For the past three weeks I have had this voice inside me saying "you need to blog...it has been too long...come on Alicia, just write something..." and for three weeks I have tried to ignore it because I I feel like I have nothing to write about. It's not that we haven't been busy, but I guess I just have felt like there has been nothing exciting to report.
Until the other day...July 18th...the day I drove! Now I know what most of you will say, but trust me, it is momentous for me and I couldn't stop smiling after my "moment." It felt so good to be independent. The only thing that has stopped me thus far has been my inability to drive a manual. And since most cars here are manuals, I haven't had the opportunity to drive...Until now because one of our friends got an automatic (yay Dave!)
But of course that is only part of the story. Driving may have been a highlight, but in South African words, the real highlight highlight (the repeated word is for emphasis) was where I drove, and who I drove.
The story goes like this...After finding out that 2 of our close friends from the community -
Phumla and Modise - passed their mid-year grade 12 exams, Ty and I decided that we had to celebrate by taking them out for a pizza lunch (complete with chocolate for desert...such a treat!)because passing was a HUGE deal. You have to understand. Literally everything goes against the kids in the community. These two girls in particular have almost no support at home because they have lost 1 or both of their parents and now head up their households. They go to a school that has so few resources and so few dedicated teachers that it is nearly impossible to meet governmental standards of passing (you actually only need 40% to pass in a community school which sounds great on paper, but in actuality really hurts the kids because they are so under prepared for university when and if the time comes)...and that is only scratching the surface.
In any case, these two incredible girls have overcome such odds because they have set their minds on greater things. They have made goals and one by one are achieving them. We couldn't be prouder when we hear how hard they are studying and how much they are investing in their futures. I can't express how much joy it brings me to hear these girls talk about becoming counsellors or nurses...they inspire me beyond words and I am so blessed to call them my sisters.
-a
Until the other day...July 18th...the day I drove! Now I know what most of you will say, but trust me, it is momentous for me and I couldn't stop smiling after my "moment." It felt so good to be independent. The only thing that has stopped me thus far has been my inability to drive a manual. And since most cars here are manuals, I haven't had the opportunity to drive...Until now because one of our friends got an automatic (yay Dave!)
But of course that is only part of the story. Driving may have been a highlight, but in South African words, the real highlight highlight (the repeated word is for emphasis) was where I drove, and who I drove.
The story goes like this...After finding out that 2 of our close friends from the community -
Phumla and Modise - passed their mid-year grade 12 exams, Ty and I decided that we had to celebrate by taking them out for a pizza lunch (complete with chocolate for desert...such a treat!)because passing was a HUGE deal. You have to understand. Literally everything goes against the kids in the community. These two girls in particular have almost no support at home because they have lost 1 or both of their parents and now head up their households. They go to a school that has so few resources and so few dedicated teachers that it is nearly impossible to meet governmental standards of passing (you actually only need 40% to pass in a community school which sounds great on paper, but in actuality really hurts the kids because they are so under prepared for university when and if the time comes)...and that is only scratching the surface.In any case, these two incredible girls have overcome such odds because they have set their minds on greater things. They have made goals and one by one are achieving them. We couldn't be prouder when we hear how hard they are studying and how much they are investing in their futures. I can't express how much joy it brings me to hear these girls talk about becoming counsellors or nurses...they inspire me beyond words and I am so blessed to call them my sisters.
-a
4 comments:
That is beautiful! Your words always inspire me Alicia! Thank you so much for writing. I miss you!!!!!! Praying for you guys and these incredible girls:)
wow!
That is fantastic! And what a great way to celebrate :)
After reading Nelson Mandela's book I can totally understand how difficult it is for these girls to get ahead. My heartfelt congratulations to them for graduating. They have definitely crossed a very significant milestone in their lives. What a wonderful way to treat them Ty & Lish! May God bless you richly for your kind and generous hearts.
Simon and I were just talking about you guys last night and wondering how you were doing. Thank you for the post, it is great to know that you are doing well. You don't ever have to wait for big stuff to happen to write, we love to hear about the little everyday things. It lets us know that you are safe.
Love you and miss you.
Sjoukje
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