Flipping Out

The kids here absolutely love to turn flips. Take a step, put your hands down, lift your legs up high, and fall to the other side. Upside down, topsy turvy, whatever is daring and fun- they will do it! They are doing their best to teach me some of the “easy tricks”, but I must admit something stops me. I am not sure if I have crossed this age barrier like the idea behind The Polar Express, but there is something about watching the ground underneath me and the fact that I might fall flat on my face that keeps me from doing it.





However scary it might be, there is something extraordinary about children that I learned from watching them. They take risks. They might not know that it’s risky, but they just do it. They like the feeling, they want to do it, and they just do it, no questions asked. We can all learn from them. If only I had the energy, the will, and the strength to carry out the things I really wanted to do. The world we live in today is unpredictable and sometimes some pretty negative things happen, but if we just take a risk and try to make it a better place, then we can.
I want to do flips in my life. I want to take a risk and just do the right thing without being scared about the ground underneath. No one achieves anything if they never try. The only way these children knew they could do front and back flips was to try. I won’t know what change I can make in the world unless I try. So take a step, brace yourself and put your hands down, lift your legs high, and watch the positive outcome on the other side.

Coordinating Winter School

Developing lessons and teaching little ones during winter school is quite an experience. During this time, the children are on break from school, but some of them are so incredibly behind in their studies or need assistance in multiple areas, so we are tutoring them with a strong focus on math and English.
Although this is a vacation time for them, it is heartwarming to see how some of them are taking their studies seriously. They know how important education is. One student came 20 minutes early to our cottage and shouted “I am ready for school!” Of course, I was tired and needed the 20 minutes before teaching, but with a positive attitude like that from an eager child is just what you need to jumpstart your day.


These kids are very bright and are capable of so much; they just lack the necessary resources that so many of our students in the U.S. benefit from. Research tells you so much about what they need and if you use this, then that will happen. But what about the kids who don’t use math manipulatives or the ones who don’t have a large selection of print material. What about the students who don’t have graphing calculators or regular calculators for algebra. These students still try and that’s what makes it a joy to work with them. I know that winter school is only for a limited time, but I do hope that the few weeks of one on one tutoring or small group will benefit them greatly as they head back to school for the next term.

Elephant Stampede

Before this weekend, I can honestly say that everything I learned about African animals was from watching the Lion King. That has all changed. Now, let me tell you something. Disney fills your head with the good stuff, but it's all a misconception. I guess I learn better when I am in the "classroom"

Now, how many of you can say you have been face to face with a lion? Well, I have! It was GREAT. Scary, exciting, dangerous, life-changing, just incredible. I saw hundreds of zebra, buffalo, giraffe, buck, monkeys, baboons, warthogs. I mean, I saw it all! This is where you go if you want to learn the best about life in the African Wild!


Since it's winter and the dry season, there's not a lot of water. The waterholes are all dry and it's hard to find water sources. Even the rivers have run low, but I managed to find them...even lions resting by the river. It was so great to see the male lion all regal and royal watching over his pride while they were resting. I will save you the pics of the buffalo carcass, unless you want to see it and send a special request. It was quite gross, but all a part of the circle of life.





Well, the most exciting for me and by far the scariest was getting trapped by Hundreds...yes HUNDREDS of elephants. The elephants CHARGED the car twice. You do NOT want to play with elephants. They are HUGE. I can't believe I was so close to them. It was absolutely amazing. They are such beautiful creatures. Well, they had all their little babies with them and like any mother would be, they are so protective. It was great. Just to be in the wild and to know that you are NOT on the top of the food chain. All I can say is WOW!






One of the hits was looking at all the babies: The little bitty (well not really) elephants, lions, warthogs, giraffes, rhinos, and baboons. Just to see them protect their little ones and searching for them was so beautiful. They were just little versions of their parents. And the warthogs, elephants and rhinos would have torn you to pieces if you even looked like you were going to bother their babies.

Now I can't upload every picture I have, but I promise you if you want to see the GOOD THE BAD and the UGLY, I have it!

