Blessed to be in Botswana

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0 degrees centigrade is a bit less than I bargained for in my light packing, however thankfully Gloria has given me a heap of blankets (5 to be exact) and a couple extra fleece type pullovers. At night I sleep like a fetus in the middle of the bed with pants, a hooded sweatshirt (pulled tight), gloves and fuzzy socks then I bury myself under 5 blankets and put a pillow on each side as a barracade. Did I mention it is cold? The day time feels rather warm, but 17 c is actually probably not too warm and I think that has been the max.

The flights getting here were many and the waits were long but stepping off the plane in to the chilled air was refreshing. Gloria greeting me with her lovely accent, she sounds like a formal Queen (but she giggles a lot as she is so much fun) and her big smile and her baby blues was all so refreshing as well.

Gloria and Allan have been the most amazing hosts and have introduced me to everyone whose path we cross. They have driven me around and told me the history of places and bits about everyone and everywhere.

I definitely will not be going hungry as food has been amazing here. Although only 1.5 million people are in the entire country, it is very diverse. We had a great Chinese dinner and I have also eaten a fabulous Vegetarian pizza. The grocery store is just like home, but oddly enough the prices may be a bit higher. Prices are rather comparable to home, it is no wonder there is so much poverty. I have yet to really see anyone riding a bicycle but people here certainly do walk a great distance. There are also many cars and many hitchikers (locals just trying to get to their villages).

I have not yet gotten to work with any of the children, this past week was "Presidents holiday" and so school was out. I have met some. I bought lots of bread, Peanut Butter and bananas and tomorrow I will take about 40 PB and B sammys to about 40 kids from the Kumakwane village to a neighbors house. Heidi the neighbour is from Minnesota and came here about 15 years ago. She survives on donations from friends and family and a church in the US and each day she provides a meal to about 40 inpoverished local village children. They come to the property she rents to play with toys, do art and run around on jungle gyms. All of which has been donated or purchased from donations. Because of this they eat and they have time to be kids 😊

Supposedly in Bots no child is denied an education, although there is a small fee. Each child is required to wear a uniform which they are measured for and it is fitted, there is a winter one and summer one. Some children have them stolen, they are rather costly... If a family truly can not pay for it they can now speak to the new social worker for the village to get the govt to help with the uniform. My hopes to provide an education and a uniform may not be necessary which is good news, but perhaps through Heidi I can find out for sure if all these local kids that visit her have one or not. There certainly are a lot of barefeet around, they may have one pair of shoes to wear to school and church. Their feet must freeze, mine are.

I plan to get to know some of these kids before I just throw all the goods at them. I have all the goodies spread out on a twin size bed. The clothes are going to be hard to distribute as the kids are all around each other and the sizes will not fit all of them and there is not enough for all of them either. Somehow I will make it happen.

Everyone everywhere waves and smiles and greets you. No matter who you are, they just always wave and smile. It is awesome.

Today I went to church which was filled with soul and happy people. There have been about 30 American college students here volunteering with building on to the church and helping with a kids program. They may have all left today. If any of you out there want a sister church or to come to Africa, let me know. There are amazing and warm people here to welcome you.

I have to agree with some I have spoken with... so much work goes in to helping those in poverty in Nigeria or Uganda etc, or places with SOOOOO many people... The population is so high that the fruit of your labor is nearly unseen and because there is so much poverty and you can only help a few it never ends. However places like Botswana where there is 1.5 million go unhelped because they are forgotten even though the poverty is actually the same or worse. In a small population you can help the same amount of people, however make a bigger impact on the community as a whole. Is this making any sense? lol nevermind... haha

So yes, Botswana is wonderful and my hosts are beyond amazing. I am so lucky to be here and am so thankful to Rebecca and Michael for connecting me. Africa has always been a dream, now it is a reality and I will warn you now that I WILL be back here. I know this will be a part of me forever and I want to continue to come here and also bring others to share it.

Love and Peace
E

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Comments

[linda Frye]

Rebecca Tilbrooke's mother
Erin, I met you afew months ago when I came to the school with Rebecca to pick up Drew. I heard about your coming visit, then. I will be following your adventure and hope to follow in your foot steps, some day soon. I had no idea it would get that cold there. Love to Gloria and Allen. Linda Frye

[kelly]

tell me more about getting connected with the church there, when you get some internet... :)

[Dina Jo]

Blessed
Glad to have a friend like you! Not many people are as brave as you to venture to AFRICA in an effort to help the needy and much less fortunate. Keep up the good work and be safe!