If you build it, they will come.

After about an hour of watching, learning, clapping, and covering our eyes as cars attempted to make it up the slippery muddy last hill on the way to Lomngeletjane, I decided to give it a try. A couple of the young truck drivers kept telling me I could make it up, even after other cars failed. And then there is that good old pride that was at stake. On one hand, I didn’t want to turn around and not attempt it, but on the other hand, I didn’t want to get stuck and have to have the guys who where standing around watching have to push me out like they did about a half a dozen other cars. So Laura and I each took a deep breath and let out a good old Texas “yeehaw” and up the hill we went. I’m proud to say we hardly fishtailed as we made it all the way to the top. Everyone was cheering us on. Lesson for the day: watching and learning from others is a very good thing to do.

Then on to Lomngeletjane. It was so good to see John (the Builder) and the office/storage/kitchen building almost finished (there are just a few finishing touches left.)

When we dedicated Lomngeletjane last November, there were 29 students and about 10 preschool students. Now there are 88 students in grades one to three and 24 preschool students. It is amazing. Unfortunately, there are only about 10 desks and maybe 50 chairs in the primary classes and just two tables and benches in the preschool. The government still hasn’t officially registered the school so there is only one teacher that goes between the three classrooms. Until the school gets registered and the money flows from the government there aren’t funds to provide the basics (i.e. desks, chairs, chalkboards, teachers, etc.) for this new school; and who knows how long it will take to get the funds from the government once it is registered.

Pictures:

1. A car stuck in mud on the last hill going to Lomngeletjane.
2. New food storage / head teacher’s office / veranda for cooking.
3. Catching rainwater for future use.
4. Kids in “lunch” line at school. Children are getting a cup full of mealy meal, or as we would know it, ground corn with water cooked into a thick porridge.
5. Kids eating.
6. Kids washing their plates.