Painting The High School

“Krystle, have you been painting yourself or the school?” I’ve been asked this question by many people along with a chuckle. After spending a day cleaning and painting the high school science room, I was tired. But to look around at the work that we had done is phenomenal. I remember that first thought of how we will ever transform this room. It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint, willing volunteers, and a great attitude can do.
We had high school volunteers help as well. I can imagine the faces of the children when they return to school and see a “brand new” science lab. I am sure that our student volunteers also feel a sense of pride and have the feeling of “I DID THAT” when they walk into class for their own studies. It says a lot to take ownership. I mean, if I were a student Kwa Ntembini, I would love science from now on.
Now although, I had more paint on my clothes, arms, face, and hair than any other person, I am sticking to the excuse that it was only for the memories!

Beach Party

Today, we went to the BEACH. It wasn't planned, but anytime you say "Let's go to the Beach." Who am I to turn it down. There's a catch....we are taking 11 hyper-active beach craved love to get up and shout kids!!!! It was GREAT!




So, we get to the beach, about an hour away and then we have to HIKE to a good spot. So, remember that I told you it's winter and COLD, well, I finally get smart and layer up. Apparently, I'm not as smart as I thought- it was HOT! So picture me walking the sandy beach with tights, jeans, 2 socks, boots, camisole, long sleeve sweater, and hoodie. Yes....not too smart!

Well, walking on the beach is hard, but I had Buso with me and he walks as slow as can be. He wanted to look all around. We picked up at least one hundred seashells....all of which we eithe lost or broke by the time we got home.

It felt like we walked for miles. Turns out we did. They said we walked the beach from North to South. So, my legs are aching and I'm HOT. But it felt soooo good to just look out into the Indian Ocean. I even got my boots wet. I finally rolled up my pants and attacked the beach bare-foot. The sand felt SO good!

We finally got to a stopping point to rest and put our things. Guess who was on Lunch Duty! You guessed it- ME! I had to walk another mile to the grocery store to buy something to make lunch. So sandwiches, chips, cookies, and juice. Yes...yes...another mile hiking back with groceries. But I strategically got the 3rd lightest bag. That way I won't look like the over-achiever Super Girl nor do I look like the weakest. (I can teach you how to do those things sometime)

After lunch, the kids decided to take a dip in the pool. Well, since it was an unexpected trip to the beach, no one had bathing suits. Didn't stop up though! Makaphutu kids know how to party!




Can't wait for tomorrow!

A Lucky Day

Today, we went to Thousand Hills Helpers, an establishment that helps people who suffer from HIV/AIDS. They provide a clinic so people can get medicine, they provide food twice a day for people free of charge, and they have a crèche (daycare) for little children. After taking the tour, I was amazed at how organized they are and how they run the program.
Dawn, the facilitator and the other volunteers have an attitude of giving and of helping others. I truly learned so much from her and admire her sense of duty to others. If each person does what he or she can to help others, it empowers someone else to step up and continue. These are the cycles that we need to keep alive. My only hope is that I can provide the same motivation to others in the work that I do. I have not opened any clinics nor have I impacted hundreds of people, but I would like to help one. Then two. Then so on and so forth. The work that I saw today at the community center and the commitment of each individual gave me a new sense of hope and the courage to do more.
Everyone has a story. Some stories have good beginnings and some have sad endings. Some people’s stories make you laugh and some make you cry. Then you get a story that encourages you despite the tears and the anger and the hurt and the pain. I heard one such story. One young guy, Lucky, poured out his story, one that you can’t imagine. One that is only on a PBS special or in a book. Well, he lived it. The amazing thing is not what he did, but what he’s doing. Instead of using his story as an excuse to have a poor life being bitter, he is trying to help others avoid the same situation. He wants to become a better man. Listening to his story and looking at the gleam in his eye and the spirit within, I know that he is already the man he seeks. I know some young men that would benefit from hearing his story and maybe they would also be encouraged.
You hear of negative things all over the world, but I saw a whole group of people who are making a change- one person at a time and I feel blessed to experience that in South Africa.

