I’m back from South Africa and while I haven’t recovered from jet lag yet, I have been thinking a lot about what I learned on this trip. I will give you a list of things that I learned, but in reality it all boils down to what Albert Einstein said perfectly, “A person starts to live when he can live outside himself.” I learned the true meaning of Einstein’s statement.

—I was able to encourage and love on the women of Beaded Hope.

—I witnessed women giving freely and generously when they had little to give.

—I experienced the importance of humbly receiving a gift, and thereby giving at the same time.

—I was reminded of the importance of community and how a single meal can bless many people.

—I renewed my passion when I once again experienced the beadwork artists who diligently worked to perfect their craft so they could bless Beaded Hope.

—I witnessed strangers become engaged and passionate about our cause when they already had a cause of their own.

—I witnessed forgiveness being sought and given.

—I experienced the power of a team that is in unison and working to server others.

—I learned what it means to live.

This trip we showed the ladies of Beaded Hope the website for the first time, and most importantly, their pictures and stories on the About Us page. To be honest, I was taken aback by their responses. A few laughed and shouted, some smiled quietly, and one was overcome with emotion. I am so lucky to be a part of Beaded Hope and I am happy to be able to share this with all of you.

Thank you for your continued support of Beaded Hope.

One does not love if one does not accept from others. – African proverb

Packing for your first trip to South Africa may seem overwhelming. You do not want to pack too much or too little and you may even become confused about what to bring. Here are five key tips to get yourself ready for your first trip to Africa.

How to Carry Your Items
One backpack is recommended; two if you absolutely need it. A great lightweight bag, such as a rucksack, leaves your hands free to take photos and point out exciting sights while keeping everything you need in one handy place. Look for a waterproof pack in case of sudden rain or other weather changes. My personal favorite is a sling style backpack that can easily be slid from your back to your front to access your pockets, and valuables, without taking it off. Sometimes, for safety, it’s best to carry your items in front of you rather than on your back where you have no control over them.

The number and type of backpacks you bring can depend on the type of trip you take, such as a mission trip or an exploratory journey of South Africa. When you travel with people who have been to Africa before, do not be shy about asking them for packing tips. They may be able to help you pair down what you plan to bring or remind you to pack something you considered leaving at home.

Once you purchased your backpack and put everything you think you need in it, try lifting the pack. If it is too heavy, you have too much stuff. Remember, do not over pack ‚ just bring the basics.

What to Wear
Just like the place you live, you will experience different weather depending on the time of year your trip occurs. South African seasons are almost the mirror opposite of those in North America, African summers begin in November, while winters start in May. This is important to keep in mind when you are planning and packing for your trip.

Pack lightweight summer clothes if you plant to visit during the hottest months. An assortment of skirts, t-shirts and socks will keep you cool and comfortable during your journey. Also, pack a light jacket, long-sleeved shirt and rain coat for cool evenings or unexpected showers. Make sure you have comfortable walking shoes as well as a few hats and sunglasses to keep some sun off your face. Consider bringing a few clothing items that you are willing to give away at the end of the trip.

The best tip on packing clothes is to pack layers. The temperature between the daytime and night can vary as much as 40 degrees so often you need an extra layer in the evening.

Keep Your Documents Safe
Make several copies of your important documents, such as your passport, travel itinerary and other identification papers. Put a few copies in your luggage and leave one at home with a trusted friend or family member. Try to memorize all your important numbers such as credit cards, your social security number and phone numbers for emergency contacts. It is unlikely your cell phone will work in South Africa; in fact you may just want to leave it at home!

Keep Yourself Well
Packing a small first aid kit is a necessity. Bring pain relievers, band aids, insect bite cream, antiseptic cream, sunscreen and any other medicines you may need. Bring basic toiletries, such as toothpaste, a toothbrush, a bar of soap, shampoo and conditioner, washcloths and anything else you use on a daily basis. But remember, bring only bring the essentials as you will have to transport the items in your backpack or suitcase during the entire trip.

Pack small travel size items.

Visit your local travel health clinic and make sure that you’re up to date on all immunizations that you need for travel. It’s also a good idea to fill a prescription for an antibiotic just in case you need it while you are away from home.

A small flashlight with extra batteries can come in handy. Bring extra bags for the many interesting souvenirs, such as beaded handmade jewelry, you are sure to find along the way.

One more thing that I always bring on my trips too‚ snacks! When you’re working in the township there aren’t any restaurants and often you’re so busy that you forget all about lunch. So, Cliff bars, nuts and bottle water are my staples. I always fill my bag with a few of each when I leave for the day.

Remember Your Journey
Bring a notebook you’ve got a lot to pack and need to conserve space and a few pens or pencils; you will be seeing amazing things and having once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you do not want to forget. At the end of the day, take a few minutes throughout the day to document inspiring stories of people living with HIV, women who are overcoming adversity and anything else you see and hear. Your friends will appreciate the detailed stories when you return and your family will love to read the journal entries. Of course, a camera is essential to document your experience and share them with loved ones when you return home.

What happened with either Mrs. Tshabalala or Ann would have been more than enough to make my last day in South Africa wonderful, but then Elina walked in the door. You’ll remember Elina from my previous posts. She is the woman who lives in Phomelong, one of the poorest areas of Mamelodi, where we delivered her a food parcel. She’s also a seamstress that we’re hoping to employ.

When I was finally able to walk over and speak with Elina, I was brought to tears.

