A Crazy Weekend

     

    This past weekend was very eventful! Marie kept me busy taking me to multiple events happening in the community. On Saturday I went to a High Tea, it was very fancy and I ate lots of yummy treats! During the High Tea, they held a raffle, Marie and I both ended up winning something! During the High Tea, they presented a guest singer who sang gospel songs for us. Her voice was beautiful, and the message spread that evening was powerful. The passages from the bible and the songs sung shared the same message: whatever hardship brought to Melkhoutfountein, not only would we overcome, but become more powerful.

    Later in the Afternoon, I went to a gospel concert at Melkhoutfonteins Town Hall and again the guest speaker was there and she sang some of the songs at the end of the concert. She remembered me from the High Tea and translated the message of the night and sang some songs in english, I was embraced by the community and new strangers so quickly that I almost felt overwhelmed. The kindness in the town spread as rabidly as flu season in school. Everyone I met that weekend held me in a close embrace and the same love you would give to your family. It wasn't something I had experienced before. Coming here I was worried about what people would think of me: a white girl from a conservative state, and a school where she could count the number of black kids in her class on her fingers, growing up in a rapidly dividing country. I wasn't faced with any judgment, and if anyone had any pre-bias opinions they didn't share them. Just as quickly as I had become a dream catcher, I had become a part of the community too.  

    On Sunday, after church, (where I was again helped with the translation to the english version of the preaching) I attended a surprise birthday party! We hid in the garage and waited until Marie's friend arrived, when she opened the door we all began to sing Happy Birthday. I had never been a part of a surprise birthday party, usually, parties were known and planned well ahead, by the birthday person and not the guests. There were no candles either and instead of one cake an array of desserts was arranged onto my plate. My favorite part was the way the gifts were presented. One at a time each person brought up their gift and a little speech to share their appreciation to the person. All birthdays are celebrated differently but this one was probably the most unique to me!