Wild Flowers and Fires

If you just look at the beauty of the city. Indescribable. The beautiful hills, the sun coming up and hovering over the small houses, the rolling hills, and the beautiful people. I couldn't help but take a picture today. I looked up and it was so clear, I couldn't miss the opportunity.



Well, there has been a great phenomenon these past few days. I have noticed that there are many fires burning EVERYWHERE. Now the first few nights, I was quite scared because it was so close to the orphanage, but when NO ONE else worries about it, you just gotta get over it.
But after seeing these all on the brush near the dirt roads, I'm sure you will see why I am taking advantage of taking pictures of the greenery here, since it will be gone soon.

The air feels so fresh to me. I love being outside and smelling the fresh air. (I must interject and let you know that wild 'glaucoma medicine' grows here, so when the fire burns....everything BURNS. I wondered what it was...and now...I KNOW! But other than that, I have escaped the Dallas air that is so polluted. I am sure this isn't the cleanest air in the world, but goodness gracious- it's different.

Today, we had a teacher training at Inkazamulu. I was able to present ways to get the focus on student learning. There are 40....yes, 40+ students in EACH classroom. Can you imagine? Well, for them, the teachers usually instruct by lecturing. The students don't get up or write on the boards, or use manipulatives for learning. They all read the same book at the same time at the same speed and with the same accent. The purpose of the training was to let them see other ways to maximize student learning by focusing on the student and letting them do more of the talking than the teacher does. I think that the training was a success. They enjoyed it and I think they were very grateful that we took the opportunity to share this with them. I do think that they especially liked the door prizes and gifts.

I feel very fortunate to be here and able to share what has helped me as a teacher.

Girl's Night

Today, we had a big celebration for school vacation or holiday. This is winter for them....and although I've experienced some cold in my day....it's sooooo windy and quite cold for my blood.

All of the kids got together and we ate SPICY HOT chicken and rice, sang songs, played games, gave encouraging speeches and just really enjoyed each other.





After that, I headed to the girls cottage where they gave me a lesson on Zulu Culture. Specifically how to balance a 5 gallon jug of water on your head while walking.

D-I-F-F-I-C-U-L-T! No....really,I felt like my head was going to cave in. But it was great. I had girls 11 and 12 doing better than I was. Embarrassing...so I gave it another try...but I had to hold it.





I enjoy spending time with the kids. It's great. They have questions about life in America are genuinely interested in how we do things. What we like? Do we do the same things they do?, etc. I listen to music on my MP3 player, but I don't bring it out, so the kids and other people won't know I have it, but when they wanted to hear Gospel and Christian Worship music, I made sure I downloaded the songs to a computer and created a CD. They were so Grateful and speechless. Sure, they have Chris Brown and know ALL of his lyrics, but to hear Kirk Franklin or Donnie McClurkin is like "WOW....." I had so many Thank you soo much Krystle, You are awesome Krystle. It seriously brought tears to my eyes. The fact that kids this age are enamored with God and want to know "what's right?" and to want to live a life pleasing to God has opened my eyes. There is a bit of conflict with their Zulu culture and some practices that some would consider witchcraft or fortune telling, but they see this and they try their hardest to be good Christians. When I say these kids are amazing....they are!

Day in Life of a Teacher

Today at Inkazamulu, I worked in the computer lab. The school received a donation of iBuddy Computers (50 of them). They received them a few weeks ago and now they are learning how to use them.


Linda, the computer teacher, told me about other schools that have a need and how she works with others to help as well. She is studying to become a social worker. I have met many women who go to school for Social Work. Linda told me that helping others helps her deal with her own problems and issues because she knows that the problems out there are bigger than her own. I have to agree that there is a sense of duty, accomplishment, worth...( I don't know the word that I'd like to use, but there is a feeling that "wow, I can do to make others happy and make life easier for them") Life is so much more than what YOU can do and how to spend your time. It's also about helping others and doing for them. This reminds me of after break time. Each class has a day where the students "PICK UP PAPER" This is a part of their life skills lessons. They go around and leave the campus absolutely spotless.


