2007 Journey to SA

 Let me take you away 8,000 miles to the country of South Africa. I recently returned from a journey that I will never forget. The spark for the trip began last fall in my 2nd grade classroom of 26 students at Sacred Hearts School in Bradford. I wanted the children to have pen pals somewhere else in the world to communicate with. I emailed Fr. Alfred Ellis, OSA, Pastor of our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He quickly put me in touch with Avila Power, the parish’s Religious Education Director. The seeds were planted and friendships blossomed. Then I began to dream – wouldn’t it be fun to see these children in person. I relayed my thoughts to Fr. Al who returned a one-line email – see you in South Africa! That was it, the dream became reality.

On June 20th I began my solo flight with no fear, just excitement in the anticipation of seeing a new country, its people and stories. From the moment I was picked up at the Durban International Airport by Father Al and Fr. Benji Gomas, OSA, until I was delivered back for my return flights, I experienced such incredible Augustinian hospitality and friendship. My two week stay with three very caring, intelligent, friendly Augustinian Sisters at a retreat center on the top of Botha’s Hill, became my mainstay out of which I ventured daily to see the sights and people. I also grabbed every moment I could for solitude and time with me.

The first night I slept like a baby, but was awakened in the middle of the night to the sound of a rooster. I began to wonder if I was in the middle of a farm, but when I awoke in the morning, looked out to see the beautiful view of the Valley of 1000 Hills, and down below, I realized where I was. Just below the cliff and spread as far as the eye could see, were Zulu homes, mostly made from scraps, with outhouses, no running water, dirt roads, freely roaming cows, chickens, goats, roosters and dogs. The contrast between my comfortable home away from home on the hill and this sight was truly an eye-opener.

My trip was packed full of adventures, beginning with Fr. Benji who delivers food parcels to the very poor (among numerous other jobs). He took me along and as we ventured deep into Zulu country I began to realize the basic needs of the local people. He told me of the many Zulu customs, the one most amazing to me being that for a Zulu male to marry a “pure” female, he must give eleven cows to the bride’s family as a dowry. Not many are capable of this, thus, the lack of marriages and the high number of children living with mothers and the pandemic of AIDS. In the near four years that Fr. Benji has been assigned in South Africa he has performed three Zulu marriages. Many Baptisms occur, however. Zulu bury their dead in the backyard. Despite the hardships, when I attended Mass on two Sundays, these people were full of smiles, dressed beautifully, very clean and social. All women and girls wear skirts to Mass and the men sit on the right, women in the middle and children on the left. Women watch over not only their own children, but those of others. After Mass a little Zulu girl touched my leg and wanted a hug. I crouched down and we hugged for the longest time. Then I looked into her big brown smiling eyes, told her I loved her and she told me the same. She made not only my day, but an embrace for eternity!

At my last Mass I was looking next door at St. Leo Primary School, where I was to see nearly 500 children learning. Due to a month long nationwide strike, schools were closed and that never happened. I did spend time with the principal, a teacher and the youth minister, and set into motion a uniform project, where winter track suits for boys will be sewn by a local Zulu woman (giving a local person work). Donations that had been collected will furnish these children with winter and summer uniforms. Girls had been helped last year and now it is time for the boys. Most families cannot even afford the very low tuition, let alone uniforms, or enough nutrition. I also oversaw the beginning of a potential plan to start a large garden where supervised children will grow vegetables to be used for their one hot meal of the day – that being at school.

The four college graduate Augustinian volunteers, Jake, Matt, Mary and Brianna, proved to me to be unique individuals, who pour their hearts and souls into challenging work in the schools, hospice center, orphanage, and wherever else needs arise. They are committed to caring for the needy and will take back to America with them a part of their lives that they will never forget. I know I won’t forget what I saw and felt with my mind and heart.

