What a Day!

Today I saw Africa the way it was meant to be seen. Not through windows of a Land Rover, but on the back of a motorbike. I arrived at the WHIZ office in a skirt prepared for a day of visiting schools. When the program director told Elijah and me that we would be taking the motorbikes I was thrilled. I walked fast to the guest house to change into “trousers” and tennis shoes. We had no riding pants, no mesh jackets, or boots. I did wear a long fleece jacket I brought with me, and we were provided helmets. I grabbed my sunglasses and lip gloss and was ready to roll.

We rode on dirt roads that looked like they had been bombed more than once. The first time we hit a dip going airborne, I was thrilled. There was no sissy bar, just a handle behind the back seat. I chose to place my hands on the waist of my driver, Paul. After all, he had the handlebars. He would be staying with the bike, and that sounded good to me.

The sky was a bright blue, and the clouds with their grey tummies looked low enough to touch. There were thick bushes with pink and orange flowers. Some of the bushes were a marriage of the two. Tall grass grew along the road and hit my knees when we rode the side tight to avoid a giant crater. Cows and bulls grazed on the side of the road, free from fences. At times we were so close I could have touched the tip of a horn. We shared the road with teams of oxen pulling wagons, women carrying large bags of corn meal on their heads, men taking the elderly to town on bicycles, and many children waving at the muguwa. This means white person. It is a title that brings excitement, not a racial commentary.

As we drew near the village schools the roads turned into narrow passages with occasional pools of water that had to be crossed. These men who visit schools every day to teach about abstinence and good choices have amazing riding skills. One of the motorbikes had a spark plug problem which left us in the middle of the bush for about an hour. We ate the peanut butter sandwiches I had prepared. It was a perfect meal in that tranquil setting. No one yelled, or worried about how late we would be. I prayed silently asking God to provide. A young man on a bicycle came our way and told our friends where a man lived who had a car. Perhaps he would have a spark plug. Claesha, the other rider, left on the good bike and came back with a tool that brought the machine to life again. Praise God.

While the bike was being worked on, the gentlemen let me drive one of the motorbikes down the dirt, gouged, sandy road for a short distance. It was more than I had hoped for. Unfortunately, while turning it around I killed the engine. Did I mention that the bike had to be “jump started?” I just couldn’t get it started. My left leg was too short for my right leg to jump hard enough to get it going. The guys came to my rescue and we were off again. We returned the tool to the man down the road. Of course we dismounted our new trusty transportation to greet him and be welcomed.

We visited two schools, and both had albino children. I wonder if there is something here that makes this more prevalent. As we drove into the schools the children would gather around to greet us. They do a little curtsey and put their left hand under their right forearm as a sign of respect to elders as they shake hands. It is a beautiful greeting. Then we greet each adult we meet, complete with introductions. No one is in a hurry to get down to business. It is that way everywhere we go. Paul and Claesha explained the program, and it was eagerly received. We will return on Thursday to meet the students and begin the program.

We finished the day by visiting a secondary school (high school) with the Reach 4 Life team. Henry, the staff member responsible for Reach 4 Life, had me speak to each class. When I spoke to the 11th graders they told me that they were studying sexuality. I asked them to tell me one thing they had learned in today’s lesson. One young man said, “Sex is bad.” I said, “In marriage?” He said, “No, before marriage.” We laughed and then I told them that sex outside of marriage is hurtful, but sex in marriage was wonderful. They giggled. I told them that Mike and I had been married for 26 years, and the girls smiled bigger and some clapped. I asked if they wanted to spend their whole lives with the same wonderful person, and they all said yes. I told them to complete their Reach 4 Life program, and do what it says so their dreams are more likely to come true. It was so wonderful to talk to them. I hope I get to do that again.

We rode home where I took 3 Tylenol for all the parts of my body that didn’t enjoy the ride as much as I did.

Love to all,
Let the SonShine,
Melinda