I wish our kids in the States would do that. I would just be glad if people didn't throw their trash out of windows at least. Not too much to ask, huh?!?

I love spending time with the kids. They have so much energy and just so happy. You say, "Do you like school?" The answer is always amanzingly "YES" while nodding with excitement. They know how important having an education is. There is such a gap between the black and white children here. Up until recently, the black children were not "well-educated", so the jobs they can have and what they access to was and still is to a certain point very limited. I discussed with one of the teachers how we might see a change in the next few years as this generation gets older and become leaders.

Tomorrow, we have a teacher training and I hope it goes well. I want to help the teachers find effective ways to teach English to the students. They struggle with it, since it is their second language. Just today, I was speaking to a bunch of wide eyed kids who had NO idea what I was saying when I was intsructing them on how to use the computer program PAINT. But when I sang the song to them and danced....I was speaking their language.

Is there Anybody here, who Loves my Jesus.
Is there Anbody here who loves my Lord.
I want to know....I want to know....DO you LOVE MY LORD.

Stand Up and Shout, if you love my Jesus.
Stand up and Shout, if you love my Lord.
I want to know...I want to know..DO YOU LOVE MY LORD.

We sang and danced the song at least, at least 15 times. TRUTHFULLY. They had fun and so did I. I can't wait til tomorrow.

Inkazamulu

I went to "work" at school for the first time today!

The students, teachers, and everyone in between tried to talk to me, but thought I was ignoring them. No...not that...I just had NO idea they were talking to me. I also had to learn the "secret handshake". Funny, huh. They all shake my hand the way you would shake it for a Zulu person. I guess I'm in the IN CROWD.

The school is grade R (kinder) to grade 4. I visited just about each class and it was interesting to see the difference in the English levels. Some of them just nodded to EVERYTHING because they didn't understand. Others, just spoke in Zulu whether you could understand it or not.

We started off the day in Assembly. The kids come together to sing songs and pray before the day begins. The singing is lovely. They all hold a tune! American Idol- look out!

After that, they start their lessons. The kids actually SIT down, RESPOND, stay ENGAGED and PAY ATTENTION in class. Wow....I only see that on TV! Like Leave it to Beaver TV.



Now once 10:30 hit, it's time for LUNCH BREAK, and that's a whole different story. The kids serve themselves soup/vegetable abd rice. It's quite impressive how they manage themselves during this time. They only have 30 minutes to eat and play all wrapped into one.



I will update more as I go along for you. Please understand, that although things are different, they have a system that works. In these schools, social and life skills are just as important as academics. It's a wonderful thing when you want to raise life long learners and productive citizens.

First Day on the Job!

Wow, today was the true Test! I woke up at 6AM. It's not that it's a problem, but it was DARK. Technically, it gets darks at 6:00 so it's dark for 12 or more hours. So even at night when I felt that I should be in bed, it was ONLY 7:00. I was able to go on a bus run. We pick up the kids to go to the daycare each morning, while we dro off the kids from the orphanage. So at any given time, there are about 40 kids on a 12 passenger van...You're right, the math DOESN'T add up!

So, here is the wonderful view of The Valley of a Thousand Hills, South Africa.






The pink buildings are Makaphutu Children's Village. You can see it from miles away and when I look over the hills, I can ALWAYS pinpoint where I am -kind of!

Here is the school, Inkazimulo, I will work at during the days. They just painted it blue. Colorful, this Africa!



After we had some down time, we had PLAY TIME. There is a built in trampoline and it is SUPER FUN. Oh my goodness. The kids are teaching me how to do a front and back flip. Here's the thing- my time line is to do either before I leave. That gives me seven more weeks! After twenty minutes of jumping, I just couldn't take anymore. You feel like you are flying, and it's UNNATURAL for humans to fly!






Then I went to the cottages with some of the kids, we watched SOCCER. The ONLY sport to watch, helped with dinner, and folded clothes. It was awesome! Now, see these perfectly diced onions and peppers....I DID THAT!