Farewell Event

My community farewell party was a highlight of my experience in Africa. It was lovingly organized by all the volunteers of the drop-in centre and friends in Bethal. It was kept a big secret from me, although I knew the date, time and place of the event. I felt so loved and appreciated as the evening progressed with speeches, poetry, singing and dancing. Sixty people attended on the coldest night of the winter….decorations, food and transport for attendees in the township completed the event. A slide show was shown of me in many roles and activities while in Africa….so many special memories filled my heart with so many incredible people that have touched me so deeply during my time here.

What also made the evening special was the attendance of so many youth…..Youth Leaders from the drop-in centre and youngsters of friends. I’ve always felt that the future of a country is bright and promising when young people care about their community and are willing to be a part of solutions to the challenges that face it.

Below is the speech given by the Deputy Chairperson of the CCBE for OVCS and the Leth’ithemba Drop-In Centre…..

FAREWELL MESSAGE TO JUDY ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE LETH’ITHEMBA DROP IN CENTRE

Judy – America will never be the same to us anymore, because we have met Judy Schneringer from California.

A lady with a vision that almost becomes visible while you are working with her in accomplishing that vision.
A lady who is willing to make sacrifices to accomplish her vision.
A lady who knows how to travel by aeroplane, by car, by taxi, and also by foot.
A lady who is always positive and empowers people to be their best and to do their best.
A lady who doesn’t live by dollars, but by serving others.

Judy, you will always be remembered for the primary role you’ve played in the preparation, birth and growth of the Leth’ithemba Drop-in-Centre.
Thank you for your time, energy, expertise, love, endurance and sacrifice.
The Leth’ithemba Drop- in-Centre is a small baby now, but we trust it will grow steadily.
God gave you the grace to be part of its foundation, its birth and its growth.
We see you as a gift from God who helped Leth’ithemba Drop-in-Centre happen.
You were a gift from God for a specific time and place and we honour Him for that.

May god bless you and your family richly with His love, grace and presence and we hope that your memories of us will blossom in the coming years because Leth’ithemba Drop-in-Centre will be blossoming.

Peace Corps buddies and Various

It wouldn’t be right to forget my fellow Peace Corps volunteer buddies in my blog postings. Through text messaging from our cell phones to the occasional leave from work for vacation or trainings together, we were there for each other, more than any other support system. We clung to each other through the two years of being far from home. These photos show some of my best friends and me at different stages of our time together. The environment and accommodations are typical of our pre-service training experience through our Close of Service Conference just completed.

Birthday and Good-Byes

I arrived home alive from my last long-distance taxi ride in South Africa at noon the day before my 58th birthday. I thought of my life as we sped along at the highest speed possible, 15 adults crammed into the koombie, stopping frequently to check that left front tire and falling back frequently from attempting to pass 18 wheelers weighted down with coal. To be fair, I haven’t felt any safer in most private vehicles careening down the roads of South Africa, but in them at least I might have a bit more influence on the driver and the vehicle is in better condition mechanically.

My friend Napoleon picked me up from the taxi rank, the days now are sunny and crispy cold, and we went to his house where we had tea with his wife, Rosemary and the third of my Zimbabwean friends, Lillian (who I visited in Zimbabwe last Christmas)…..they and their children are my first friends, taking me under-their-wings when I arrived in Bethal September 2006. We made plans for my birthday the next day. I arrived home to an empty, quiet house. I have it to myself this week as Elize, Louis and Roelf (the young man living with us who’s Mom is opening a health clinic in Malawi) conclude a two week missionary trip to Mozambique. It is refreshing to have the house to myself as I have lived within family homes for the past two years, limiting my privacy. Yet, even though most Peace Corps volunteers have more privacy than just a bedroom, I prefer living with a family. Elize and Louis opened their hearts and home to me last September when I had grown out of the living arrangement with my co-worker and needed to make a change. I was welcomed into their lives as a family member and included in all family activities. This meant a whole lot to me since I have felt isolated and lonely frequently being away from the U.S. I have rounded out my cultural home stays, first at a Zulu home during pre-service training, then an Indian home with my co-worker for one year and lastly with an Afrikaans family now.

I woke up on my birthday happy, a beautiful day, ripe for the laundry I washed by hand to dry. My family’s full-time maid will return when they do. Wages, skills and education are so low for the mass of Black South Africans and unemployment so high that most middle-class families can afford to hire a maid and gardener (garden “boys”). I went for a jog, a two or three times weekly effort to get into better shape before I return home. It always puts me in the spotlight for anyone who crosses my path.….women, older women, older white women, older white women alone without a dog, older white women alone without a dog and dressed in inappropriate jogging togs don’t’ jog. After two years here, I still can’t stand being stared at, especially that look that says, “did she just land here from the planet Mars?”

I spent a lovely evening with my Zim friends. I brought chili, left-over from the meal I cooked for the missionaries the night before they left for Mozambique, and they supplied the wieners (viennas we call them here) and buns, etc. for a chili dog extravaganza. I’ve always had a lot of fun sharing my love for Mexican food with my South African family and friends. In 50 years time, I will still be remembered for introducing guacamole to half of the population of Bethal. And they all love it.

Next week, Saturday, is the special farewell party planned for me by the drop-in centre Executive Committee, where everyone who has been a part of my life in a meaningful way these past two years in Bethal will be present. The event is a highly guarded secret from me and I only know where and when it will be. Thinking of it brings sadness to my heart as I continue to say goodbye over these brief weeks to wonderful people that have given me so much love. They have shared their lives with me and taught me so much about what is important in life…...relationships…… “ubuntu,” that I do not exist, succeed, heal, love, etc. in isolation but in a relationship with other people. I tell them that I will come back for a visit to see them and how the drop-in centre has fared. In reality, South Africa is nearly half-way around the earth. I suppose it lessens my sense of loss to believe that we will continue our friendships. Nonetheless, the party will be a time of joy for me as well, a time to express to them the appreciation I feel so deeply and to enjoy their company one more time.