My hands feel like they have been dunked in cement and my wrists are just swiveling back and forth to type but it's one of those "good burns." Since arriving in Pfukoni, I have been spending my Sundays at Gunda Church of Christ. At home in the States, I choose to regularly attend Mass at whatever is the nearest Catholic Church. Since the nearest Catholic Church to Pfukoni is a day's trip away and there is no transport on Sunday, I have happily chosen to attend Church of Christ because my host family goes there, it is low key, and I get to work on my Tshivenda. My Tshivenda is not at the point where I can understand the sermons, but I follow along with the Bible verses in my host sister's Tshivenda Bible and my brother's English Bible (sorry Charlie) to get the main idea. Oh and they sing songs which helps me learn words that are never used but are often the name of people.
So why did you start off saying your hands hurt, Sean? Mulovha, ndo dobela mathombo na shelani wela. Yesterday, I loaded stones and poured them in a hole. Vhathu vha kereke vha khou fhata kereke na ndi khou thusa. The people of the church are building a church and I am helping.
I've been exercising a bit and consider myself fit but Venda women put me to shame. It was myself, two over 50 women, and a lady in her 30s. We filled 3 gallon buckets with stones, walked down the hill, and then put them in the base of the church to make the ground level because the church is being built on the side of a hill. I lugged my bucket with my two arms while the women did a power lift taking the bucket from the ground to their head. We did this for about 2 hours and I was dead. I went home, bathed, and grabbed some grub. They went home, carried some firewood, cooked dinner, and cleaned up. Pretty boss, no?
It was awesome just helping. I kept thinking how there is always something to do. I could spend my day reading, tutoring, playing, helping, etc. It is just a matter how far I am willing to put myself out there. The further I step out, the more tired I am, the heavier I sleep, the bigger the smile in the morning. Kha ri wane mishumo. Let's find work.