Many parishioners of OLM showed me the sights and took me into their homes for many “chats”, good food and wine! I feel blessed to have made so many new friends and to be part of an ongoing outreach project for those less fortunate in an emerging country. My trip seemed provident at many times, but especially one day, as I was relaxing on a bench outside the retreat house (called Jacob’s Well), I was listening to the sounds below in the Zulu villages, watching beautiful clouds that seemed so much closer than at home due to the altitude of the hills or maybe because it felt like I was halfway to heaven! On this Sunday there was a private party next door. I could hear the singer begin to sing country western songs which seemed very unusual in this setting. It gets better! Then I began to hear the Bee Gee’s song, “Going Back to Massachusetts” which really made me feel like I was connected and meant to be there.

The trip was one I absolutely will never forget and I thank all who helped in donations to Augustinian Missions and prayers for these South African people. The young generation truly needs education, good nutrition and the knowledge to teach others in and for the future. The hope and joy that I saw on their faces warmed my heart then and will continue to do so. When I left Fr. Al and Fr. Benji on my last day I knew I would go back in a heartbeat. As I walked through the airport in Johannesburg for my connecting flight home, I heard Whitney Houston singing her song “The Greatest Love of All” which took my breath away and made me realize I was meant to see and share the love of many people far away in distance, but not in heart.

God Bless you and thanks for sharing the journey with me. Stay tuned for the next chapter!

Nancy Cronin

April, 2010 Mother Daughter Journey

Carrie, who does not like to fly, endured a 22 hour journey in the air to SA. It was well worth the time. These pictures tell their own story. When we landed back home on U.S. soil Carrie asked me when I was going back! Only took me 8 years to post these treasures!

       One Thousand Hills Community Helpers

St. Theresa's Home

St. Leo Primary School

 
                         Down in the Valley

                   Hillcrest Hospice Center

                   New St. Helen's Church

2008 South Africa Journey

Sawubona – this Zulu greeting of hello was heard many times during school as I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and working with the Zulu children of St. Leo Primary in South Africa, this past July. I spent 3 days helping learners with their English grammar, reading, math and computer skills. Their eagerness to learn independently and among each other sparked an interest to find a reason why they are always so cheerful, smiling and friendly. Once I returned home to our electronically impacted society, I realized that these Zulu people, children and adults alike, are “plugged in” and connected to each other. Many do not even have enough food, but they have each other. Community and a feeling of belonging are at the root of their joy. Despite the fact that many children are being raised by their gogos (grandmothers), older siblings, aunties, they know someone will watch over them, possibly even finding food and/or care from a neighboring family.

A new addition to St. Leo Primary is the Food Pantry begun by Fr. Frank Doyle, OSA. On Fridays, 25 children, orphans and/or from destitute families, receive a food parcel to bring home for the weekend’s meals. A leadership group of 25 “Soul Buddies” unloads the food from a truck, sorts and delivers the parcels at the end of the day to those 25 children in need. Donations help to keep this project going.

I am amazed how different the lives are of these sweet, soulful Zulu people, yet how happy they portray themselves (at least the children seem to be at school). The dad of one of the teachers was visiting and when I introduced myself to him, he very genuinely asked me how America was doing. I replied that I really couldn’t complain and that our present excitement is the upcoming election to freely choose and hail in a new president. I told him it’s time to help Africa.

By sharing my journeys with you I hope that you can see how powerful reaching out can be. Prayers, donations, and simply just taking an interest in people somewhere else in the world, opens up communication, helps us to think about how other people live, to talk and have dialogue with each other, and finally to act in some fashion. We can help locally as well as globally. I ask that you think about someone or something else that you are interested in, volunteer, educate yourself possibly within our own local poor, learn about cultures of emerging countries, and especially the environment as this earth is the only one we have. Do something as Fr. Art Johnson, OSA tells us, YOURSELF! You don’t have to travel with me 8,000 miles to Africa (although you are welcome to do so!) to be a responsible American citizen or wait for someone else to get you onboard. Catch the fever that our country seems to have right now. We need to step outside the box and ourselves to make a difference in helping the world to be a more peaceful place for ALL of us. Think of the love it would bring to Christ’s heart, to God and all of His people through the Holy Spirit.

