Rachel:
I have been accused of being cliché in the past, which I apologize for and always attempt to avoid. Yet it is difficult when faced with situations that so startlingly shake one's world to find words that do not sound trite. Life is referred to as many things: a path, a road, a search, a journey - mostly relating to some sort of travel. My stream of living thus far has held many constants, one of which was a tendency to choose the same paths as my elder brother. We have gone to the same schools, enjoyed many of the same hobbies, shared toys, books, and clothes. Often times it is difficult to be constantly compared to someone who is so incredibly intelligent, humorous, and kind. But I could not be happier than to follow him when it leads me to wonderful things, such as A Spring of Hope. At home, we are coddled by our luxuries, tucked away by technology, practically hidden from the world. Yes, we may see other countries on the television or internet, but does it truly give us an accurate representation? Or are we all still just as ignorant as the days before modern media, simply desensitized by images that hold little emotional relevance? Each place has its own aura, an inexplicable feeling that cannot be transmitted through sound-waves or video clips. You cannot smell the sweet African air, or feel it flush against your face, when simply staring at the television. The first thing we saw when coming off the plane to Hoedspruit was a whole herd of elephants, head to tail. How impossible it would be to share that thrill, the sense of pure exhilaration and awe! And over three weeks later it stays, when we drove up beside a small giraffe calf and its mother, trotting beside the road today at Kruger National Park. But even more astounding than the air, the animals, and the wonderful land are the people themselves. I have been told that I have a talent for hugging (who knew there was such a thing?) but Lynette certainly has me beat, especially when she lifts your body clear off the ground. Again and again I feel this inner pressure of love and compassion when faced with the children of Beretta. Just holding hands elicits such a warm smile, hugs and high fives repeated constantly, as if they could not get enough. I believe that isolationism of the self is one of the worst pandemics of our generation. Compassion has become 'uncool', care and affection similarly objected. Still, there is nothing more gratifying than Stanley's excitement over presenting me with his newly planted garden, or Helen's shy smile when modeling her brand new dress. We all are composed of blood and bones, share the same skin and organs. Why, then, is the world wounded so terribly, sliced into sections by the great fissures formed from race, religion, and culture? We all need simple things to survive - food and water the most commonly known. But hope, as well. We often forget that hope, the simple will to live and excitement for possibility, is all but essential for survival. To say that this experience has been life-changing would not only be, again, unoriginal, but also a severe understatement. I could never accurately express my gratitude for all who have contributed to the experience and made it a possibility - mainly Joanne and Brittany. I will miss all I have met here so terribly. I only wish that we have been able to give more than water, more than health to these people. Hope and happiness, understanding and love, has been showered upon us from the very first moment. We gain so much from our time here, nothing we could possibly give could provide a counter-balance.
Ross:
What an extraordinary trip this has been! First of all, I would like to thank Brittany and her mother Joanne for providing me with the opportunity to travel with them on this life changing trip. Indeed, this incredible journey has changed me for the better. I would have never had the chance to see a whole different side of the world. Upon arriving in South Africa, I really didn't know what to expect. I had heard stories and seen videos from previous trips, but to truly understand, you must see it for yourself. Driving through Acornhoek (an extremely poor region of South Africa) for the first time, I was surprised by how friendly the people were. Happily waving at us as we drove by, one wonders how people can be so happy when they have so little. Giving to people fills me with incredible happiness, which is why the day the Spring of Hope group went to Stanley and Helen's house to deliver supplies was one of my personal highlights of the trip. Who would have thought that bringing food, a necessity of life for which too many of us take for granted, could bring such happiness to these people. I will always remember the huge smiles that came across Stanley's face as we delivered bags of food to his home. Stanley's sister, a seventeen year old mother of twins began to cry with joy and shook all of our hands for the generous gift. These people live lives that are almost totally opposite to the way that we live. Many people in the US live in a shallow, material world that has no real depth to it. Our possessions bring us happiness and we take most for granted. This trip has really opened my eyes to a whole different side of the world; a world where people live in small shacks with no running water, where whole families are wiped out by preventable diseases and where people have almost absolutely nothing, but somehow have enough faith to see the light at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel. I truly thank A Spring of Hope for doing what it does and I am very grateful to be a part of such an amazing organization. I am more eager than ever to do whatever I can upon returning to the States to further the already successful path of ASOH.
Brittany:
"Don't worry," she said, "we must practice ubuntu all of the time."