Elina wanted to thank me, Heather, and Beth (Skillman) for helping her get the sewing project started, so she brought us each a gift. Wrapped in scraps of fabric and carried in the same box that we had delivered her food parcel in, she gave us pottery that was hand-made by a friend from Zimbabwe. Cups, mugs, a sugar and creamer set, a tea pot and a vase decorated with simple tribal images were displayed as she told us who was to receive each item. Standing before me was a woman who hadn’t been able to feed her family for two days, and yet here she was giving us gifts.

Three times in a single day I humbly received gifts and witnessed the truth of what St. Francis of Assisi meant when he said “for it is in the giving that we receive.”

Throughout the rest of the morning, the beadwork ladies came and went. Last to arrive was Ann. We reviewed her beadwork the day before, so all Ann needed to do was pick up her payment. However, this time Ann, who typically has lots to say, sat quietly on the couch for a long time. We all wondered what was on her mind but, of course, did not push her to tell us.

Finally, with tears in her eyes, Ann opened up and told us that God had clearly told her that He wanted her to work with us and He wanted her to charge a fair price to Beaded Hope. Dutifully, she was coming to us to say that this is what she wants as well.

You see, in the past, Ann has challenged us on our standard pricing, always wanting us to pay her more than the other women. We’ve stood firm and sometimes that has caused difficulty between us. But on this day, Ann’s heart softened and we welcomed her with open arms.

I want to take you back to my last day in South Africa because it was truly the most amazing day.

On Tuesday morning I arrived at the VCT where the women were to meet me with the beadwork that I ordered from them. Walking into the building I found Mrs. Tshabalala (pronounced Cha ba la la) waiting patiently for me. We sat down together and looked over the items that she brought me. Everything looked wonderful, so I got out my notebook, wrote everything down, and totaled up the amount due.

Before I could pay Mrs. Tshabalala, she asked Mighty to translate for her. In Zulu she told me that she wanted to donate 10 key rings to Beaded Hope. She said that she wanted to give back, and the only way that she knew how to do this was through the use of her hands. She told me that Beaded Hope had given so much to the women of Mamelodi that she also wanted to give.

I was completely and thoroughly touched by Mrs. Tshabalala’s generosity, but I must admit that it was terribly difficult to accept her gift. I know that the only income she earns is through her beadwork, however I also know that the act of giving is also a gift for the giver, and so I humbly and graciously accepted Mrs. Tshabalala’s gift.

Touchdown Atlanta!

One more flight and I’m home to a much needed shower before picking my boys up at the bus stop.

But stay tuned!

The journey hasn’t end, I have much more to share…

Today I am posting before my day starts, rather than at the end of the day. It is my last day in South Africa, which is always bittersweet. I had a lovely dinner last night at the home of some new South African friends, the perfect way to spend my last evening.

Today I am headed to the township to meet with all of the beadworking ladies. On the last day of every trip to South Africa, the ladies bring all of their beadwork to me that I’ve ordered during my stay. It’s always a fun day when the ladies get together, and the perfect way to end my stay before I head home to my family.

My least favorite part of Beaded Hope is giving constructive feedback to the women, and today tested my ability to do just that. It’s my policy that all items sold by Beaded Hope are nothing short of perfect. No mistakes, no missing details, no slacking work. It may sound harsh, but in reality I am trying to help the women understand that if their work is perfect, then people will tell their friends about it. The better the work, the more people will want to shop at Beaded Hope, and these women will continue to have work through Beaded Hope.

However, delivering this message to the women is both difficult and heart-breaking. How is it that you tell someone who is living in poverty that her work isn’t “perfect” enough? I do it as kindly and gently as I possibly can. I remind the women that I want Beaded Hope to be a huge success so that they can be blessed with the work, and this requires perfect products. It’s tough feedback to deliver in a tough world.

Me with Mighty and Lydia.

On all of the trips that I’ve made to South Africa, I’ve never had a day that wasn’t packed with a full agenda. Today was the first time that I have been without plans. What to do?

Well‚ yesterday I offered to go to the grocery store and pick up food so that my South African friends and I could cook together this afternoon. For me, having friends and family in my house is the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. So, that was my plan for today. What I didn’t plan on was that we were cooking for 12 to 14 people, but only 5 of us sat down to eat. Where were all these people that we were cooking for?

Then, slowly, neighbors, friends and family began to trickle in. They would fill their plate with food and then sit down and talk with us. Lengthy discussions on HIV/AIDS, South African president Zuma, the ANC, what it means to be a wife and a mother, and much, much more ensued. It was, without a doubt, a perfect afternoon filled with food, laughter and community.

It has rained nearly every day that I’ve been in South Africa. This has been wonderful because the landscape is more lush and green than it’s been on any of my previous travels. But one day at about 1:00 pm, it poured. The rain was so heavy that we simply sat inside waiting for it to stop, certain that venturing out wasn’t a good idea.

When the rain finally subsided and we headed home, we drove through what seemed like rivers of water running through the streets. Lack of adequate drainage systems causes the rain to just sit on the road. As you exit the township there is a spot where the squatter camps on the left side of the road are very primitive. As we drove by I saw that the water was also standing around all of the make-shift homes. Slowly it dawned on me; in the matter of a 2 hour rain storm, these people’s home were flooded with water. When they arrive home they will find their mattresses and blankets soaked. They have no choice but to sweep the rain out of their house and hope that their possessions dry before night time.

And yet, this isn’t even the rainy season in South Africa.