During the mid-morning daily break for food and play, I was amazed how creative the children at St. Leo’s are with each other, playing jacks with rocks, laughing, singing, dancing and enjoying each other’s company. I certainly was in heaven to be able to share time with them. As the children enjoyed their tasty fruit, I took photos like crazy as they would all ask me to “shoot” (take their picture) and with a digital camera I could immediately show them their smiles which they are not used to viewing.

Keep our Augustinian friars, sisters, volunteers, parishioners, visitors, in your prayers as they continue to work tirelessly to help our Zulu friends. There will be more stories to come about two even poorer outstations of St. Helen’s and St. Aloysius (where I attended Mass in the classroom of a school). There is much to be done for these needy Zulu people. We can do it!

THINK – TALK - ACT!

God Bless,
Nancy Cronin

Three Generations Give

Deirdre and Andrew Huchison wanted to teach their children the value of money, so last year Georgina (third grader at St. Augustine School) and Sebastian (kindergartener), learned a life lesson about compassion. The children's grandparents, Mary and Edward Humble of St. Augustine Parish, donated to St. Leo School in South Africa to help pay for Zulu students' uniforms. Deirdre (Nursery School Assistant at St. Augustine School), followed suit. She made her children aware that they have warm beds, hot showers, and plenty of food. To teach her children to take ownership, they learned about service by recycling. When their piggy banks were full, they put one third into savings, donated one third to needy St. Leo School children, and could spend the last third. A few months later when Sebastian was emptying his wallet, he told his parents that he wanted to give his money to Fr. Al so that he could get a Mama and a Dada for the children that didn't have any. Needless to say, this touched many hearts! Not only did Georgina, Sebastian and other donors help buy uniforms, but together, fruit was also added to their diet, along with seedlings, fertilizer and garden tools to plant, maintain and harvest vegetables to supplement the daily school meal of government supplied rice and beans. Across the continents, three generations have provided basic human needs, all in their love for Christ and His children.

Researching Peacemakers

Back on the home front, 2nd graders at Sacred Hearts School are preparing in many ways for Catholic Schools Week, "Catholic Schools Light the Way" (Jan. 27-Feb. 2nd). Highlights include researching a living or deceased person who has shown through his or her actions to be a peacemaker. The children will research, write a report, and make a poster for display in the school hallway outside the classrooms. On Feb. 12th (Abraham Lincoln's birthday) they will dress up as the peacemaker and tell the person's story in a Peacemaker Pageant to be attended by the class parents. It is the hope that this means of communication will instill values and ideals such as compassion, charity, justice, forgiveness, respect, sharing, and leadership. It is the dream that these role models will give our students a vision of hope for justice and world peace.

Food for Friends

Here is a comment from Jake Weiler, Augustinian Volunteer, who has now returned from South Africa. During his commitment to helping children at St. Leo School, he witnessed the initiation of a "fruitful" project. Fr. Tony Burrascano, OSA, began a fruit program, whereby every student (about 500) will receive a piece of fruit daily, be that an apple, a pear or an orange. This was the first sampling of fruit for most of the Zulu children.

A comment from Themba, the fourth grade teacher and staff member responsible for keeping tabs on the neediest children's well-being, said that the fruit has made a noticeable impact. She said that the students' attitudes seem to have improved and she is receiving many fewer complaints of stomach aches, etc. Fruit distribution is a big deal at school each day. One piece of fruit each day is not going to bring these children out of poverty all by itself, but in concert with other well-envisioned undertakings it seems to be making a difference. So on recommendation, the fruit program seems to be a successful endeavor at the moment. For those of you who have invested in this, THANK YOU!

The smiles of delight show on each and every face as you can see. I know I am committed to continue to improve the lives of these children. I am grateful for your help as are the Augustinians and the children's families, caretakers and teachers.

2007 has proven to be "fruitful!" Let's see what 2008 brings.