ago, the Mokwele girls (sisters that were in PGC last year) just arrived from their hour-long walk from secondary school. They are here to work on necklaces that Rachel promised them.





Today is the 17th of September and we are leaving this village on the 5th of December. With less than three months time remaining, you start to notice the things that you may have said "no" to during the middle of your service. I can't say I've been exactly jumping at the chance to do anything and everything for anyone over the past week, but Rachel has been constantly holding us both accountable. During the middle of our time here, it was important for us to have our personal time. We weren't always excited to find ways to be involved or help out if we didn't have to.

It's an almost embarrassing attitude to share with you. I mean, isn't that why we came into the Peace Corps ... to do as much as we could to help in two years time? Well yeah, but you don't understand! At least that's my excuse. If there's one thing that Rachel and I have had to try our hardest to fight, it's a negative attitude. Let's just say their culture is different than ours. I could share a million and a half examples, but that's not the point. It's been a tough battle and we are constantly having to reevaluate our attitudes and intentions. There are things we can do, everyday. I could be sitting at home and calling it quits right now. I won't lie, that sounds rather enticing. But now two girls have spent their first hour ever on a computer, two girls have new necklaces to proudly display at school tomorrow, and our relationship with our two favorite teachers is continuing to grow.

Why not take advantage of that? But trust me, it's not always this easy to see the positive and lasting benefits. There's often no "thank you". No sign of appreciation. Things are expected of us. Often things are said or done that frustrate the heck out of us! After two years in this culture and with these people, it hasn't gotten easier. Let me tell you. We understand more, but that almost makes it more frustrating. But then we start focusing on the negatives, as I'm beginning to do right now in this blog entry.

With all that said, our goal for the last few months is to take advantage of those little things that maybe we passed up a year ago. Go out of our way to do that something, even if there's no "thank you" in return. We are really going to miss this place and the last thing we want to leave with is the burden of regret. We made a decision to invest two years of our lives into this village in South Africa, and we aren't getting a second of that time back. The sad lesson is realizing that such an attitude should have applied to my life long before Peace Corps, and it should continue long after Peace Corps. "Open the gates and seize the day." I can picture Jack and the other Newsies in my head singing that song. One of my all-time favorite movies.

Back to today. Today was a stressful day at school. Not for me, but for the teachers. We had visitors from the Provincial Department of Education come to "inspect". The school has been preparing for weeks, cleaning the school time and time again in preparation for the visitors. We know that Klip is one of the best schools in the area, but the teachers were still incredibly nervous. Our relationship with the teachers was exposed in the midst of it all, but in an encouragingly positive way. I shared more laughs with my colleagues today than I have in a long time. I adore the teachers at this school and I have grown to appreciate each and every one of them in a different and special way.

Knowing that I can make them laugh when they are scared out of their minds about what the inspectors will say ... we've connected. Knowing that I can ask them tough questions and get honest and real responses ... I've gained their trust. Knowing that I can make fun of them in good humor and they do it right back ... we're friends.

Koketso (Rachel) and I have been asked many times lately about our feelings as we near the end of our service. It's a tough spot to be in. Let me just say it that way. Saying goodbye to so many people that we have grown to love over the past two years, not knowing if we will ever see them again. That's not easy. But in the same moment, getting to see family and friends back in the States that we have been without. I think December will be one of the more emotional times I've had to deal with in my life. I'm not looking forward to it, but I am. It's complicated.

All in all, we are daily thanking the Lord that he placed us in South Africa. In Kgobagodimo. With the Kgonyane family. At Klipspruit School. Across the street from Maam Ditsela and her family. Near other Peace Corps Volunteers that we have clicked so well with. The list goes on and on.

I'll never forget our drive back to Indiana from Virginia where we had just attended our good friends' (Brett and Liz Marvel) wedding in June 2006. We had our packet from the Peace Corps waiting at our apartment with another good friend (Adam Mondy). He was anxiously holding it for us until we got home, for all of us to find out together where Rachel and I would be invited to serve. In the car, Rachel turned and asked me, "If there was one country in Africa that you wouldn't want to go, where would it be?" Our response in unison, "South Africa". God was just laughing his heart out at that moment. Little did we know what He had in store for us. But seriously, when do we ever?

The lesson learned: Trust Him.