introducing...

I thought it would be fun if I introduced you to the ladies I work with.  I was privileged to be able to go to San Susi, the small village where the ladies live, and take family photos of each of their families.  Well let me back up just a bit...  I had asked the ladies if it would be alright for me to come one day and take their pictures with the family , after a little Zulu between them I was told I could.   Sometimes my brain is non-functional and this was one of those times. The ladies work every weekend. It has been weeks since I asked and finally we had a camp free weekend so we set it up- Mothers day!    It was great :)

This is Ntumbifuit (the "n"  is almost silent), her husband David, her granddaughter and a neighbor boy.  She and David were just married over new years.  They had a big fancy wedding, 250 people. I would estimate that they have been living together about 25 years, give or take, waiting for the labola money to be earned.  They have a grown daughter that lives in Durban but their granddaughter lives with them.

Ntombifuti is in charge of dorm 2 and very particular about how it looks. She also is one of the gals that gets the kitchen ready for the weekend camps, and one of the cooks for the ZEBS weekends. She is the number two lady here at camp and believe me there is a pecking order.

I have found her to have a lovely spirit, an infectious smile and a great sense of humor.  She loves to sing, she is great!  Best of all she loves the Lord.  She is a joy in my life.

I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to get to know her and hopefully become a friend as well as a sister in Christ.

what's left

As I told you the day after the fire the workers would be busy and so they were.  The fire was on Thursday and by Saturday afternoon this is all that was left...

All cut by hand.  It's an amazing sight. I wish I had a picture of them cutting - high boots, clay rubbed on their faces to keep from getting sunburned and long sleeves

Hot! Hot! Hot!

 The cane was moved across the road.  Well, I say that with young in cheek, it's the road we use for camp but it is a one-laner. Sunday the loader filled the massive trucks to transport the cane.  Today it's all gone.  Soon it will be on the store shelves

just life in the cane field

We we just sitting having a nice supper when we here the sound of heavy rain, very heavy rain.  BUT there was no rain to be seen.  The sky was blackened and the sound was so loud that we went outside to see what it was.  

Behold, a fire was raging.  So close and bright.  Snapping and crackling.

Yep, it was the cane field ablaze.  We have seen it before just not so close.  The ash floats like a soft fallen snow just not as much.  It's really was something to see!

The fire moves very quickly and is over just that fast.  We actually got in the Bucky and drove down to get a closer look but it was gone.  That is how quick it moves.  It couldn't have been more that a half a mile away in that first picture.

 This is how the cane looks after it is done burning.  Only the dry leaves are actually burned.  You can still see an ember or two.  Tomorrow they will start harvesting the cane.  There will be all kinds of men and women in the cane fields cutting tomorrow.  I've been told that they don't burn the cane that is used for seed only the cane that will be processed. I don't know why :/

This cane below is, I'm told, going to be used for seed. It is really interesting, the cane will actually come up from the root for years but according to what Carlene says on the seventh year the land is put to rest and then it will be reseeded.  Sound familiar?


The Israelites were told to let the land rest every seven years, I think it is called the year of jubilee.  And it is still important today.  Imagine that.

Seems like God must have known what he was talking about, don't ya think :)

Just a bit from our life to yours.  

Have a great day and just look and see what God has to show you today.

a life changing day

This picture is of Zandi and two of her three children.  Some months ago her one of her sisters died and she became "little mother" to those two children.  It is part of the culture to take your relatives children if they are left orphaned.  Hmmmm.  Seems like there is something about that in the Bible : )

Zandi looked so nice today, so I told her I thought she looked to pretty.  I couldn't really put my finger on it- I thought that maybe it was that she was dressed up a bit.  But that wasn't it at all.

Anyway today was a life changing day for Zandi.   Her boyfriend was able to pay the labola, that is to say her bride price, now they can be married.  She was radiant as she told me about it.  "I am pretty today because my boyfriend paid the labola, We will now be able to be married."  I asked her If she would be married before I left,  "Oh no, but in October I will be engaged"  I can't really tell you what joy there was in her voice that finally she would be able to be married to the man she has shared much of her life with. It will take another year to save the money to be married.

I told you on the Easter blog that paying the bride price is still an important part of their lives here but I am amazed to see how it all works and how happy they are when at last they have the money to pay her father, even after all this time has passed.

We have been able to see two of the ladies set free to marry since we have been here.  And I love it.

So what about us?  Christ paid the bride price long ago for us and one day we will be caught up by him at the marriage feast.  Can you just imagine the sheer joy we will know when we are with Him.