Khotso, PULA, Nala

Recently, 8 other YAGM volunteers and I went on a vacation to Lesotho, a landlocked country within South Africa.  Lesotho is known as the ‘mountain kingdom in the sky,’ for its breathtaking Maluti mountains, making it the highest elevated country on earth.  Lesotho is a country blessed with beautiful mountain ranges, fast flowing rivers and streams, and wonderful people.  However, Lesotho is also suffering from extreme poverty and has the third highest HIV infection rate in the world.  In 2009, I embarked on a month long service trip to Lesotho with my school, Wittenberg University, which forever changed me.  It is because of my trip that summer that led me to the YAGM program, and Lesotho will always have a special place in my heart.

Before departing for Lesotho, the 8 other volunteers convened in Bloemfontein for a ‘send-off braai’ by my host family, the Monamas.  It was a great way to start our vacation.  It was a sunny, warm afternoon and we spent time playing cards, helping prepare the food, and just hanging out.  After enjoying a massive braai, it was time to head to Lesotho.  As is always the case, our taxi adventures were interesting.  It took some time before we figured out the correct process to take the correct long distance taxi.  But after some assistance, we were on our way.  Once we crossed the border, we were swarmed by taxi drivers eager for our business.  We had to fend off drivers as we looked for the proper cars. We eventually split into two groups and headed to Roma.  As the sun was setting, we reached Thorn’s Trading Post Guest Lodge, a place quite familiar to me as it was where I stayed in 2009.

Our first morning, we were to head to the guest lodge in Ramabanta, a village high in the mountains and about 40kms further inland from where we were staying.  But before we left, we had time to do a little hiking.  So we set off on a hike to see the dinosaur footprints in the area.  But before we left, we needed someone to guide us there.  So as I did in 2009, I stood in the road and basically caused attention on myself.  And to my surprise, the first child to greet us was a boy I had befriended on my trip two years ago!  He immediately recognized me, and I him.  What an awesome moment, for I never could have imagined being back in Lesotho.  As more children came running from their homes, we went hiking hand-in-hand with our local guides, to the top of a mountain where the footprints were imbedded in rock.  After our hike, it was off to Ramabanta and the journey in the mountains.

With our guides at the Dinosaur footprints 

Lesotho’s motto is ‘Khotso, Pula, Nala,’ or ‘Peace, Rain, Prosperity.’  Well, there was no shortage of pula while we were in Lesotho.  The rain we encountered in Ramabanta was unlike any rain I have ever experienced myself.  It was an intense rain, loud as it hit the roofs and even as it struck the ground.  For the three days we were in Ramabanta, it basically was a steady rain.  But the pula didn’t deter us from enjoying our time there.  On New Year’s day, we went on a long ‘4 bridges’ hike, which went around a mountain and over 4 bridges.  Since we got a bit lost, our hike actually went over a mountain.  But we didn’t complain.  That night we were treated to a fabulous dinner, accompanied by candlelight and soft jazz music playing in the background.  After enjoying our meal, we spent about an hour going around the table and each offering a toast.  After getting lost in conversation and laughter, we headed back to one of our flats we were staying in. 

Now, at Ramabanta, there is no constant stream of electricity.  Each day, the generator is powered from 6pm-10pm, providing electricity for those 4 hours of the day.  New Year’s Day was no exception.  At 10pm, all the lights went out, and we spent the remaining hours in a dark room with the soft glow of candles as our only source of light.  As midnight approached, we stood outside and counted down the minutes.  The only sounds were the distant rhythmic beats coming from the local shebeen, or bar, and there were small fireworks going off in the valley and mountain ranges all around us.  The clock hit 12, and we rang in the New Year in complete silence, complete darkness, and complete simplistic bliss. 

Our last day in Ramabanta with our hosts Rosemary and Eric

The rest of our time in Lesotho was spent hiking and enjoying the outdoors, as well as each other’s company.  On Sunday, we had an intimate worship service in which we read the readings for the day, sang some songs and offered our reflections.  On our way back to Roma, we had to drive through a river, as it had flooded and was flowing quickly over the road we needed to pass.  But we made it through and enjoyed spending our last day at Little Angels day care orphanage, where I had spent some time with my University in 2009.  That evening we enjoyed the best homemade potato soup ever made, a movie, and sitting by the fire as we tried to dry out from a wet and rainy 5 days. 

Our trip to Lesotho was one I’ll never forget.  I was able to create new memories at old places, and the time we got to spend together was priceless.  Being able to return to a place that so drastically changed my life is a blessing and the most surreal and amazing experience I’ve ever had.  I am so happy I was able to share ‘my special place’ with my YAGM family, and look forward to creating new memories with them in the future.