Day 9 - July 23 - Friday

(Photos of Litsemba can be found at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=195375&id=630849426&l=62279bab6d)

Litsemba went really well today! A lot of things went on - a band played, Stephen Lungu (a former street kid/orphan/gang member) spoke, a group from Georgia did the Everything skit (video coming soon), Scott painted, other groups danced and sang, etc. Team 21 was combined with Team 12 and placed as backstage security - basically we stood around the perimeter of the stage to make sure no kids climbed up on the stage. We had no problems with that, so we ended up sitting around doing nothing most of the time. King Mswati III attended, and the adults and some of the older kids from our church came, so I got to say goodbye to "Cindi" and "Busisiwe"! At the end of the event I grabbed a garbage bag and went outside the stadium gates to collect trash with Joshua. I found my first target (an empty orange juice bottle), bent down to pick it up, stood up and dropped it in, and instantly this cute little boy appeared out of nowhere, grabbed the other side of my bag, and picked up a different bottle and dropped it in. He helped me carry and load trash bags the entire time I was on garbage detail! I found out that he spoke English, and was a ten year old named "Ian" (pronounced "EYE un", exactly like a guy who comes to sing at my church sometimes!). As we were working, we passed a man who looked to be in his late twenties. He called out to me in SiSwati (or really bad English; it was hard to tell), and the following conversation occurred:
Me: "Sorry, what was that?"
Him: "Oh, okay." (realizing that I only spoke English) *fumbles around with words for a couple of minutes, starting and stopping in an unintelligible way* "I have... the... feeling... of love in you."
Me: (while totally stunned and freaking out in my head) "Um... I'm sorry. I'm leaving TOMORROW."
Him: "Oh. Oh, tomorrow? You go, not staying?"
Me: "No, I'm going home tomorrow."
Him: "Oh, okay. Maybe you can give so we...?" *pantomimes writing*
Me: "Sorry, I'm not allowed to give out my address."
Him: "Oh.. ohhhhh." *creepy stare*
Me: *very quickly keep picking up trash, working in the opposite direction so I can get away from him as soon as possible*
Thankfully, that experience was redeemed by a better one. A few moments later, Ian and I passed a high school boy who looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old.
Him: "Sawubona."
Me: "Yebo."
Him: "Unjanni?"
Me: "Niapila."
Him: "Uvalagopi?" (OOO va la GO pee)
Me: "Uhh... I'm sorry, I don't really speak SiSwati! I just know the greeting."
Him: "Where are you from?"
Me: "America."
Him: "Oh, okay, so now now you know when I say 'uvalagopi', it mean 'Where are you from?'. Let me hear you say 'uvalagopi'!"
Me: "U-va-la-go-pi?"
Him: "Yes! Is good!"
We exchanged big grins and went our separate ways, leaving me feeling a whole lot better! I'm so sad that I have to leave this beautiful country tomorrow.