If you know a bit about me, you probably know I have a highly selective memory. I'll remember the type of shoes you have before I remember your face or even your name. Often, my memory fails me, leaving me in a shroud of "uh's" and "um's" and eventual "I don't know, I can't remember's" Yet, earlier this week a phrase Lynette used stuck to me like lemon juice to dry fingers; ubantu. There was hardly a chance that I would have remembered ubuntu, of purely Bantu language origin representing an African philosophy championing humanism and love between humans. Lynette was referring to the gesture made by Helen's family, the giving of a container of sweet potatoes to us for visiting Helen and making a difference in her life. Those small vegetables embodied hours of labor and dedication, yet they were not going to end up in their stomaches. We felt ambivalent, unsure whether to accept the gift or graciously decline. Lynette then reassured us, and told us of the ubuntu philosophy. They were giving the potatoes to us as an act of kindness and selflessness to a fellow human being. My mother and I were shaken to tears. It's funny how such a powerful moment could never be completely portrayed through a typical conversation. I will attempt to retell this moment to friends and family long after I return on Tuesday, yet as television only captures what's in the frame, my words will only graze the periphery of the entire scene. That night, as we drove off into total darkness, that coated all pedestrian faces, roads, and homes, we heard a beat. Music was playing. Among the utterly destitute and the suffering, a quiet but distinct drum banged out its tune. Children, too, giggled. I heard the music oscillate in volume and young boys and girls prance around the commotion. Ostensibly, there is no hope in rural Africa. However, drums and trumpets and shakers and flutes blast out their songs in defiance. The people are resilient. They are strong and willing to push on through. Hope is here. Hope is here! And I feel that my purpose in life cannot be fulfilled in a more rewarding way than bringing hope to children and families who face adversity. I was ineffably blessed to have been born in a complete and loving family and to live in a comfortable home with food each night. I feel that such blessings need to be recognized and advantages should be utilized to help the less fortunate. How can we move forward in this world when we can only see our differences and not our similarities? We are all people, brothers and sisters, and as the ubuntu philosophy states, "A person is a person through another person." I am overwhelmed with joy that I can help people, bring different sides together, hold hands, and maybe pass around a few sweet potatoes to fellow human beings.
Christian Hall:
When I first arrived in South Africa last year, I had no idea what to expect. It was an experience I would never forget, and the memories of traveling to the school and seeing the kids was the highlight. Returning this year was a mission for us. In just a year, A Spring of Hope was founded and the mission of helping children receive clean water and treatment was already underway. It's almost impossible to imagine how far we have gone in one year...from one well...to two wells and a clinic/library at Beretta. We have scouted nearby schools in Acornhoek and our goal to drill several wells by the end of the year is already underway. I am especially excited about editing the documentary we filmed about AIDS orphans. Helen and Stanley's stories deserve to be shown as they represent an enormous number of children who are left to grow up without parents to look up to or to learn from. AIDS is such a big issue in this country, as it is for the continent. I personally feel that tackling this issue on a personal and up close level is exactly what needs to be done. So much is overlooked here, and I am encouraged to think that people back at home will watch the stories of Helen and Stanley and really want to make a difference. I wish there was a way to truly grasp the atmosphere that surrounds myself when I am here. There is no amount of footage which will capture the raw quality of this country; the beauty, the people, and the joy we feel when we are able to help these children. There is an underlying feeling I get when I stay here, and that is the idea that we are all connected, no matter how far away we live or how different we are. These children should not be labeled as black or poor but instead as our brothers and sisters who we share a responsibility to help. Issues of water and treatment are not too big for anyone. We feel that as long as we can lift one child out of the cycle of poverty that surrounds him/her, we have succeeded. If we can motivate children to break the barriers of their culture and succeed, then that will ripple throughout the community. I have huge faith in the people here, and regardless of the hardships they face, regardless of the death from disease that surrounds them, the people still smile. They still wave. Their heads are still up high. Their happiness cannot be broken by what happens around them, their happiness comes from within. I have a great respect for everyone that we meet here who has guided us along the way and helped us with our goals. We all have had an amazing and inspirational time here, and I personally enjoyed every second of being here. South Africa is a beautiful and unique country filled with the most fascinating people, cultures, and languages. I feel lucky to be able to have the opportunity to help the children here. It is truly something special to simply give. A Spring of Hope is something close to my heart and I am so fortunate to be able to be a part of it. I really can't wait to see our progress throughout this year and I am so excited for the future. I'd like to thank everyone with me; Joanne and Brittany Young, Ross Hancock, and Rachel Ossip for their humor, insight, and dedication which makes our journey here unforgettable. The schools we help are thousands of miles away from our home, but they stay so close to our heart. It's hard going back to America and resume our lives when we know that work is still going on here without us. I have a constant urge to want to fly back for every part of our progress. It has truly been a blast.
