The architect for the community center project, Dennis Horn, arrived at 9am for a meeting with all of us. We looked over the plans for the building. Then the Rev. Orma joined us at 10:30. She is the woman who began the four Care Points. She is the first woman Anglican priest here in Swaziland. Fred gave her a construction hard hat and vest. We took pictures.
At 11:00, people from Heifer International arrived; Allistair, his wife, Marie, and Robson-all from Durban, South Africa. Allistair used to be on the board for Heifer and is now a consultant. He used to be involved in commercial agriculture, but now is interested in developing agriculture. Marie has just retired from teaching nutrition at a college. Robson is with Heifer International. We decide that everyone will drive to the building site at Eukophelani. Fred, Cindy and Dennis went in Rev. Orma's car and I'm with the Heifer Intern'l people.
On the way, I learn that both Allistair and Robson are from Zimbabawe. We talk about the problems that country is currently having. They say that the average person cannot tell the difference between who is in power. (It seems a lot like the United States.) It is not as dangerous as people may think. They both agreed that Durban is a more dangerous place.
Now, it's about a 30 minute drive and I have a captive audience. So I go into my spiel about undressing in the security line and Fred flying first class, and how bad the weather was in Cape Town. They ask if I saw Table Mountain and I tell them I only saw the bottom. To get a good picture, I will have to cut out the top of a brochure and paste it onto my picture of the bottom.
Marie tells me that elephants go crazy at the scent of oranges so I promise them that I will dump my citrus body lotion. Allistair asks me if Fred and I attend Cindy's Anglican church at home. I tell him no. I say we are "mission mercenaries-we'll help anybody."
So I'm having a fabulous time. None of these people have ever heard any of my jokes and I'm on a roll, and they seem to be enjoying themselves as well.
We arrived at the Care Point and there weren't as many children due to the upcoming celebration on Saturday-the 40/40. This celebrates the King's 40th birthday with the country's 40th anniversary. We stayed at the building site for awhile. A few children were watering the vegetable garden. We stayed until they had their lunch-their one meal a day. Allistair, Marie and Robson were able to see what they were eating-a maisie meal-rather like a corn/rice combination. Orma was able to discuss her plans for the children with them.
It's time for us to leave. Allistair, Marie and Robson are meeting with the Minister of Agriculture at 3pm. They were going to leave from there but Cindy tells them I need them to drive me back. I make sure to thank them when we get in the car. They laugh and tell me they weren't going to leave me.
We all meet up at the local bishop's house and Orma stays there for a meeting with him. Cindy, Fred and I have a driver who takes us to The Mall-a small set of shops downtown with an ATM and a phone store so we can purchase minutes for our Swaziland cell phones.
We ate lunch there, used the ATM and were leaving the phone store, walking outside when there was a loud explosion directly across the street. A bomb had gone off.
Apparently, there had been protestors there that day protesting the King taking his wives and children to Dubai for new clothes. All the locals ran right across the street to see what was happening. Luckily, no one was hurt. But we were shaken up a little bit-it was so loud and so close.
We went back to the Lodge and just relaxed for the remainder of the evening. Well, we relaxed as much as possible having experienced our first bombing.
Over dinner, I asked Cindy why she didn't ride with the Heifer International people. She just froze. She said, "I should have been in the car with them. I wasn't thinking." Now remember, Cindy just flew in yesterday-she is still seriously jet lagged.
She goes on to say, "I have been meeting with those people for three years, trying to get them to commit to helping Orma's fund."
Now it's my time to freeze! "Excuse me?"
At this point, Cindy has her head in her hands, and is saying, "I wasn't thinking clearly, I should have ridden with them."
And I have my head in my hands, saying, "Think! What did I say?!!"
So it's now a combination of "Why didn't I ride with them?" and "Why didn't you tell me?"
I try to console Cindy as best I can. It was only a car ride and I was really, really funny.
I think.
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