Getting Ready

Almost seven months ago I was reading the current newsletter from Holy Names Academy Seattle-the school I attended from 4th grade through high school graduation. On the very last page, a very small bit under "Alumnae Events:Community Service" said "Volun-tourism to Lesotho, Africa-Make a difference in the World" The article mentioned a group getting together to build a new school/dormitory at one of the schools run by the Sisters of the Holy Names in Lesotho, Africa. I was immediately intrigued-and before I could do my usual activity of talking myself out of something interesting-went to the computer and sent an email to the person in charge of the group. Since then, I have attended meetings, gotten immunized, read up on Lesotho and South Africa-and generally tried to get as ready as possible for what I am told will be a life-changing experience. 

Now, when I was a girl in grade school, I remember donating and collecting for the children in this area-which was at that time called Basutoland. (When they received independence from Britain in 1966 the name of the country was changed to Lesotho). Not being a history person, I will be honest and say that I'm not really sure I have even heard anything about this country in the past (many many) years. But something about the cycle of that long-ago knowledge and the opportunity to do something to help now really appeals to me. I am a great believer in timing, and the fact that I found this opportunity at a time when I could actually offer something in the way of help is not lost on me.

A little bit about the small country of Lesotho. A small mountain kingdom, it is completely landlocked by South Africa, a poor country like so many in Africa-and like so many others, has a terribly high (30+%) rate of HIV/AIDS. Many of the children attending the school I will be working in, as well as others, are orphans. At 60 I have far surpassed the life expectancy for the people of this country.

So January 8, nearly seven months to the day since I read about it, I will be at Holy Names High School near Bela Bela, Lesotho. In the past months I have attended meetings, learned about the country, people and climate, gotten immunized and thought about what I might be able to do in terms of help. My job description includes taking photographs of the project-but I'm guessing I'll also be pounding some nails-or some such construction-type activity. 

Due to the generosity of my parents, I am not only able to give my time to this project, but also to spend some time traveling in South Africa after my work in Lesotho. I will be on a short photo safari, then spend about a week with guides, visiting villages on the Eastern Cape and around CapeTown. And to cap it all off, on the way home I get to break my marathon flight in half by spending two nights in Paris-whee!! I'm hoping to be able to post not only my observations but also some images from my travels.