Moving day in Siteki.

The photo on the left is our new home at Mabuda Farm. Our unit comprises the two large windows on the left. My bedroom is on the left and David's is on the right. The french doors belong to another rental unit for the B&B.
The pink building to the left is our former abode at The Deaf School. Our apartment was on the left side of the building. The SUV out front is our delicious mode of transportation and our way to escape to new surroundings when necessary.

I must say that we are thrilled to be moving back to Mabuda Farms today. We call it the Garden of Eden of Swaziland. There are lush fields of corn and other crops for as far as the eye can see and numerous fruit bearing trees within arms reach. The view is spectacular from the front of our place, you can actually see all the way to South Africa. There is a mountain range in our sight that does stretch down and across the South African border. The farm is owned and operated by Jono and Helen Pons. They are both originally from South Africa although it was Helen's father who helped to write the first constitution for Swaziland. Needless to say he was, and they are, very affluent members of society here and their estate is quite amazing. The Pons live in a giant home by any standards but especially by Swazi standards. Their home is a two story reddish stone house with an amazing thatched roof that covers it like a mushroom cap. There are many working fireplaces in the house, 20 foot ceilings, numerous bedrooms (more than their four children could ever use even if they had two rooms each) and the heads of a dozen or so stuffed game hanging on the walls. There is also quite an amazing library in the home, it is like something you might imagine from a scene of Out of Africa. Needless to say, it is where David feels that it is his birth right to live and spend his free time being creative and reading from dawn to dusk. Helen home schools her children there before they move onto boarding schools in Durban for their high schools years. Helen really is an amazing person, very smart, worldly and a devout Christian. She has made a good life for herself and family here.
The farm is a working farm, they grow corn (mealie) and raise cattle amongst other things. Helen inherited the farm from her father, so they are very well known here in Siteki as well as everywhere else in the country. Dr. Jono Pons is the only eye surgeon in Swaziland so his position at Good Shepherd Hospital is much needed and he is basically legendary in these parts. Dr. Pons has arranged for donors to sponsor his work at Good Shepherd Hospital which is a benefit to the community and to the hospital. The Pons are incredibly generous with the community and are involved in many charitable organizations. Additionally, they have been very generous with us too. They and Ina (I will tell you about her another time, she is the manager for the bed and breakfast and is so sweet, gentle and kind, somewhat of a mother figure for me) have arranged for us to stay in one of the bed and breakfast units at a very reasonable rate and for that we are most grateful, especially since we were having such difficulty finding a place to stay. Now we will have running hot and cold water and more reliable electricity. The farm is also very safe. They have 6 large dogs that run loose and guard the grounds. While we were staying there last month a couple of the dogs became quite friendly with us and were comforting to have around.
We are becoming more comfortable with eating the local fruits and vegetables. Yes, we wash them with soap and water and rinse and dry them before eating them. Mangoza, or mangoes, are in season now. Basically everywhere you turn people are selling them. There is even a young man who comes by on a bicycle with a high pitched bell and rings it for you come out of your home and buy the mangoes. He is a very sweet kid and speaks quite good English. I think that he is about 16 years old, always wearing tattered clothing and a huge smile. He sells the mangoes for two emalengeni each or about a quarter. So needless to say we have mangoes on a daily basis. Interestingly most people here eat the skin although I find it a bit bitter. Please feel free to send any recipes for mango dishes that your grandmothers may have had. I am still hoping to make some sticky rice to go along with the mangoes but have not found any coconut milk yet. OK, I know, enough about mangoes. Remember we have no TV and minimal computer access, so please indulge me.
Well I must sign out now. Know that life here continues to be one new experience after another. Yes it can be quite bleak and depressing at times but simultaneously it is all new and I feel very invigorated and grateful for all that I have.
Much Love,
Scott